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Mid-Century Modern Urns

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
Vase Urn Bavaria Design 1950s Blu Cobal Gold 24 Kt Germany KPM
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Vase Urn Bavaria Design 1950s Blu Cobal Gold 24 KT Germany KPM.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Gustave Reynaud Le Murier, Vallauris Mid-Century Stoneware Fragrance Diffuser
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
French Mid-century stoneware vase by Jacqueline and Gustave Reynaud Le Murier, Vallauris, France, ca.1960s. Large fragrance diffuser made in Vallauris. Foliage decor on a light grey ...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Stoneware

Vintage Italian Agave Tole Zinc Plant Topiary Style Planters
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Vintage Tole Agave Plant Topiary Urns
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Zinc, Metal

Italian Glazed Ceramic by Capodimonte Multifunctional Vase 1960s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Stunning signed Capodimonte glazed ceramic 1960 the ceramic can be use for different purpose.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Sic Rimini Blu Glazed Ceramic Large Lidded Vessel / Box Bitossi Aldo Londi Style
Located in Barcelona, ES
Large Mid-Century Modern blue glazed ceramic (Rimini Blu) round lidded box , Manufactured by S.I.C Ceramiche Italy, 1950-1960s. It has reminiscences in those Rimini blue designs from Aldo Londi and Bitossi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery, Terracotta

Pair of French Hand-Painted Porcelain and Gilt Metal Amphoras
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of French Hand-Painted Porcelain and Gilt Metal Amphoras with no chips or cracks. Measure 5" in width, 4" inches in depth and stand 16.5"...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Midcentury Horn Shaped Church Vase in Brass, 1940s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Unusual sculptural horn shaped flower vase made from solid partially hammered brass. This vase came out of a church in Thorstup located in the southern part Denmark. It was used for ...
Category

1940s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Brass

Metal Urn Finished in Antique Bronze
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Metal Urn Finished in Antique Bronze. Lead with pull ring.
Category

2010s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Metal

Group of Green Nils Landberg for Orrefors Crystal Glass Vases, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Bronx, NY
Group of green Orrefors crystal glass vases in various shapes surrounded by a thick layer of clear glass. These are all by Nils Landberg 1950...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Crystal

Mid-Century Minimalist Metal Carafe, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Minimalist Metal Carafe, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Silver Styles: Mid-Century Modern, Minimal...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Metal

Vintage Pair of Murano Glass Bubble Vases with Sommerso Gold, 1960s Barovier
Located in Villaverla, IT
Vintage pair of Murano glass bubble vases with "sommerso" gold, 1960s Barovier. This beautiful pair of vases is an outstanding example of the best Murano glass tradition. The detail...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Gold

A malachite finish ceramic urn by Tomato Barbi, Milano 1970
Located in London, GB
Impressive centrepiece in ceramic by Tommaso Barbi, decorated in his signature malachite finish with feature gilt zig zag frieze on black band.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Urn with Beautiful Rusty Cobalt Blue Finish
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Ceramic urn in cobalt blue glaze with beautiful rusty finish. This item can be used as an urn or as a vase.
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Arthur Percy 1950s Yellow Porcelain Golden Decor Lidded Jar
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Swedish midcentury modern bright yellow porcelain lidded jar with vertical wavy shape. Stylized golden starshaped flower decor, golden lines and round golden top. Stamped under base....
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Mid-Century Modern Glazed Pottery Vase
Located in Houston, TX
Stunning Mid-Century Modern West German tomato red glazed pottery vase with great stylized geometric design.
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Pottery

Cenedese Tall Blue Vintage Italian Murano Glass Urn, Vase or Jar
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Wonderful tall light blue urn by Cenedese Vetri of Murano, Italy. A fun, funky and bright way to add a touch of bold colour / color to your interior - i...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Pair of Mid Century Chinese Glazed Terra Cotta Urns
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large pair of vintage Chinese urns handcrafted in terra cotta in classic form and decorated in a chic multi color drippy glaze.
Category

20th Century Chinese Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Majolica, Terracotta

Davide Oldani Taac Chicken Ceramic Center Piece
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Davide Oldani Taac Chicken For Cassina Taac Chicken fa parte della collezione di contenitori in ceramica smaltata, che segna la prima collaborazione di Cassina con lo chef Davide Ol...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Davide Oldani Set Off Ceramic Center Piece
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Davide Oldani Set Off Ceramic Center Piece Taac fa parte della collezione di contenitori in ceramica smaltata, che segna la prima collaborazione di Cassina con lo chef Davide Oldan...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Davide Oldani Taac Pumpkin Ceramic Center Piece
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Davide Oldani Taac Pumpkin For Cassina Taac Pumpkin fa parte della collezione di contenitori in ceramica smaltata, che segna la prima collaborazione di Cassina con lo chef Davide Ol...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Black & White Ceramic Elliptical Grid Form "Grenade" Vase
Located in New York, NY
This bold and striking Mid-Century Modern ceramic vase was realized in the United States circa 1970. It features an elliptical black body with a grid form in...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Large Georges Jouve Style Black Matte Cylinder Vase, France, c. 1950's
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rich Matte Black Glaze, minimal perfect black.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Don Shepard for Blenko Clear Glass 'Bamboo' Design Vase
By Don Sheperd
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century tall clear glass cylindrical vase, shaped to resemble bamboo. (DON SHEPARD FOR BLENKO GLASS CO.).
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Glass

Sculptural Ceramic Vessel with Lid by Dutch Schalling
Located in London, GB
Organic free form vessel or urn with lid by Willem Schalling. This sculptural vessel is hand sculpted and glazed in deep blue, with an over glaze in chalk white applied in vertical s...
Category

1960s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Pencil Reed Floor Vase or Urn
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large and impressive mid-century urn crafted in pencil reed in a classic modern form with a lush variegated brown finish.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Reed

Mid-20th Century Italian Woven Porcelain Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
A fantastic mid-20th century Italian handwoven porcelain sculpture constructed in a vase form of thinly hand-applied strips of porcelain, and then finished in a white glaze.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Davide Oldani Taac Chicken Ceramic Center Piece
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Davide Oldani Taac Chicken For Cassina Taac Chicken fa parte della collezione di contenitori in ceramica smaltata, che segna la prima collaborazione di Cassina con lo chef Davide Ol...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Large Hexagonal Ceramic Vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing our exquisite Large Hexagonal Vase With Yellow Glaze Finish – a true masterpiece that effortlessly blends contemporary design with a vibrant splash of color. This stunnin...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Huge Midcentury Drip Glaze Ceramic Urn
Located in Houston, TX
Huge Midcentury Drip Glaze Ceramic Urn. Huge white Mid-Century Modern drip glaze ceramic urn, vessel or vase. This large, 27 inch urn is...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Unique Stoneware Lidded Urn by Carl-Harry Stalhane, Rorstrand, Sweden, 1960s
Located in Malmö, SE
Unique stoneware lidded urn with amazing relief decor and glaze. Made by Carl-Harry Stålhane at Rörstrand Ateljé, Sweden, 1960s. Great condition. First sorting. There is a chip from...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Davide Oldani Taac Pumpkin For Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Davide Oldani Taac Pumpkin For Cassina Taac Pumpkin fa parte della collezione di contenitori in ceramica smaltata, che segna la prima collaborazione di Cassina con lo chef Davide Ol...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Midcentury Black and White Murano Glass Vase by Formentello
By Formentello
Located in Houston, TX
Lovely hand blown midcentury black and white Murano glass vase by Formentello. This gorgeous modernist Murano glass vase retains it's...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Hand Crafted Mid-Century Modern Vase, Pot by Artist Nancee Meeker
By Nancee Meeker
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous hand thrown vase in the Mid-Century Modern arts & crafts style with crazed glaze. Intentionally glazed to look like fissures this vase is a t...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Clay

Large Mid-Century Modern West German Glazed Pottery Vase
Located in Houston, TX
Large Mid-Century Modern West German glazed pottery vase. Stunning large Mid-Century Modern West German tomato red glazed pottery vase with a great...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Pottery

Massive Mid Century Modern Sculptural Hand Thrown Drip Glaze Vase - Urn
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and massive vase - urn which will be a eye catcher in your living or business space. Almost 4 ft tall and 30 inch at its widest in the center down to about 7 inch at the bas...
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Clay

Rare XL Bodo Mans Mid-Century Modern BAY Ceramic Urn Vase, c.1960/70s
Located in Skien, NO
**Rare Extra Large Mid-Century Modern Urn Vase by Bodo Mans for BAY Keramik, 1960s/1970s** This exceptional extra-large urn vase, designed by Bodo Mans for BAY Keramik in West Ger...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

West German Glazed Pottery Vase
Located in Houston, TX
West German glazed pottery vase. Stunning Mid-Century Modern West German glazed pottery vase with a great abstract decoration. Great as a stand alo...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Pottery

Vintage Brown Wooden Grain Etched Salt Glazed Stoneware Jug with Handles Signed
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Signed by the artisan, this vintage brown wooden grain etched salt glazed stoneware jug with handles showcases intricate carved lines reminiscent of aged wood, enhancing its rustic c...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Wood

1950s Italian Made Oversized Ornamental White Glazed Urn by Tomaso Barbi
Located in London, GB
This oversized, highly decorative, Italian-made ceramic urn was crafted in the 1950s by Tomaso Barbi. It features a glossy white glaze finish. The design is classically inspired, wit...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Italian Onyx Baluster Form Vase
Located in New York, NY
A large Italian onyx baluster form vase with beautiful central design; organic in design displaying the natural beauty of the stone and neutral coloration. Of very heavy weight; appr...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Onyx

West German Glazed Ceramic Vase by Jasba
Located in Houston, TX
West German glazed ceramic vase by Jasba. This stunning orange, cream and brown midcentury West German drip glaze vase. Great selection of md century West G...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

West German Glazed Pottery Vase
Located in Houston, TX
West German glazed pottery vase. This handsome vase has the most interesting geometric design with beautiful colors and matte glaze. Just one of our large collection!
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Pottery

Davide Oldani Taac Pumpkin For Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Davide Oldani Taac Pumpkin For Cassina Taac Pumpkin fa parte della collezione di contenitori in ceramica smaltata, che segna la prima collaborazione di Cassina con lo chef Davide Ol...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Davide Oldani Taac Asparagus For Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Davide Oldani Taac Pumpkin For Cassina Taac Pumpkin fa parte della collezione di contenitori in ceramica smaltata, che segna la prima collaborazione di Cassina con lo chef Davide Ol...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Davide Oldani Taac Asparagus Ceramic Center Piece
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Davide Oldani Taac Pumpkin For Cassina Taac Pumpkin fa parte della collezione di contenitori in ceramica smaltata, che segna la prima collaborazione di Cassina con lo chef Davide Ol...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Large Midcentury West German Matte Glazed Ceramic Vase
Located in Houston, TX
Stunning large midcentury West German matte glazed ceramic vase. This handsome vase has the most interesting geometric design in black over a b...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Black Vase with White Interior, Incised Circle & Line Decoration, France, c. 195
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Matte black mid century vase with white interior, incised circle & line decoration, France, c. 1950 Measures: Measure: H: 7.75.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Blue Nils Landberg for Orrefors Crystal Glass Vases, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Bronx, NY
Pair of Blue Orrefors crystal glass vasesdeep blue core in a layer of clear glass. Height is 7.5" and 9" Nils Landberg 1950s signed Orrefors.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Crystal

Davide Oldani Taac Chicken Ceramic Center Piece
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Davide Oldani Taac Chicken For Cassina Taac Chicken fa parte della collezione di contenitori in ceramica smaltata, che segna la prima collaborazione di Cassina con lo chef Davide Ol...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Davide Oldani Taac Asparagus Ceramic Center Piece
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Davide Oldani Taac Pumpkin For Cassina Taac Pumpkin fa parte della collezione di contenitori in ceramica smaltata, che segna la prima collaborazione di Cassina con lo chef Davide Ol...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Davide Oldani Taac Onion Ceramic Center Piece
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Davide Oldani Taac Onion For Cassina Taac Pumpkin fa parte della collezione di contenitori in ceramica smaltata, che segna la prima collaborazione di Cassina con lo chef Davide Olda...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Monumental Four-Piece Studio Pottery Fountain, Manner of Raymor, Italy
Located in Buffalo, NY
Monumental four-piece studio pottery Fountain, manner of Raymor, Italy. Wonderful scale and proportion. Glazed ceramic, incised geometric designs, Versatile: can be separated and used as two jardiniers...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Clay, Pottery

Italian Ceramic Vase or Urn
Located in Antwerp, BE
Large Italian ceramic vase. Measures: Diameter 32 cm. Height 51 cm.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Tall Blue Vintage Italian Murano Glass Urn or Vase by Cenedese
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Wonderful and elegantly formed tall light blue urn by Cenedese Vetri of Murano, Italy. A fun, funky and bright way to add a touch of bold colour / color...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Vintage Handmade Signed Tall Square Shaped Ceramic Vase
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Vintage handmade signed tall square-shaped ceramic vase: purple body with mustard-colored top – artistic home decor. There is also a drainage ho...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Potiche Batignani Italy Mid 20th c
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Ceramic potiche decorated with grotesques and gilding. Pinecone lid socket. Under the base manufacture's mark.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Green Glazed Maitland-Smith Fantail Vase
Located in Chicago, IL
A contemporary iteration of the classic Chinese phoenix-tail vase form, this tall porcelain urn by interior design house Maitland-Smith features a square body with angular shoulders ...
Category

Late 20th Century Hong Kong Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Costal Pencil Reed Low Lidded Urn
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous vintage Coastal lidded urn. A chic coiled pencil reed in warm brown tone. Coordinating tall urn also available on my Chairish page. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Category

Late 20th Century Philippine Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Reed

Gustavsberg Vase, Sweden, 1940
Located in Bronx, NY
Green ceramic vase by Gustavsberg Sweden quartz colored green with silver inlays surround the top of the rim with motif of fish silver inlayed ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Davide Oldani Taac Onion Ceramic Center Piece
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Davide Oldani Taac Onion For Cassina Taac Pumpkin fa parte della collezione di contenitori in ceramica smaltata, che segna la prima collaborazione di Cassina con lo chef Davide Olda...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-century Modern urns for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern urns 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 urns created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern urns 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 urns, popular names associated with this style include Cenedese, Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Aldo Londi, and Bitossi. 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 urns differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $66 and tops out at $29,000 while the average work can sell for $1,170.

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