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Mid-Century Modern Clocks

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
Vintage Metamec Starburst Wall Clock made in England 1970s
Located in Verviers, BE
Vintage Metamec Starburst Wall Clock made in England 1970s Full Working Order. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with any further questions.

 With Best Wishes, Geert
Category

1970s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Chrome

Mid Century Modern Grandfather Clock by Sligh Furniture. Circa 1960s
Located in Miami, FL
Mid Century Modern Grandfather Clock by Trend Clocks, Sligh Furniture. Circa 1960s Features a Quintessential Mid Century Modern Designed Cabi...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Chrome

Vintage 1940s Hermes Paris Leather Desk / Table Clock
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Vintage 1940s Hermes Paris Style Leather Desk / Table Clock This is a beautiful vintage Hermes style Desk / Table Clock. Original leather and stitching. W...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Leather

Mid Century Martz Stoneware Ceramic and Walnut Wall Clock for Marshall Studios
Located in San Jose, CA
Vintage stoneware wall clock designed by Jane and Gordon Martz for Marshall Studios, Veedersburg, Indiana, circa 1960's. This unique home accent piece is crafted in a white ceramic g...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Ceramic, Walnut

Vintage Mid-Century Sunburst Starburst Wall Clock, Germany, 1980s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Stunning 1970s sunburst starburst Junghans wall clock. Made of heavy resin, gilded, with a junghans battery operated clockwork. working condition. Will look great on your wall. Nice ...
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Resin

Daum Crystal Table Clock from the 1960s, France
By Daum
Located in DÉNIA, ES
Daum : Crystal table lamp by Daum with acid engraved motif, signed on the bottom and with original sticker ; Mechanism of the pendulum has just been revised and humiliated by a spec...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Crystal

Rare Mosaic Tile Wall Clock in Walnut by George Nelson & Assoc circa 1950s
Located in Troy, MI
Rare George Nelson And Associates Mosaic Tile Wall Clock Designed by Irving Harper for George Nelson and Associates and produced by Howard Miller Model 2232 1957 Walnut frame with...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Walnut, Glass

Irving Harper for George Nelson / Howard Miller Chronopak Table Clock
Located in San Francisco, CA
One of the earlier designs for the Howard Miller clock company is this walnut table clock model 4765 circa 1949 designed by Irving Harper for George Nelson & Associates and the Howar...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Aluminum

Swatch Wall Clock Maxi 1980s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Swatch wall clock maxi 1980s
Category

1980s Swiss Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Plastic

Brutalist Wall / Table Clock by Franco Bastianelli for Studio Cellini, Italy, 60
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Enamelled brutalist copper clock by Franco Bastianelli for Studio Cellini, Laurana Rame D'Arte in Pesaro, Italy 1960s. Handcrafted on a copper base, enameled on fire with striking c...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Copper, Enamel

Limited Edition Mid-Century Calendar Clock by Devon Clocks
Located in Amersham, GB
This unusual astrological calendar clock was designed by John Mercer Of Exeter, for the Devon Clock Company as part of the Heritage Collection. This example is numbered 31 of 500 and...
Category

1970s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Limited Edition Mid-Century Orrery Clock by Devon Clocks
Located in Amersham, GB
This unusual astronomical clock was designed by John Mercer Of Exeter, for the Devon Clock Company as part of the Heritage Collection. The movement with going barrel and platform le...
Category

Late 20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass, Steel

Ultra Rare German 1960s Junghans Max Bill Wall Clock 322/0350 in brass
Located in Krefeld, DE
Wall clock design by Max Bill for Junghans in 1960s. Brass metal case. Electric movement is in good working condition. At the back side maybe from the owner or clockmake a repair not...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Original Antique Smiths Wall Clock
Located in Stockbridge, GB
Small Antique Smiths Wall Clock -C An original 1930/40s Smiths clock. In original condition the case is brown bakelite and has a glass front. The face retains its original cream pai...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Metal

Angelus Sixsome Travelling Desk Compendium
Located in Amersham, GB
An extremely rare Angelus Sixsome eight day travelling alarm clock and desk compendium. Containing an eight day running alarm clock, with full Calendar, Barometer, Hygrometer, thermo...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Gold, Brass

Jaeger LeCoultre Atmos clock with Original Bracket
Located in Amersham, GB
A beautiful Atmos Clock By Jaeger LeCoultre numbered 321410, with a square dial with gilded Arabic numerals and battens and smoked tip hands. Unusually this clock still has it’s orig...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

American Mid-Century Modern Prisma Aluminum Aurora Clock, Kirsch Hamilton, 1970s
Located in Stamford, CT
American Mid-Century Modern Prisma aluminum aurora clock, Kirsch Hamilton, 1970s. A vintage 1970s Aurora clock. These stunning clocks are in the collection of the Museum of Moder...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Aluminum

Thomas Mercer Chronometer Carriage Timepiece
By Thomas Mercer
Located in Amersham, GB
An English gilt brass chronometer carriage timepiece with original travelling case, key and bill of sale. The grained gilt tapering case has a folding handle with bevelled glass pane...
Category

1970s British Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Oversized Brass Timer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Oversized Brass Timer! Measures about 28" tall! Great accent piece! Brass has not been polished, shows signs of tarnish.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Stunning Clock by Hour Lavigne (mechanism) and Mayodon (ceramist), France, 1950
Located in Paris, FR
Stunning clock by famous  clockmaker Hour Lavigne and ceramist Jean Léon Mayodon (1893-1967) This clock is made of a central  clock by Hour Lavigne mounted on a plate realized by J....
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass, Enamel

Large Bakelite Factory Industrial, Train Station Wall Clock
Located in Vienna, AT
5 pcs of bakelite industrial wall clock from about 1940's, 1950's. Diameter 49 cm and a depth of 10,5 cm. The clock is in perfect condition, no major scratches, no glass scratched....
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Glass, Bakelite

1990s Plastic & Glass Wall Clock by Pragotron, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
Vintage round wall clock, made of black plastic and glass by famous Pragotron in the Czech Republic. Requires AA-battery.
Category

Late 20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Glass, Plastic

1930s Art-Deco wall clock, Germany
Located in Praha, CZ
- German wall clock - the clock is in good condition - the front dial has been restored - the chimes have been completely cleaned and oiled. - The clock is mechanical and is wound w...
Category

1930s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Metal

Vintage Mid Century Modern Green Starburst Wall Clock
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Mid Century Modern Green Starburst Wall Clock Circa 1960 Dimensions D 31” (entire clock) D 9” (middle of the clock) Good vintage condition Please be aware that mos...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Metal

Howard Miller Italian Modernist Orange Bitossi for Raymor Clock
Located in Pasadena, CA
Howard Miller Meridian clock in shades of red/orange and golden yellow glazes over chamotte clay body, circa 1960s. Clock measures 14" diameter b...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Ceramic

Willy Daro Style Midcentury Agate Table or Desk Clock from the 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful and decorative table or desk clock from the 1960s, made in Germany. The clocks face is made of polished agate stone and has nice Mid-Century brass hands and figures and i...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Agate, Aluminum, Brass

Vintage Brass Pocket Watch / Paperweight Attributed to Carl Aubock, 1950's
Located in Troy, MI
Vintage Brass Pocket Watch Paperweight, Carl Aubock attr. 1950's Vintage paperweight attributed to Carl Aubock, 1950's. Modernist form of a...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Bakelite Industrial Wall Clock by Pragotron, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
Vintage round bakelite and glass wall clock, made by Pragotron in former Czechoslovakia in the 1960's. Converted to battery.
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Glass, Bakelite

Set of Italian Guzzini Table Clock & Pens Holder 1970s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Set of Italian Guzzini Table Clock & Pens Holder 1970s
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Plexiglass

Early Production Iconic Ball Clock Designed by George Nelson for Howard Miller
Located in San Diego, CA
A very hard to find and early iconic ball clock designed by George Nelson for Howard Miller, circa 1950s. The clock is in original vintage condition with an 8 feet long plug in elec...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Metal, Brass

Jaeger LeCoultre, Atmos Clock from 1958, Swiss Made
Located in Greven, DE
Jaeger LeCoultre Atmos watch in plexiglass case Switzerland Brass, plexiglass Year of manufacture 1958 Dimensions: H x W x D: 23,5 x 20,5 x 16 cm Description: Atmos caliber 526 in...
Category

1950s Swiss Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Jaeger LeCoultre, Atmos Clock, Vendome from 1962
Located in Greven, DE
Jaeger LeCoultre - Atmos Vendome Switzerland Brass, marble Year of manufacture 1962 Dimensions: H x W x D: 24 x 21 x 16 cm Description: Atmos Vendome calibre 526. model number 585...
Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Marble, Brass

Midcentury Wall Clock Weimar, Germany 1980s
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Germany on one battery functional sun pattern, beautiful accessory
Category

1980s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Metal

1970s Arthur Umanoff for Howard Miller wall clock
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Arthur Umanoff for Howard Miller 1970s wall clock, model #588. Made of a walnut case, original red back, brushed aluminum clock face, brass Roman nu...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Aluminum

Mid-Century Wall Clock by Klenoty, Czechoslovakia, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
Wall clock made by Klenoty in Czechoslovakia in 1960s. Made of glass and brass. Fully functional.
Category

1960s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Metal

Vintage Gucci Desk Clock 1980s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A chic and collectible small ashtray from the 1980s, created by the prestigious luxury brand Gucci. This vintage piece exudes sophistication with its iconic logo and high-quality mat...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

1960s Germany Junghans Wall Clock in the style of Max Bill Industrial Design
Located in San Francisco, CA
1960s Wall clock by Junghans of Germany with an off white cream colored case and a chromed frame glass lift up front cover. The hands are black with a raised center and squared off a...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Mid-Century Wanduhr & Datumsanzeige Meister-Anker Schwarz & Weiß, 1960s, Germany
Located in Andernach, DE
Funky Wanduhr (Quarz) aus den 60er – 70er Jahren des 20. Jahrhunderts. Von Meister-Anker, made in Germany. Herrliches Mid-Century Design: minimalistisch, kontrastreich & ''zeitlos''....
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Plastic

Table Clock Willy Daro Attribution Amber White Agate Brushed Brass Junghans 1970
Located in Nierstein am Rhein, DE
Beautiful sophisticated Willy Daro attribution table clock, Belgium and Germany, circa 1970s. It has a lovely amber to honey color Agate (polished stone) face with 12 hour brass mark...
Category

1970s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Agate, Brass

Mid-Century Modern Pink Quartz and Enamel Table Clock by E. Gubelin
Located in New York, NY
Charming mid-century alarm clock by E. Gubelin of Lucerne, Switzerland, dating from the 1960s.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass, Enamel

Mid-Century LeCoultre Desk Clock Model 465
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Swiss LeCoultre Desk Clock, Model 465, signed "Le Coultre" to angled face with roman chapters and straight hands, stamped "Le Coultre / Swiss / 465" to reverse with wind ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Metal

Wooden Midcentury Wall Clock
Located in Vienna, AT
Wooden clock face and brass clock hands and index. Fitted with a battery movement. Made in Germany in the 1950s.
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Mantel Clock by Jaeger-LeCoultre
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
A Mid-Century Jaeger-LeCoultre mantel clock in a Lucite case with original case. Inset brass decoration featuring a geisha amongst the lily pads with an overhanging branch above . Se...
Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Lucite

Mid Century Modern Neoclassical Style Acrylic Clock
Located in Houston, TX
Mid Century Modern Acrylic Clock. This beautiful mid century modern acrylic or lucite desk clock, table clock or mantel clock has a Neoclassi...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Acrylic, Lucite

Vintage Railway Chronometer - Brass Jumbo Pocket Watch or Wall Clock
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Midcentury novelty Jumbo Pocket Watch or small Wall Clock. It is called Railway Chronometer. The case, crown and ring/crown guard is fashioned from b...
Category

1970s South African Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Clock
Located in London, GB
A nice example of A Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clock, Embassy, signed Jaeger Le Coultre, with red and black faux marble panels, base with stop lever,...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Jaeger LeCoultre 1950 Swiss Retro Modernist Mechanical Desk Clock Near Mint
Located in Miami, FL
Desk clock designed by Jaeger LeCoultre. Fabulous geometric desk-table clock, created in Switzerland by the clockmakers of Jaeger LeCoultre, back in the 1950. This clock is very rare and has been crafted with retro modernist patterns in solid patinated bronze. Mount in a rectangle pedestal...
Category

1950s Swiss Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Steel

Blown Glass Hourglass 'from the Clessidra Series' by Paolo Venini, Italy
Located in Brussels, BE
Two-tone blown glass hourglass (rose and grey). The glass hourglasses designed by Paolo Venini in 1957 were exhibited at the XIth Milan Triennale the same year. Ref. : Paolo Venini...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass

Midcentury Peter Pepper Products Wall Clock
Located in Redding, CT
Midcentury Peter Pepper Wall Clock . Classic avocado green background with all wooden frame. Chrome digits make up this minimalist clock face. Works perfectly on a large C battery.
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Chrome

Art Deco Atomic Age Brass & Glass Electric Mystery Clock by Jefferson
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful piece of art brass and glass Art Deco, table clock in working condition incredible advanced design and technology, the glass rotates and the handles moves a beautiful piece...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Large Kienzle Mid-Century GMT Heavy Brass World Time Zone Table Clock & Manual
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large table or desk clock was made by the well known Kienzle clock company of Germany and dates to approximately 1970 and done in a Mid Century Modern style. The clock case is c...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass, Cut Steel

Mid-Century Modern Sunburst Wall Clock by CONDOR, 1950s
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Stunning wall clock made of Iron & brass. An eye catcher par excellence. Made in Germany. We have tested it and it works. Electric, battery operated clock.
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Metal, Brass

Kienzle GMT World Time Zone Brass Table Clock, Midcentury, Germany, 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful and decorative Mid-Century Modernist solid brass Kienzle desk or table clock with a world map clocks face and world time zones. Executed in the 1960s by Kienzle in Wester...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Set of Two Alarm Clocks by PRIM, Czechoslovakia, 1980s
Located in Praha, CZ
Set of two alarm clocks in very good original condition. Made by PRIM in Czechoslovakia in 1980s. Fully functional
Category

1980s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Metal, Steel

Relide Mid-Century Modern Brass Desk Sized Quartz World Clock
By Relide Co
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Mid-Century Modern desk clock. A detailed world clock originally manufactured by Hampton Haddon and retialed by Relide . With a quartz move...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

"Static" Lorenz Desk Clock with Original Box by Richard Sapper, circa 1960
Located in Skokie, IL
Richard Sapper classic "Static" Lorenz desk clock with original box, Germany circa 1960 Designed by Richard Sapper and winner of the 1960 Compasso D'Oro Award, this table clock is the original vintage edition...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Brass, Stainless Steel

Kienzle GMT World Time Zone Brass Table Clock, Midcentury, Germany, 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful and decorative Mid-Century Modernist solid brass Kienzle Chronoquartz desk or table clock with a domed glass and a 7“ diameter world map clocks face and world time zones....
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Large Kundo GMT World Time Zone Brass Table Clock, Kieninger & Obergfell, 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
An impressive and large Mid-Century Modernist brass desk or table clock with a 9“ diameter world map clocks face and world time zones. Executed in the 1960s by Kieninger & Obergfell ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Clocks

Materials

Brass

Mid-century Modern clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern clocks 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 clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, wall decorations, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original clocks, popular names associated with this style include Howard Miller, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Junghans Uhren GmbH, and George Nelson. 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 clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $76 and tops out at $31,500 while the average work can sell for $1,194.

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