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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
Kosta Boda Sweden Crystal Musk Ox Wooly Ox Göran Wärff Limited Edition WWF
Located in Lutz, FL
Scandinavian Clear glass Muskox sculpture figurine designed by Goran Warff in 1973 for Kosta Boda as part of World Wildlife Fund" (WWF) Endangered Animals series. signed Kosta Warff ...
Category

1980s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Crystal

Carl Auböck Paperweight "Pipe", Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck paperweight "pipe" in brass, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Brass

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

Vintage Omersa Leather Turtle Use as Paperweight or Decorative, Retains Label
Located in St. Louis, MO
Vintage Dimitri Omersa embossed brown leather Turtle with label. Can be used as a paperweight or as decoration. Fun size. In fine condition, retains label.
Category

1970s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Leather

Bronze Foot an Early Example from the Carl Aubock Workshop Sculpture Paperweight
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Marked, "MADE IN AUSTRIA" We are assume this is an earlier version of the, 'Best Foot Forward' desktop paperweight. Wonderful patina, presented in as found condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Bronze

Paperweight Flower Model Murano Italy, 1960
Located in Oirlo, LI
Paperweight Flower Model Murano Italy, 1960 A paperweight is an object that can be placed on a desk on top of papers to prevent them from blowing away. This goes back a long way, in Egypt they already used paperweight...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

Mid-Century Modern Murano Art Glass Blue and Clear Apple Sculpture Paperweight
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mid Century Modern Murano art glass in turquoise and clear apple fruit glass sculpture or decorative art object, paperweight. beautiful Italian Murano blown art glass apple fruit gl...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

Paperweight of Beautifully Crafted Glass Colored Gray Purple
Located in Oirlo, LI
Paperweight of Beautifully Crafted Glass Colored Gray Purple Additional information: Dimensions: 6 W x 6 D x 5.5 H cm Period of Time: 1960 Condition: Good
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass

Wonderful Carved Rock Crystal Sculpture Alligator Paperweight Desk Accessory
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Carved Rock crystal sculpture Of An Alligator Paperweight Desk Accessory.
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Rock Crystal

Vintage Paperweight Ball, Italy, 1970, Set of 3
Located in KUTNO, PL
Fancy, artistic and joyful! These vintage paperweights were handcrafted by a master glassblower . This is not only a practical office item, but also a small work of art - elegant, ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass

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

Italian Mid Century Modern Murano Glass Puzzle by Barbini
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Barbini Murano is a prominent glasswork company based on the island of Murano in Italy. They are known for their exquisite Murano glass pieces, which encompass a wide range of decora...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Murano Glass

Dutch Round Glass Paperweight Ball Signed with Oude Horn leerdam W Heesen
Located in Oirlo, LI
Dutch Round Glass Paperweight Ball Signed with O Horn, 1980 Oude Horn Leerdam from Willem Heesen Additional information: Dimensions: 6 W x 6 D x 5 H c...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Glass

Paperweight Orange with Black/White/Green Bows
Located in Oirlo, LI
Paperweight Orange with Black/White/Green Bows Additional information: Dimensions: 8.5 W x 8.5 D x 7 H cm Period of Time: 1960 Condition: Good
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

Set of Two Glass Paperweights by Milan Metelák, 1970's
Located in Praha, CZ
Set of glass paperweights 'APPLE' and 'PEAR' made of clear and green glass with fused optical decoration of bubbles 'Raindrops'. The author is the glass artist and painter Milan METELÁK...
Category

1970s Czech 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

Late 20th Century American Art Glass Crystal Caterpillar Sculpture by, Steuben
Located in Englewood, NJ
A Late 20th Century American Crystal Caterpillar Designed by Peter Yenawine, for Steuben Glass depicting an inching caterpillar with outstretched antennas and applied eyes gives a re...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Crystal

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

Emporio Armani Seguso Murano Iridescent Italian Art Glass Paperweight and Bag
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful Murano hand blown Sommerso clear and iridescent surface Italian art glass paperweight. The piece is documented to the Seguso Viro company, for the Emporio Armani stores in ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Gold Leaf

1950s Chiesa Pietro Design Fontana Arte Italy Paperweight Chiseled Glass
Located in Biella, IT
Chiesa Pietro design by Fontana Arte Italy, sculpture chiselled glass years 60. Measure; 17 cm x 11 x 6 cm - 6.5 inches x 2.2" x2.3".
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art 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

"Panicaut des Alpes" French resin paperweight by Pierre Bodin - 1980s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
"Panicaut des Alpes" French resin paperweight by Pierre Bodin -1980s Boho chic - sculpture - herbarium - inclusion Measures : 10.5cmx6cm H:16cm Material : Resin Wear consistent wit...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Resin

Tall Art Glass Blue Swirl Jellyfish Paperweight
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Artisan-made, hand-blown, art glass paperweight by Rochester Folk Art Guild features a graceful, cobalt blue form resembling a jellyfish or a flower encased in a clear glass tall obl...
Category

1980s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Art Glass

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Orange Pen Holder by Royal Haeger
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage Mid-Century Modern ceramic orange pen holder / desk accessory by Royal Haeger. Measures: Height: 2 7/8 in. Width: 9 in. Special Characteristics...
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Ceramic

Trio of Midcentury Decorative Marble Desk or Shelf Objects
Located in London, GB
A set of three marble specimens. Belgium, circa 1970s. Formed in spheres. Two green specimens - 8.5 diameter, a slightly larger sphere at 10 diameter in cm. Price is for the ...
Category

1970s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Paperweights

Materials

Marble

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

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 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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