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Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

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 celebrated 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.

Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. 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
Fornasetti paper weight with NATO phonetic alphabet with pen rest
Located in London, GB
Rare Fornasetti porcelain paperweight with pen holder. With the phonetic alphabet o as in Oscar P as in Papa Q as in Quebeck etc..
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Porcelain

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass Statue, paper weight or sculpture. Showing a giant octopus. Colors are a blue, white, black and clear. A beautiful nice addition to your...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Small Model Murano Glass Paperweight Peach Orange Ball, 1970 Barleylands Glass
Located in Oirlo, LI
Small Model Murano Glass Paperweight Peach Orange Ball, 1970 Additional information: Dimensions: 4.5 W x 4.5 D x 4.5 H cm Period of Time: 1970 Condition: Good
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Large Carl Auböck Model #5072 'Chain' Polished Brass Paperweight
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #5072 'Chain' polished brass paperweight. Executed in brass-plated cast iron and designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is h...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Iron, Brass

Large Carl Auböck Model #5072 'Chain' Nickel Paperweight
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #5072 'Chain' nickel paperweight. Executed in nickel-plated cast iron and designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is hand fab...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Iron, Nickel

Carl Auböck Model #4867 'Egg' Polished Brass Paperweight
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #4867 'Egg' brass paperweight. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is hand fabricated in polished brass by Werkstätte Car...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Brass

Mounted Iridescent Opaline Sphere Paper Weight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mounted Iridescent Opaline Sphere paper weight - similar to a tigers eye, yet white, opaque and subtle changes in every direction. A handsome complimen...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Opaline Glass

Large Carl Auböck Model #4751 'Paperclip' Brass Paperweight
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #4751 'Paperclip' brass paperweight. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is hand fabricated in polished brass by Werkstät...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Brass

1980s Plated Brass Bridge Bolts Bookends Paperweights Quirky Vintage Mid-Century
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Brass electroplated Bridge Bolts as bookends or office decor. Each about 5 lbs. and 3.5 wide by 4 inches high. Appropriated objects similar conceptually to the works of the Carl Aubo...
Category

1980s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Metal

Art Glass Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage art glass paperweight with scalloped exterior and blue decoration within the glass / Made in USA in 2000 Measures: Diameter 3 inc...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

1970s Crystal Paperweight Sculpture by Fontana Arte for ISTUD, Italy
Located in Rome, IT
This elegant limited edition paperweight sculpture was made by Fontana Arte for ISTUD Italia in the 1970s. As the pictures show, it comes with its original box and ticket which s...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Crystal

Dorothy Thorpe Midcentury Crystal Lucite American Knot Paperweight Sculpture
Located in Roma, IT
Midcentury crystal Lucite American knot paperweight sculpture. This wonderful piece was designed by Dorothy Thorpe in America during the 1960s. An amazing item with a unique knot ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Central American Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Lucite

Heavy Polychrome Glass Egg Sculpture
Located in bari, IT
1960s solid glass egg-shaped paperweight.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass

Murano Glass Sheets from the 1960s
Located in bari, IT
Murano glass sheets from the 1960s.
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Wheaton Village Glass Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage art glass paperweight with a large hand blown flower with bubbles, made in USA in 1977 Original mark on the base Measures: Diamet...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

Pair of Travertine Horse Bookends Letter Holder by Fratelli Mannelli Italy 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Pair of horse-shaped bookends and letter holders in travertine marble by the Italian designers Fratelli Mannelli, 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Travertine

Murano Glass Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian Murano glass paperweight hand blown with three flowers inside, made in Italy, circa 1960s Measures: diameter 2.5 inches, height ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Glass Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian Murano glass paperweight hand blown with red, green, and yellow swirl pattern / made in Italy, circa 1960s Measures: Diameter 2.5 inches, height 2.5 inches 1 in stock...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Glass Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian Murano glass paperweight hand blown with multicolored glass canes to form "millefiori" / made in Italy, circa 1960s Original sti...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Opalescent Blue Green Italian Art Glass Horse Pony Paperweight Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Cute vintage Murano hand blown opalescent green, blue with controlled bubbles Italian art glass horse head paperweight / sculpture. Documented to the F...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Opaline Glass, Glass

Murano Glass Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian Murano glass paperweight hand blown with intricate white, light blue, and dark blue ribbons / Made in Italy, circa 1960s Origina...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Two Dolphins in Sea Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing two blue dolphins in a Coral Reef, floating on controlled bubbles. Colors are...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Set of Three Marble Obelisk Paper Weight Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three black marble obelisks. The trio are a nice decorative addition to the desk or shelf, however could easily be paper weights or bookends. A very nice set of three black with whit...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Belgian Black Marble

Midcentury Murano Glass and Gold Dust Spherical Paperweight with Bubbles, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful midcentury Murano glass and gold dust spherical paperweight. It was produced in Italy during 1970s and attributed to Alfredo Barbini. Its peculiarity is the Murano glass...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass

Barovier Murano Pink Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Seashell Ring Dish Sculptures
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Please per item (4 available). Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown pink and gold flecks Italian art glass twisting seashell dishes / sculptures. Documented to the Barovier e Toso com...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Gold Leaf

Toso Murano 1976 Blue Millefiori Flower Italian Art Glass Basket Paperweight
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown white and pink Zanfirico ribbons basket with cobalt blue flower murrines Italian art glass paperweight. Documented to the Fratelli Toso company. T...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Glass, Sommerso, Murrine

Val Saint Lambert France Engraved Glass Disc Pisces Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
Dreamy engraved round glass disc Pisces paperweight by Val Saint Lambert, France, circa 1970s. Signed with engraved signature on disc edge, as pictured.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

Bronze Sculpture Ashtray or Paperweight
Located in London, GB
Hand-sculpted and bronze cast ashtray or paper weight is made in the 1970s and is signed. The shape is square and the pattern looks like a river that finds its natural way through a ...
Category

1970s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Bronze

Marked Vetreria Artistica Oball Murano Art Glass Multi-Color Paperweight Italy
Located in Miami, FL
Original Italian Vetreria Artistica Oball Murano glass, art glass blended cobalt blue, green and rose color paperweight. Marked Oball Murano underneath an...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass

1950s Onyx Stone Hand Carved Ashtray, Jewelry Bowl or Paperweight
Located in Barcelona, ES
Lovely natural onyx stone ashtray, paperweight or rings bowl, Spain, 1950s-1960s. Cut and polished stone showing the mineral’s distinctive banding striations in different shades of ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Stone, Onyx

Three Mid-Century Modern Resin Pressed Yellow & Orange Dried Blooms Paperweights
Located in Miami, FL
Set of three Mid-Century Modern resin pressed yellow and orange dried blooms paperweights. A-956-335
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Resin

Two Petite Murano Glass Aquarium Paperweight Mid-Century Modern, Italy, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Two beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weights. Showing some multicolored fishes and a coral reef inside a clear glass fish....
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Antonio da Ros Handmade Glass Sculptural Bookends, circa 1960
Located in San Francisco, CA
Antonio da Ros handmade glass sculptural bookends, circa 1960 Absolutely beautiful vintage 1960s bookends by noted Italian glass master Antonio da Ros. This matching pair measu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

Carl Auböck Model #4273 'Foot' Brass Paperweight
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #4273 'Foot' brass paperweight. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is hand fabricated in polished brass by Werkstätte Car...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Brass

Ashtray or Bowl, Solid Brass for Desk or Table, 1960s, Italy
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful solid brass ashtray, very heavy 1.8 kg. Measure: 16 x 16 x 2.5 cm.   
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Brass

Fratelli Toso Murano Millefiori Flower Butterfly Italian Art Glass Paperweights
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Priced individually (3 designs available as shown). Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Italian art glass paperweights. Documented to the Fratelli Toso Company. The first has concent...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Murrine

Mats Jonasson Frosted Crystal Glass Seal Toucan Paperweight Sculpture, 1980s
Located in Rome, IT
A lead crystal glass paperweight, produced circa 1980s by Mats Jonasson of Sweden, designed as a seal, with frosted detail in the shape of a toucan. Marki...
Category

1980s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Crystal

1960s Raw Stone Paperweight Natural Malachite Azurite
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Raw Stone Paperweight Natural Malachite Azurite Decorative Stone in Malachite and Azurite beautiful aqua hues. 3.5 H x 5D x 4.5 W Original natural state condition - refer to im...
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Malachite, Other

Mid-Century Modern Italian Animal Sculpture in Green Resin of a Deer, 1960s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Deer sculpture in green resin from Italy, 1960s. Really good condition very beautiful decorative piece.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Resin

Paperweight in Murano Glass with Inner Bubbles and Gold Dust, Sculpture, Italy
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful sphere in Murano glass. Game of air rising from a golden dust.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass

Carl Auböck Model #4223 'Hand' Brass Paperweight
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #4223 'Hand' brass paperweight. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is hand fabricated in polished brass by Werkstätte Ca...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Brass

Mid-20th Pair of Brass Herons Sculpture in a Pedestal
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-20th pair of brass Herons sculpture You can turn the herons as you want.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Brass

Unique Marble and Brass Sculptural Paper Weight of a Dog or Animal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique marble and brass sculptural paper weight of a dog or animal.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Marble, Brass

Letter Holder Paperweight in in Travertine by Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Letter holder or paperweight in travertine marble by the designers Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s. Weight: 5 kilos.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Travertine, Marble

Silver Plated Commercial Ice or Hay Hooks
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Silver plate ice tongs hay hooks, when you move your ice or pick up the hay. Be the chicest with your block! This pair of Ice / hay tongs are a great deco...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Silver Plate

Heavy Solid Bronze Clover Shaped Paperweight, France, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Patinated bronze paperweight.  
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Bronze

Venini Glass Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
This egg-shaped Venini glass paperweight has a purple spiral encased in an orange spiral. It still bears the original Venini label with the Veronese va...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Modernist Limited Edition Baccarat Art Glass Snake Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
This rare and sought after limited edition Mid-Century Modernist Baccarat art glass paperweight was produced by the illustrious French glass maker, ...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass, Lucite

Handblown Wild Flower Art Glass Paperweight Attributed to Fratelli Toso
Located in New York, NY
Rare elegant Murano handblown wild flower art glass paperweight. Attributed to the Fratelli Toso company. The piece has three large white flowers insi...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Modern Murano Italian Art Glass Parrots Sculpture
Located in Barcelona, ES
Huge red and yellow hand blown pulled Murano glass sculpture of two parrots perched on glass branches. Italy, 1960s. The sculpture is well executed with the Sommerso and Murrine gla...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Midcentury Caliari Venini Inciso Art Glass Cube Eyeball Sculpture Paperweights
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful pair of Italia glass artworks. Heavy etched glass pieces, one is signed. Measures: LG 2.38 x 2.38 x 2.5 in. SM 1.75 x 1.75 x 1.75 in.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

Venini tray clear glass with a circular slightly inverted dome, 1950s Italy
Located in Bronx, NY
1950s Venini tray clear glass with a circular slightly inverted dome rough green almost black glass inlay, great for a night table to rest your watch or je...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

Mazzega Glass Objects, Italy, 1970, Set of 18
Located in Munich, DE
Set of 18 wonderful Murano glass objects by Mazzega, Italy, 1970s. Measures: One H 14.5 W 28 D 5 cm. Nine H 12 W 5 D 5 cm. Eight H 12 W 15 D 5 cm.  
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

"Wyoming" Oil on Canvas by Robert Frame '1924-1999' Signed
By Robert Aaron Frame
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This is a beautiful, original framed, landscape painting entitled "Wyoming" by Robert Aaron Frame. The colors are rich, vibrant and bold. Set in a w...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Wood, Canvas

Fornasetti paper weight 1962 Zodiac calendar
Located in London, GB
Rare Fornasetti porcelain paperweight with Zodiac calendar c1962
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Porcelain

Seguso Murano Opalescent White Dark Olive Italian Art Glass Baby Bear Figurine
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown white and dark olive green opalescent Italian art glass baby bear cub sculpture / figure. Documented to designer Archimede Seguso. The bear is nic...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Opaline Glass

Solid Green Marble Apple Paperweight with Brass Stem
Located in San Diego, CA
Solid green marble with brass accent stem apple paperweight or sculpture, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 3" x 3"H. #3931
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Marble

Vintage Beautiful Glass Paperweight Made Around 1960
Located in Oirlo, LI
Vintage Beautiful Glass Paperweight Made Around 1960 Additional information: Dimensions: 6 W x 6 D x 5 H cm Period of Time: 1960 Condition: Good
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass

Mid-century Modern paperweights for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern paperweights 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 paperweights created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with glass, art glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern paperweights made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original paperweights, popular names associated with this style include Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Fratelli Toso, Archimede Seguso, and Peter Sandback. 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 paperweights differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $45 and tops out at $8,800 while the average work can sell for $475.

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