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Mid-Century Modern Garniture

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
Teekanne Mod. "Gallus Italicus" von Matteo Thun für Memphis Milano um 1982
Located in Wien, AT
Sehr seltene Teekanne Model „Gallus Italicus“ entworfen von Matteo Thun für Memphis Milano um 1982, frühe Ausführung von Alessio Sarri Ceramiche, Italien. Provenienz: Privatsammlung...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Pottery

Cenedese & Albarelli
Located in Lugo, IT
Vaso in vetro, produzione Cenedese & Albarelli, 1980 90. Possibile disegno di Maurizio Albarelli. Etichetta e firma a punta Ottime condizioni. Grazie
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Murano Glass

French Set of Two Fish Dishes in White Faience of Niderviller circa 1960
Located in Labrit, Landes
Dishes set: long fish dish or centerpiece and plate, France Midcentury. The two pieces were made in Niderviller Manufactury in the East of France. The Niderviller manufactory is stil...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Faience

French Decorative Bunch Hand-Made Centerpiece, Metal & Ceramic, circa 1970
Located in Labrit, Landes
Floral sculpture made with a base of chamotte ceramic and plaster. The bouquet is made up of flowers with metal petals and paper balls. Crepe paper was used to bring out the stems. T...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Metal

Alfredo Barbini Red, Green, Clear Murano Glass Vide Poche
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury hand blown Murano glass vessel featuring green and red stripes encased in clear glass with 22kt gold inclusions.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Empoli Glass Vase, Italy, 1960 in Red Color with Relief Patterns
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is a genuine Empoli art glass large vase, with the stick used by Emploli, whiten made in Italy. This is a Murano glass, the vase is heavy and large, and in a perfect condition. ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Art Glass

Mid-Century Los Castillo Silver Plate Pitcher with Parrot
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid-century pitcher hand crafted in silver plate over copper featuring a stone clad parrot as a handle. Stamped Los Castillo Mexico on the bottom.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Stone, Silver Plate, Copper

Royal porcelain, mussel painted thimble, 1950
Located in Lejre, DK
Royal porcelain mussel-painted thimble from around the 1950s in very fine condition.
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Porcelain

Round Copper Watering Can
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A lovely vintage watering can, fully functional and ideal for the inside plants, a greenhouse area or your smaller garden plants... pretty enough ...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Copper

Large MCM Studio Pottery Lidded Stoneware Vessel by Joel Edwards
Located in San Diego, CA
Large MCM studio pottery lidded stoneware vessel by Joel Edwards, circa 1960s. The incised piece is in very good condition with no chips or cracks and measur...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Stoneware

Rose, Gold Dust Inclusion Murano Vide Poche
Located in New York, NY
Modernist 1950s Rose colored Murano glass boomer rang shaped glass catch all, featuring gold dust inclusion throughout.
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Set of Three Earthenware Vessels
Located in Bochum, NRW
Mid-Century Studio Art Pottery vases, brutalist style, ruffled edges, glazed. Nice organic look, earthenware colors, with light sage green accents, this set of vases will decorate i...
Category

1970s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Earthenware

Pair of Murano Art Glass Vases
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Pair of Murano art glass vases in the tradition of great Italian glass manufacturers like Venini.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Art Glass

Large Modern Freeform Blown Murano Glass Vessel, Italy, 1960s
Located in Miami, FL
REDUCED FROM $385....Large Mid Century Modern freeform blown murano glass vessel, Italy, 1960s. Probably Seguso, it is an explosive form of glass wings pulled from the center with th...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Vintage Italian Murano Art Glass Shell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful vintage Murano art glass cream & brass. Very well done, still has the original label on it. A truly gorgeous piece to add to your living spaces.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Soft Pink Murano Glass Dish / Bowl, Italy 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Soft pink murano glass dish / centerpiece, made in Italy 1950s.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Glass

Upsala-Ekeby Set of Three Ceramic Pieces
Located in Bochum, NRW
A set of 'Red Rubin' ceramics with red glaze, gilded, Upsala-Ekeby, Gefle. Design Arthur Percy. Consisting of a vase and a pair of candle holders. Perfect condition. Each marked wit...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Asymmetric Kitsch Mediterranean Motif Porcelain Wall Plates, WG 1962
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of asymmetric porcelain plates, for putting over table or hung on a wall. Fabricated in West Germany in 1962. Hand-painted kitsch mediterranean mid-century drawing motifs. Marke...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Porcelain

Vase in White Opaline, Green Color, Italy, 1970
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This vase is in white opaline. It has been made in Italy around 1970.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Opaline Glass

French Set of Two Dishes Signed Saint Clément, Lunéville circa 1960
Located in Labrit, Landes
Dishes set: long dish or centerpiece and plate, France Midcentury. Only the long dish is signed Saint Clément. Dimensions: Plate: diameter 11.61 in. (29.5...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Faience

Collection of Royal Haeger "Earth Wrap" Pottery
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A collection of 1970's pottery by Royal Haeger from the "Earth Wrap" line. Gold and burnt orange lava glaze on a matte brown ground. Ten pieces av...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Pottery

Saint Clement French Mid-20th Century Ceramic Vase
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning French mid-century ceramic vase by St. Clement. This gorgeous vase is very decorative has a wonderful black background with green overtones. It almost appears to be in motio...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Ceramic

Set of Two Italian Glass Bowls, Green Amber and Purple and Clear, Italy 1960
Located in Bronx, NY
Two Italian 1960s glass bowls one is green with the top in amber the smaller one is blue with the top layer of glass in purple beautiful and...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Glass

Cut Crystal and Sterling Silver Vase
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Oval vase with cut crystal details accentuated by a sterling silver band at the top. Band is stamped: Made in Germany/ 925 Sterling Silver and has a small maker's stamp (see image 3).
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

Murano Glass Bottle by Cenedese & Albarelli
Located in Austin, TX
Whimsical Italian Murano glass bottle by Cenedese & Albarelli SNC, in blue glass with a "polvera d'oro" (23-karat gold flecks) stopper. Additional images show the bottle with a pink bottle...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Gold Leaf

Marcel Vertès Beautiful Ceramic Dish to the Horse, circa 1950
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Beautiful ceramic dish depicting a horse, Vallauris, tapis vert manufacture, circa 1950, signed, in excellent condition.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Ceramic

Marcello Fantoni Vase
Located in Ferndale, MI
Italian ceramic vase by Marcello Fantoni. Green and mustard glaze on bulbous form.
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Pottery

San Polo Venezia Italian Harlequin Ceramic Vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very large and impressive signed and numbered 0/108 San Polo Venezia Italian Harlequin ceramic vase - exquisite design, circa 1950s... excellent con...
Category

20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Vase in the Manner of Pino Spagnolo
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Ceramic vase in the manner of Pino Spagnolo.
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Ceramic

Marcel Vertes Beautiful Plate in Ceramic, Vallauris, circa 1955
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Marcel Vertès (1895-1961) Beautiful plate in ceramic, oval shape. Signed. Vallauris, France, Tapis vert manufacture circa 1955.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Ceramic

Set of Two Italian Glass Bowls
Located in Bronx, NY
Two Italian 1960s glass bowls one is green with the top in amber the smaller one is blue with the top layer of glass in purple beautiful and...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Glass

Pair of Ceramic Vases Made in Belgium
Located in Antwerp, BE
Two large ceramic vases made in Belgium. Measures: Height 58 cm. Diameter 16 cm.
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Ceramic

Tommi Parzinger Polished Nickel Candlesticks, Tray Set
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century three-piece table garniture set featuring a serving tray and a pair of candlesticks, all designed by Tommi Parzinger. Tray measures: 10.5 x ...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Nickel

Vintage Blenko Hand Blown Glass Green Pear with Gold Stem
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand blown green and amber glass shape like a pear with an opening in the middle and also at the end of the stem. Unique and delicate sophisticated sculpture. It will add some co...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Garniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Mid-century Modern garniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern garniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage garniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern garniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original garniture, popular names associated with this style include Cenedese & Albarelli, Marcel Vertès, Saint Clément, and Alfredo Barbini. 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 garniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $180 and tops out at $6,813 while the average work can sell for $844.

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