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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
Vintage Cera Old World Map, Book Form Cheese Board, World of Cheese
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern cheese board in the form of a book titled "World of Cheese" Made as a companion to the Cera Glassware "Old World Map" pattern barware...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Stainless Steel

1951 Danish Blown Glass & Silver Decanter by E. Dragsted
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
1951 Danish blown glass & silver Kluk Kluk decanter. Original crown stopper. Made by E. Dragsted, silver collar with his hallmark. The name comes from the pouring sound due to the pi...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver

Retro Green and Gold Glass Sherry Decanter and 4 Glasses Undoubtedly Retro
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Retro Green and Gold Glass Sherry Decanter and 4 Glasses Undoubtedly Retro chic, a beautiful Green and Gold Sherry Decanter with 4 matching S...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Set of 6 Vintage Culver Festive Geese Old Fashioned Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of 6 Vintage Culver Festive GeeseOld Fashioned Glasses. Each glass with 2 gold geese adorned with a festive and colorful wreath of various fruits on...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Gold, Enamel

Sculptural 20th Century Wine Rack
Located in Antwerp, BE
Two small brass wine racks suitable for counter top made for six bottles. Italy, 1970s. Measures: Height 41 cm, width 27 cm, depth 21 cm. Height 31 cm, width 37 cm, depth 21 cm.   
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metallic Thread

Bucket Brigade 1970 Mid-Century Modern White Leather & Lucite Lidded Ice Bucket
Located in Miami, FL
1970s off white Leather and Lucite ice bucket the inside is insulated and decorative lid. Keeps the ice cubes frozen for a long time as the lid sits tight on the bucket. Makers Mark ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Acrylic, Leather, Lucite

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

Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Silvered Pineapple Ice Bucket and Sugar Bowl
Located in Firenze, IT
This Italian vintage set of decorative lidded bowls in the shape of pineapple will brighten your table. Stylish Mid-century Modern ice bucket and sugar bowl or candy box clad in a naturalistic silvered metal finish, manufactured in 1970 circa in the style of Mauro Manetti, Florence. The largest container is an ice bucket, so useful for ice cubes and even ice cream or sorbet, the cold is guaranteed by the internal removable tin liner, frozen for a long time as the lid sits tight on the bucket. The smaller pineapple, fitted with a removable blue glass vase can be used as a decorative candy box, sugar bowl or ashtray or trinket case...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Tin

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

Nissen Danish Rosewood Ice Bucket
Located in Ferndale, MI
Nissan Company rosewood ice bucket.  
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Rosewood

Mort N. Marton Natural Organic Portuguese Cork Ice Bucket with Milk Glass Insert
Located in Ferndale, MI
Lidded Ice bucket formed from solid cork with cork lid and milk glass insert . Designed by Mort and Beryl Marton New York in 1963 . Museum of Modern Art does have one in permanent ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Milk Glass, Cork

Quistgaar Jhq Dansk Denmark Wenge Ice Bucket
Located in Ferndale, MI
Excellent overall condition age crack to body.
Category

Early 20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Wenge

Set of Mid-Century Highball Glasses with Black Frosted Interiors & Gold Dancers
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage set of 8 highball glasses. Clear glass with black frosted interiors decorated on the exterior with stylized modern dancers in 22k gold.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Made in Sweden Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker
Located in Ferndale, MI
Nicely designed stainless steel cocktail shaker. Marked Gene stainless Sweden.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Stainless Steel

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

Mid-Century Modern Rocks Glasses by Culver, LTD. with Leaves in Gold and Silver
Located in Nantucket, MA
Sic Mid-Century Modern rocks glasses by Culver, LTD. decorated with 22k gold and silver clusters of leaves.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

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

Six Vintage Rocks Glasses with Red, Green & Blue Owls on White Ground by Cera
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of six mid-century modern rocks glasses with owls partly designed with flowers as feathers in red, blue and green on a white ground.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Mid Century Modern Gold Metal 2 Tier Rolling Bar Tea Cart Server
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Mid Century Modern Gold Metal 2 Tier Rolling Bar Tea Cart Server with Glass Shelves. Circa 1970s. Measurements: 35" H x 16" W x 28" D.
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century English Silver Plate Cobbler Type Cocktail Shaker
Located in Nantucket, MA
English mid-century silver plate cobbler type cocktail shaker with incised line decoration. Marked Cooper Ludlum.
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Eight Vintage Fornasetti Ceramic Coasters in the "Vini E Liquori" Pattern
Located in Nantucket, MA
Eight drinks coasters designed by Piero Fornasetti in the 'Vini E Liquori' pattern, each depicting a different liquor bottle label in 22 karat gold.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Ceramic

Set of 8 Vintage Federal Glass Atomic Black and Gold Highball Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of 8 Vintage Federal Glass Atomic Black and Gold Highball Glasses. Each tall glass with 3 elongated rectangle that is divided into 4 wedge sh...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Gold

Set of Six Vintage Regimental Red White and Blue Drum Rock Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of Six Vintage Patriotic and Festive Regimental Red White and Blue Drum Rock Glasses.
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Enamel

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

Eight Vintage "Goren Point System" Bridge Themed Highball Glasses
Located in Nantucket, MA
Eight Mid-Century Modern highball glasses in 22k gold and black and white enamel, each with alternating gold and black panels with the "Goren Point System" for bridge in black or whi...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

SMALL ONE PERSON ASPREY & CO 1964 STERLING SILVER PiNCH SPIRIT WINE DECANTER
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this sublime 1964 Asprey & Co LTD Pinch decanter with a lovely fully hallmarked Sterling Silver Collar desig...
Category

1960s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Sterling Silver

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

Ice box holder with box by Paolo Tilche for Guzzini
Located in Lugo, IT
Icebox by Paolo Tilche for Guzzini. Never used Good conditions. Thank you
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic

Four Vintage Culver Rocks Glasses in the Gin & Tonic Pattern
Located in Nantucket, MA
Four mid-century rocks glasses by Culver, LTD in the Gin & Tonic pattern having horizontal bands in green, white and yellow with the drink names "ICED TEA" - "GIN & TONIC" - "ICED CO...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Modern Mechanical Brass and Wood Corkscrew with Molded Owl Figure
Located in Nantucket, MA
Italian Mid-Century Modern mechanical corkscrew in wood and brass with a molded resin owl with glass eyes perched on a branch.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass, Steel

Sweet Antique Cut Glass Crystal Decanter Jug Maderia Sterling Hanging Label 1973
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale sublime cut glass crystal decanter with sterling silver Maderia hanging label A good looking and decorative piece, the hanging collar is clearly...
Category

1970s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Sterling Silver

4 Mid-Century Modern, Cera Glass Daffodil Rocks Glasses
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of 4 Mid-Century Modern rocks glasses by Cera Glassware with daffodils in green, yellow and white enamels.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Clear Glass Decanter and Stopper with Polished Bottom
Located in Ferndale, MI
Elegant clear glass decanter with original stopper. 6.5" tall add 2.25" for stopper.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Bartlett-Collins Pitcher & 6 Highball Glasses in the Gibraltar Pattern
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage Bartlett-Collins pitcher and 6 highball glasses in the 'Gibraltar' pattern, decorated with translucent green, red and blue dots of various size arranged on a raised yellow net, giving the impression of glass floats...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Patinated Cast Bronze Ashtray in the Form of a Whale by Pal-Bell
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern patinated cast bronze whale-form ashtray made by Pal-Bell.
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Bronze

Early Modernist Cut Crystal Ice Bucket by Orrefors
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Early rare cut crystal ice bucket attributed to Orrefors, circa 1950. Great design and repeating pattern. Looks incredible from any angle.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Crystal

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

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

Studio Pottery Barrel / Whiskey Nip with Cork Signed "Pollack 73"
Located in Brooklyn, NY
1973 Pollack studio stoneware whiskey nip / barrel with cork. Attractive partially metallic brown / taupe color combination with mottled surface. Includes a decorative leather tie an...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Stoneware

Vintage Linen Cocktail Napkins by Georges Briard in Nectar of the Gods Pattern
Located in Nantucket, MA
Boxed (cellophane window on box lid is gone) set of 8 Georges Briard linen cocktail napkins printed in black and 22k gold on pink ground with a variant of the Ambrosia pattern with t...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Linen

Midcentury Gold Aluminum Metal Folding Rolling Bar Cart Server with 3 Trays
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Midcentury gold aluminum metal folding rolling bar cart server with 3 trays. Item features 3 removable trays, rolling casters, cast aluminum construction, clean modernist lines, grea...
Category

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

Materials

Aluminum

Six Vintage Georges Briard Rocks Glasses in the Wire Pattern in Ice Yellow
Located in Nantucket, MA
Six Mid-Century Modern rocks by Georges Briard in the Ice Yellow version of the "Wire" pattern, having a raised twisted wire screen pattern in yellow enamel on clear glass.
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Modern 7pc Cocktail Pitcher Set with 22k Gold Geometric Decoration
Located in Nantucket, MA
Seven piece Mid-Century Modern cocktail pitcher set decorated with concentric 22 karat gold squares divided diagonally with half narrow lines and ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Faux Bamboo Nutcracker
Located in New York, NY
Faux bamboo nutcracker. Italian midcentury gilt metal and steel nutcracker with sculptural gold rubbed modeled bamboo handles; very nice heavy sculptural feel in the hands, and hands...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Steel

Set of twelve fun and elegant 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 Auer .
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Spectacular Set of Seven Imperial Glass Low Balls, Pristine Condition
Located in Buchanan, MI
Spectacular set of seven Imperial glass low balls, Pristine Condition. We have a large selection of Imerperial Glass both high ball and rocks in sever...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Italian Murano Blown Green Glass Flask
Located in Queens, NY
"Mid-Century Italian Venetian Murano hand blown dark green glass flask Small chip on bottom."
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Fun Whimsical Cast Brass Bunny Whiskey Stir Stick
Located in Ferndale, MI
Nicely cast with a hammered type finish. Bunny or hare stir stick or swizzle stick.
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Post Modern Memphis Style Clear Murano Polished Glass Decanter
Located in Ferndale, MI
Large substantial piece of clear glass with equally impressive stopper. I see a strong post modern Memphis Milano look.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

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

Mid-Century Bamboo Trimmed Ice Bucket, 1960s
Located in North Miami, FL
A great vintage bamboo and white laminate ice bucket, circa 1960s. Piece is square with a lattice bamboo design on top/lid and a bamboo edged base.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Bamboo, Laminate

6 Vintage Old World Map Highball Glasses with a Circular Vinyl Caddy
Located in Nantucket, MA
6 Vintage highball glasses by Cera Glassware decorated with an old world style map in tans and gold on clear glass. Together with a vinyl clad circular caddy with a central handle. Measures: Caddy: 10" height x 10"diameter. (approx.) We have multiple listings for the Old World Map...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Glassware Set for 8 Brass Glasses Signed "Leonard E.P.N.S.", Italy, 1950s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Midcentury glassware set for 8 brass glasses signed LEONARD E.P.N.S., Italy, 1950s. Dimensions: Red wine glass: Height 7.5 in., diameter 3.8 in...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Vintage Libbey Glass Co., Cane Pattern, Highball Glasses
Located in Nantucket, MA
Eight mid-century Libbey Glass Co., highball glasses, the lower half with raised enamel "cane" in natural color, the top edge of the glass is also enam...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Fred Press Rooster Tom Collins Glasses in 4 Colors on White Ground
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of 8 Fred press designed tom Collins glasses with drawings of roosters on clear glass with white frosted interior. Each glass is decorated in one of four colors, two of each colo...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Vinyl Clad Cheese Board with Old World Map Ceramic Tile Cutting Surface
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern oval cheese board clad in black vinyl with a ceramic tile inset cutting surface mad to compliment the Cera Glassware Old World Map ba...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Ceramic, Plastic

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

Mid-Century Modern Silver Plated Footed Ice Bucket with Banded Ribbon Accents
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This sturdy and well made silver plated ice bucket is presumed to have been made in Italy in approximately 1965 in a Hollywood Regency style. This footed ice bucket has two ribbed an...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

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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