Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

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

Emerged during the mid-20th century
Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
A heyday of innovation in postwar America
Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
Promotion of functionality

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

Charles and Ray Eames
Eero Saarinen
Milo Baughman
Florence Knoll
Harry Bertoia
Isamu Noguchi
George Nelson
Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa

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.

Style: Mid-Century Modern

Set of 13 Plastic knife rests dog shaped, France, 1970

$324 / set

Set of 13 Plastic knife rests dog shaped, France, 1970

Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR

Set of clear plastic dog-shaped knife rests, dating from the 1970s and of French origin. These playful and decorative little tableware items feature a stylized dachshund silhouette, ...

Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Metal

Baguette wooden knife, France, 1970

$541

Baguette wooden knife, France, 1970

Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR

A French knife block from the 1970s, crafted from solid carved wood, inspired by the iconic shape of the baguette. The piece features a sleek, elongated silhouette punctuated by carved grooves reminiscent of traditional bread scoring, highlighting a playful yet functional craftsmanship. The surface reveals a beautiful, warm patina with amber and honey hues, accentuating the wood's natural grain. Designed to protect knife blades and add structure to a serving table, this block combines practicality and decorative flair, typical of 1970s French design. An original table accessory, perfect for creating a convivial atmosphere, equally at home in a vintage, modernist, or rustic chic interior. Key Features: Carved wooden knife block Made in France 1970s Figurative shape inspired by a baguette Decorative carved notches Warm, natural patina Decorative and functional table accessory Keywords: vintage knife block...

Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Serie of 6 metal knife rests, France, 1970

$541 / set

Serie of 6 metal knife rests, France, 1970

Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR

Set of six metal knife rests, made in France in the 1970s. These pieces are distinguished by their sculptural and symmetrical form, composed of spheres at the ends and a clean centra...

Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Metal

Set of 6 Hand-Made Italian Pattada Knives, Italy, Sardinia 1990s

$1,442

Set of 6 Hand-Made Italian Pattada Knives, Italy, Sardinia 1990s

Located in Roma, IT

Stunning set of six Italian Pattada knives, fully hand-made with a gorgeous mouflon horn handle and an incredibly sharp stainless steel blade. These extraordinary knives were hand-ma...

Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Vintage Classic Home Cutlery Box from, Mid-20th Century

$10,340

Vintage Classic Home Cutlery Box from, Mid-20th Century

Located in Beirut, LB

Vintage cutlery box in mahogany wood from Classic Home. It holds sets of 12 for a total of 158 silver plated pieces. The items are silver plated , ...

Category

1930s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Silver Leaf

Picnic Cutlery Holder from the 1960s

$721

Picnic Cutlery Holder from the 1960s

By Bonacina

Located in bari, IT

Elegant bamboo picnic cutlery holder 1960s production

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Bamboo

Italian Onyx Vide Poche or Box with a Lid Beige Color Italy 1970

$324

Italian Onyx Vide Poche or Box with a Lid Beige Color Italy 1970

Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR

Italian Onyx Vide Poche or Box with a Lid Beige Color Italy 1970

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Onyx

A set of 6 French knives from the mid-20th century.

$259Sale Price|20% Off

A set of 6 French knives from the mid-20th century.

Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR

A set of 6 French knives from the mid-20th century, with steel blades stamped "Paris" and horn handles. Beautiful natural patina. Blade length: 13 cm.

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Steel

Vintage MCM Set of 6 Cherry Wood & Steel Fruit Knives by Our Own Import Inc

$125 / set

Vintage MCM Set of 6 Cherry Wood & Steel Fruit Knives by Our Own Import Inc

Located in San Diego, CA

Vintage MCM Set of 6 Cherry Wood & Steel Fruit Knives by Our Own Import Inc., circa 1960s. A refined example of Mid-Century Modern tableware, this set of six eversharp fruit knives b...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

French Baguette Knife – Wood & Metal Trompe-l’œil – France, 20th Century

$541

French Baguette Knife – Wood & Metal Trompe-l’œil – France, 20th Century

Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR

French Baguette Knife – Wood & Metal Trompe-l’œil – France, 20th Century Description: This is an unusual and highly decorative bread knife, made in France during the 20th century, c...

Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Set of 12 Mid-Century Modern French Knives with Bamboo Handles

$1,046 / set

Set of 12 Mid-Century Modern French Knives with Bamboo Handles

By Jacques Adnet, Maison Jansen

Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR

An elegant and rare set of twelve French table knives from the 1950s, beautifully representative of post-war French design and craftsmanship. Each knife features a finely turned nat...

Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Set of 12 French Mid-Century Dessert Forks, 1950s, Jacques Adnet Style, Bamboo H

$577 / set

Set of 12 French Mid-Century Dessert Forks, 1950s, Jacques Adnet Style, Bamboo H

By Jacques Adnet, Maison Jansen

Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR

A refined set of 12 French dessert forks from the 1950s, crafted in the style of Jacques Adnet, exemplifying post-war French modernist decorative arts. Each fork features a finely ...

Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Mac De Luxe Series Steak Knives Mid-Century Japan Stainless Steel Wood

$250

Mac De Luxe Series Steak Knives Mid-Century Japan Stainless Steel Wood

Located in Chula Vista, CA

For your consideration, a set of nine (9) vintage Mac De Luxe series steak knives, Made in Japan circa the 1960s. Feature a distinctive sleek, sculptural profile with dark wood handl...

Category

1960s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Kay Bojesen Vintage Danish Fish Knives for USC Copenhagen, 1950s

$330 / set

Kay Bojesen Vintage Danish Fish Knives for USC Copenhagen, 1950s

By Kay Bojesen

Located in Esbjerg, DK

A set of 6 Fish Knives designed by Kay Bojesen and manufactured by United Steel Company in Denmark during the 1950s. During this period KB worked as a Artistic Leader at the Company....

Category

1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Vintage Vernco Hand Honed HI CV Stainless Steel Japan Paring Knife Set 5

$125

Vintage Vernco Hand Honed HI CV Stainless Steel Japan Paring Knife Set 5

Located in Chula Vista, CA

For your consideration, Vintage Vernco Hand Honed HI CV Stainless Steel Japan Paring Knife Set 5 Dimensions: 7" Overall - 4" Blade Please visit take a look at our listings, we hav...

Category

1960s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Knife with Cane-Wrapped Handle by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria, 1960s

$829

Knife with Cane-Wrapped Handle by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria, 1960s

By Werkstätte Carl Auböck

Located in Berlin, DE

Kitchen knife by Werkstätten Carl Auböck with stainless steel blade and wrapped cane handle. The long, gently tapered blade contrasts with the warm, ribbed grip, creating the charac...

Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Metal

Kalmar Post-Modern Designs Stainless Steel Cutlery Carving Set 3 Pieces Italy

$310 / set

Kalmar Post-Modern Designs Stainless Steel Cutlery Carving Set 3 Pieces Italy

Located in Chula Vista, CA

For your consideration a Vintage Kalmar Stainless Steel Cutlery Set. Includes three pieces as shown. Dimensions: Knife 16.5" L x .5" thick x ...

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Knife with Curved Horn Handle by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, 1960s

$3,126

Knife with Curved Horn Handle by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, 1960s

By Werkstätte Carl Auböck

Located in Berlin, DE

Knife with polished steel blade and naturally curved horn handle. The grip follows the organic shape of the horn, creating a comfortable hold while giving the knife a strong sculptu...

Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Steel

Set of Six Horn and Nutwood Fruit Knives by Carl Auböck

$871 / set

Set of Six Horn and Nutwood Fruit Knives by Carl Auböck

By Werkstätte Carl Auböck

Located in Vienna, AT

For sale is a set of five fruit knives with a round display block. The block is made from nutwood and cork. The knives are made from stainless steel and ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Bamboo Cheese Knifes, Small, Set of 6, Brown Color, France circa 1960

$420 / set

Bamboo Cheese Knifes, Small, Set of 6, Brown Color, France circa 1960

Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR

A great set of six small cheese knifes with stainless steel blade and real natural bamboo handles, circa early to mid-20th century, France. A great set for eating cheese.

Category

1960s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Italian Marble Vide Poche, Grey Color, Italy, 1970

$541

Italian Marble Vide Poche, Grey Color, Italy, 1970

By Ettore Sottsass

Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR

This vide poche or boxe is in a cylindar shape, is in Marble, in Grey color, from Italy.

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Marble

Hans Turnwald Bone Buddha Butter Knife Set

$260

Hans Turnwald Bone Buddha Butter Knife Set

By Hans Turnwald

Located in Dallas, TX

Presenting a lovely Hans Turnwald Bone Buddha butter knife set. 20th Century, circa 1980. By the World renowned Hans Turnwald of Miami and Paris. Part ...

Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Laguiole France Carving Set With Carving Fork And Carving Knife New in a Box

$225

Laguiole France Carving Set With Carving Fork And Carving Knife New in a Box

Located in San Diego, CA

2-PIECE CARVING SET. Set includes one carving knife and one carving fork with walnut handle. Carving knife blade dimensions: 7-in; entire knife: 12-in Fork dimensions: 12.5-in SUPERB...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Vintage Gimbel Brothers Sheffield Steak Knives Mid-Century Modern Set of 6

$69

Vintage Gimbel Brothers Sheffield Steak Knives Mid-Century Modern Set of 6

By H. & L. Sheffield

Located in Chula Vista, CA

For your consideration, a set of six (6) steak knives by Gimbel Brothers for Sheffield. Mid-Century Modern. Made in England. Dimensions: 7.63" L x .75" W x .38" D. Box 8.5" L x 3...

Category

1960s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Set of 12 Guy Degrenne Dessert Knives, 20th Century.

$781

Set of 12 Guy Degrenne Dessert Knives, 20th Century.

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Set of 12 Guy Degrenne dessert knives, 20th Century. Set of 12 Guy Degrenne dessert knives in original box, bakelite handles, 20th century. Dimensions...

Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Bakelite

Set of 10 Molded Glass Knife Rests French Basset Hound Shape

$280Sale Price / set|20% Off

Set of 10 Molded Glass Knife Rests French Basset Hound Shape

Located in Miami, FL

A charming set of 10 knife molded glass knife rests in the shape of a Basset Hound dog. Manufactured in France, circa 1960-70. This whimsical Set of 10 Molded Glass Knife Rests Fren...

Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Glass

Rostfrei Solingen: Set of 6 Danish Modern Serving Knives, Rosewood Holder, Germa

$325 / set

Rostfrei Solingen: Set of 6 Danish Modern Serving Knives, Rosewood Holder, Germa

By Rostfrei Solinger

Located in Deland, FL

Introducing a rare set of serving knives by the renowned German knife makers Rostfrei Solingen. Featuring handles and a holder carved from solid Brazilian rosewood with out-of-this-w...

Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Steel

English silver-plated and Bakelite knifes by Mappin and Weeb, 1950s

$192 / set

English silver-plated and Bakelite knifes by Mappin and Weeb, 1950s

Located in MIlano, IT

English silver-plated and Bakelite knifes by Mappin and Weeb, 1950s Set of six paté or butter knives with contoured silver-plated blades. The blade features small engraved decoration...

Category

1950s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Metal, Silver Plate

Knife Storage Block

$450

Knife Storage Block

By Don S. Shoemaker

Located in Mexico City, CDMX

Circa 1970. We offer this rare Knife Storage Block made beautiful tropical wood Attributed to Don Shoemaker.

Category

1970s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Wood

Bamboo Cheese Knifes, Small, Set of 6, Brown Color, France circa 1960

$339

Bamboo Cheese Knifes, Small, Set of 6, Brown Color, France circa 1960

Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR

A great set of six small cheese knifes with stainless steel blade and real natural bamboo handles, circa early to mid-20th century, France. A great set for eating cheese.

Category

1960s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

French Cheese Spreader in the Shape of a Shell with Four Knives

$175

French Cheese Spreader in the Shape of a Shell with Four Knives

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Recently acquired from Paris...A unique set of four cheese spreaders in a holder of a resin shell. The four knives have a grotto look with the grotto...

Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Knife Boxes

Materials

Stainless Steel

Mid-century Modern knife boxes for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern knife boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage knife boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, stainless steel and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern knife boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Austria pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original knife boxes, popular names associated with this style include Werkstätte Carl Auböck, and Hans Turnwald. 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 knife boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $125 and tops out at $6,330 while the average work can sell for $390.