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Mid-Century Modern Candlesticks

MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE

Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern 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.

ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS

VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s 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 pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively. 

Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer

Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using 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 influencer 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. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.

As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture 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, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.

As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere 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
Period: 1920s
Pair of Brass Barley Twist Candlesticks by Peerage
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of solid brass candlesticks, by Peerage, c.1920s, England. The pair of beautifully patinated candlesticks feature barley twist stems, round tiered bases. Marked - Peerage England...
Category

1920s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Candlesticks

Materials

Brass

Candlesticks 'Margareta' designed by Lars Holmström, Sweden, 1920s, Brass
Located in Stockholm, SE
Candlesticks 'Margareta' designed by Lars Holmström, Sweden, 1920s Length of one section: 17 cm / 6 3/4'' Total length when straight: 108 cm / 3' 6 1/2'' Diameter: 4 cm / 1 1/2''
Category

1920s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Candlesticks

Materials

Brass

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Lovely Brass Candleholder Pair by Lars Holmström, 1960s, Sweden
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PAIR Set Antique English Oak OPEN Barley Twist Candlesticks Candle Holder Brass
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Pair 12" Antique English Oak Barley Twist Candlesticks - Brass Tops
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G. Magnusson Design, Candlesticks, Brass, Sweden, 1985
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A pair of brass candlesticks designed and produced by G. Magnusson Design, Sweden, 1985. Holds 0.7” diameter candles
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Large Pair of Antique Oak Barley Twist Candlesticks, English, circa 1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A super matching pair of oak open twist candlesticks. Good condition. Lovely colour. The brass sconces are original. Free UK shipping
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English Pair of Brass Barley Twist Candlesticks
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Antique English Barley Twist Candlesticks Candle Holders Oak Pair Tall
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Sold-Carved Oak Barley Twist Candlestick
Located in Redding, CT
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Mid-century Modern candlesticks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern candlesticks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage candlesticks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern candlesticks made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original candlesticks, popular names associated with this style include Tommi Parzinger, Jens Quistgaard, Dansk Designs, and Iittala. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for candlesticks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $28 and tops out at $43,358 while the average work can sell for $723.

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