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Mid-Century Modern Barware

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:  Purple
Mid-Century Cocktail Pitchers One White One Lavender West Virginia Glass
Located in Topeka, KS
Fun Blendo pitchers by West Virginia Glass Specialty Co. for your cocktails or summer beverages. One white frosted glass with gold trim and one lavender frosted glass with gold trim. Both are in great vintage condition with no chips, cracks or chiggers and all gold accent in place. Priced separately but will sell both together. Contact dealer. Pure white and lovely lavender and both are awesome! Here is a pair of vintage Mid-Century Modern Blendo cocktail pitchers with incredible “cat tail” signature handles. These pitchers are attributed to the West Virginia Specialty Glass Company's Blendo line of glassware. The West Virginia Specialty Glass Company factory produced the Blendo collection from 1956-1987 with its heyday in the 1960s. It has no pontils but smooth bottoms. It came in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Ranging from pastels to bolds and brights; and from pitchers and bowls to various sizes, shapes and types of drinking glasses and bowls. The color frosting starts at the base and gradually fades away at the top to clear glass with accents of gold. These vintage Blendo...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Blown Glass

Blue Murano Glass Ice Bucket with Gold Glass Handles, Italy 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning Ice Bucket in blue Murano glass with gold glass handles. This gorgeous piece was made in Murano, Italy in the 1960s. This ice bucket is made in an incredibly vibrant blue g...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass

Set of 6 Hazel-Atlas Sailboats Tumblers
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Art Deco cobalt blue glass tumblers with white sailboats from the Sportsman Series by Hazel-Atlas Glassware.
Category

1930s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Dino Martens Murano Vintage Pink White Ribbons Ribbed Italian Art Glass Decanter
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and large, vintage Murano hand blown pink and white ribbons Italian art glass decanter. Documented to designer Dino Martens for Aureliano Toso. Has the original stopper and...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass

Signed Cenedese Frosted Glass Scavo His and Her's Pink & Blue Colored Glasses
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Cenedese extremely rare 'His and Hers' drinking glasses in pink and blue coloured frosted glass. Perfect as a gift - just imagine a romantic evening in front of the fire sipping your...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Murano Glass

Danish Midcentury Tenera Punch Bowl by Grete Helland Hansen for Royal Copenhagen
Located in Berlin, DE
Danish Midcentury Tenera punch bowl by Grete Helland Hansen for Royal Copenhagen Beautiful punch bowl complete with eight matching cups made of stoneware and grey glazed ceramic pro...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Ceramic

Rupert Deese California 60s Art Pottery Low Ashtray Bowl
Located in New York, NY
An original California art pottery low bowl by famed ceramic artist, Rupert Deese. Signed.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Ceramic

Rosenthal Modern Swirl Glasses
Located in New York, NY
1970s modern swirl set of 18 glasses by Rosenthal Studio. Measure: medium glasses height 5.5 diameter 3.25 small glasses height 4.75, diameter 3.5.
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Venini 1980's Italian Glass "A Canne" Bottle Vase Sculpture Limited Edition
Located in New York, NY
Gorgeous red, blue and clear glass striped "A Canne" bottle vase limited edition sculpture. Engraved signature to bottom Venini '88 for Iveco. Numbered 95/250. Iveco is one of the world’s largest commercial vehicles manufacturers, and is a member of the FIAT group. Iveco ordered these Venini decanters...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Blown Glass

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Rare Carl Auböck Martini Newspaper Glass Pitcher, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
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Dino Martens "Olaf" Model 3122
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Dino Martens Olaf vase in the Oriente Technique. This series was first presented at the Biennial of 1952.  
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Moroccan Moorish White Frosted and Gold Glasses Set of 6
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Set of 6 Moroccan opaline white and gold glasses. Set of Six Moroccan Moorish White Frosted and Gold Glasses Decorated with a classical traditional Moorish pattern gold frieze overla...
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MCM Anchor Hocking Tahiti Blue Textured Highball Tumblers - Set of 6
Located in Vallejo, CA
A set of 6 mid century highball glasses in textured vibrant blue colored glass. Made by Anchor Hocking in the "Tahiti" pattern. Perfect fo...
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'Vanitas Decanter' Hand Blown Glass Decanter by Simone Crestani
Located in Camisano Vicentino, IT
'Vanitas Decanter' Hand Blown Glass Decanter by Simone Crestani Vanitas Decanter is one of the pieces from the Vanitas Collection. "Vanitas...
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Art Deco Blue Color Bohemian Glass Decanter and 6 Glasses Set, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
Art Deco blue color Bohemian glass decanter and 6 glasses set, the 1930s Beautifully colored, handmade Czech Bohemian glass set - decanter and six ...
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Tiffany & Co. Sterling Cocktail Pitcher, c1950s
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1950s, Sterling, by Tiffany & Co. Sleek is the word. Tiffany fifties silver is functional and above all, serviceable. Serve water or mix cocktai...
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1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

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Murano White Opaline Crystal Glass Carafe and Glasses Set, Italy 1960s
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
This lovely, elegant Italian carafe and three glasses set is made of Murano white opaline crystal glass, hand painted with delicate flowers, leaves and ...
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Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

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Lucite Ice Bucket
Located in New York, NY
1980's Lucite Ice Bucket with matching lid.  
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1980s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

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Lucite Ice Bucket
Lucite Ice Bucket
H 7.5 in Dm 7 in
Mid Century Vintage Glass Ice Bucket with Silver Handle
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful thick glass ice bucket with a silver metal handle. The sides of this bucket have a lovely raised droplet texture. This will be a gorgeous addition to any bar. Dimensi...
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

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Reticello Art Glass Vase by Dino Martens for Aureliano Toso (attr.) Murano
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Reticello Art Glass Vase by Dino Martens for Aureliano Toso (attr.) Murano ca. 1950s A vintage Murano art glass vase. Manufactured most...
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Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

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Previously Available Items
Mid-Century Felipe Derflingher Design Cobalt & Brass Art Glass Bar Tumblers
By Felipe Derflingher
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Gorgeous set of 10 cobalt blue and brass bar glasses by Mexican artist Felipe Derflingher. Hand formed circa 1960's. Rare color! Packed with great care to insure safe arrival.  
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Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

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Rare Moser Glass Manager Decanter in Alexanderite Glass
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Rare Moser glass manager decanter in Alexanderite glass, in near perfect condition. Unusual tall stopper, maybe an earlier prototype as these usually h...
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1950s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

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Vintage Pastel Purple Lavender Cocktail Rocks' Glasses
Located in New York, NY
A set of six (6) vintage pastel purple lavender cocktail rocks' glasses, circa mid-20th century, 1960s, USA. Glass has a recessed base and a touch of go...
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Fratelli Toso Murano Midcentury Pink Red Clown Face Italian Art Glass Decanter
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Cute and rare Murano hand blown Italian art glass clown face decanter in pink, with red accents. Documented to the Fratelli Toso Company. The piece ha...
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Fratelli Toso Murano Purple Blue Stripe Ribbons Italian Art Glass Decanter
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Large Murano handblown purple and light blue filigrana ribbons Italian art glass decanter. Documented to the Fratelli Toso Company, with original Murano label underneath. Gorgeous pi...
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Cube Acrylic Ice bucket Studio Opi Blue, Di Cini & Nils, Milan, Italy, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage ice bucket, blue in tinted acrylic, ice cubes box or door designed by Franco Bettonica and Mario Melocchi at Studio Opi for Cini and Nils in 1974.
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Oversized Art Glass with Stylized Figure
Located in New York, NY
This overly tall glass features a stylized figure with speckled hat, eyes and two round arm-like protrusions. It is in good vintage condition consistent with age and use.
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Barovier & Toso Murano Style Glass Decanter
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Murano glass decanter in the style of Barovier & Toso.
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Mid-century Modern barware for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern barware 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 barware created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern barware made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original barware, popular names associated with this style include Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Culver Ltd., Georges Briard, and Aldo Tura. 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 barware differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $29 and tops out at $295,000 while the average work can sell for $495.

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