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Mid-Century Modern Vases

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
Creator: Ercole Barovier
1940s Ercole Barovier Round Lenti Vase
Located in Roma, IT
Ercole Barovier 1889–1974 was the world renowned artistic director, designer and owner of Barovier & Toso the Venetian Furnace famed for its Murano glassware. Ercole became known for...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass

Vintage Pair of Transparent Bullicante Murano Glass Vases by Ercole Barovier
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1930s - 1940s Made in transparent bullicante hand-blown Murano glass by Ercole Barovier. These vases are original and quite rare to find as a pair, especially in this...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Ercole Barovier Cordonato D'Oro Sea Green Murano Vase with Gold Inclusions
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Ercole Barovier & Toso Cordonato d'Or Green and Gold Murano Glass Vase, Circa 1950. Featuring a handcrafted, vertically ribbed form, ruffled rim and hand blown with fused 24 kt gold "ropes of Gold" vertical ribbons against Sea Green Murano...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Barovier Toso Murano Green Roses Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Flower Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Gorgeous and large, early Murano hand blown gold flecks and green accents Italian art glass flower vase. Documented to the Barovier e Toso company, with original "Barovier & Toso Mur...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Italian Murano Art Glass Transparent Vase by Barovier, Bullicante Model, 1950s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful Italian desgn mid-century murano art glass transparent vase. This model vase designed by Ercole Barovier (Murano, Italy, 1950s). A stunning little vase made with a distinc...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Vaso Murano Rostrato bianco Iridescente di Ercole Barovier 1940.
Located in Palermo, IT
Incredibile vaso grande di metà secolo in cristallo- vetro di murano rostrato soffiato a bocca di Murano. Questo meraviglioso oggetto è stato prodotto neg...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

A Macchie Art Glass Vase by Artisti Barovier Attribution, Murano ca. 1920s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Macchie Art Glass Vase by Artisti Barovier Attribution, Murano ca. 1920s A rare Murano art glass vase manufactured most probably by Artisti Barovier around 1920s. Thin opaque whit...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass

Ercole Barovier for Ferro Toso Barovier, tall murano glass vase "avventurina"
Located in Aachen, DE
A nice and tall "avventurine" Murano glass vase made in the 1930ties by Ferro Toso Barovier, designed by Ercole Barovier. The vase with a simple and modern shape, was decorated with...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Ercole Barovier for Ferro Toso Barovier, murano glass vase "avventurina"
Located in Aachen, DE
A nice "avventurine" Murano glass vase with applied handles made in the 1930ties by Ferro Toso Barovier, designed by Ercole Barovier. The vase was decorated with copper inclusions an...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Barovier Toso Murano Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Ribbed Vase/ Vessel
Located in Buffalo, NY
Barovier Toso Murano Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Ribbed Vase/ Vessel. 1950s
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Barovier Toso Murano Neolitico 1954 Pulled Feather Design Italian Art Glass Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and rare, vintage Murano hand blown grays and blacks feathered design Italian art glass flower vase. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for the Barovier e Toso company...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

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

Ercole Barovier Murano glass 'Eugenio" circa 1951 face tricolor vase.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and rare Ercole Barovier Murano glass "Eugenio" circa 1951 in pulegous green with applied eye an mouth in black glass vase.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Barovier&Toso Murano glass "rostrato" green vase circa 1938.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and special Ercole Barovier for Barovier&Toso circa 1938 green rostrato" Murano glass vase.
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Barovier Toso Murano Pink Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Ribbed Pitcher Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown pink and gold flecks Italian art glass pitcher shaped flower vase. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for the Barovier e Toso company. Create...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barovier for Christian Dior Paris "Tartan" Murano Glass Bottle with Stopper
Located in Brussels, BE
In 1969, Christian Dior asked Ercole Barovier to develop, design and produce a series of bottles with stopper. This series is inspired by Scottish weaves and was made by Barovier fo...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

20th Century Green Italian Single Vintage Murano Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-green, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian single vase made of hand blown slightly smoked, colored Murano glass, designed by Ercole Barovier and produced by Barovier & Toso, i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

20th Century Italian Single Vintage Murano Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century modern Italian single vase made of hand blown clear Murano glass, designed by Ercole Barovier and produced by Barovier & Toso, in good condition. The décor piec...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Barovier Toso Murano Purple Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Double Handle Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, rare, vintage Murano hand blown gold flecks and dark purple trim Italian art glass ornate pierced handles vase. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for the Barovier e ...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Ercole Barovier Barovier and Toso Murano Cordonato D’oro Vase, circa 1950s
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
Ercole Barovier Barovier and Toso Murano Cordonato D’Oro Vase, circa 1950s In reddish pink with gold highlights.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Ercole Barovier Toso Murano Glass Spira Aurata Vase, 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Murano Art Glass 'Spira Aurata Striato Vase' by Ercole Barovier, Barovier e Toso, Italy, 1966. Spira Aurata series oval-section drop vase in blown green-blue glass with polychrome g...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Ercole Barovier Toso Murano Glass Spira Aurata Vase, 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Murano Art Glass 'Spira Aurata Striato Vase' by Ercole Barovier, Barovier e Toso, Italy, 1966. Spira Aurata series oval-section conical vase in blown glass with polychrome garnet, r...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Ercole Barovier for Barovier and Toso Murano Art Glass Barbarico Vase in Black
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
Large double bird Barbarico vase designed by Ercole Barovier for Barovier and Toso. Textured black glass with irredescent finish. The vase is Signed with applied paper manufacturer's...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Barovier Toso Murano Pink Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Double Flower Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown pink stripes and gold flecks Italian art glass double opening flower vase. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for Barovier e Toso. The vase h...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Murano Glass Crepuscolo Vase by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso
Located in Roma, RM
Rare and impressive "Crepuscolo" Murano glass vase from the late 1930's. Designed by the legendary Creative Director Ercole Barovier, employing his technique of inserting steel wool ...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Barovier Toso Murano Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Ribbed Pitcher Flower Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown gold flecks Italian art glass ribbed surface pitcher / vase. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for the Barovier e Toso Company. The piece ha...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barovier Toso Murano White Opalescent Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Flower Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown opalescent white, controlled bubbles and gold flecks Italian art glass flower vase. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for the Barovier e Tos...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Ercole Barovier Toso Murano 1956 Opal Chalcedony Italian Art Glass Flower Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and rare, vintage Murano hand blown opalescent and silver flecks Italian art glass flower vase. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for the Barovier and Toso company, c...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

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

Barovier Toso Murano Intarsio Mosaic Triangle Tessere Italian Art Glass Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Rare and beautiful, vintage Murano hand blown red and taupe gray triangle Tessere mosaic Italian art glass flower vase. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for Barovier e Toso, c...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

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

Ercole Barovier Rare Handblown Glass "Alterni" Vase, 1958
Located in New York, NY
Rare and important handblown glass "Alterni" vase in clear and light blue tessere edged in darker blue by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso, Murano, Italy, 1958. Alterni pieces are...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano glass vase by Ercole Barovier
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Artistic Murano blown glass vase by Ercole Barovier (1889-1974). Italy, CIRCA 1950.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Glass

Pair of Murano Glass Barovier and Toso vase C1960
Located in London, GB
A pair of elegant milky pink/white candlesticks with an almost red contrasting centre Produced in Murano in the 1960s by Barovier & Toso. Original label present. (See images).
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Blown Glass

Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso Attr. Glass Basket circa 1940s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso Attr. Glass Basket circa 1940s A great Murano market basket attributed to Barovier & Toso ca. 1940s. Thick fused clear glass with gold foil inclu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass

Ercole Barovier, Barovier & Toso Efeso Vase ca. 1960s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Ercole Barovier - Barovier & Toso Efeso vase ca. 1960s A great blue vase from the 'efeso' series designed by Ercole Barovier in 1964 for Barovier & Toso, M...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass

Ercole Barovier Corniola Glass Vase for Barovier & Toso, Italy 1952
Located in Milan, IT
Ercole Barovier Corniola Murano Glass vase for Barovier & Toso, Italy 1952 Original Label.  
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Spuma di Mare Vase by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso, Italy, 1938-1940
Located in Naples, IT
A very rare vase Mod. Spuma di Mare in Murano glass swarming with inclusions of matallic oxides and application of large morise, by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso 1940. Make a s...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Barovier e Toso Cordonato D' Oro Murano Art Glass Vase
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite art glass vase by Ercole Barovier for Barovier e Toso Italian 1940s. This example is in excellent original condition, free of damage, flaws or cosmetic wear. Classic Cordon...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Ercole Barovier Toso Murano Red Pink Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Pitcher Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, and rare shape, vintage Murano hand blown red trim and pink pigments Italian art glass pitcher or vase with gold flecks. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for the Ba...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barovier Toso Murano Red Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Ribbed Pitcher Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown deep red and gold flecks Italian art glass pitcher shaped flower vase. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for the Barovier e Toso company. Cr...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Centerpiece by Ercole Barovier for Barovier, Toso & Co. 1940 in Rugiadoso
Located in London, GB
Rugiadoso biomorphic bowl of a shells resting on a pedestal of sea urchins designed circa 1940 by Ercole Barovier (1889-1974) and is produced one of the oldest family businesses in t...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Ercole Barovier Toso Italian Murano Art Glass Vase
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Ercole Barovier Toso Italian Murano art glass vase.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Large Twin-Handled Vase by Ercole Barovier for Barovier and Toso, 1956
Located in London, GB
The double handled trumpet shaped vase designed by Ercole Barovier (1889-1974) for Barovier and Toso 1956-57 is set in a layer of clear glass over a layer of white, over a layer oyst...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Ercole Barovier Toso Murano 1954 Purple Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and rare, vintage Murano hand blown amethyst purple and yellow stripes, with gold flecks Italian art glass flower vase. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for Barovier...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Graffito Vase, Ercole Barovier, Barovier e Toso
Located in Brussels, BE
Large vase designed by Ercole Barovier in 1975 and manufactured by Barovier and Toso. The vase is made of clear gold dusted aventurine glass a...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Blown Glass

Vase by Ercole Barovier
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Vase of the "barbarici" series in grey glass with the gilded surface corroded with the application of metal oxides under heat. The central hole and the applied foot are rimmed with b...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Glass, Murano Glass

Vintage Monumental Transparent "A Mugnoni" Murano Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1938. This is a vase from the A Mugnoni series in transparent heavy blown glass, decorated with prunts containing air bubbles. It is...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Ercole Barovier Toso Murano 1966 Blue Red Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Rare and beautiful, vintage Murano hand blown blue and wine red stripes on gold flecks Italian art glass flower vase. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for Barovier e Toso, cir...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barovier Toso Murano Green Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Ribbed Pitcher Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown light green with gold flecks Italian art glass pitcher or vase. Documented to Ercole Barovier for the Barovier e Toso Company. Profusely covered i...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Ercole Barovier "Porpora" Vase for Barovier & Toso, circa 1954
Located in Brussels, BE
Ercole Barovier "Porpora" vase for Barovier & Toso, circa 1954.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Glass

1950s Ercole Barovier Zebrati Glass Murano Midcentury Design Italy Bowl Vase
Located in Brescia, IT
"Zebrati" Murano glass Perfect condiction Measures: H 14 x 30 cm.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

"Intariso" Art Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier
Located in New York, NY
"Intariso" Italian art glass vase by Ercole Barovier. Made by Barovier & Toso. Clear,red and grey glass fused with triangular platelets. Literature: Venetian Art Glass, An Ameri...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Rare Crepuscolo Vase Ercole Barovier 1930 Murano Art Glass
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Rare Crepuscolo vase Ercole Barovier 1930 Murano art glass. Among the most interesting techniques developed by Ercole Barovier in the 1930s there is "tw...
Category

1930s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Murano Glass

Vintage Ercole Barovier Brown Effeso Art Glass Vase, circa 1968
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A vintage Murano Effeso art glass vase with reddy brown inclusions in a clear ground with extensive bubbling to the glass designed by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso. The vase ha...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Vintage Ercole Barovier Brown Effeso Art Glass Vase, circa 1968
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A vintage Murano Effeso art glass vase with reddy brown inclusions in a clear ground with extensive bubbling to the glass designed by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso. The vase ha...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Art Glass

Mid-century Modern vases for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern vases 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 vases created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern vases made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original vases, popular names associated with this style include Scheurich Keramik, Rörstrand, Bitossi, and Venini. 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 vases differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $44 and tops out at $113,467 while the average work can sell for $794.

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