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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 Glassware Camelot Pattern Cocktail Set in Black and White
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage seven-piece cocktail set by Cera Glassware in the Camelot pattern. Executed in black lines on white ground in imitation of line engravings, each...
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

Piero Fornasetti Porcelain Coaster Reclining "Adam” 7 of 8, 1965, Mid-century
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Plate number 7 from the quite rare and sought after of Fornasetti 1960’s design series, Adamo & Eva (1965). Compared to his much more severe standing “Adam" of a decade earlier, this...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Culver Florentine Pattern Ice Bowl and Cover in Gold-Tone Wirework Caddy
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern ice bowl with cover in metal caddy by Culver in the Florentine pattern, decorated in smooth and textured 22k gold depicting apple, pear, pineapple and grapes. The ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Georges Briard Walnut Cutting Board with Golf Themed Tile Insert
Located in Nantucket, MA
Georges Briard designed cutting board in walnut with a white inset tile cutting surface decorated in gold in his "Golf" pattern, made to accompany rocks and highball glasses of the s...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Ceramic, Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Swedish Beaker-Form Cocktail Shaker w/Recipes in Black Text
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern Swedish cocktail shaker of cylindrical beaker form on a disk foot with cocktail recipes in black graphics (in Swedish) and with a large cork stopper.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass, Cork

Vintage Culver Florentine Pattern Cocktail Pitcher and 6 Footed Cocktail Glasses
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern cocktail set by Culver in the Florentine pattern, decorated in smooth and textured 22k gold depicting apple, pear, pineapple and grapes. The set consists of a hand...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Cera Patriotic Drum Rocks Glasses in Teal & Red Enamel with 22k Gold
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern rocks or double old fashioned glasses by Cera Glass decorated as a patriotic drum in teal and red enamel with a 22 karat gold eagle w...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Highball Glasses in a Graphic Silver Basket Weave Pattern
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern highball glasses with an allover basket weave pattern in silver. The design is made up of wide bars of silver with openings in between giving the illusion of an op...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Six Vintage Libbey Glass Co., Cane Pattern, Old Fashioned or Rocks Glasses
Located in Nantucket, MA
Six mid-century Libbey Glass Co., old fashioned glasses, the lower half with raised enamel "cane" in natural color, the top edge of the glass is also e...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Set of 3 Maryland Midcentury Yacht Club Shot Glasses
Located in New York, NY
Set of 3 Midcentury Modern shot glasses. Made by Schofield Co. in Baltimore. Each: Straight and tapering sides. Engraved presentation from the Tred Avon Yacht Club in Oxford Maryland...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Sterling Silver

9 Piece Calypso Themed Cocktail Pitcher Set, Pitcher & 8 Old Fashioned Glasses
Located in Nantucket, MA
Nine-piece cocktail pitcher set, clear glass with white frosted interiors having Calypso performers in 22 karat gold on the exterior. Set consists...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Six Vintage Rocks Glasses by Culver, LTD in "Coral Icicle" Ring Pattern
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage rocks glasses signed Culver, LTD in a variant of the "Icicle" pattern having raised textured translucent coral horizontal lines applied t...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Modern Trays Round Black Plastic Splatter Platters by Sabe’s
Located in Topeka, KS
Incredible and fun Mid-Century Modern black plastic trays called Splatter Platters and manufactured by Sabe’s of Fort Smith, Arkansas. There are 12 and they are in wonderful conditio...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic

Mid 20th Century Italian Wine Cooler by Riedel Italy Circa 1965
Located in London, GB
Mid 20th Century Italian Wine Cooler by Riedel Italy, Circa 1965. A stylish 1980s Riedel wine cooler designed and made in collaboration with Mesa for the ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Mid Century Modern Ivory Colored Wine Cooler, Italy, 1950
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage wine cooler from a metal base covered with ivory plastic. The box has a pattern with rhombus and the front side is decorated with an emblem, which shows a ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Vintage Fred Press Designed Rocks Glasses with Translucent Enamel Pears & Apples
Located in Nantucket, MA
Four vintage rocks glasses designed by Fred Press having pears and apples in translucent enamels and accented with 22 karat gold.
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

Italian Bronze Bar Cart
Located in New York, NY
Unique, 1950s Italian bronze bar cart. It has a bronze, black lacquered stretcher and a curved glass top. It also has a long handle. The cart rolls smo...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Bronze

Lino Sabattini wine bottle holder circa 1970
Located in Amarillo, TX
Lino Sabattini wine bottle holder Italy, c. 1970s silver plate
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver

Vintage, Ohio Thermometer Company, Drink Stirrers / Swizzle Sticks
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage drink stirrers / swizzle sticks in original box. 8 stirrers made by the Ohio Thermometer Company, with a scale indicating the perfect te...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Blown Glass

Maison Jansen Style Mirrored Ice Cooler
Located in North Miami, FL
This is a soft blue mirror clad Ice Bucket with chrome trim frame. ALL original and lovely as-is.
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Cera Glassware, Red, White and Blue Arrow Barware Suite
Located in Nantucket, MA
Midcentury eleven piece bar suite with vinyl caddy and ice bucket. All decorated with vertical red, white and blue arrows alternately pointed up and down. The set includes 6 large ro...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Eight 22k Gold and Black Enamel Mid-Century Modern Highball Glasses
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage set of 8 highball glasses with a vertical diamond pattern of black enamel on a mottled gold ground.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Highball Glasses with Black Enamel Antelopes with Gold Detail
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of 8 mid-century modern highball glasses with 2 stylized antelopes in black enamel with 22k gold horns.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

4 Vintage Rocks Glasses with the Word Music Repeated Horizontally & Vertically
Located in Nantucket, MA
4 Vintage rocks glasses with 6 rows of squares in yellow, orange and rust, each with a block letter in reserve and spelling out the word MUSIC cr...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

13 Piece Calypso Performer, Cocktail Bar Suite Shaker, Pitcher and Glasses
Located in Nantucket, MA
Thirteen piece vintage barware set, clear glass with white frosted interiors having an image of a 3 piece Calypso band in 22 karat gold. All in exc...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

8 Vintage Cocktail Glasses with Stylized Prancing Horses in Black Enamel
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of 8 vintage tumblers, decorated in black enamel with an image of a stylized prancing horse on clear glass.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Chrome Faux Bamboo Bar Cart
Located in New York, NY
Two-tier bar or serving cart, smoked glass tops with a chrome faux bamboo frame.
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Chrome

20th Century Italian Carved Wood Flask By Aldo Tura For Macabo c.1960
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An Aldo Tura wood flask crafted for Macabo, Cusano Milanino, made in Italy around the 1960s. This exquisite piece reflects the distinctive style of Aldo Tura...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Vintage Pop Art Collins Glasses with a Close-up of a Pen Clip That Says "Parker"
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of eight vintage Pop Art Collins glasses in red, black and yellow enamel. The design resembling the barrel and clip of a lacquered Parker pen with the w...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Tantalus Decanter Cognac and Whisky, Italy, 1960s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Beautiful Tantalus Decanters “Cognac ad Whisky” made in Italy in the 1960s. Tantalus is a decorative stand, case or box for glass or cut glass decant...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Leather, Glass, Wood

Carl Auböck II Boot Opener Model 4563 circa 1950
Located in Chicago, IL
Carl Auböck II Boot Opener Model 4563 circa 1950 Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria This stylish boot opener by Carl Auböck II is crafted from solid brass with a stunning blackened pati...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Colourful Large Glass Mugs Vintage Emerald Mug Set of 6, France
Located in Bastogne, BE
Colourful vintage glass mugs in a Beautiful Emerald Color. The handmade decorative belts are detachable. France. Set of 6 pieces. The ...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Piero Fornasetti, Sole vide poche, Compagnia del Tabacco Italy 1980s
Located in Firenze, IT
Sole vide poche designed by Piero Fornasetti Compagnia del Tabacco under license Fornasetti, Italy 1980s Pressed methacrylate H 1.7 cm - 31 x 31 cm Conditions: excellent consiste...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic

Mid-century Jens Quistgaard Danks Round Ice Bucket c.1960
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An original mid-century Jens Quistgaard Teak round ice bucket with black, plastic insert. Impressed stamp on the bottom with maker's mark. CREATOR Dansk, Denmark. DAT...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic, Teak

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

Superb Pair Mappin & Webb Mid Century Silver Mounted Glass Spirit Decanters
Located in London, GB
A high-quality pair of cut glass decanters with sterling silver mounted collars. This stylish pair look very modernistic and are made off the very best ...
Category

1960s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

Aldo Tura Light Green Goatskin Shaker Ice Bucket
Located in Munich, DE
Ice bucket and Shaker made by Aldo Tura in light green grey lacquered goatskin and executed circa 1960s, in very good vintage condition. Along with artists like Piero Fornasetti and ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

1970s Aldo Tura Design Ice Bucket by Macabo, Italy
Located in Biella, IT
Aldo Tura design years 1960 ice bucket by Macabo Italy production the material is galvanic metal silver color and is in original and perfect condition...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Toothpick Server by Russel Wright for Chase
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A polished silver sphere with multiple perforations for holding and dispensing toothpicks. Stamped "Chase USA".
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Chrome, Steel

Acrylic Ice Bucket by OPI Milano for Cini & Nils
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An acrylic cube-form ice bucket, with a stainless steel hinge, and a round flip toplid in original box.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Mid Century Modern Standing Wrought Iron Wine Rack By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tall, Mid-Century Modern, free-standing, wrought iron, wine rack by Arthur Umanoff for shaver howard offers stylish wine storage for 67 bottle capacity.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Wrought Iron

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

Fendi Red Leather Leopard Print Glass Bar Tray
Located in Westport, CT
red leather trim Leopard Print Fendi fabric,glass insert tray with leather fendi Lable..two Available
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Fabric, Glass, Leather, Wood

Ice bucket “Eva” designed by Jorge Zalszupin, Brazil 1970s.
Located in Barcelona, ES
Ice bucket with tweezers “Eva”, a line of plastic household utensils designed by Jorge Zalszupin, Paulo Jorge Pedreira and Oswaldo Mellone in 1970s.
Category

1970s Brazilian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic

Carl Auböck Horn and Steel Cork Screw, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck horn and steel cork screw, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Steel

Carl Auböck Pair of Bottle Openers in Leather and Steel, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck set of two leather and steel bottle openers, Austria, 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Steel

Set of seven gold metal coasters with frogs. France, Mid-20th Century.
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Set of seven golden metal coasters with frogs. France, Mid-20th Century. Six coasters dimensions: 11,5 cm diameter x 2 cm height. One bigger coaster dimensions: 16, 5 cm diameter, 2 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Large Mid-20th Century Italian Lemonade Jug Designed by Sergio Asti, circa 1965
Located in London, GB
A large mid-20th century Italian glass and silver plated lemonade jug with integral ice container designed by Sergio Asti, Italy, circa 1965. About the maker; Sergio Asti is an Ita...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Geraldo De Barros Bar Cart
Located in Washington, DC
Solidly elegant bar cart by important Brazilian Modernist Geraldo De Barros, whom many consider to be the father of Brazilian Modernism. Simple lines and curvaceous corners give th...
Category

1970s Brazilian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Vintage Italian Aldo Tura Style Painted Wood, Brass And Cork Top Jug Barware
Located in North Miami, FL
This fabulous mid century modern Italian Aldo Tura style jug has the original color painted wood forms on the front. The colors range from navy blue, mustard yellow, emerald green, b...
Category

1950s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Wood, Cork, Paint

Silver Plated Ice Bucket With Brass Buckle Detail c.1960
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A superb mid-20th Century silver plated ice bucket. The bucket is adorned with a brass belt buckle detail and offers ample space to accommodate a bo...
Category

1960s British Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Glass and Brass Decanter by Carl Auböck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Decanter by Austrian industrial designer Carl Auböck, circa 1950. The glass decanter is set in an brass stand with leather wrapped stem. Marked Germany. Dimensions 17” length x 1...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Christofle Silver Plated Shaker France 1950
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Christofle Silver Plated Shaker France 1960 Beautiful and authentic cocktail shaker, an unusual model due to its design. The comfortable size may require a strainer for certain type...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Drink Coolers for Silverice
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A set of 12 drink chillers. Original box with the slogan, 'It Chills Without Diluting'.
Category

1920s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver

Mid Century French Modern Lacquered Barcart
Located in Tulsa, OK
**Please Read Entire Description** Please view all listing pictures on a laptop if possible. Some cell phones don’t display all listing pictures and some could be pictures relatin...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Danish Silver Bar Set of Georg Jensen Silversmithy, Copenhagen
Located in Buchanan, MI
A Danish silver bar set of Georg Jensen Silversmithy, Copenhagen. In the beaded pattern, comprising a bottle opener and bar knife. Marked on handles....
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Collection of Tiffany Crystal in the Rock Cut Pattern, Ice Bucket and Much More
Located in Buchanan, MI
Collection of Tiffany crystal in the rock cut pattern. Ice bucket, five large bowls, five smaller bowls and five plates.
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Crystal

Stein with Cane Wrapped Handle In the Style of Carl Aubock, 1950s
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A pair of uncommon handmade glass beer steins having impeccably cane wrapped curved handles.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Cane, Glass

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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