Mid-Century Modern Boxes
MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern American furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
Postwar American architects and designers were animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist “International Style” architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the ’30s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale, in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for, respectively, pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair. George Nelson and his design team created Bubble lamp shades using a new translucent polymer skin. Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were re-purposed: the Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs that used surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests. The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influence in the rise of modern design in the United States thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century designers caught the spirit.
Classically-oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb — who designed holistic groups of sleek, blonde-wood furniture — and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Vintage Kitchen or Bathroom Canister Jars Set, Bright Yellow Powder Coated
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Modern four-piece set of bright sunshine yellow kitchen canister jars, circa 1960's. The charming and bold jars are complete with their original polished chrome lids. Onc...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Terrazzo Mixed Stone Jewelry Box 1960s
Located in San Diego, CA
Terrazzo and mixed stone jewelry or trinket box from the 1960s. Brass hinged top. Great mixed stone circular design.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Blue Alabaster Box with Sliding Attached Round Lid
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful shimmery round alabaster box with sliding lid. Unique custom blue colored box is perfect for your mementos, coins, jewelry or 420. Slide the lid shut for an elegant complim...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Alabaster
1960s Silver Plated Faux Bamboo Box Maison Baguès
Located in Antwerp, BE
Silver plated faux bamboo box by Maison Baguès.
A stylish French little jewelry box, trinket box or storage box
in metal faux bamboo with red velvet inside. Embossed bamboo sticks...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate
Midcentury Chrome Glass and Briar Wood Pocket Emptier in Christian Dior Style
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful midcentury chrome glass and briarwood pocket emptier. This fantastic piece was designed in Christian Dior Style during the 1980s.
The combination of materials is just br...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Set of 4 Tobacco Boxes Antwerp, Belgium, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
1950s Set of 4 Tobacco Boxes - Tobacco Tins - Cigar Boxes.
These Tins are in different colors: red, blue, green and light green what makes them great to display.
Vintage Tins Tobacc...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal
Rectangular Box Gold Brass Cigarette Case, Italy, 1970s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Rectangular box gold brass cigarette case, Italy, 1970s.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Mid Century Italian Horn Veneer Box
Located in Stamford, CT
Great looking decorative box with beautiful Horn veneer. Purchased by original owner in Florence, Italy in the 1960's. Handsome desk top item.
Measures: 2.25 inches high 7.25 wide ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Horn, Wood
1950s Enameled Original Box by Piero Fornasetti 'r'
Located in Frankfurt, Hessen, DE
Wonderful and extraordinary vintage Fornasetti box. It has an enameled metal cover with Fornasetti's iconic graphics, showing people silhouette in black and beige. The inner compartm...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal
Dutch Padouk Mid-Century Modern Firewood Box, 1950s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and rare Mid-Century Modern firewood box.
Solid padouk with original wrought iron lining and handles.
Striking Dutch design from the 1950s.
In good original condition wit...
Category
1950s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Padouk
Vintage Maitland Smith Decorative Tessellated Stone and Brass over Fruitwood Box
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage handmade Maitland Smith tessellated stone box with brass over fruitwood.
No makers mark.
Category
1970s Philippine Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Stone, Brass
Mid-Century Modern Rattan and Brass Box Bowl, Italy, 1960s
Located in Rome, IT
1960s rattan decorative box or bowl with cover featuring brass details made in Italy.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
1980s Vintage Italian Hermes Wood Box
By Hermès
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful vintage Hermes wood box signed at the top.
Category
1980s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Wood
Murano Orange Gold Fleck Bubbles Pear Top Italian Art Glass Container Vanity Jar
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown orange over white, controlled bubbles and gold flecks Italian art glass candy container or vanity jewelry box, with pear top decoration. The piece...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Gold Leaf
Metal, 1970s Stars and Stripes Roadie Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful Roadie or Evil Knievel stage box, ready for goggles to boots, from bags to books... reminiscent of.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal
Italian Blue and White Alabaster Marble Round Jewelry or Trinket Box
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful small Italian blue, white and black alabaster marble round jewelry or trinket box, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Alabaster marble is a combination of blue hues with touc...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Alabaster, Marble, Metal
Bodil Eje Danish Rosewood Box by Alfred Klitgaard
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautifully crafted solid rosewood trinket box by Danish craftsman Alfred Klitgaard, circa 1960s. Very detailed construction and exquisite finish with a gorgeous Bodil Eje orange / l...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Rosewood, Ceramic
1950s Lime Green Murano Glass Hinged Box with Facetted Lid and Silvered Edging
Located in London, GB
A 1950s lime green Murano glass hinged box with facetted lid and gilt metal edge detail and hinge by Giovanni Cendese, Murano, Italy.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal
Don Shoemaker Large Marquetry Box with Scallop Trim for Senal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A large Rosewood box with geometric pattern by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. Shoemaker is known for the marquetry in his work, which is clearly visible in the...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Rosewood
Solid Pallisander Wooden Table Box Cigar Box with Compartments Nicely Finished 6
Located in Oostrum-Venray, NL
Solid Pallisander wooden table box cigar box with compartments nicely finished 60s
This is solid rosewood cigar box a nice box to place on the table
There are compartments in...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Rosewood
Antique French Cut Crystal and Brass Jewelry Box, Vanity Box or Candy Dish
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique pointed cut crystal and brass jewelry or vanity box. This small cut crystal box with gilded feet is perfect as a desk accessory, a candy dish, a vanity box or jewelry box. Th...
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Round Box in Thick Heavy Crystal Italian Design 1950s Midcentury Wisteria Color
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Round Box in Thick Heavy Crystal Italian Design 1950s Midcentury Wisteria Color.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Crystal
Two Crystal Boxes, Poland, 1950
Located in Chorzów, PL
Two crystal clear caskets- boxes with lids.
Made in Poland in middle XX century
Very good condition
Big : height 18cm diameter 22cm
Small : height 8 cm diameter 12cm.
Category
Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Crystal
Alpaca Silver and Abalone Box
Located in Rochester, NY
Mexican alpaca silver box inlaid with colorful iridescent abalone shell.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Abalone
Gabriella Crespi Rare Signed Bamboo and Brass Box, Italy, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi rare large hinged box from the Rising Sun Series with lacquered bamboo strips framed in polished brass sides, and cherrywood interior, Italy, 1970s. Impressed with ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Rectangular Alessandro Albrizzi Mid Century Signed Lucite Box
Located in Stamford, CT
Circa 1970s rectangular Alessandro Albrizzi mid-century signed Lucite box that is clear on top and white on bottom in two part box. Made in Italy. Please note of wear consistent with...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Lucite
Mithe Espelt Ceramic Jewelry Box France c 1968
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Chicago, IL
Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s Ceramic enamels in shades of gold with fused glass of cream and pale blue sea green with iconic blackened wood box.
Literature: Mi...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Rare Signed Gabriella Crespi Gold Frame Desk, 1970s, Italy
Located in Vis, NL
Rare signed Gabriella Crespi gold brass frame for a stylish desk.
1970s, made in Italy.
In excellent condition with no structural damages or repairs.
An amazing and seldo...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Elegant Box in Polished Cast Aluminum and Palm Wood, circa 1970
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Elegant box in polished cast aluminum and palm wood, circa 1970.
Category
1970s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Aluminum
Tommi Parzinger Brass Box Mid-Century Modern
Located in North Miami, FL
This Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths is hallmarked on the back. This chic brass box back in the times of the 1950s was s silent butler tray to pick up the ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Lucite and Silver Plate Decorative Box, Italy 1970s
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant 1970s modernist decorative box reminiscent of Gabriella Crespi's work. Large geometric shape with silverplate metal base and thick crystal clear Lucite lid. No visible maker'...
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
Midcentury Three-Piece Lucite Powder Room Set
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An amazing group of three vintage Lucite accessories for the powder room; wastebasket, tissue holder and soap-dish. Each piece has meticulously embedded slices of pearl shells that a...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Lucite
Midcentury Lucite and Brass Christian Dior Jewelry Box, French 1970
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful and tiny Christian Dior style jewellery case, it is made of Lucite, Tortoise plexiglass and brass.
It was produced in France during 1970s and in its simplicity and elega...
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Django Cabinet by Frederik Smits
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Unique cabinet by the artist Frederik Smits, Django 2020
Handmade and unique piece, signed and certificated by the artits.
Inspired in memphis mouvement
Its composed of diferent t...
Category
2010s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
1940s Enamel and Wooden Box by Elizabeth Bensley
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is a nice example of artist, Elizabeth Bensley's enamel work from the late 1940s displayed beautifully on a wooden box. Note that the box top does not stay open at an angle as t...
Category
1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Enamel
1950s Pietro Chiesa by Fontana Arte Italian Design Crystal Box
By Fontana Arte
Located in Brescia, IT
Box
Pietro Chiesa by Fontana Arte
Italy, 1940-1950
Wood and aquamarine crystal
Crystal in perfect condition.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Crystal
Handcrafted and Polished Cast Bronze Pearl Box Ashtray
Located in Paris, FR
Pearl box ashtray forged from cast bronze by Fakasaka.
Category
2010s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Midcentury Owl Form Trinket Box by Debora Bump
By Deborah Bump
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Bump is a Vermont-based wood sculptor best known for her stylized modernist wood jewelry boxes of various animal forms crafted in the 1970s and 1980s.
This large owl box bump used b...
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Mahogany, Maple
Tommaso Barbi Bamboo and Wood Squared Box, Italy, 1960s
Located in Rome, IT
1960s squared burgundy box made of bamboo and wood by the Italian designer Tommaso Barbi.
It comes with its original label still attached on the bottom, as shown in the photos.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Bamboo, Wood
Chinese Hand Painted Ceramic Trinket Box
Located in San Diego, CA
A wonderful and colorful hand painted Chinese lidded trinket box, circa 1950s. The handcrafted ceramic box measures 4.5" W x 3.25" D x 2.5" H and has a floral motif on a yellow backg...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Pottery
Italian Mid-Century Purple Crystal Smoking Box Colombo Arnolfo Di Cambio, 1969
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century Purple crystal smoking box by Colombo Arnolfo Di Cambio, 1969
Cigarette or cigar box with purple pressed crystal container and silver cover.
Produced by Arnolfo...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Silver
1950s Lilac Murano Glass Hinged Box with Facetted Lid and Silver Metal Edge
Located in London, GB
A 1950s lilac Murano glass hinged box with facetted lid and silver metal edge detail and hinge by Giovanni Cendese, Murano, Italy.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Brushed Aluminum and Blue Enamel Box, 1970s
Located in Atlanta, GA
A beautiful 1970s decorative lidded box. Rectangular shape with a brushed aluminum base, enamel on copper lid with geometric stylized star design. Assorted colors of cobalt blue, bla...
Category
1970s Unknown Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Metal, Aluminum, Copper, Enamel
Set of Covered Box and Round Dish Italian Alabaster Decorative Accessories
Located in Oakland Park, FL
Hand carved set of covered round box and round dish Italian alabaster decorative accessories.
These pieces could be use in the bathroom or on a vanity table.
"While it usually contai...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Alabaster
Lidded Polished Brass Case Box Keepsake Mid-Century Modern 1970
Located in Miami, FL
Polished Brass lidded Box, Case, Keepsake with decorative Handle.
Mid-Century Modern Design from the 1970s.
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
20th Century Gabriella Crespi Decorative Box in Brass and Plexiglass '70s
Located in Turin, Turin
Decorative box designed in '70 by Gabriella Crespi. The box is in plexiglass and brass, on the brass is present the signature of the author.
Good condition, patina of time. Perfect ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Fratelli Toso Murano Light Green Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Decorative Box
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Gorgeous, elegant and delicate vintage Murano hand blown sea foam green and gold flecks art glass decorative vanity box. Attributed to the Fratelli Toso Company, with intact Murano l...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Gold Leaf
1960s Swedish Brass Ashtray by Holger Bäckström & Bo Ljungberg for Diverse Tin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A vintage Ljungberg & Bäckström Ultima ashtray in solid brass. Made for Various Ting and designed by Holger Bäckström &Bo Ljungberg in the 1960s- made in Sweden. Wonderful condition ...
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
1970s Hand Craft Wood Box
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
1970s hand craft wood box.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Wood
20th Century Fontana Arte Object Box in Wood and Ground Painted Glass '50s
By Fontana Arte
Located in Turin, Turin
Very beautiful box designed in '50s and produced by Fontana Arte. The box is in wood and has a very peculiar top cover in ground painted glass. Perfect for keeping jewelry or other o...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Glass, Wood
Aldo Tura Goat Skin, Brass and Wood Italian Pipe Shaped Tobacco Box, 1940s
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury tobacco box in goatskin, brass and wood with the shape of a pipe. This fantastic item was designed by Aldo Tura in Cusano Milanino Italy for Macabo during the 1940...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Brass
Don Shoemaker Exotic Wood Inlaid Decorative Briefcase for Señal, circa 1970
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisitely crafted slim decorative briefcase designed by Don Shoemaker for Señal of Mexico. Taking advantage of the expertise provided by Mexican artisans, shoemaker founded Señal...
Category
1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo
Cigarrette/ Cigar Holder Music Box Onyx, Italy, circa 1960
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Uncommon cigarette/ cigar holder music box from the mid-century period in Italy around 1960. Beautifully designed as Tempietto with onyx and silvered parts, this exceptional music bo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Onyx, Brass
Bitossi Vase, Ceramic, Blue Turquoise, Impressed, Textured, Signed
By Bitossi
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi vase, ceramic, blue turquoise, impressed, textured, signed. Medium scale chunky vase decorated with a relief pattern of impressed teardrops. Minute loss to some of the relief...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Line Vautrin 'La Balayeuse Du Sacré Coeur' Silvered Bronze Box
By Line Vautrin
Located in Brussels, BE
A very rare box by Line Vautrin called "La balayeuse du Sacré Coeur"
(The Sacré Coeur Sweeper)
This box depicts a sweeper working on Basilique du Sacré coeur stairs in Paris (Montm...
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Toso Mid-Century Modern Amber Molato Murano Glass Jewelry Box, 1982
Located in Murano, Venezia
This boxes are a beautiful invention of the master glassmaker Toso Murano who designed them in 1982. They can be used as jewelry boxes, and they are beautiful thanks to the reflectio...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Murano Glass, Art Glass
White Opaline Box, Diamond Cut
Located in Antwerp, BE
Stylish white opaline glass box.
This white opaline pot has a diamond cut pattern all around and on the lid.
It it round shaped - tube shaped - cilinder shaped with a gold metal ...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Opaline Glass
Enamel Ceramic Jewel Box Gold Yellow Mithe Espelt Midcentury, France, 1960s
Located in New York, NY
Enamel ceramic jewel box gold yellow midcentury, France, 1960s.
An exquisite ceramic enameled box with jewel encrusted sections and gold enamel. The base of the box is wood. A bea...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Boxes
Materials
Enamel
