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Mid-Century Modern 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
Color:  Orange
Giovanni Ronzan Tall Italian Ceramic Animal Figurine Parrot Mid-Century
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Giovanni Ronzan tall ceramic animal figure - sculpture. Depicting a Parrot on a tree trunk. Hand crafted and hand painted in strong lively colors. Styl...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware, Porcelain

Vintage ceramic figure Fish Vintage Portugal 1970s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Discover this charming vintage ceramic figure, a delightful fish, hailing from the artisan workshops of Portugal in the 1970s. Despite the passage of time, it has retained its allure...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Very Large Lucite Giraffe by Abraham Palatnik
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Very rare: a Palatnik animal figurine of half a meter high. This giraffe truly is a showpiece in any room. Almost new, it comes from the unpacked inventory of a store selling design ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Lucite

Art glass vase, Kosta Royal Art Collellection, hand made by Göran Wärff, Sweden
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A rare collectible and signed glass vase. Swedish modernism design, made by Wärff for Boda, Sweden. This was handmade by the artist, and it is a limited edition, thus numbered and s...
Category

1980s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Art Glass

ABRAHAM PALATNIK, monochromatic owl
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
A Mid-Century Modern art owl designed by Abraham Palatnik. Original label on bottom: Made in Brazil. Abraham Palatnik (born in 1928) is a Brazilian artist and inventor whose innovati...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Acrylic

Midcentury Ruscha Large Bull, West Germany
Located in Pymble, NSW
A rare 1960s Ruscha large bull with the 'Vulkano' glaze, unmarked, West Germany. The glaze was devised by Otto Gerharz in 1959. A very appealing and tactile...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Bruno Gambone Stoneware Orange Glazed Goat 1970s
Located in Munich, DE
Orange glazed ceramic goat made by Bruno Gambone in the 1970s, signed Gambone Italy on the bottom. Very rare to find in the glazed orange design and in ex...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Stoneware

Orange Vintage Decorative Mannequin Glass Head Sculpture, 1970s, Germany
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Life-size glass head in a unique orange color. Produced in a German steelworks in the 1970s. Perfect condition. A perfect addition to the interior, photo prop, display or headphone stand.
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Glass

Bitossi for Raymor Lion, Ceramic, Yellow, Signed
Located in New York, NY
Bitossi for Raymor Lion, Ceramic, Yellow, Signed. Chunky medium scale animal sculpture with whimsical detail and glazed in fun Pop Art yellow. Retai...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Super Color Crusty Fat Lava Multi-Color Vase Scheurich, Germany WGP, 1970s
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: fat lava art vase, heavy brutalist glaze. Producer: Scheurich, Germany. Decade: 1970s. This original vintage vase was produced in the 1970s in ...
Category

Late 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Salviati Murano Sommerso Merlot Red Peach Italian Art Glass Owl Bird Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage murano hand blown sommerso technique Italian art glass owl sculpture. Documented to the Salviati Company, and signed "Salviati" underneath. The own has white on cle...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

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

Archimede Seguso Murano Sommerso Red Orange Italian Art Glass Owl Bird Figurine
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso yellow orange over red Italian art glass horned owl baby bird figurine, paperweight. Documented to designer Archimede Seguso. Similar one...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

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

Murano Swirl Art Glass Owl Sculpture Figurine, Italy, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown owl figure. Colors are a black, red and yellow. Made in Murano, Italy. A great piece for any room or gift for any occasion. Brightens up any room.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Pieta Carita Fraternita Marble Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
"Pieta, Carita, Fraternita" (Piety, Charity, Brotherhood) a figural marble sculptural group depicting Christ, Nicodemus, the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene during the deposition from...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Mario Badioli after Picasso Black and Orange Sommerso Murano Glass Vase, 1980s
Located in Roma, IT
Midcentury amazing black and orange sommerso Murano glass vase. Mario Badioli probably designed this fantastic piece in the style of Picasso in Italy dur...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass

Large Midcentury Italian Alabaster Grapes
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Original midcentury decorative large cluster of grapes in painted alabaster with an olive branch for stem.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Alabaster

Large Hogfish Sculpture by Todd Warner
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical two sided hogfish sculpture crafted in composition and wire with stylized form and sea inspired tropical colors by Todd Warner.
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Metal

20th Century Mini Spaniel Dog Family Sculptures, Italy, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Painted ceramic, very good original vintage condition. No damages or cracks. Beautiful and unique decorative sculpture. Mini Spaniel Dogs Sculpture was produced in Italy. Only one se...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Era Molded Fiberglass Carnival Clown Head or Midway Game Component
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This whimsical clown head is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in Canada in approximately 1965 in the period Mid-Century carnival style. The head...
Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Fiberglass

Vintage Marble Sculpture Signed "Brilliante"
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This large tabletop sculpture features an abstracted bird form in a red shade of marble. The sculpture is signed "Brilliante". Please confirm...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Vintage Large Brown and Amber Murano Glass Shark on a Wave Shaped Base, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Murano, Italy, 1960s. It is ascribable to Seguso and it is made in murano glass. This piece is vintage, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be considered as in ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Rare Ceramic Boxer Dog Decorative Sculpture, Italy, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Painted ceramic/terracotta, good original vintage condition. Beautiful and unique decorative sculpture. Boxer dog was produced in 1960s in Italy.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Terracotta

Pair of Sommerso Art Glass Pumpkins by Murano Glass Studios
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice pair of sommerso art glass pumpkins by Murano Glass Studios, circa 1970s. The pair are in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and ha...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Art Glass, Sommerso

Rare Medium Tiger Ceramic Sculpture, Italy, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Italian ceramic, perfect condition, produced in 1960s. We have also another big cats for sale, check our products. Only one unique piece available.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Mid Century Italian Glazed Terracotta Giraffe
Located in Rochester, NY
Large Italian glazed terracotta giraffe. Mid 20th century.   
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Maiolica, Majolica, Terracotta

Alfredo Barbini Murano Squirrel Figure in Amber and Orange Glass
Located in Barcelona, ES
One of a kind large hand blown Sommerso and Lattimo amber, orange, white and clear glass squirrel sculpture. Attributed to Alfredo Barbini, Italy, 1950s. This cute Murano glass esqu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

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

1960s Orb Ashtray Mod Psychedelic Orange Mid-Century Plastic + Steel Sculpture
Located in Hyattsville, MD
A wonderful sculptural orange orb ashtray from the 1960s German era of ABS Plastics manufacturing dominance. Harder to find and highly collectible decor. J...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Stainless Steel

Murano Art Glass Green and Amber Cactus Plant, 1990
Located in Rome, IT
Italian design, this cactus is a fashion icon of the Italian style, green with a beautiful amber glass vase underneath. In limited edition, manufactured in one of the furnaces in Ve...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Italian Art Glass Sword Fish Sculpture Statue, Italy Vintage
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A Venetian sculptural fish figurine in hand blown glass, produced on the isle of Murano, circa 1960s. A nice piece of art for any room.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Art Glass

Carl Auböck Monumental Brass Foot Sculpture, Werkstätte Auböck, Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
We are offering this impressive 13“ long and 8“high brass foot sculpture, designed and manufactured by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Vienna, Austria. This the second ever-made piece of this giant foot...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Apple Sculpture by Per Hammarström, Sweden, 1980’s / 1990’s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Apple sculpture by Per Hammarström, Sweden, 1980’s / 1990’s. Stoneware. Signed. Per Hammarström is one of Sweden’s most highly regarded ceramicists. Per’s work doesn’t conform to the Swedish style of simplicity; instead he loves colour and texture, and exploring the multi-faceted function of ceramics. Per began his training at the Gustavsbergs Porcelain Studio in 1978, which is sadly no longer in existence. In 1984 he opened his own studio in Strängnäs, and has worked in this manner ever since. Per’s work is characterised by organic forms and his own distinctive glazes, often in bright colours and strong contrasts. His work is unique, each piece starting out as a roughly thrown form, which is worked and transformed into bowls that are characterised by their delicacy and translucency. The organic form is embodied in the textured ceramics of Per. His works are either made from stoneware or porcelain. The inspiration of much of his work is the sea, but he also draws from flora and fauna; and the changing of the seasons. The undulating colours of the sea, sky and land manifest themselves in his delicately crafted and vividly coloured ceramics. Through elaborate dining-ware and ceramic ornaments...
Category

Late 20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Stoneware

English Bulldog Perfume Lamp
Located in Antwerp, BE
English bulldog perfume lamp. A porcelain perfume light in the shape of an English Bulldog. He has a bow around his neck, where you can see the hol...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Lineasette Italy Ceramic Lady Hat Figurative Sculpture Slate Base
Located in Miami, FL
Lineasette Italy Vintage peach colored hand carved ceramic lady figurine or table sculpture Mid-Century Modern. Figurative sculpture depicting a Lady with...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Slate

Ceramic Animal Sculpture Turtle by Accolay circa 1960 Orange Glaze Color
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Accolay Ceramic sculpture representative of a turtle. Orange ceramic glaze color. Signed under the base ACCOLAY Dimensions: 9 x 16 x 10cm.
Category

Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Alberto Donà Mid-Century Modern Amber Clear Three Molato Murano Glass Vases 1992
Located in Murano, Venezia
Three Murano blown glass vases Molato (engraved), color clear and amber inside. To perform this work we need two different processes: the first, to model the hot vase giving form an...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Salviati Murano Sommerso Blue Amber Italian Art Glass Fish
Located in Southampton, NJ
A pair of Salviati Venezia studio fish Sculptures of Sommerso form, clear, over aqua blue and amber layers of thick Murano glass. Each is hand signed ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Seguso Murano Sommerso Orange Red Italian Art Glass Flying Duck Bird Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, extra large, vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso golden yellow orange over red, Italian art glass flying duck centerpiece sculpture. Documented to designer Archimede Seguso...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

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

Studio Stoneware "Pigeon" Sculpture Attributed to Polk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
1970s stoneware sculpture representing a pigeon. Surrealist in style, with humanistic characteristics / physical features. Minor loss to the brown glaze "straps" in the back. Like...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Stoneware

Shoehorn Squirrel Blackened Brass by Walter Bosse, Austria, 1950s
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A nice shoehorn made of blackened and partly polished brass by Walter Bosse, Austria, 1950s. The handle is in the form of a squirrel. That tail can be used as hook. Very nice patina ...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Yves Rhayé Large Terracotta Sculpture, circa 1960-1970
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Yves Rhayé (1936-1995) large terracotta sculpture, circa 1960-1970 Interior exterior.
Category

1960s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

20th Century Gilt Flame Sculpture
Located in South Salem, NY
Striking modern flame sculpture on an ebony marble stand, originally sold by Harrod's Department Store in London. Dramatic, stylized flame, a classic s...
Category

20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Leather Monkey by Deru
By Deru
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A monkey handcrafted from a pinched and riveted piece of leather.
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Leather

Leonardo Nierman Onyx "Wing" Sculpture on Marble Base, Signed
Located in Kansas City, MO
Large table top Leonardo Nierman onyx "Wing" sculpture on marble base. Mint condition. Signed with engraved signature.
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Onyx, Marble

"Pink Doves, " Rare Pair of Midcentury Ceramic Sculptures by Waylande Gregory
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Glazed in a deep pink color overlaid by an elaborate pattern of markings in black and gold, this pair of ceramic doves was sculpted and glazed by Waylande Gregory, one of America's 2...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Swedish Midcentury Flygfors Orange Bubblegum Centrepiece
Located in Copenhagen, K
Midcentury Flygfors orange bubblegum centerpiece from the range Coquille by Paul Kedelv.
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Art Glass

Exceptional Multi Sommerso Picasso Style Abstract Face Art Glass Sculpture
Located in Montreal, QC
Magnificent large multi Sommerso colored Picasso style abstract face art glass sculpture. High quality gallery object of unusual design. Colorless glass...
Category

Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Glass

Sculptural Mahogany Coffee Table with Brass Legs and Carved Birds and Fish
Located in Chicago, IL
Sculptural zigzag coffee table in mahogany with slender, tapered brass legs. It has a stepped rim around the edges with rounded corners. The top is a wonderfully carved relief sculpt...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Italian Venetian Flame Table Lamp in blown Murano Glass yellow orange 1980s
Located in Villaverla, IT
Very Unique, and Elegant, Italian Venetian, Flame Table Lamp, blown Murano Glass, yellow orange black in pasta, composed by a black basement with a white line finishes, followed by ...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Swedish Sculpture of Hand-Sculpted Beech Wood by Bo Fjaestad
Located in Atlanta, GA
Swedish Modern "Flora Danica" sculpture made of hand-sculpted beech by Swedish artist Bo Fjaestad (1906 -1991) of Varmland, Sweden. Fjæstad Bo (Bo Krister Gustafsson Fjæstad), was a talented sculptor, joiner and furniture designer and was the son of Gustaf Fjaestad...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Wood, Beech

1971 Terracotta Three Heads Sculpture Signed Maynard
Located in Cathedral City, CA
1971 terracotta sculpture of three ladies' heads by Maynard.
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Pair of 1970 Gucci Lamps with Silk Shades Signed by Paolo Gucci
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A phenomenal pair of lamps signed and designed by Paolo Gucci for Gucci. The pair are made of molded resin and look spectacular when lit... the silk shades have a gold foil inside wh...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Silk, Resin

Abraham Palatnik Brazil Lucite Colored Duck, circa 1970
Located in Pymble, NSW
A large multicolored duck in excellent condition.
Category

1970s Brazilian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Sculptures

Materials

Lucite

Mid-century Modern sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern 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 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, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Walter Bosse, Herta Baller, Curtis Jeré, and Joel Escalona. 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 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 $1,322.

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