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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 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
Italian Cream Architectural Marble Obelisk
Located in Chicago, IL
Italian cream pale marble obelisk composed of pieces of marble laminated together to compose the obelisk. Hollow on the interior and felted bottom. Part of three architectural marb...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Marble

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

1960s by Ludovico Diaz de Santillana for Venini Murano Glass Paperweight
Located in Brescia, IT
Venini Murano Cannette glass paperweight, designed by Ludovico De Santillana. Clear bubble over a heavy base decorated with applied filigrana cane segments. Perfect condition.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

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 vase printed in silver on a yell...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass

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

Dalmatian Murano Glass Black White Spotted Puppy Dog Figure Paperweight
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cute hand blown Murano glass Puppy Dog Figurine Sculpture in Black and White Murrine, Italy, 1950s. This nice doggy stands up on a small clear glass base. It has white spots on a bla...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Brass and Steel Abstract Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This bronze and steel sculpture features a brass pestle that sits atop a steel mortar. Though not an actual mortar and pestle, this piece resembles just t...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Brass, Steel

Marble Specimen Decorative Balls
Located in London, GB
A pair of marble specimen balls. Simple decorative objects for a shelf or desk top. Very tactile. The larger one in particular is made from se...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Marble

Vintage Italian Desk Set in Onyx Marble Ashtray and Paperweights, 1950s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A decorative desk lot consisting of pear and able shaped paperweights with brass stems and a mosaic ashtray in Onyx marble. Manufactured in Italy during...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Onyx

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

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

Salviati Vintage Green Orange Purple Crystal Murano Glass Sculpture Work of Art
Located in New York, NY
1970s Mid-Century Modern mouth blown Murano glass organic sculpture by Salviati, a crystal clear glass "stone" decorated in the interior with swirls of colors in lime green and red o...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine, Blown Glass

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

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

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

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

Italian Midcentury Murano Art Glass Paperweight with Floral Motif
Located in New York, NY
Italian Mid-Century Modern Murano art glass paperweight in elongated egg-shape, with floral motif and old price-tag on bottom. The piece i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

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

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

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

Modernist Lucite Resin Cube Sculpture with Gears Pierre Giraudon, France, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Lucite resin cube with gears inside attributed to Pierre Giraudon, circa 1970.  
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Resin, Lucite

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

1960s Vintage 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

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

Pair of Camer Murano Glass Bookends
Located in Cathedral City, CA
1950s pair of hand blown red and clear sculptural Murano glass bookends with original label "Camer Glass New York Venice".
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano 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

Pair of Murano Glass Paperweights by A. Barbini
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This nice pair of paperweights was designed by Alfredo Barbini and made in the workshop of Barbini on the island Murano in the lagoon of Venice. Alfredo Barbini, a glass artist born...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

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

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.
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Resin

Fornasetti Commedia dell'Arte Paperweights
Located in Riverdale, NY
Pair of porcelain Fornasetti pebble paperweights. Motifs: Commedia dell'Arte by Piero Fornasetti Measures: 4" x 3" x 1.5".
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Porcelain

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

1950s Austrian Brass Paperweight by Carl Aubock
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant heavy solid brass 'hand' paperweight.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Italian Alabaster Elephant Sculpture, 1970s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Stunning Mid-Century Modern Italian sculpture in alabaster, perfect for as desk decorative piece and paperweight. Perfect condition.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Alabaster

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 a...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass

Curtis Jere American, 1910-2008 Jump Rope, Bronze
Located in Buchanan, MI
Curtis Jere (American, 1910-2008) jump rope. Bronze figure of a girl jumping rope. Signed "C. Jere" along the base Measure: 10.5" x 6" x 4".
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Bronze

Italian Midcentury Murano Floral Glass Sphere on Glass Stand
Located in New York, NY
Italian Mid-Century Modern Murano art glass sphere with floral motif atop a glass Stand. The item is in great vintage condition with age-appropriate wear to the bottom.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

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

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

Stunning Vintage Tray / Sculpture Made of Brazilian Rosewood Unknown Author
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Solid Brazilian rosewood tray, with aluminum details. This peace is a huge vintage tray and also an amazing sculpture of a fish. This is one of...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Wood

1960s Italian Design Crystal Key Fontana Arte Style Paperweight
Located in Brescia, IT
Rare crystal key paperweight Perfect condiction.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Crystal

Murano White Gold Flecked Glass Goose Figure
Located in New York, NY
A figure of a goose, made of sculpted Italian Murano glass with white gold fleck inclusions. In good vintage condition.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

1970s by Renato Toso Murano Glass Pair of Stone Paperweights
Located in Brescia, IT
"Sassi" by Renato Toso, 1970 Clear and black Murano glass Excellent condition, just slight sign (look at the picture).
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

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

Vintage Bronze and Marble Roman Sandaled Paperweight Sculpture Fornasetti Style
Located in North Miami, FL
This Fornsetti style vintage paperweight, sculpture and desk accessory has a patinated bronze roman foot atop a white marble base. The bronze has bee...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Marble, Bronze

"Wyoming" Oil on Canvas by Robert Frame '1924-1999' Signed
By Robert 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

Vintage Miniature Royal Crown Cola Six-Pack Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
A really cool vintage miniature "Royal Crown Cola" six-pack paperweight, circa 1960’s. The piece is in good vintage condition and measures 2.625"W x 2"D x 3"H. Really fun and hard ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass, Paper

Large Glass Bubble Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Clear Glass Paperweight with bubbles. Very large sphere that measure 5 7/8" Large and stunning. a great decorative piece on a...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass, Art Glass

Beautiful Murano Glass Paperweight Mid-Century Modern, Italy 1980s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass paper weight. A beautiful nice addition to your desktop. Found at an estate sale in Verona, Italy.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Clear Glass Paperweight Air Bubbles Included 1960s
Located in Florence, IT
Murano Clear Glass Paperweight Air Bubbles Included, it could be also a desk accessory. The glass sculture is solid and heavy, the air bubbles have been...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

1960s Swedish Kosta Boda Teal Glass Trinket Dish Viking Ship by Erik Hoglund
Located in London, GB
1960s Small Swedish paperweight, ashtray or trinket dish which is made from a thick piece of square coloured dark teal glass. The viking ship design is...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass, Art Glass

Midcentury Amber Glass Paper Weight By Borske Sklo, 1960s
Located in Zohor, SK
Unique vintage desk paperweight. Produced by Borske Sklo in 1960s. Original amber color of the glass which is rare to see and find. The glass has the bubbles inside which were hand p...
Category

1960s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

Fornasetti Hand Painted Ceramic Paperweight Stone Knick-Knacks
Located in Brooklyn, NY
If there is such thing as a museum quality Knick-knack, the Fornasetti stone shaped paperweight is it. We are pleased to offer a set of eight, two from the Zodiac series, two from th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Ceramic

1970s Paperweight Wedge Exotic Wood Style of Don Shoemaker Mexico
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1970s Paperweight Exotic Wood Wedge Style of Don Shoemaker Mexico 7 long x 1.75 x 1.25 Thinnest .25 Preowned original vintage condition See all images.
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Wood

Vintage Italian Alabaster Owl Table Lighter
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Italian Alabaster Owl Table Lighter. Whimsical sculpture owl lighter in alabaster very collectible made in Italy. Glass eyes, red and beige tone ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Alabaster

Beautiful Lot of five Murano Italian Art Glass Vegetable Fruit, Italy, 1980s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass pieces. In the shape of fruits and vegetables. Colors are as seen in the pictures. A beautiful nice addition to your collection or to di...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano 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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