Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
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
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
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.
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Color: Black
Ed Wiener Mid Century Abstract Modernist Mixed Metals Tray Catch All
By Ed Wiener
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Hand-wrought brass and copper tray or catch all with abstract modernist design created by Ed Wiener of New York, New York. Tray measures 2" by 9" by 16" and is signed Hand wrought by...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Copper, Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Tole Lemon Tree Candelabra / Chandelier
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Italian Florentine tole candelabra / chandelier with lemon motif (ca. 1950, Italy). Presently configured to accommodate six candles and can either sit ...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Stich Black leather desk set France 1950s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice large set of stich leather desk accessoires. consisting of
Leather paper basket, Leather lamp stand. leather Picture frame, Leather pape...
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather
Studio Crafted Signed Ceramic Candlesticks
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Studio crafted signed ceramic candlesticks.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Black and Grey Abstract Ceramic Tree by Claude Gaget La Borne, circa 1980
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Claude Gaget
Realised in La Borne circa 1980
Original black and grey ceramic sculpture by french artist Claude Gaget
Signed at the base
Origin...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Stainless Steel Sculpture by Albert Feraud, 1970
Located in Catonvielle, FR
Albert Feraud (1921-2008). Sculpture in stainless steel, signed hollow at the base. This great artist, internationally recognized, works metal from the sixties. With his friends César and Michel Guino, they recover the material in the scrap yards and scrapers. Unique piece.
Biography: Albert Féraud studied at the schools of fine arts of Montpellier, Marseille and Paris in the studio of Alfred Janniot...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Stainless Steel
French Mid-Century Modern Silver Candle Holder with Three Stems, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
French Mid-Century Modern silver candle holder with three stems, 1970s
Silver candle holder with three stems.
Excellent condition
Me...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
Rare 1970's Dutch Mobach Ceramic Standing Vessel
By Mobach
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare 1970's Mobach ceramic standing vessel for plants or decoration. The opening is about 5.125". It's in original condition with wear that's consistent with its age and use.
Category
1970s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Large Tennis Player Sculpture in Solid Brass
Located in New York, NY
Very unique large heavy solid brass tennis sculpture or statue on grey and black marble base. Great abstract Mid Century form in very good condition. ...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Brass
Vetro Soffiato Glass Vase with Handles, Murano, circa 1950
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A 'Vetro Soffiato' glass vase in dark amethyst glass with two handles, Murano Venice ca. 1950.
Measures: Width 5.12" (13cm)
Height 10.51" (26.7cm)
Diame...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Art Glass
Mid Century Modern Curtis Jere Kinetic Steel Sculpture
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
While the name Curtis Jere is familiar to many as the maker of eccentric modern design during the 1960's and 70's, few are aware that it is pseudonym for the design team of Curtis Fr...
Category
1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Steel
Carlo Alberto Rossi Pair of 'Bucchero' Female Heads Attributed to Giò Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in Tilburg, NL
Carlo Alberto Rossi pair of 'Bucchero' female heads attributed to Giò Ponti. Mid-20th century, Italy.
This is a rare and marvelous pair of littl...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery, Ceramic
Flavio Poli for Seguso Sommerso Murano Glass Vase, Italy, 1950s
By Seguso, Flavio Poli
Located in Naples, IT
Glass vase by Flavio Poli for Seguso 1950. Made on the island of Murano, Venice, Italy. In a beautiful combination of purple glass encased in glass , which is further enclosed in cle...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Piero Fornasetti 1950s Black and Gold Stencilled Key Design Paper Waste Basket
Located in London, GB
Rare and original 1950s black key design pattern Piero Fornasetti gold stencilled paper waste basket. signed.
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Cortendorf Bavarian Pair Mid-Century Novelty Pottery Cat Musician Figures
By Cortendorf
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A delightful pair mid-century German novelty pottery cat musician figures made by Cortendorf in Bavaria. The cats stand on rounded bases with one playing a s...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Petite Japanese Striped Glazed Pottery Weed Pot Ceramic Vase Signed Japan 1970s
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Petite Japanese weed pot lovely colored glaze exceptional quality
Ceramic pottery signed art piece. Unable to read.
Measures: 2.5 diameter x 2.75 tall inches
Unrestored preowned ...
Category
1970s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Desk Accessory Vintage Miscellaneous Pen Holder Leather Wrapped Open Cube 1970s
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Desk accessory vintage miscellaneous pen holder distressed leather wrapped open box 1970s
Unrestored fair condition original preowned vintage pr...
Category
1970s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Mid Century Blue Fiberglass Batters Helmet by American Baseball Cap Co.
Located in Ferndale, MI
Designed by Ralph D. Davia in 1954. Fiberglass baseball hitters hemet. Lightweight and strong. Original label Reads American baseball hat co. Media Penna.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Fiberglass
1950s Los Castillo Sculptural Mixed Metal Footed Dish Mexico
By Los Castillo
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Sculptural Modernism 1950s Married Metal Footed Dish Tray-
attributed to Los Castillo
Stamped Mexico
Mixed Metals of Brass, Stainless Steel and Copper.
Patinated Finish with Verdigri...
Category
1950s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Copper, Stainless Steel
Amazonia Series Vase by Gaetano Pesce
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Gaetano Pesce multicolored resin vase. Stamped on foot "Fish Design". Vase measures 13" high and 12" diameter.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Resin
1960s Hand Carved Abstract Modernist Blue Slate Wall Hanging Sculpture
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
Exceptionally well hand carved abstract panel in metal frame produced from a single slab of blue slate. Exquisitely executed. Very good quality heavy piece. Dates from the 1960s. Sig...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Slate
Galliano Ferro Red and Blue Controlled Bubbles Murano Glass Bowl
Located in Verviers, BE
About
Amazing Murano art glass bullicante bowl attributed to Galliano Ferro. A spectacular decorative design with hundreds of controlled blown bubbles in a bowl
Useful as candy ...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
1950s Modern Advertising Letter Opener Hill Desk Accessory
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Mid-Century Modern Advertising Letter Opener by Hill.
The letter opener has the original cover in faux leather with hammered texture. The metal had...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Unique Danish Stoneware Dish by Jørgen Mogensen, Own Studio, 1960s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Unique studio dish or bowl by the Danish ceramist Jørgen Mogensen. Stoneware with earthy glazes and with geometric relief. Hand signed and marked by artist. This piece dates from the...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Stoneware
Black Ceramic Dish by Accolay, France, 1960s
Located in New York, NY
Wonderfully rich and subtle glaze. Excellent as decorative object to be used in all manner of ways. Marked Accolay.
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Péter Pierre Székely, Sculpture, 1975
Located in New York, NY
Péter Pierre Székely (1923-2001)
Sculpture, 1975
Marble
Measures: 11 H x 8.5 W x 9 D inches
27.9 H x 21.6 W x 22.9 D cm
Signed and plated, un...
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Eugene Deutch Signed Mid-Century Modern Glazed Ceramic Folded Bowl Dish, 1951
Located in Studio City, CA
Wonderful work my well-known Hungarian born, Midwest potter Eugene Deutch.
This magnificently glazed folded bowl or dish features a colorful pattern in th...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Jacaranda and Sterling Silver Pot by Jean Gillon, Italma Wood, Brazil, 1960
By Jean Gillon, Italma
Located in Utrecht, NL
Collectable solid jacaranda wooden pot with a sterling (925 marked) handgrip by Jean Gillon. Made 1960 by Italma Wood Art, Brazil.
Originally designed as a tobacco pot but now serve...
Category
1960s Brazilian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
Solid Brass Stylized Cat, Japan, Walter Bosse Style
By Walter Bosse
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Japanese Style Ten-Sided Tenmoku Glazed Stoneware Studio Vase
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderfully designed, richly colored, deep brown, Tenmoku like glazed handmade artisan vase. Really quite stunning in person. It changes color subtlety and textures depending on perspective.
From a home of that collected top midcentury art and furniture...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Stoneware
Mid-Century Modern Brass and Metal Tree Wall Art Sculpture
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern brass and metal tree wall art sculpture.
Hooks on the back for hanging.
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal, Brass
Stich Black Leather Desk Set, 1970s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Stich black leather desk set, consisting of 5 pieces, paper basket, paper tray, pen tray, post-it tray, paperclip tray. Signed with a silver A. 1970...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather
1970s Natural Rock Pedestal Organic Stone Base Modern Brazil
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Natural Stone
Natural Rock Pedestal Stone Base from Brazil
Dimensions: 12L x 6 D x .75 thick.
Bottom is brown felt.
Original organic vintage condition
Se...
Category
1970s Brazilian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
Mid-Century Modern Brown Ceramic Stenciled Art Vase Made in Italy Numbered 1960s
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a gorgeous, stenciled ceramic art vase or vessel, made in Italy, numbered, circa 1960s. In excellent condition, with a small chip in the lip. The dimensions...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Midcentury Josef Hoffmann Accessory for Bieffeplast
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Elegant and strikingly minimal designs by Josef Hoffmann. The bowls/ dish height is 3 1/2 inches and the width is 8 1/2 inches showing very little if any use.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
1960s Brass and Glass Candleholder Made by Hans-Agne Jakobsson Ab, Sweden
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Candleholder element with super rare dark red shade
Design:
Hans-Agne Jakobsson
Producer:
Hans-Agne Jakobsson ab, Sweden
This candlelight holder was design...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal, Brass
Black and Silver Murano Glass Vase, by Ghisetti Murano
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Black and Silver Murano Glass Vase, by Ghisetti Murano
Unveil the vibrant Italian craftsmanship with this Black and Silver Murano Glass Vase by Ghisetti Murano. A testament to tradi...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Murano Glass
Heavy Italian Modern Sculptural Hand-Blown Murano Art Glass Flower Vase
By Murano 5
Located in Miami, FL
Elegant Italien sculptural hand-blown Murano art glass vase in dark pink, blue, green and clear tone.
The vase is very heavy.
Simply lovely.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Mid-Century Green Fat Lava Cyclope Planter by Charles Cart, 1960s
By Charles Cart
Located in Miami, FL
A stunning Fat Lava Studio planter by Charles Cart, circa 1960.
The distinctive glaze on this planter that was developed by Charles Cart the founder of the Le Cyclope Pottery...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Curtis Jere 5 Ft Tall Brutalist Sculptural Raindrops Tree
Located in Redding, CT
Curtis Jere 5 Ft Tall Brutalist sculptural Raindrops tree. Amazing designer item. Three large round starbursts pom pom style balls adorn this three branched tree with large Brutalis...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal, Cut Steel
Pair of Black Marble Candlesticks Imported by Raymor, Italy, 1950s, Excellent
Located in Kansas City, MO
Beautiful pair of Italian solid black marble candleholders / candlesticks. These were imported from Italy by Raymor in the 1950s. Signed with...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Stitched Leather Desk Set, France, 1960s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Fabulous large stitched brown leather desk set, French, 1960s. This set consists of the following eleven items:
- Desk clock (in good working order)
- Two bookends
- Letter hold...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather
Rare Isamu Noguchi Sculptural Bowl
Located in Dallas, TX
Rare large cast iron bowl attributed to Isamu Noguchi for Bonniers Japan. This is the larger example of this form produced in the 1950s at the Ooi Kojo ...
Category
1950s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Pair of Signed Ceramic Candleholders French Vallauris, Mid-Century Modern
By Vallauris
Located in Paris, FR
Two pairs of double original Vallauris French midcentury ceramic double candleholders beautifully decorated in a deep green and gold colors ornaments and golden pine nuts.
Signed ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Line Vautrin Talosel Bowl
By Line Vautrin
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Unique and unusual bowl by Line Vautrin. A handcrafted dish made of Talosel Resin and glass, truly one of a kind.
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Resin
Bronze Sculpture of a Racing Rabbit by S. Klein
By Fernando Botero
Located in NYC, NY
A heavy bronze sculpture of a racing rabbit on a rotating pedestal. The piece is signed "S.Klein" and marked 4/5 on one of the feet (Image 6); likely...
Category
20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Monumental Ceramic Vase by Nick Trotski
Located in Westport, CT
Extra large modernist ceramic Vase signed Nick Trotski, wonderful work. Decorated both sides.
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
A Mid Century Brutalist Paul Evans Style Sculpture
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
A vintage abstract, Brutalist sculpture made of welded steel and gilded solder in the style of Paul Evans.
Good vintage condition with age appropriate wear.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Objects
Materials
Steel
Mid-century Modern decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern decorative objects 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 decorative objects 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 ceramic, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern decorative objects 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 decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Scheurich Keramik, Bitossi, and Rörstrand. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $22 and tops out at $295,000 while the average work can sell for $847.
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