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Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE

Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.

ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS

VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.

Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively. 

Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer

Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.

The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.

As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.

Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.

As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.

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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Period: Late 20th Century
Large Square Ceramic Bowl by Gustave Tiffoche, France 1970s
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Large ceramic bowl by Gustave Tiffoche, France 1970s. The bowl has a strong square shape with round edges and outspoken artistic drawings. Finished with great experimental glaze work...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Large Italian Blue 'Sommerso' Murano Glass Bowl Maurizio Albarelli Attributed
By Maurizio Albarelli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Large vintage textured Italian glass bowl or dish attributed to Maurizio Arabella for Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano, Italy, circa late 1970s / 1980s. Elegant in form and showing extraor...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass, Blown Glass

Rare Signed Cenedese Vintage Murano Glass Dark Red Colored Glass Cake Stand
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Rare signed Murano glass cake stand or serving plate by Cenedese circa 1970-1990. The design is likely to be by either Antonio da Ros or Ermann...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Erte "Ocean II" Patinated Bronze Table Bowl, 1987
Located in New York, NY
Erte (Romain de Tirtoff, Russian/French, 1892-1990) "Ocean II" Patinated Bronze Table Bowl, signed to center bottom of bowl "Erte" and numbered and stamped in cast "c. 1987 / CON KER...
Category

Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Bronze

Large Vintage 1970s Rubberwood Decorative Bowl
Located in Cedar Falls, IA
Vintage segmented turned decorative bowl, large dimensions.
Category

1970s Malaysian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Burgundy Lucite Italian "Napkin" Centerpiece or Serving Bowl, 1980s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful centrepiece in an elegant dark vibrant red Lucite with a white base. This amazing item was produced in Recanati, Italy, during the 1980s and is attributed to Guzzini, the m...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass

Italian mid-century modern metal hemisphere serving bowls by Danese, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern metal hemisphere serving bowls by Danese, 1970s Set of 4 metal hemisphere bowls with internal chrome finish and external satin finish. These cups, thanks to their different sizes, can be inserted inside each other. They can be used both as a table service for aperitifs and as a pocket emptier. Produced by Danese in 1970s. Vintage condition, they show signs of aging. In patina. Measurements in cm 8x4h 15.5x7.5h 19.5x10h 22x11.5h These fantastic vintage bowls...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Studio Made Bowl / Vessel, Tableware, White Cedar, Signed
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-Century Modern Studio Made Bowl / Vessel, Tableware, White Cedar, Signed by J.L Dunne Hand made organic form tall vessel, vase, or bowl in a unique white cedar wood. Signed and ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Cedar

Modern Ultima Thule Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala, Finland 7 Glass Bowls
Located in Miami, FL
Tapio Wirkkala's 1960s Scandinavian Modern creation of Ultima Thule for Iittala, Finland. This design was meant to interpret the melting ice of a snow covered Finnish island. This de...
Category

1970s Finnish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

Mid Century Modern Style Italian Caddy
Located in Seattle, WA
Mid Century Modern Style Italian Caddy Dimensions. 12 L ; 6 W ;11 H
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Metal

Vintage Ray Harris Ceramic Decorative Bowl by Ceramic Artist Ray Harris Signed
Located in Monrovia, CA
Ray Harris California Artist Ceramic Bowl. 1990s Ray Harris Ceramic Large Decorative Bowl Signed And Dated. Ray Harris California Artist Large Vintage Ceramic Fruit...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of 1970s Anatomical Copper Bowls
By J. Blazy
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
Interesting pair of anatomical copper bowls in the style of J Blazy - Parisian decorator from the 1960s - 1970s. France, circa 1970 Priced for the pair.
Category

Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Copper

Vintage Yellow Glass Bowl
Located in Chorzów, PL
Vintage yellow glass bowl Very good condition, 1970s Measures: Height 9 cm, diameter 26 cm.  
Category

1970s Polish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Glass

Vintage Arthur Court 1979 Cabbage Lettuce Tureen Serving Bowl with Spoon - 4 pcs
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Arthur Court 1979 Cabbage Lettuce Tureen Serving Bowl with Spoon - 4 pcs. Item features a (4) piece set, (1) lidded serving/salad bowl, (1) serv...
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Aluminum

2 Iittala Nuutajarvi Oiva Toikka Flora Salza Bowl Serving
Located in Miami, FL
Iittala Scandinavian Modern set of 2 Flora glass bowl, salza serving bowls designed by Oiva Toikka and Nuutajärvi Notsjõ. This is the larger Size of the serving bowl, and it comes w...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

Midcentury Guzzini Orange Plexiglass Lucite Italian Centerpiece, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Unique Guzzini Italian production in Lucite and plexiglass with original orange shade. This midcentury centerpiece has an incredible napkin ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass

Arthur Court Lucite Handkerchief Serving Bowl on Rabbit Footed Stand, Signed
Located in Kansas City, MO
Large Handkerchief serving bowl designed by Arthur Court. Lucite / Acrylic bowl on a tripod aluminum base of three rabbits holding the bowl in place. W...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Aluminum

Set of Two Rare Mid-Century Modern Alu Bowls by Ingo Maurer for Design M 1970s
Located in Munich, DE
Extremely rare and elegant Mid-Century Modern bowls by Ingo Maurer for Design M, Germany, 1970s. Executed in aluminium. Measurements: Ø 8.67 in. (22 cm) H 1.58 in. (4 cm) We...
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Aluminum

Large Vintage Italian Murano Pink Scavo Glass Bowl Maurizio Albarelli Attributed
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Large vintage textured Italian glass bowl, ashtray or dish attributed to Maurizio Albarelli or Vittorio Rigattieri for Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano, I...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Heller 3 Quart Glass Bakeware with Lids by L & M Vignelli
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A set of two glass Heller bakeware pieces with lids designed by L & M Vignelli that can be used in the oven, microwave or as severing pieces. The lids can be used as pie pans so the ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Glass

Seven Crystal Bowls, Julia Glassworks, Poland, 1970s
Located in Chorzów, PL
A set of seven saucers Manufactured in Poland by the Julia Glassworks in the 1970s. Very good condition Measures: height 3cm, diameter 15cm.
Category

1970s Polish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Crystal

Seguso Large Vintage Italian Murano Black Glass Bowl 'Attri.' Maurizio Albarelli
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Large vintage textured Italian glass bowl, ashtray or dish attributed to Maurizio Albarelli or Vittorio Rigattieri for Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano, I...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Ruby Red Bowl with 24-Carat Gold Finishes in Blown Murano Glass, 1990s, Italy
Located in Villaverla, IT
Ruby red bowl with 24-carat gold finishes in blown Murano glass, 1990s, Italy This beautiful bowl is made with colorful ruby-red glass and gold rhombus ...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Cut Glass, Murano Glass, Glass

Vintage Rosewood Bowl on Stand
Located in Doylestown, PA
Fabulous vintage rosewood bowl on a stand. Beautiful color and finish. Bowl detaches from stand.
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Rosewood

Set of 3 Aluminum Serving Pieces with Birds and Branches
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This set of 3 serving pieces with birds and branches is made of aluminum. Circa 1970.
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Aluminum

Italian Art Deco Style Blown Glass Punch Bowl Set of 14
Located in Miami, FL
In excellent condition is this 14-piece blown glass punch bowl set made in Italy. The set is consisting out of a large punch bowl with 12 glass cu...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

'Karelia' Porcelain Leaf-Pattern Dish by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, 1970s
Located in London, GB
Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal, c. 1970 ‘Karelia’ leaf-pattern dish White porcelain Very good condition with only very minor marks Dimensions, approx..: lenght 28cm, width 9cm...
Category

1970s Finnish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Large Vintage Italian Murano Pink Scavo Glass Bowl Maurizio Albarelli Attributed
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Large vintage textured Italian glass bowl, ashtray or dish attributed to Maurizio Albarelli or Vittorio Rigattieri for Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano, Italy, circa late 1970s / 1980s. El...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Mid-Century Transitional Tall Purple Decorative Stoneware Bowl
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A heavy decorative stoneware bowl in pale purple. This bowl will be fabulous sitting on a coffee table, in a kitchen holding fruit, or in a foyer for holding keys and wallets. The di...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Stone

Seguso White 'a Scavo' Murano Glass Bowl Karl Springer Style 1980s
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Karl Springer style 'a Scavo' white colored / coloured square glass bowl, dish or ashtray by Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano, Italy, circa 1980s. Elegant in form and showing extraordinary craftmanship with the use of the 'Scavo' technique to replicate to look and feel of ancient Roman archeological...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Giulio Lazzotti Centerpiece Low Bowl for Casigliani
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Modern white quartzite marble with black circular details centerpiece low bowl or charger plate by Giulio Lazzoti for Casigliani, with intact label on ...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Marble

Gallo D'Oro Italy Vintage Hand Painted Ceramic Gold, Black & White Serving Bowl
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Italian signed and numbered decorative serving bowl in white ceramic with hand painted Rooster in gold & black.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Cenedese Vintage Murano Glass Vibrantly Colored Cobalt Blue Glass Cake stand
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Glass cake stand or serving plate by Cenedese. Wonderful color/color of blue with black banding and simplistic yet elegant form. Fun to dine with vibrant vintage midcentury Murano gl...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Heart Shape Lidded Dish in Crystal Glass & Steel with Bakelite & Alabaster Knob
Located in Miami, FL
Lovely Mother's Day or wedding gift idea. Cut Glass Heart shaped Serving Dish with lid made out of Stainless Steel. Has a hand carved red alabaster a...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Alabaster, Stainless Steel

Rare Baccarat & Jean Boggio ''Masquerade'' Crystal and Gilt Bronze Centerpiece
Located in New York, NY
An important and rare Baccarat & Jean Boggio ''Masquerade'' double overlay ruby red over clear crystal and gilt bronze centerpiece. A double overlay ruby-red or cranberry over clear crystal bowl with intaglio cut "Masquerade" motif having hand painted gilt accents with gilt bronze rim and raised on gilt bronze base. The bowl with acid-etched maker's mark. The circular gilt-bronze pedestal stand molded in the form of a copse of trees, surmounted by a circular ruby-red or cranberry glass bowl...
Category

1990s French Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Set of 2 New Old Stock Murano Opaline Glass Shell Bowl by Cenedese, 1960s
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano opaline bowl set of 2 Design: Gino Cenedese Producer: Cenedese Vetri (marked underneath the vase) Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 196...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Ice Bowl and Pincer
Located in Vienna, AT
Extravagant glass bowl with pincer made circa the 1970s.
Category

1970s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Crystal

Blue Glass Bowl Lino Tagliapietra for Effetre International, Murano, Italy, 1986
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A beautiful light blue Italian glass bowl by Lino Tagliapietra for Effetre International, Murano, 1986. This hand-blown Murano glass obje...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Large Seguso White 'a Scavo' Murano Glass Bowl Attributed to Maurizio Albarelli
By Maurizio Albarelli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Large and heavy 'a Scavo' white colored / coloured glass bowl or dish attributed to Maurizio Albarelli for Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano, Italy, circa ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Clear & Amber Blown Glass Punch Bowl Vessel with Lid & Chicken Top Makora Krosno
Located in Miami, FL
In excellent condition is this blown glass punch bowl with lid and chicken head top by Makora Krosno Art Glass. Lovely created and the amber glass piece...
Category

Late 20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass

Oversize Staved Teak Bowl and Servers by Richard Nissen
Located in Highland, IN
This spectacular staved teak bowl by Richard Nissen is not only noteworthy for its design and quality of craftsmanship, but also for it's terrific large scale. It comes complete with a beautiful pair of servers...
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Teak

Orange Glass Bowl Lino Tagliapietria, Effetre International, Murano, Italy, 1991
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A beautiful light orange Italian glass bowl designed by Lino Tagliapietra for Effetre International, Murano, 1991. This hand blown glass object is unique and a one-of-a-kind piece. ...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Carl Auböck III Fondue Set
Located in Chicago, IL
Carl Auböck III Fondue set, by Riess: Enameled steel, stainless steel, Austria, circa 1980 Signed underside.  
Category

1980s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Metal

Set of Six Enamel Krenit Bowls by Herbert Krenchel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of six 1970s Krenit snack bowls by Herbert Krenchel. Black metal with blue, black and orange enamel interiors. (Set comes as two of each color.) Small size (5" Diameter x 2.25" ...
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Aldo Tura Square Goatskin Fruit Bowl
Located in Munich, DE
Rare Fruit Bowl or Ashtray in chocolate brown goatskin with a metal inlay, from Aldo Tura, Milano, Italy 1978.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Goatskin

Lino Sabbatini Rare Set of Graduated Round Silvered Bowls, Italy, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Lino Sabbatini ( 1925-2016 ) A rare set of three graduated round silvered bowls with decorated rim. Signed Italy, 1970's Dimensions: Large: 12.5 Ø, medi...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Metal

Johnathan Adler Couture Bowl Early Handmade
Located in Westport, CT
Johnathan Adler handmade ceramic couture bowl circa 1980s made for a friend early and rare.
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Ceramic

Alfredo Barbini Biomorphic Glass Bowl, Signed
Located in Hanover, MA
Strikingly graphic large Murano glass asymmetric and biomorphic bowl in royal blue and white by the Maestro Alfredo Barbini, signed "Barbini Murano"
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Murano Glass

Mid-Century Blue Glass Bowl, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
Vintage art glass bowl in dark blue color with a white rim. Made in Czechoslovakia in the 1970's.
Category

1970s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Art Glass

1970s Grainware Angular Regal Lucite Bowl by William Bounds
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage midcentury Grainware Lucite bowl by William Bounds model Regal GW349 11.75 diameter x 5.88 tall Preowned original vintage condition See imag...
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Bowls

Materials

Lucite

Mid-century Modern serving bowls for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern serving bowls 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 serving bowls created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with glass, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern serving bowls made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original serving bowls, popular names associated with this style include Jens Quistgaard, Cenedese, Tiffany & Co., and Dansk Designs. 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 serving bowls differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $33 and tops out at $25,000 while the average work can sell for $418.

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