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Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

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: 20th Century
Pair of Mid-Century Chinese Ceramic Polychrome Foo Dogs
Located in San Diego, CA
Great pair of mid-century polychrome glazed ceramic foo dogs from China, circa 1950s. Great detail and a beautiful color combination of yellow, green and brown; the pair measure 14"W...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Bronze Etruscan Horse Sculpture in the Style of Frederick Weinberg
Located in San Diego, CA
Simple and elegant and rare Etruscan bronze horse sculpture in the style of Frederick Weinberg, with a verdigris finish sitting on a walnut finish base, ...
Category

20th Century Greek Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Alfredo Barbini Aquarium Murano 2 Fish Glass Object for Cenedese 1960s
Located in Munich, DE
Very colorful Murano glass block Aquarium with inclusions of two fishes and sea plants within clear glass, Italy circa 1960s.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Large Mid-Century Danish Teak 30inch Carved Stork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century, Jacob Hermann style, tall Danish teak stork sculpture. Very handsomely carved, a beautiful table or shelf accessory. In impressive original con...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Teak

Pair of Wood Donkey Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of solid wood bookends hand carved into the shape of donkey heads. Each donkey has ears that stand at attention and a dark walnut finish. Marked Made in Haiti -1953. Dimensio...
Category

Early 20th Century Haitian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Ghisetti, Submerged Murano Glass Elephant , Italy 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
Elephant figure in Murano submerged glass aquamarine green and transparent colors, on the base is engraved the signature of the author Gianpaolo Ghisetti. Italy 1970
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Ghisetti, Submerged Murano Glass Bear, Italy 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
Polar bear figure in Murano submerged glass aquamarine green and transparent colors, on the base is engraved the signature of the author Gianpaolo Ghisetti. Italy 1970
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Bronze Crab Sculpture / Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
A well detailed and patinated bronze crab sculpture / paperweight, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition and measures 6"W x 4.5"D x 4.75"H. #3303.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Stylish Ceramic Glazed Handpainted leopard Sculpture Ronzan Signed, Italy, 1950s
Located in Verviers, BE
This stylish Leopard sculpture dates to the late 1950s-1960s and was Fabricated in Italy Signed. Ronzan numbered 1211/3 This porcelain sculpture of a Leopard is made by the Italian a...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Pair Of Red Travertine Elephant Bookends And A Giraffe
Located in London, London
Set of three bookends Made from red travertine One giraffe and a pair of elephants By Fratelli Mannelli Giraffe measures 13 x 4 x 2 Italy 1970s/1980s
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Travertine

Sterling Silver Pheasant Table Ornament
Located in New York, NY
Italian silver pheasant table ornament. Realistically modeled sterling silver pheasant sculpture from the famed Argenteria Miracoli Milano. Silver markings "800" and "A. Miracoli" I...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Sterling Silver

very heavy glass Fish model of Thick Pressed Glass
Located in Oostrum-Venray, NL
Fish Made of Thick Pressed Glass This is a heavy decorative fish made of pressed glass. The design is most likely Scandinavian. A very nice decorative piece that will look beautiful...
Category

1960s Scandinavian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Glass

Vintage Collection of 12 Bronze Sculptures by Wm Otto for La Brea Tar Pits
Located in San Diego, CA
A very rare collection of twelve miniature bronze ice age mammal sculptures that were created by Wm Otto for the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits museum and gift shop c...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Solid Wood Credenza by Stanley Furniture.
Located in Seattle, WA
The Subtle Details of this Dresser Make it Incredibly Unique.Three Drawers, the Tipt Drawer Includes Dividers.Mid Century Modern Style with Tapered Legs and Dark Toned Wood.Makers Ma...
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Wood

English Midcentury Carved Wooden Reclining Stag Sculpture with Real Antlers
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English carved wooden reclining stag sculpture from the Midcentury period with real antlers. Elevate your interior with this captivating Midcentury English carved wooden reclining...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Antler, Wood

Vintage Silvio Russo Guzzini Lucite Giraffe Sculpture Mid Century Modern 1970s
Located in Troy, MI
Modernist Lucite giraffe sculpture Designed by Silvio Russo for Guzzini Italy 1970s Original label intact
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Lucite

Pair of Wood Horse Head Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of solid wood bookends hand carved into the shape of horse heads. One bookend features a carved horse head profile while the other appears more as the shadow. A playful piece ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Set of 4 Teak Bird Sculptures in the Style of Jacob Hermann circa 1950s
Located in Troy, MI
Vintage Grouping of Jacob Hermann Style Teak Bird Sculptures Grouping of petite bird sculptures in the style of Jacob Hermann circa 1950s One large and three small sculpted in teak...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Wooden Decoration, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
Vintage decoration made of wood. Good original condition.
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Italian White Ceramic Greyhound Sculpture
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Beautiful Italian white ceramic blue eyes greyhound statue from the 1970’s. Measurements: 26” high, 14” wide and 8” deep.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

1960s Medium Size Teak Ape Monkey by Kay Bojesen
Located in Victoria, BC
The rare, larger version of the 1960s Teak Ape Monkey by Kay Bojesen is a true treasure for collectors and enthusiasts alike. This extraordinary wooden figurine represents the epitome of Danish design from the mid-20th century. Meticulously handcrafted with teak wood, this majestic monkey stands...
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Teak

Vintage Large Bronze Articulated Crab Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
A well detailed and patinated vintage articulated bronze crab sculpture, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition and quite lar...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Wooden Mouse Figurine by Laurids Lønborg, Denmark 1970s
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Wooden Mouse Figurine By Laurids Lønborg, Denmark 1970s wood and leather.
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Vintage Panther Sculpture
Located in Austin, TX
Italian vintage panther sculpture in polychrome ceramic with beautiful emerald colored eyes. The life-like pose and expression are captivating.
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Hal Fromhold Ceramic Hippo, 1960's
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Turquoise ceramic hippo by California artist Hal Fromhold from the mid 1960s.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Italian Geisha Sculpture in Green Murano Glass, 1960s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Murano green Geisha in Murano glass in a vivid green color. In style Mid century Modern from Italy Murano 1960s.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Bruno Gambone Stoneware Horse Set of 3
Located in Munich, DE
Cream white glazed ceramic horses made by Bruno Gambone in the 1970s, signed Gambone on the bottom. Wonderful set in excellent condition.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Stoneware

Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano Vintage Opal White Blue Italian Art Glass Bird Figure
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso opalescent white and sky blue Italian art glass bird figurine / sculpture. Documented to the Seguso Vetri d'Arte company, circa 1950s. Th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

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

Italian Sculpture Bird Bitossi Design 1960 Black and Blu Ceramic
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Italian sculpture bird Bitossi Design 1960 black and blu ceramic.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Vintage American Midcentury Iron Duck Sculptures with Weathered Patina
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of vintage American iron quacking ducks from the mid 20th century, with distressed patina. Made in the USA during the midcentury period, each of this pair or iron sculptures d...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Original Vintage Mid-Century Italian Modern Ceramic Cheetah Sculpture, 1970s
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This large figure of a cheetah probably was produced in Italy during the 1970s. The figure is made of high-quality hand-painted ceramics in intense shades of orange. The cheetah is p...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Vintage Leather Horses Modern Sculpture Style of Dimitri Omersa 1970s
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Leather horses Pair of horse sculptures in leather in the style of Dimitri Omersa for Abercombie & Fitch Unmarked. Brown tones Standing ho...
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Leather

Modernist Solid Bronze Horse Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large expertly executed modernist early to mid 20th century large extremely heavy solid bronze horse sculpture. Unsigned.
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Green Onyx Marble Sculpture Depicting the White Rhino Italy 1950s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Onyx marble sculpture depicting the white rhino Italy 1950s.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Animal Ceramic Sculpture by Accolay Midcentury Tortoise Brown Pottery Color
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Accolay Animal ceramic sculpture by French ceramist of accolay. Tortoise form with brown pottery color. Signed under the base Dimensions: 6 x...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Pottery

Midcentury Brass Resting Leopard Sculpture by Sarried
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury brass resting leopard sculpture by Sarried Brass resting leopard sculpture, beautifully cast and finished, fits on most shelfs.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Gordon Newell Style Polar Bear Sculpture Signed
By Gordon Newell
Located in Ferndale, MI
Plaster Polar Bear sculpture Signed Alva '78 .
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Fish Bottle Dispenser Hand Carved Wood & Metal Aldo Tura for Macabo Italy 1950s
Located in Rome, IT
1950s fish shaped bottle dispenser in hand-carved wood featuring metal details by the Italian designer Aldo Tura for Macabo.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Leather Dark Brown Elephant by Dimitro Omersa for Abercrombie & Fitch, UK, 1960s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Leather dark brown elephant by Dimitro Omersa for Abercrombie & Fitch, UK, 1960s.  
Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Leather

Midcentury Murano Glass Cock, Italy, circa 1950
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Fantastic handcrafted midcentury Murano glass art cock out of the renown Murano workshops in Italy from circa 1950. The multicolored in-glas worked body shows beautiful green and yellow tones and just looks gorgeous. Standing on a clear glass base this Murano glass cock...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

1960s Hand Painted Colorful Ceramic Tile BULL Toro after Genaro Alvarez
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Handmade Tile Bull TORO Figurine Sculpture Unmarked. In the style of Mexican artist Genaro Alvarez. Mosaic bull is handcrafted with a rainbow of ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Hal Fromhold California Studio Ceramic Hippo, 1960s
Located in San Diego, CA
Ceramic hippo sculpture by California artist, Hal Fromhold. Signed. Hal Fromhold was born in England and immigrated to Canada in his early 1930s. He t...
Category

1950s North American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Clay

Sarreid Hand Carved Bookends, 1970s, Spain
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare sculptural wood hand carved eagle bookends by Sarreid Spain 1970s. Beautiful wood with a rustic cerused white wash. Books are not included. Versatile design that w...
Category

20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Pair of Large Crane Bird Sculptures, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Large brass crane bird sculptures from the 1960s-1970s. This pair of messing bird sculptures, brass bird sculptures or animal art sculptures does ha...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Midcentury Life-Size Italian White Glazed Terracotta Greyhound Dog
Located in London, London
Model of a greyhound Terracotta Glazed Nicely modelled  Italy midcentury.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Solid Brass Stylized Cat, Japan, Walter Bosse Style
Located in Ferndale, MI
Solid brass stylized cat, Walter Bosse style. Often used as a candle holder, paper clips, etc. Hallmark Japan. Measures: 1.25" T x 3" L x 1.5" D.
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Barovier Murano Glass Ducks, Italy, 1970s
Located in Munich, DE
Two beautiful Murano glass ducks signed by Barovier & Toso, Italy 1970s. Measures: 12 H x 25 B x 9 D cm.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Aurelio Teno, a Group of Four Silver Sea Shell and Coral Animal Sculpture, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
A group of four silver, sea shell and coral Animal sculptures 1950s. Dimensions: Frog – H 5” x W 2.5” x D 5” x base height 2” Bird – H 6” x W 5” x D 3.5” x base height 2” Dog – H 4” x W 2.33” x D 3.5” x base height 0.75” Turtle – H 2.75” x W 3.75” x D: 4.75” x base height 0.75” Aurelio Teno Teno a/k/a Aurelio Teno (Spanish, 1927 - 2013) was a Spanish sculptor and painter. He stood out for his interpretations of Don Quixote, as the one who imagines him - mounted on the horse named Clavileño - as the first cosmonaut in history. Between 1936 and 1943, he lived in Córdoba where he trained artistically. First, as an apprentice in the workshop of the sculptor Amadeo Ruiz Olmos; later in a silverware workshop; and since 1939, in the School of Arts and Crafts of Cordoba, where he studied painting and drawing. In 1950, he moved to Madrid to work as a goldsmith; and later to Paris, where he lived for ten years. There, he extended his studies of fine arts, and is strongly influenced by Giacometti and expressionism in whole. This period in Teno’s artistic life is celebrated by several exhibitions of his paintings in the Salón del Art Libre, Palais des Beaux Arts galleries and others. At the same time, he continued to dedicate a lot of time to the creation of his famous sculptures-jewels. In 1965, he returned to Madrid although he installed his studio in the Molino del Cubo (Ávila), where he researched new plastic procedures and also exhibits his controversial polemical paintings at the Ateneo de Madrid. Begining that year, he starts a series of international exhibitions in Copenhagen, Paris, New York, Rabat and San Luis (Missouri, USA). In 1976 he consolidated his international prestige as a monumental sculptor by winning the contest for Don Quixote sculpture...
Category

1950s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Coral, Sterling Silver

African "Monkey Tree" Bronze Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
African "Monkey Tree" bronze sculpture, with a troop of 19 monkeys about a tree of life unsigned. The base measures 4" x 3".  
Category

1970s African Vintage Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Three Arctic Animals Made of Lucite by Abraham Palatnik
Located in Doornspijk, NL
A seal, polar bear and walrus made of Lucite by Abraham Palatnik. Their organic shapes and streamlined bodies are a feast for the eyes. The seal measures 8.5 cm in height, 11 cm in...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Polychromed Sculpted Stone Lion, circa 1950
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Polychromed sculpted stone lion, circa 1950. 200 kg.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Stone

Pair of English Lead Reclining Greyhounds Dogs on Stone Base, Mid-20th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of vintage reclining greyhound dogs on stone base from the mid 20th century. This pair of greyhound dogs from the United Kingdom is ...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Stone, Lead

Mid-century Modern animal sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern animal sculptures 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 animal sculptures 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 metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern animal sculptures 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 animal sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Walter Bosse, Herta Baller, Sergio Bustamante, and Abercrombie & Fitch. 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 animal sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $34 and tops out at $295,000 while the average work can sell for $877.

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