Skip to main content

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 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.

to
425
2,803
44
9
1
7
2,795
53
32
2,173
341
7
5
15
65
448
659
223
32
4
1,001
997
652
308
251
133
116
84
65
63
34
30
18
9
3
3
2
2,511
333
216
169
107
1,834
833
2,450
664
614
303
299
2,856
2,828
2,834
85
71
69
62
60
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Danish Bullhorn Ceramic Vase signed "Jeanette" 1970s in excellent condition
Located in Berlin, DE
Danish Ceramic Vase signed "Jeanette" 1970s in very good condition
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Wall Mounted Vase
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage Ceramic Wall Mounted Vase by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tab...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

1970 Canadian Freeform Glazed Ceramic Bowl, Pottery Pink, Black, Blue and Gray
Located in Miami, FL
One of a kind Mid-Century Modern freeform glazed ceramic bowl, pottery in gray, blue, pink and black color. Superb crafted in Canada in the 1970s. Original label underneath. A-747-335
Category

Late 20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Panel by Les Deux-Potiers
Located in Stratford, CT
The ceramic panel was handmade in Vallauris, France, by Les Deux-Potiers. This panel is made of one piece (pretty rare for the size). Les Deux-Potiers, a renowned French ceramic at...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Mid Century Light Blue Vase, Italy, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Blue vase in amazing shape. Produced in 1960s. Glass in perfect condition. The vase looks like it has just been taken out of the box. No jags, defects etc. The outer relief surface,...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Glass

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

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Glazed Ceramic and Brass Holy Mary and Jesus by Arturo Pannunzio, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1940s. This brass and glazed ceramic piece is made by Arturo Pannunzio. It is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can be considered a...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Brass

Ceramic Bowl by Robert Picault, France 20th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Ceramic bowl by Robert Picault France, 20th century.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Snakeski With Plate 1900, France Art nouveau style Jugendstil Floreale
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Sarreguemines France Ceramic Snakeski With Plate Style Art nouveau, Jugendstil, Moderism, Liberty, Stile Floreale. With Plate We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nou...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Silver Plate

Italian Ceramic Vase by Vittorio Acabbo
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian ceramic vase by Vittorio Acabbo Amalfi 1971. In Campania in the late nineteenth century a group of artists gave life to an extraordinarily i...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Old Ceramic Box circa 1950, Brand to Decipher
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Old ceramic box circa 1950, brand to decipher.
Category

1950s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Roth Keramik red and black lava glaze, 41cm West Germany, c. 1970.
Located in Pymble, NSW
A Roth Keramik jug vase with 2 ring handles. Black lava glaze and moulded glossy red oval pattern. The shape, numbered 314, is found in 2 sizes, this one b...
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Plate, 1950
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Material: Ceramic We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982.If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushing the button th...
Category

1950s Unknown Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Bitossi 'Spagnoli' Pattern Mirror Frame, Aldo Londi, Italy, circa 1965
Located in Pymble, NSW
A rare circular mirror frame designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi in the mid-1960s. 'Spagnoli' pattern in blue.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

20th Century 1950 Asbtract Green and Brown Ceramic Free Form Sculpture
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Abstract french unique piece Brown and green ceramic free form sculpture realised circa 1950 Original perfect condition Signed under the base Measures: Height 21 cm Larg...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Black 1960s Ceramic Vases from Carlo Zauli, Set of 2
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This pair of glazed ceramic vases was manufactured by the pottery master Carlo Zauli in the 1960s. Irregular and rough surface is the hallmark of the artist. Ref. AA.VV. Carlo Zau...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

Vintage Handmade Ceramic Tulip Vase by Giovanni Poggi for San Giorgio, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s - 1960s. This wonderful piece is made by Giovanni Poggi and is hand modeled and painted with an abstract motif with an expressioni...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Carlton Ball Ceramic Vase
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A rare ceramic vase by F.Carlton Ball.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Cognac Flask
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Elchinger, Ceramic Vase, circa 1950
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Elchinger, ceramic vase, circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Torviscosa Bottle
Located in New York, NY
Handmade ceramic bottle by Torviscosa. Irregular bottle form with slant-cut mouth at top. High fire glazes in mottled reds and blues create a beautiful effect. Really fine example of...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Tim Keenan Ceramic Vase
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Tim Keenan Ceramic vase.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Tim Keenan Ceramic Vase
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Tim Keenan ceramic vase, 2022.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Set by Franco Bucci for Laboratorio Pesaro, Italy, 1970s
Located in Milan, IT
Rare set of ceramic pitcher and glasses by Franco Bucci for Laboratorio Pesaro. Marvelous colors and surface finish. Size refers to the pitcher.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

ceramic pitchers by Pol Chambost
Located in Brooklyn, NY
beautiful set of blue ceramics by Pol Chambost from the 1950's original condition
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Large Italian Ceramic Sculpture/plate by Walter Morando , signed
Located in Milano, IT
Big Ceramic Tray - Marine Themed Ceramic - Collectible Handpainted Ceramic A handcrafted ceramic plate featuring a rich, dark green petroleum glaze, complemented by iridescent bubb...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Ceramic Vases by Joan Carrillo, Spain
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of ceramic vases diseñados by the spanish ceramist Joan Carrilo, 1970's. Glazed ceramic. Dimensions: 10 Ø x 29 H. cm. short 10'5 Ø x 33,5 H. cm. large.  
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Green Ceramic Vase by Portier, France, 1950s
Located in Berlin, DE
Green ceramic vase by Portier, France, 1950s.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Vessel by Maurice Chalvignac
Located in New York, NY
A ceramic vessel by Maurice Chalvignac, adorned with multi-colored paint.
Category

20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

Blue Italian Ceramic Dish in the Style of Bitossi Raymor
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian blue glazed ceramic bowl or dish. Classic mediterranean ceramic design featuring blue, green, and navy glazes. Stunning when full of l...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Large polychrom vase in ceramic by les 2 potiers
Located in LAMBLORE, FR
1959 polychrome vase. Turned ceramic. Matte brown and blue enamels. Signed: 'Les 2 potiers'. Unique piece.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Black and Gold Centrepiece & Desk Accessories Ceramic by Deruta
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Deruta ceramics are a type of Italian pottery that originates from the town of Deruta in central Italy. Deruta ceramics are known for their int...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

European Studio Ceramist, Small Unique Vase / Jug in Glazed Stoneware
Located in København, Copenhagen
European studio ceramist. Small unique vase / jug in glazed stoneware. Beautiful luster glaze. 1960s / 70s. Measures: 7.5 x 7 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Category

1960s Unknown Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Large Ceramic Vase, circa 1950-1960
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large ceramic vase circa 1950-1960. Measures: Height: 58 Cm.
Category

1950s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Four Piece California Pottery Smoking Set by Marc Bellaire, Excellent Condition
Located in Kansas City, MO
Hand painted, Signed Marc Bellaire set of four ceramic dishes. Three have indentations for whatever you are smoking and the fourth is to hold whatever you are smoking. Fruit motif in...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Pottery

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Vase, Hand-Painted, Italian Pino Castagna
Located in Milano, IT
Mid-Century Modern - Hand-painted Ceramic Vase - Collectible Design Elegant and timeless Mid-Century Modern vase in Ceramic, handmade and hand-painted. This postmodern vase, whose s...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Glazed Ceramic and Brass Holy Mary and Jesus by Arturo Pannunzio, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1940s. This brass, plexiglass and glazed ceramic piece is made by Arturo Pannunzio. It can be switched on. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight tra...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Brass

Roger Capron - Rare Dark Red Vintage Ceramic Bottle
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Wall Ceramic, Belgium circa 1950/1960
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Wall ceramic, Belgium circa 1950/1960.
Category

1950s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Roe Flask
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Exquisite ceramic box or tidy in the shape of a pebble by Hans Hedberg
Located in NICE, FR
This exquisite ceramic box by renowned Swedish artist Hans Hedberg is crafted in the form of an organic, egg-shaped object. The exterior surface is smooth with a soft, natural beige ...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Small Ceramic Bowl by Albert Green
Located in Dallas, TX
A potter and painter, Albert Green (1914 - 1994) earned an international reputation for his ceramics, stoneware, and canvases. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he studie...
Category

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

Materials

Ceramic

Small Ceramic Bowl by Albert Green
Located in Dallas, TX
A potter and painter, Albert Green (1914 - 1994) earned an international reputation for his ceramics, stoneware, and canvases. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he studie...
Category

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

Materials

Ceramic

Small Ceramic Bowl by Albert Green
Located in Dallas, TX
A potter and painter, Albert Green (1914 - 1994) earned an international reputation for his ceramics, stoneware, and canvases. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he studie...
Category

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

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Midcentury Ceramic Vase by Gualdo Dolci, 1950s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Beautiful vase by Gualdo Dolci also signed Rappallo a place in Italy famous for their beautiful ceramics in 1950s.    
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Blue Round Ceramic Vase by Troika, England, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern blue round ceramic vase by Troika, England, 1960s.
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

Crude Terracotta Catch-All / Vase with Applied Details Signed
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Primitive / crude style terracotta vase with Southwestern motifs throughout along with applied "lattice" decorations. There is one rough spot where one of the applied lattice pieces...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Terracotta

Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Rye Bottle with Goose Neck
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Bruno Gambone Stoneware Abstract Sculpture Cat I
Located in Munich, DE
Cream white glazed ceramic cat made by Bruno Gambone in the 1970s, signed Gambone Italy on the bottom.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

“Ratinho” Bowl in Portuguese Earthenware from Coimbra
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
“Ratinho” bowl, in Portuguese earthenware from Coimbra. This bowl stands out for its traditional and rustic decoration, typical of Portuguese ceramics. The piece features a vibrant c...
Category

Mid-19th Century Portuguese Antique Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Earthenware

Ceramic bowl of the serie Rimini Blue by Aldo Landi for Bitossi, Italy, 1960
Located in Brussels, BE
Ceramic bowl of the serie Rimini Blue by Aldo Landi for Bitossi, Italy, 1960 Bitossi is a historic identity of Italian manufacturing, present since the second half of the nineteenth...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Glazed Ceramic Plate with Two Clowns, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s. This is a glazed ceramic plate depicting two clown with two contrasting behaviors, which gives the scene a poetic narrative full of s...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Claude Conover "Tamnel" Vessel
Located in Dallas, TX
Discover the timeless elegance of the "Tamnel" vessel by Claude Conover, a notable American ceramist (1907-1994), renowned for his intricate craftsmanship. This large ceramic piece, ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Stoneware

Six Belgian Miniature Vases in Glazed Ceramics, Mid-20th Century
Located in København, Copenhagen
Six Belgian miniature vases in glazed ceramics. Mid-20th century. Largest measures: 4.5 x 3.5 cm. In excellent condition.
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Roger Capron - Vintage Ceramic Fine Flask
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic decorative flask signed by Roger Capron - Vallauris, France Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring mo...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Set of Midcentury Italian Modern Zaramella Ceramic Serving and Condiment Bowls
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Spectacular set of seven Italian Modern studio ceramic bowls by Zaramella: one boat-shaped serving, six tear-drop condiment / smaller bowls. Beautiful and refined pattern and color c...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Vase, circa 1950 in the Style of Elchinger
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Ceramic vase, circa 1950. In the style of Elchinger.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

"Wilma Flintstone" Cookie Jar
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Who wouldn't want Wilma Flintstone to hold their precious cookies?
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Straight Walled Lamp
Located in El Segundo, CA
It starts off with 1kg of clay for both the top and bottom of the lamp. Thrown on the potters wheel they are left to dry overnight and trimmed, smoothed and fitted together the next ...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

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.

Recently Viewed

View All