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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 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
Small Toothpick Holder Bamboo Vienna Around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Small toothpick holder bamboo vienna around 1950s Original condition.
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Stelton Erik Magnusson Minimalist Off-White Ice Bucket
Located in New York, NY
A cream / off-white ice bucket by Erik Magnussen for Stelton. Made of plastic and features a brushed metal handle that folds down when not in use and ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Carl Auböck Nutcracker in Brass, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Nutcracker in Brass, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Vintage Boxed Set of Six Cocktail Sipper Stir Spoons in Silver
Located in Nantucket, MA
Six silver sipper/stir spoons in a fitted faux alligator box. The faux bamboo handle of the spoons are hollow for use as a straw with a lotus flower...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver

Vintage Atomic Period Dyball Cocktail Shaker w/Black and Pink Stylized Birds
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid-Century glass cocktail shaker with a domed gold-toned lid decorated in pink and black enamels with stylized birds in the Atomic style. Signed Dyball.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Vintage Danish Shot Glasses Attributed to Per Lutken for Holmegaard- Set of 6
Located in Ross, CA
Set of six vintage handblown shot glasses attributed to the famous Danish glass maker Per Lutken. They are smoke glass and made for the Holmegaard glass factory. They are 1.58 tall ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Smoked Glass

Vintage Cera Patriotic Drum Highball Glasses in Teal & Red Enamel with 22k Gold
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern highball glasses by Cera Glass decorated as a patriotic drum in teal and red enamel with a 22 karat gold eagle with a stars and strip...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Carl Auböck Nutcracker in Brass and Leather, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck nutcracker in brass and leather, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Bottle Holder, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Eight Mid-Century Modern Federal Glass "Pond Lilly" Highball Glasses
Located in Nantucket, MA
Federal highball glasses in the 'Pond Lilly' pattern with yellow, blue, red and white stylized water lilies on clear glass.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Art Deco Bakelite Caparisoned Elephant w/Drink Markers Hanging from the Saddle
Located in Nantucket, MA
West German Bakelite drink marker set as a caparisoned elephant with 12 various markers hanging from the saddle in its original packaging and with original tag. Made by Ru-Ra Qualitat.
Category

Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Small Arthur Umanoff Wine Bottle Holder for Shaver Howard
Located in St. Louis, MO
Arthur Umanoff for Shaver Howard, butcher block top, 9 bottle wine holder with iron frame and bottle supports. Often attributed to Paul McCobb, this piece was designed by Arthur Uman...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Iron

Vintage PIero Fornasetti Chariot Porcelain Gilded Coasters Barware Set of 8
Located in North Miami, FL
These vintage hallmarked Piero Fornasetti coasters are porcelain with gold. They are of the Roman Chariot design. Marked Fornasetti MIlano Made In Ita...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Gold

Italian Modernist Silver-Plated "Pepper" Ice Bucket with Neon Green Interior
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Charming Mid-Century Italian Modern ice bucket resembling both a bell pepper and an acorn with silver plate exterior and neon green plastic interior. Features a heavily textured, s...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Vintage Mid-Century Bulls-Eye Glass Ice Bucket
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid-Century Square Glass Ice Bucket with Bull-Eye Design on each side. Measures 7 1/8" high x 5 1/2" across x 5 1/2" across.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Mid Century Yellow and Black Vinyl Wrapped Ice Bucket
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Vintage Hexagonal form Mid Century Vinyl Wrapped Ice Bucket in Vibrant Yellow and Black.
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic

Set of 6 Pilsner Glasses with Silver Band
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of 6 pilsner glasses, each with a wide silver band in the style of Dorothy Thorpe.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver

Danish wooden coaster
Located in Nivelles, BE
Danish wooden coaster in beechwood representing a cat with its hat, it contains § wooden and cork coasters, it is in the style of Hans Bolling.
Category

Late 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Beech

Whitefriars ‘Glacier’ Glass Decanter by Geoffrey Baxter 1960s, for Whisky Brandy
Located in London, GB
Geoffrey Baxter for Whitefriars, c. 1960s Decanter from the 'Glacier’ range, model number 9725 Clear textured glass Excellent condition without damage Dimensions (approx.): wid...
Category

1960s British Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Blown Glass

Vintage Hazel Atlas LOTUS Autumnal Ice Bowl Bucket
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Hazel Atlas LOTUS Ice Bowl Bucket Clear Glass with Gold and Pink Leaf Design Mid Century Modern. This fun mid century Lotus Autumnal vintag...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Six Vintage Georges Briard Silver Recumbent Lion Highball Glasses
Located in Nantucket, MA
Signed set of 6 Georges Briard highball glasses with a silver rim above stylized images of recumbent lions wearing crowns.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Kosta Boda Swedish Cut Glass Cocktail Shaker
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage Swedish cut glass cocktail shaker. By Kosta Boda. With a cut lattice pattern to the body and the stopper and a frosted neck. Marked to the side with a gold crown / ...
Category

20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Cut Glass

Art Moderne Aluminum Ice Bucket
Located in Queens, NY
American Art Moderne (20th Century) aluminum ice bucket with lid and handle and bakelite base.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Mid-Century Italian Modern Silver-Plated "Squash" Lidded Serving / Candy Dish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Italian Modern silver-plated snack/candy/serving dish with lidded top formed to resemble a squash. This is a shorter, uninsulated version of fruit and vegetable-formed ice buckets made in Italy and France at the time. Though shallow, this piece can additionally hold ice to stylishly refresh a drink or enhance any tabletop decor...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Mid Century Modern Danish Teak Ice Bucket Bar Accessory 1960s Scandinavian
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a delightful, Danish, teak ice bucket with lid, circa the 1960s. In excellent vintage condition. The dimensions are 9" W x 8" D x 19" H.
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Teak

6 Vintage Old Fashioned Glasses by Georges Briard in the Forbidden Fruit Pattern
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of six Mid-Century Modern old fashioned glasses by Georges Briard in the Forbidden Fruit pattern. Each of clear glass decorated in translucent...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Silver Decorated Highball Glasses with Fleur de Lis in Elongated Diamond
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of 8 vintage silver decorated highball glasses having a fleur de lis within elongated silver diamonds below a wide rim band.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Set of Ten Fun and Fancy Marc Aurel Water Glasses with Jigsaw Stem
Located in Ferndale, MI
Large set of twelve Water glasses by Marc Auer. Whimsy and elegance crystal glass on jigsaw embellished stem. Acid stamped Marc Auerel.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

8 Vintage Fred Press Derby Time Tom Collins Glasses with White Frosted Interiors
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern Tom Collins glasses designed by Fred Press in the Derby Time pattern. Clear glass with white frosted interiors and decorated on the exterior in 22 karat gold with ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Set of 6 Libbey Marine Life Pilsner Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of 6 Vintage Libbey Sea Life pilsner glasses with raised green design and gilt seahorses and fish in an underwater ocean scene.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Op-Art Cocktail Set from the Bartrix Line by Cera in a Panton Pattern
Located in Nantucket, MA
9 Piece cocktail set by Bartrix / Cera Glassware in a black and white Op-Art Verner Panton style design. Included are six stacking rocks glasses and a co...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Aldo Tura Emerald Green Goatskin Brass Thermos Carafe 1960
Located in Paris, IDF
This is a beautiful thermos or carafe or pitcher designed by Aldo Tura in the early 1960s. This carafe is covered by goatskin parchment, in rich shades of emerald green, with brass a...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Vintage Georges Briard Highball Glasses "The Higher You Go, The Harder You Fall"
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of eight Georges Briard hot air balloon highball glasses. White interior frosted clear glass with a hot air balloon in black and aqua enamel with 22 karat gold. The banner below ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Fred Press Highball Glasses in Black with Gold Atomic Fish
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of 8 Fred Press highball glasses of clear glass with black frosted interiors and 22 karat gold stylized vertical fish in the atomic style on th...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

MCM Imperial Glass Ice Bowl in the Shoji Pattern
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid century modern ice bowl in the "Shoji" pattern by Imperial Glass. The bowl of cylindrical form raised on a flared foot and having molded sides with a raised pattern designed afte...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Lucite Ice Bucket with Removable Liner
Located in Ferndale, MI
Lucite ice bucket possibly by Ritts Co.          
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Acrylic, Lucite

Mid Century Modern Vintage Green and Brass Wine Cooler, circa 1950, Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage wine cooler shows a brass plated metal base and a green faux leather body. The front side is decorated with a golden crown. The wine cooler was fitted with...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Silvered metal bottles holder. French work. Circa 1950
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This nice design bottle holder is made of silvered metal. It can be used to display the bottles as a bottles stand or just to hold these. This is a French work. Circa 1950
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Modernist Silvered Wine Cooler with Circular Inset, Italy 1970s
Located in New York, NY
ITALY, 1970's Geometric cube shaped wine cooler, with circular inset Silvered metal Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 7
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Signed Cenedese Scavo Bottle or Flask with His and Her's Frosted Colored Glasses
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Cenedese flask / bottle with 'His and Hers' glasses in pink and blue coloured frosted glass. Perfect as a gift - just imagine a romantic evening in front of the fire sipping your fav...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Murano Glass

Set of Six Tall Stem Black Wine Glasses
Located in Ferndale, MI
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Art Glass

Black, Starr & Gorham Sterling Silver Bar Cocktail Shaker Mid-Century Modern
Located in New York, NY
Black, Starr & Gorham sterling silver bar cocktail shaker, in Mid-Century Modern style in beautiful geometric design. It measures 8 3/4'' in height by 5'' in width by 4 1/3'' in dept...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Drink Glass Carrier Austria, 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Drink glass carrier, Austria, 1950s Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Set of 4 Pasinski Double Old Fashion Glasses with 22k Gold and White Frosting
Located in Nantucket, MA
Four Mid-Century Modern double old fashioned glasses designed by Irene Pasinski. Decorated in 22k gold with raised 'sugared' patterns below stylized flo...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Hollywood regency bone and brass ice bucket, Italy 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
Hollywood regency bone and metal ice bucket Italy 1970s H 21 cm - 18 cm diam. Conditions: very good consistent with age and use.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Brass and Wicker Wine Holder, Austria, 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Brass and wicker wine holder, Austria, 1950s Original condition. Bottle not included.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Set of 4 Vintage American Eagle Rocks Glasses by Cera Glassware.
Located in Nantucket, MA
Four vintage rocks glasses by Cera, decorated as a teal and red parade drum with a spread-wing eagle holding a stars and stripes shield on the front and with a shield on the back.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Four Vintage Cera Parade Drum Rocks Glasses with Eagle and Shield Design
Located in Nantucket, MA
Four vintage rocks glasses by Cera, decorated as a teal and red parade drum with a spread-wing eagle holding a stars and stripes shield on the front and with a shield on the back.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Rare Aldo Tura Large Lacquered Goatskin Tray Italy 1960s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This a wonderful example of Italian Aldo Tura Large Lacquered Goatskin In Brown & Red, 1960s. This tray has a Silver metal gallery on each side. This serving tray is 22" by 14". Cond...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Goatskin, Wood

Set of 4 Vintage Libbey Rocks Glasses with Rampant Lions
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of 4 Vintage Libbey Rocks Glasses with Rampant Lions. Each glass is rimmed in 22k gold with a bold red shield and a rampant lion and fleur de lis, t...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Four Vintage Fred Press Glasses with Red and Green Apples with 22k Gold Accents
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of 4 mid-century modern rocks glasses designed by Fred Press with red and green apples accented with 22 karat gold.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Set of 6 "Metrics Made Easy" Rocks Glasses and Companion Handbook
Located in Nantucket, MA
Six vintage Metrics Made Easy rocks glasses covered in conversion tables and formulas for converting to and from metric measurements, executed in b...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Mid Century Pitcher Barware Jug C1950 France FREE SHIPPING
Located in Trensacq, FR
Vintage French pitcher mid-century barware jug C1950 Rare mid-century vintage barware water jug from 1950s France. An attractive and unusual squ...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Ceramic

Mid Century Modern Danish Teak Wood Bottle Opener Shaped as Whale, Denmark 1960s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find Danish Mid Century Modern bottle openers made of teak wood. They feature shape of the whale, with brass details as their mouth used to open the bottles....
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

1960’s Gold Glitter Ice Bucket
Located in Charleston, SC
Retro Plastic Ice bucket for your bar ! Inside liner off-white. Measures 11” tall with lid in place; From handle to handle 10” ; 7” in diameter. Ice bucket flares out to handles on each side. Foot has ridges. Inside liner is white without cracks, chips, or stains. Exterior is a smoky gold...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic

Aldo Tura Ice Bucket and Carafe
Located in Hanover, MA
Aldo Tura footed ice server with lid and mercury glass lined carafe, both in tomato red dyed lacquered goatskin with gilt brass hardware and embellishments. Ice bucket is 8" high ...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

8 Vintage Cera Glassware Highball Glasses, Regimental Drum
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern highball glasses decorated as parade drums in teal and red enamel with 22 karat gold. The front with a large patriotic eagle below a banner with the motto E Pluri...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Fred Press Trojan Horse Cocktail Pitcher Set in Aqua with Caddy
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern cocktail pitcher set including a cylindrical pitcher and 6 cocktail glasses in the aqua version of the "Trojan Horse" pattern b...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Two Pairs of Modernist Stainless Steel Stelton Style Salt Pepper Shakers
Located in Ferndale, MI
Two salts and two pepper shakers. Two pairs of modern design stainless steel shakers. In the style of Arne Jacobsen Stelton pieces but smaller scale.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Vintage Retro Barware Bright Orange Pitcher by Joseph Magnin Italy, 1960s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Midcentury vintage bright orange pitcher designed in the 1960s by Joseph Magnin. Vivid Italian pottery glazed orange retro barware pitcher with handle i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Ceramic

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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