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Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

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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Item Ships From: USA
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Clyde Burt Figural Ceramic Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Clyde Burt figural ceramic sculpture in hand painted and glazed stoneware. Signature to underside: [CB].
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Studio Pottery Signed Lidded Plate, circa 1976
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Studio pottery signed lidded plate. 1976.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Michael Andersen, Vase, Glazed Stoneware, Bornholm, Denmark, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A glazed stoneware vase produced by Michael Andersen Keramik. Maker's mark on the underside of the piece.
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Vintage Circular Studio Pottery Tray with Purple Wheat
Located in Vallejo, CA
A vintage circular studio pottery tray. Nice large size, perfect for using as a serving dish or centerpiece. Features an offset handpainted wheat design i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

Bruno Karlsson, Table Lamp, Brown-Glazed Stoneware, Studio Ego, Sweden, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown-glazed stoneware table lamp designed by Bruno Karlsson and produced by Ego Stengods, Sweden, c. 1960s. Sold without lampshade. Dimensions of Lamp (inches) : 15.375 x 5.875 ...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Gunnar Nylund, Stoneware Pitcher, Rörstand, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A sizable stoneware pitcher produced by Rörstrands, Sweden, 1940s. Designed and signed by Gunnar Nylund, (Swedish, 1914-1997). Nylund served as artistic director at Rörstrands, wh...
Category

1940s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Ceramic Poodle with Jeweled Collar
Located in Hanover, MA
1960s Italian ceramic poodle with jeweled collar.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Joseph Simon, Table Lamp, Glazed Stoneware, Søholm, Bornholm, Denmark, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
An off-white and brown striped table lamp produced by Søholm Keramik, located on the island of Bornholm in Denmark. Sold without lampshade. Dimensions of Lamp (inches) : 12 x...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Alessio Tasca for Raymor Vase, Ceramic, Green and White, Signed
Located in Dallas, TX
Alessio Tasca for Raymor vase, ceramic, green and white, signed.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Jette Hellerøe, Table Lamp Glazed Stoneware, Denmark, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A stoneware lamp produced by Jette Hellerøe, Denmark 1960. Sold without lampshade. Dimensions of Lamp (inches) : 11.75 x 4.75 x 4.75 (H x W x D) ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Piero Fornesetti Coasters, Emblems of the States
Located in Riverdale, NY
Piero Fornesetti's 8 piece coaster set with the emblems of various states in the US. Gilt decorated with lithographs of states emblems. Midcentury, Si...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Gunnar Nylund, Pitcher, Brown and Blac-Glazed Stoneware, Rörstand, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown and black, glazed stoneware pitcher, designed by Gunnar Nylund and produced by Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950s.  
Category

1950s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

1960s Spice Set of Twelve by Lagardo Tackett & Kenji Fujita
Located in North Miami, FL
1960s Japanese spice set of twelve by Lagardo Tackett & Kenji Fujita. Glazed ceramic containers, walnut covers and stainless-steel handles. Manufactured by F...
Category

1960s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stainless Steel

Mid-Century Modern Cracqueleur Ceramic & Yellow Gilt Bowl by Royal Copenhagen
Located in New York, NY
This elegant Mid-Century Modern decorative bowl/ dish was realized by the illustrious maker Royal Copenhagen in Denmark circa 1960. It features a concanve form with a cracqueleur pat...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Gold Leaf

Gunnar Nylund, Pitcher, Brown Stoneware, Rörstand, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown stoneware pitcher produced by Rörstrands, Sweden, 1950s.    
Category

1950s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Unusual Waylande Gregory Ceramic Bowl
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Fantastic decorative bowl or dish by Waylande Gregory, with a stylized 50's sgrafitto motif, red underside.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Bruno Karlsson, Table Lamp, Brown-Glazed Stoneware, Studio Ego, Sweden, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown-glazed stoneware table lamp designed by Bruno Karlsson and produced by Ego Stengods, Sweden, c. 1960s. Sold without lampshade. Dimensions of Lamp (inches) : 14.875 x 6 x...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Gunnar Hansson, Vase, Grey-Glazed Stoneware, Lomma, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A grey-glazed stoneware vase designed and produced by Gunnar Hansson in his own studio, Lomma, Sweden, c. 1950s-1960s.  
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Bruno Karlsson, Table Lamp, White Glaze Stoneware, Ego Stengods, Sweden, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A white glazed stoneware table lamp produced by Bruno Karlsson for Ego Stengods c. 1960s-1970s. Stamped and signed to underside. Dimensions listed are without lampshade. Sold with...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

1950s French Ceramic Friar Bottle, Set of 4
Located in High Point, NC
An set of French ceramic bottles, made between 1950 and 1970, in the shape of dark robed friars. Glazed in vivid colors, each bottle has a unique personality. Originally intended to ...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Rare Alvino Bagni for Raymor Italy Modernist Flower Power Vase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Rare flying saucer shaped vase created by Alvino Bagni for Raymor, Italy vase with floral motif. Piece measures 6" by 9" and is signed A, Raymor, Italy. In very good vintage 1960's -...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Clyde Burt Ceramic Vase
Located in Chicago, IL
Clyde Burt ceramic vase in glazed stoneware multicolored glaze. Signed to underside: [CB]. American, circa 1965.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Vase by Aldo Londi Bitossi, Orange/Gold Trim, Mid-Century, Italy, C 1960
Located in New York, NY
Ceramic vase by Aldo Londi Bitossi, Italy, C 1960, signed. Cylinder vase glazed in orange with gold details. Signed on the bottom, 79/2, Italy.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Bruno Gambone Ceramic Vase or Bottle, Italy, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Bruno Gambone light black glazed ceramic bottle or vase with a flattened circular body and elongated tapering neck, Italy 1970s. The body is incised with an abstract engraved decorat...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Green Majolica Ceramic Serving Tureen Set California Pottery, Mid 20th Century
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A polychrome verdigris green and blue majolica California Pottery Serving Tureen with lid and underplate. This set will be great for serving soups, casseroles, or a variety of other ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Clay, Paint

Playful Candleholders by Waylande Gregory
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A great set of five (5) playfull candle holders by Waylande Gregory. Vintage ca' 1960's. One gold, signed and 5 finished in shiny white unsigned.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Vase, Sweden, Scandinavian Midcentury Design, Brown/Orange, C 1960
Located in New York, NY
Ceramic vase by Gabriel, Sweden, circa 1960. The vase is in good condition with its ruff ceramic finish and a beautiful orange border on the top.
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Rosalie Wynkoop Vintage Studio Art Pottery Lidded Box Tin Glazed Terracotta
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Rosalie Wynkoop Vintage Studio Art pottery tin glazed terracotta lidded box. 7.5 inches wide by 4 inches deep by 6 inches high. In very good...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Terracotta

James Lovera Love Birds
Located in San Francisco, CA
James Lovera designed love birds depicting two birds in courtship. Executed in ceramic with a speckled or frosted glaze, signed Lovera.
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Michael Andersen, Table Lamp, Glazed Stoneware, Bornholm, Denmark, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown-glazed stoneware table lamp produced by Michael Andersen Keramik. Underside marked and labeled Sold without lampshade. Dimensions in listing exclude shade. For refere...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Italian Glazed Vase with Equine Design
Located in Denton, TX
Avocado and spruce colored glaze surround this vase with horse and tree design. Made in Italy.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

Marianna Von Allesch 'German/American Modernist' Large Ceramic Abstract Bowl
Located in Sharon, CT
Unique and iconic bio-morphic mid-century ceramic large bowl with abstract scraffito decorations, by this important German American Modernist. Signed.
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Bo Bergström, Table Lamp, Stoneware, for Svensk Form, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown glazed table lamp produced by Svensk form, designed by Bo Bergström. Lampshade attached for illustration and is not included in purchase. Dimen...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Elizabeth Raeburn Blue Glazed Raku Studio Art Pottery Vase Vintage Ceramics
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Sculptural vase by Elizabeth Raeburn United Kingdom potter. Blue Ruku glaze abstract Studio art pottery vase. Measures: 9 inches wide by 5 inches deep by 8 inches high.
Category

Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

Pierced Cylindrical Ceramic Bowl Black
Located in Oakland, CA
Inspired by Mid-Century Modern design, the pierced collection is wheel thrown and hand pierced stoneware with a satin glaze. Small holes are created when the clay is still wet and th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Clay

1980s Glazed Ceramic Charger
Located in Denton, TX
Studio crafted large plate / charger with abstract glaze.
Category

20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Accolay French Ceramic Handled Pitcher Vase
Located in Miami, FL
A Touch of French Mid-Century Modern Charm: Accolay Ceramic Pitcher Vase This beautiful mid-century modern pitcher vase, crafted by the renowned French pottery makers Accolay, embod...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Eva Zeisel Scarce Ironstone Dinnerware Set for 10 by Schmid NKT, Japan
Located in Chicago, IL
A large set of pieces including: 10 dinner plates 10 small plates 10 small bowls 2 large serving platters 1 large serving bowl A whimsical, Mid-Century set designed by Eva ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Majolica Oyster Plate Sarreguemines Circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica oyster plate signed Sarreguemines, circa 1950. 8 plates are available.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Faience

Ceramic Sculpture by Michael Cohen
By Michael Cohen
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Large gold lustre and stoneware ceramic sculpture by Massachusetts potter Michael Cohen. Executed at Herring Run while sharing a studio with William Wyman.   
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Ceramic Bowl from the Studio of Herman August Kähler
Located in Los Angeles, CA
HAK Studio wheel thrown ceramic bowl or vide-pôche. The bowl features a navy blue glaze with detailing around the inner and outer rim of the bowl....
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Clyde Burt Ceramic Charger
Located in Chicago, IL
Clyde Burt ceramic charger in glazed stoneware with incised image. Signature to underside: [CB]. American, c. 1965
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Bruno Karlsson, Table Lamp, Brown-Glazed Stoneware, Ego Stengods, Sweden, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A stoneware table lamp produced by Bruno Karlsson for Ego Stengods c. 1960s-1970s. It is stamped and signed on underside. Sold without lampshade. Dimensions of Lamp (inches) : 1...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Oblong Decorative Ceramic Lobster Mold Wall Hanging in Green and Orange
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A lovely ceramic piece to add interested hung on a wall or placed on a table. Measures: 9.5" wide 7.5" deep 2.5" tall.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Paint, Ceramic

Harrison Mcintosh Signed Monumental Midcentury Large Ceramic Pottery Charger
Located in Studio City, CA
A very rare and early atomic themed or motif (a motif he would later come back to some years later) substantial charger by renowned American West Coast Californian master ceramist Ha...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Midcentury Ceramic Vase West Germany Uebelacker Keramik Studio Pottery
Located in Miami, FL
This tall collectable midcentury vintage vase was produced circa 1965 by the renowned manufacturer of West German pottery - Uebelacker Keramik. The vase features stunning green, oran...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Luxembourg Coffee Cans
Located in New York, NY
Luxembourg coffee cans. Vintage Villeroy & Boch black and white ceramic pair coffee cups and three espresso cups. Handsome black and white design wi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Luxembourgish Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

17 Pc. Set of Mid Century Ceramic Serve Ware Cantelope Form Att. to Ed Langbein
Located in New York, NY
Fantastic set of mid century ceramic bowls, and plates, in the form of Cantelopes. The set consists of: 1 ) Large Covered Serving Bow...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Vase by Wishon-Harrell
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Ceramic vase by Wishon-Harrell.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Selection of Modernist Ceramic Tile Plaques
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of Modernist Ceramic Tile Plaques, circa 1960s. They are, from top to bottom: 1) Abstract Tile Plaque with Beautiful Volcanic Glaze, b...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Fornasetti Rare Complete Set of 12 "Le Oceanidi" Plates, Italy, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Rare and exceptional complete set of 12 'Le Oceanidi' (Oceanids) lithographically printed plates from the mid-1950s, Italy. Each plate tells a story depicting distant and fantastic ...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Vase by Mancioli, Italy, circa 1960s
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An unusual black and white ceramic vase, hand-painted by Mancioli, Italy, circa 1960s.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Bruno Karlsson, Vase, Stoneware, Studio Ego, Sweden, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown-glazed stoneware vase designed by Bruno Karlsson for Ego Stengods, Sweden, c. 1960s. Stamped to the underside.  
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Mid-20th Century Mythological Terracotta "Medusa" Ceramic Sculpture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sculpture depicting a female, armless figure lying on her side, circa 1960s-1970s. Unsure of the subject, but the style and details of the hair suggest this could depict Medusa. Imp...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Terracotta

Marcello Fantoni Studio Vase
Located in Chicago, IL
Fantoni Monumental vase, Italy, 1959. Glazed earthenware Glazed signature and date to underside: [Fantoni 1959].  
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Large Alvino Bagni for Raymor Jug Vessel
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A large ceramic vessel by Alvino Bagni for Raymor, Italy circa 1960s. Jug form with beautiful stylized decoration in shades of brown.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

French Mid-20th Century Earthenware Decorative Charger or Ceramic Dish
Located in Miami, FL
Hand-crafted, hand-glazed French Mid-20th Century Earthenware Decorative Charger or Dish with striking details. Earth tones, glazed ceramic dish. This French Mid- 20th Century Eart...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Marchello Fantoni Vibrant Blue Bowl
Located in Chicago, IL
Marchello Fantoni Vibrant Blue Bowl blue bowl. Signed Fanton underside.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Metal

Mid-century Modern ceramics for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern ceramics 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 ceramics created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, stoneware and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern ceramics made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original ceramics, popular names associated with this style include Rörstrand, Gunnar Nylund, Roger Capron, and Bitossi. 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 ceramics differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $30 and tops out at $113,467 while the average work can sell for $901.

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