Skip to main content

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.

4
958
11
to
113
665
294
969
963
969
969
290
244
81
54
45
36
23
19
12
12
11
3
2
2
7
951
11
8
750
134
1
2
2
112
170
101
9
431
428
153
131
102
435
428
400
116
96
40
34
30
30
18
Price: $1 to $450
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Carl Auböck Model #4224 'Hand' Brass Bottle Opener
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4224 'Hand' brass bottle opener. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural bottle opener is executed in polished brass. Price is per item. Th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Murano Glass Tumbler, Blooming Field with Poppies and Lavender, unit price
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
This listing is for unit price for customer who needs quantities that are different than the listed set of 6. The original name is Campo fiorito con papaveri e lavanda. I designed th...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

1962 Seattle World's Fair Space Needle Table Lighter in Chrome
Located in San Diego, CA
A really cool 1962 Seattle World's Fair "Space Needle" table lighter in chrome. The lighter is in good vintage condition with some minor pitting and measu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Chrome

Mid-Century Modern Faux Tortoise Shell Ice Bucket with Chrome Handle, Italian
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fun and fantastic, this ice bucket has the tortoise shell look with bright polished chrome handle with ample room for enough ice for the first round of everyone's cocktail. The torto...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic

Vintage Ceramic and Metal Decanter Italy Riprod Vietata Art 2598
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage ceramic decanter with highly detailed metal base, top, and handle was made in Italy in 1960s. It is decorated with reliefs of grapes on wines framing a pastoral scene, and i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

MCM Set of Three Glasses Highball Barware Bubble Bottom
Located in Chula Vista, CA
MCM Glasses Barware Tumbler Highball Bottom Bubble design 6.13 h x 2.75 diameter Preowned vintage Refer to images
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

MCM Grass Cloth and Bamboo Ice Bucket with Tongs
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice MCM grass cloth and bamboo ice bucket with tongs, circa 1970s. The set includes a pair of bamboo ice tongs and is in very good vintage condition; it measures 7.5"D x 12"H...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Grasscloth, Bamboo

MCM Walnut Handled Wine Opener / Corkscrew
Located in San Diego, CA
MCM walnut handled wine opener / corkscrew, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good condition and measures 3.75"W x 5"D x 1.25"H. #3646
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

1960s Gorgeous American Cocktail Shaker. Made in U.S.A.
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Gorgeous american cocktail shaker in very good condition with an awesome decoration. Made in U.S.A. diameter 3,54" x 8,26" H inches diameter 9 cm x cm 21 H
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Vintage Trophy Cup Worn Silver Plated Champagne Chiller Ice Bucket by Bristol
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Distressed Trophy Cup Silver Plated Champagne Chiller Ice Bucket by Bristol. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 10" H x 10.5" W x 10" D.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Green Glass Decanter
Located in Vallejo, CA
A vintage glass decanter. Beautiful green color to the glass.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

1960s Gorgeous "Bullet" Cocktail Shaker in Stainless Steel. Made in Italy
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Gorgeous "Bullet" Cocktail Shaker in Stainless Steel. Made in italy. This shaker is in excellent condition. Dimension: diam cm 8 x cm 28 H diam 3,14 x 11,02 H inches
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Mid Century Silver Rim Roly Poly Cocktail Glasses - Set of 6
Located in Vallejo, CA
A beautiful set of 6 mid century roly poly cocktail glasses. Each glass decorated with metallic silver rims in the Dorothy Thorpe style. Perfect for using for cocktails.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Bottle Holder vienna around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Bottle Holder vienna around 1950s Original condition The bottle is not includet it is only for the photoshooting
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Silver Plated Top Hat Wine Coaster
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful whimsical and celebratory Silver PlatedTop Hat Wine or Champagne Coaster. Unique and definitely ready to be the conversation starter. A complimen...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Set of four Mid Century Vintage Glass Green Crinkle Juice Glasses
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A set of four beautiful green textured glass juice glasses. This set will make a wonderful addition to any breakfast table. Pair them with coordinating floral plates on a green block print tablecloth...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Metal Fish Corkscrew Bottle Opener MidCentury Modern Breweriana Barware
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1960s corkscrew and bottle opener. Nice addition to your room or just for use at your bar or bar cart. Found at an estate sale in Vienna, Austria.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Bronze

Mid Century Teak Ice Bucket in the style of Dansk Denmark
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A teak wood ice bucket with matching knob on the lid and sides for easy use having a foam insert to keep things cool . Also inside is a removeable for cleaning plastic bucket which s...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic, Foam, Teak

Mid-Century Colorful Lucite and Wood Bunny Painter Cocktail Picks, France 1960s
Located in Atlanta, GA
This adorable French Mid-Century bar cocktail pick accessory was crafted in France in the 1960s. This little guy is probably not Picasso, but he will be a great conversational piece for your next party with friends !! The bar set includes a wooden bunny painting next to a chromed metal cocktail pick holder. There are eight picks with a carved Lucite bead in yellow, green, blue, and orange colors. The bunny character and the holder stand on a pearlized orange Lucite base. The carved wood bunny...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Tommaso Barbi Wicker and Chrome Set of Two Coasters, 1970s
Located in Atlanta, GA
Tommaso Barbi crafted this lovely Mid-Century modernist barware set of two coasters in Italy in the 1970s. The rounded shape boasts a chromed metal stepped framing complemented by br...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Brazilian Midcentury Eva White Ice Bucket by Jorge Zalszupin, c. 1970
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Ice bucket produced by the plastic factory Hévea, which launched a line of utility products called Eva in the 1970s designed by architects Jorge Zalszupin, Paulo Jorge Pedreira and O...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Acrylic

Brazilian Midcentury Modern Bar-set in Steel and Wood by Hercules Inox, c. 1970
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Complete bar set in stainless steel and noble Brazilian wood in the original box. Composed of eight parts: spoon, corkscrew, dispenser, tweezers, opener, knife, strainer and nutcracker.
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Danish Modern Teak Ice Bucket by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Round, teak ice bucket with black plastic interior insulation designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk (1960s, Denmark). Elegant form with vivid teak grain a...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic, Teak

Vintage Coffee Grinder I.D. 1940s-1950s Germany, Retro Kitchen
Located in Verviers, BE
Vintage coffee grinder Leinbrock's Ideal 1940s-1950s Germany. Retro Kitchen Houseware. Working coffee grinder Completely checked and cleaned ...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Sheet Metal

Italian Space Age Lucite Ice Bucket Designed by Paolo Tilche for Guzzini
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Clear acrylic glass ice bucket by Pablo Tilche for Guzzini Italy circa 1970s. This piece certainly makes a wonderful statement on a bar or bar cart. This piece has an attribution mar...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Toledo Cocktail or Olive Sword Skewers Set, Spain 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A Spanish souvenir from the 1970s in the shape of this sword skewer set. 12 swords in a matching stand. Made from steel, brass and enamel. Suitable for cocktails, olive snacks etc. M...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Mid-Century Modern Lucite Ice Bucket
Located in San Diego, CA
Mid-century modern lucite ice bucket, circa 1980s. This piece is in great vintage condition and measures 8"D x 8.5"H; a glamorous addition to your MCM bar! #3558
Category

Late 20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Lucite

1950s Aldo Tura Goatskin and Brass Carafe Thermos Italy
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents 1950s Aldo Tura Goatskin and Brass Carafe Thermos Pitcher Barware made in Italy, maker stamped. 11.5 h x 3.75 diameter x 4.5 d Preowned vintage wear, see all images...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Four - RARE - Vintage Fred Press "Lotus" Pattern Old Fashioned Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of four hard-to-find Fred Press "Lotus" pattern old fashioned having raised and textured translucent pink petal design with gold diamonds.
Category

Early 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Midcentury ceramic pear shaped ice bucket, France 1960s
Located in Firenze, IT
Midcentury ceramic pear shaped Ice bucket France 1960s Brass, ceramic, glass, metal h 26 cm - diam. 19 cm Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Set of Four Retro "Bamboo" Motif High-Ball Cocktail Glasses by Culver LTD
Located in San Diego, CA
Set of four retro "Bamboo" motif high-ball cocktail glasses by Culver LTD, circa 1970s. The glasses are in good condition with no cracks or chips; the graphics are crisp. Each glass...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

1970's Vintage Honey Dew Blenko Style Wine Decanter
Located in San Carlos, CA
🎉 Elevate Your Entertaining Experience! 🍸 Introducing our Very Cool Mid Century Brown Decanter – the ultimate statement piece for your next gathering...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage set of 7 Libbey Tom Collins Tropical Island Palm Tree Theme Tall Glasses
Located in St. Louis, MO
Vintage set of 7 Libbey "Tiki Bar" tall Tom Collins glasses with Tropical, Island and Palm Tree theme. Each clear glass is different having palm trees, boats, floral, grass hut, hi...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Blown Glass

Modernist Brass Bar Pitcher w/Hinged Lid and Curved Butterscotch Bakelite Handle
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Italian modernist brass bar pitcher with hinged lid and tapering S-curved butterscotch Bakelite handle. Marked on bottom "Made in Italy"
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Set of 4 Culver Tennis Rocks Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of 4 Culver Tennis Rocks Glasses. Decorated with gold and black tennis rackets, tennis shoes, sun glasses, warm up robe and tennis ball super imposed on a tennis net.
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Cocktail Shaker With A Red Wire-Netting
Located in Vienna, AT
Glass bottle with red wire-netting and a cover made in the early 1970s.
Category

1970s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Steel

Four Georges Briard "Window" Pattern Rocks Glasses in White with 22 Karat Gold
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid-century modern rocks glasses in the "Window" pattern designed by Georges Briard having a white enamel ground with gold top and bottom edges centering two rows of 'windows' with g...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

1970’s Saks Fifth Avenue Ice Bucket
Located in Charleston, SC
A wonderful and absolutely classic leather and canvas ice bucket from Saks Fifth Avenue C. 1970’s.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Leather, Canvas, Plastic

Four - RARE - Vintage Fred Press "Lotus" Pattern Old Fashioned Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of four hard-to-find Fred Press "Lotus" pattern old fashioned having raised and textured translucent pink petal design with gold diamonds.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Glo-Hill Chrome "Traffic Light" Spirit Measure/Jigger w/Bakelite Handle
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Vintage "Traffic Light" spirit measure / jigger, the cylindrical chrome measure with three plastic 'lights', green, yellow & red, each above the engraved words "SAFE", "CAUTION" & "D...
Category

Early 20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Chrome

Nutcracker Vienna Around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Nutcracker Vienna Around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Nickel

Mid Century Silver Fade Roly Poly Cocktail Glasses - Set of 6
Located in Vallejo, CA
A beautiful set of 6 mid century silver fade roly poly cocktail glasses. Each glass decorated with metallic silver that fades to clear at the bases. Made in the Dorothy Thorpe styl...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

1960s Mercury Glass Roman Centurion Coasters in Caddy - 9 Pieces
Located in Draper, UT
1960s Mercury Glass Roman Centurion Coasters in Caddy. It includes eight coasters and one caddy with handle. Each coaster has an embossed head of a Roman soldier or centurion - (a ...
Category

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

Materials

Mercury Glass

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

Bottle Holder Around, 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Bottle Holder Around, 1950s Original condition Bottle is not included (it is only for the Photoshooting).
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Set of 4 Vintage Rocks Glasses in the 22k Gold "Canella" Pattern by Culver, LTD.
Located in Nantucket, MA
Four vintage rocks glasses in the "Canella" pattern by Culver, LTD. in 22 karat gold on clear glass with a design of woven cane pattern having a textured and raised surface.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

1960s Brass Black Leather Hip Flask Spain
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Spanish Gold Brass or Plated Black Leather Flask Decanter Secret Bottle Label underneath. 6 h x 4 x 1.25 d Made in Spain Preowned original vintage condition See images provided.
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Brass

Vintage Large Italian Murano Art Glass Clown Decanter Bottle
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Large Hand Blown Italian Murano Glass Clown Decanter Bottle 13.5” . Amazing colorful hand blown Murano glass clown decanter with hat and bow tie. This Italian hand blown Mura...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Art Glass

Vintage Sintzenich Old Fashioned Glasses w/Nautical Flags and Suggestive Meaning
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Vintage set of 4 old fashioned bar glasses in clear glass, each painted with a different nautical flag. To the left of each flag is the letter/word meaning and below each is a sugges...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Cut Crystal Champagne Coupes; Set/5
Located in Malibu, CA
Intricately cut crystal champagne coupes with blown glass stems.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Crystal

Vintage Silver Plate Spirit Measure / Jigger of Double Bell Form, Marked Kirk
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Vintage silver plate spirit measure / jigger of double bell form with a ring centered between the two sides. Marked Kirk / Steiff inside one of the measures.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Cigarette Dispenser Maple Execution, circa 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Cigarette Dispenser Maple Execution, circa 1950s The opening on top for the cigaretts is 7,4cm Wood polished
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Wood, Maple

Pair of Gold Painted MCM Pump Glass Decanters
Located in Weymouth, MA
Pair of mid-century glass pump decanters with painted gold floral design.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

MCM Yellow Glass-Snap Mugs by Corning - Set of 4
Located in Vallejo, CA
A set of 4 mid century "Glas-Snap" mugs by Corning. Each is made of glass that snaps into a yellow plastic base. Great mid century design with the bases acting like coasters to prote...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass, Plastic

MCM Sterling Silver "Stoplight" Jigger / Shot Glass by Gorham
Located in San Diego, CA
A rare MCM sterling silver "stoplight" jigger / shot glass by Gorham, circa 1950s. The piece is in good condition and measures 2.25"D x 2.5"H. The jigger has 1oz, 2.5oz and 3.5oz ma...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Sterling Silver

American Art Deco Chrome "Penguin" Ice Bucket by West Bend Manufacturing
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful Art Deco chrome "Penguin" ice bucket by West Bend Manufacturing, circa 1940s. The design features three bakelite handles and an embossed penguin design on the perimeter of ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Mid Century Silver Plate Ice Bucket
Located in Sheffield, MA
Vintage Mid Century Silver Plate Ice Bucket. In good vintage condition with some minor blemishes. 6" D body of ice bucket only 7....
Category

Mid-20th Century European 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.

Recently Viewed

View All