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Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

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.

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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Don Shoemaker Chevron Marquetry Decorative Tray for Señal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosewood serving tray by Don Shoemaker for his company Señal in the 1960s. The surface of the tray has a repeating chevron marquetry pattern in a gradient of local Mexican hardwoods....
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood, Hardwood

Mid-Century Bark Glass Cake Plate, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Bark Glass Cake Plate, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 Additional information: Materials: Glass Styles: Mid-Century Modern Item Type: Vintage, Anti...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century German Ceramic Cake Plate from Limburg, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century German Ceramic Cake Plate from Limburg, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Addit...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century German Metal Plate From Zeppelin Metallwerke
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century German Metal Plate From Zeppelin Metallwerke, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1950 to 1959 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Color: Gold Styl...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Zitan

Mid-Century German Tray from WMF, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century German Tray from WMF, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Material: Metal Color: Silver Sty...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Metal

Large French Midcentury Rectangular Red Ceramic Serving Platter Voltz, Vallauris
Located in New York, NY
Very large French Mid-Century Modern rectangular, red ceramic serving platter or tray handmade by Voltz, Vallauris. Signed on reverse, Voltz, Vallauris, France. A large oval red c...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

Mid-Century String Fruit Bowl with Teak Handle, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century String Fruit Bowl with Teak Handle, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Metal, Plastic Color: Black Styles: Mid-Cen...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Metal

Set of 5 Mid-Century Space Age Metal and Melamin Utility Tray Bowls, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Space Age Metal and Melamin Utility Tray Bowls, 1960s, Set of 5, in Flawless conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Melamine, Metal Color:...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Space Age Orange Plastic Tray 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Space Age Orange Plastic Tray, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Plastic Color: Orange Styles: Mid-Century Modern...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Plastic

Set of 5 Mid-Century Cabaret Glass Bowls from Holmegaard with Teak Tray, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Danish Cabaret Glass Bowls from Holmegaard with Teak Tray from Digsmed, 1960s, Set of 5, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark...
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Glass, Teak

Mid-Century Wooden Tray from Gena, Sweden, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Wooden Tray from Gena, Sweden, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Wood Color: B...
Category

20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Wood

Set of 3 Mid-Century Danish Teak Tray with Glasses, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Danish Teak Tray with Glasses, 1960s, Set of 3, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Glass, Teak Color: Brown Styles: Mid-C...
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Glass, Teak

Set of 3 Mid-Century Danish Cabaret Glass Trays from Holmegaard, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Danish Cabaret Glass Trays from Holmegaard, 1960s, Set of 3, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, desig...
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Space Age Orange Plastic Tray, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Space Age Orange Plastic Tray, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Plastic Color: Orange Styles: Mid-Century Modern...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Plastic

Mid-Century German Bowl from WMF, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century German Bowl from WMF, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Silver St...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Metal

Midcentury Decorative Grès Porcelain Stoneware Plate, Centerpiece
Located in Miami, FL
Decorative glazed Grès porcelain stoneware nude woman plate made in Italy. Grès porcelain stoneware is a ceramic with a compact, hard, colored and non-poro...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic

Corrado Corradi Dell'Acqua Table Food Warmer for Azucena, 1955
Located in Milan, IT
A rare example of an early Azucena Homeware design piece. Reference : Domus No. 313 Dic. 1955 p. 4
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Salad Servers in Horn, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck salad servers, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Horn

Jens Quistgaard Slatted Rosewood Tray for Dansk "Rare Woods" Collection
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Tray designed by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansks Rare Woods collection, c.1960s, Denmark features sculpted Rosewood with dowel handles and slatted wood along the tray. Dansk is one of...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood

Scandinavian Teak Tray by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk Design
Located in Montreal, QC
Scandinavian teak tray by Jens Harald Quistgaard for Dansk Design Marked under base: Staved teak dansk design danmark JHQ.
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Teak

Union Bavaria Porcelain Tray and Candlesticks
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Union Bavaria porcelain tray and candlesticks - a lovely pair. Small tray and pair of candlesticks with beautiful yellow pattern rim - works with contemporary and traditional setting...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Midcentury Vintage Yellow Decorative Glass Plate, Italy, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Beautiful decorative crystal yellow glass plate/bowl from Italy. Plate is in very good vintage condition, no damage or cracks. Original glass. Unique piece for every table and in...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic, Glass

Silver plated brass 1960s Barchetta placeholder table set
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Silver plated brass 1960s Barchetta placeholder table set
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

Mid Century Lorin Marsh Serving Tray Glass Inset Brass Nickel karl Springer
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Mid Century Modern Lorin Marsh Serving Tray With Glass Inset And Brass And Polished Nickel Hardware In The Manner & Style Of karl Springer.
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Midcentury Sterling Silver Tray Hallmarked 1952 by Atkin Brothers
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Sheffield in 1952 by Atkin Brothers, this handsome, Sterling Silver Tray, features a gadroon border to the rim and handles. The tray measures 1.35"(4.5cm) tall, by ...
Category

1950s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Set of 2 Italian Roma Inc. Ceramic Serveware Bowl Platter Mid-Century Modern 80s
Located in Miami, FL
Charming Set of 2 Serveware from Italy made in Ceramic and hand-painted in bright yellow, red, blue and green colors. The Set consisting out of a round 12.38 inches diameter Serving ...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic

Tray and Table Set by Piero Figura Italia Anni '80s '90s
Located in Milano, IT
Pewter tray with salt, pepper and monkey toothpick holder. Designer's signature under the bases.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Pewter

Maison Jansen Attributed Gold Pineapple Dish, 1970s
Located in Hastings, GB
Maison Jansen attributed brass pineapple dish, 1970s Large brass handcrafted brass dish with classic Jansen edging detail Measures: 45cm length, 28cm w...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Brass

Bennington Pottery Fish Shaped Serving Tureen with Ladle in Matte White Glaze
Located in Ferndale, MI
Quite rare Bennington Pottery fish shaped tureen with original ladle all in matte white glaze.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Pottery

Midcentury Fabric Table Cloth, Czechoslovakia, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
In good original condition.
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Fabric

Stig Johansson, Smålandsslöjd, Pine Wood Plate, Cake Plate, Sweden, 1960/70s
Located in Västra Frölunda, SE
Large Swedish midcentury modern solid pine wood plate/cake plate. Designed by Stig Johnsson and manufactured by Smålandsslöjd, in the small Swedish town of Värnamo, in the 1960/70s. ...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Wood, Pine

Brazilian Modern Miniature Serving Platter in Hardwood & Ceramic by Casa Finland
Located in New York, NY
Available today, this miniature serving platter, designed by Casa Finland, can be an amazing addition to any home! This tiny serving platter is made of two parts. The top piece is a white ceramic...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic, Hardwood

Midcentury Fabric TableCloth, Czechoslovakia, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
In good original condition.
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Fabric

Vintage Gold and Mirror Decorative Plate, Italy, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Decorative gold and mirror plate from Italy. Plate is in very good vintage condition. Original glass. Beautiful piece for every interior! Only one unique piece.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic, Glass, Mirror

A Mid Summer Nights Dream Platter by Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in New York, NY
White ceramic platter with hand-painted scene from Shakespeare's play, A Mid-Summer Night's Dream." By Bjorn Wiinblad for Nymolle. Denmark ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Stoneware Fruit Platter
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, We offer this beautiful Ceramic Stoneware Fruit Platter signed by G. Reni.
Category

1970s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Stoneware

Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Gold Scroll Textured Glass Tray
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Dorothy Thorpe Gold Scroll Textured Glass Tray has been Hand Decorated with Gold Leaf Unsigned
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Glass

Roger Capron - Vintage Triangular Dish with Pyjama Motif
Located in Stratford, CT
Vintage ceramic vessel with pyjama motif. Signed Vallauris, France. Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring motifs s...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Asian Ceramic Leaf Serving Dishes, 20th Century
Located in View Park, CA
A pair of vintage Asian ceramic and glazed dishes depicting broad leaves, 1970s. From Japan, mid 20th century. A serene grass green hue with the leaf veins etched in. Fabulous condit...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic

A Mid Century Modern Teakwood Nut Server by Dansk
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A classic Mid Century Modern three compartment nut server, in solid teakwood. Marked on bottom, Dansk, Denmark. 11 inches long, 9.5 inches deep, in excellent condition.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Teak

1960s Italian Coffee Table with Elliptical Brass Tray Top
Located in Hanover, MA
1960s Italian cocktail table with splayed black enameled steel legs and two moulded brass cartouche form pedestals above which are splayed steel supports. This table was most lik...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Brass, Steel

Art Deco Design Cheese Platter, Glass and Silver Metal Classic cheese dish
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Art Deco Design Cheese Platter, Glass and Silver Metal Classic cheese dish in glass and silver metal with twisting curls on a thick glass disc In good used condition. The dish is...
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Art Glass

Rose Pink Midcentury Platter/Bowl, Poland, 1970s
Located in Chorzów, PL
Fruit stand made of rose pink glass with ornaments. PErfect for sweets, fruit or small items. Very good condition, no damage Dimensions: height 23...
Category

Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Glass

JHQ Dansk Attributed Solid Rosewood Serving Tray
Located in Ferndale, MI
Nicely grained solid rosewood serving tray. Quality of a Jens Quisgaard piece for Dansk but unmarked .
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Rosewood

Pair of Tiffany Sterling Mid-Century Dishes
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We are happy to offer you this pair of sterling silver dishes by the world renowned Tiffany & Company. With their distinctive Mid-Century style and shape they are sure to look beauti...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Sterling Silver

"Knight in Profile", Unique Charger by Stalhane for Rorstrand
By Joel Shane
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An important and early work by Carl-Harry Stalhane, this unique charger is Picassoesque in style and is glazed with brilliant colors.
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

Large Murano Art Glass Charger and Bowl. Red and Black
Located in Kansas City, MO
Red and Black swirl Murano hand blown art glass bowl and charger. Mint Condition Plate 21.75 inches diameter, 1.5 inches height. Bowl 12.5 ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Art Glass

Mid-century Sterling Tiffany Dish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We are so happy to offer this sterling silver Mid-Century Tiffany dishes. It has an oval shape and curves upwards on the ends. It stands on a pedestal (not weighted) thereby off the ...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Monumental Studio Art Pottery Charger
Located in Dallas, TX
This monumental studio art pottery charger is artfully lustre- galzed and features beautiful oxidized blues. The hand thrown ceramic piece i...
Category

Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Pottery

Guille English Sterling Silver 1939 Tray in Mid-Century Modern Style
Located in New York, NY
Peter Guille English sterling silver tray or platter from 1939 in Mid-Century Modern style with a beautiful, geometric, and curvilinear design. It measures 14 7/8'' in length by 10 1...
Category

1930s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Three Layer Cake Stand In Brass And Porcelaine, Czechoslovakia, Circa 1950
Located in Zohor, SK
Beautiful item with lots of style. Typical cake stand designed with three layers of porcelain plates. Plates are made of white porcelaine with colorful ornaments. The stands is in an...
Category

1950s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Brass

Roger Capron - Ceramic Canoe Dish with Abstract Design
Located in Stratford, CT
Ceramic decorative vessel Roger Capron Signed Vallauris, France. Roger Capron was in influential French ceramicist, known for his tiled tables and his use of recurring motifs such ...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Wooden Platter Stripe Designed Edge Splits Consistant with Age
Located in Seattle, WA
Vintage Wooden Platter Stripe Designed Edge Splits Consistant with Age Dimensions. 15 1/2 W ; 15 1/2 D ; 2 H
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Wood

Early Marcello Fantoni Platter
Located in Chicago, IL
Early Marcello Fantoni platter, unusual waved design with deep glazes. [Signed underside Fantoni made Italy with image].
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic

1980 Rattan, Cane & Bamboo Salza Dip & Tortilla Chips Serving Basket, Dish, Bowl
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern rattan and bamboo hand woven serving basket, dish or bowl for dip & tortilla chips snacks. Practical as a centerpiece on a boho chic party setting. Inside diameter...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Bamboo, Cane, Rattan

Donald Drumm Brutalist Casserole Dish
Located in New York, NY
Both stylish and practical this uncommon 3 quart sand cast aluminum casserole dish by Donald Drumm is sure to make a statement at any event. Signed Drum...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Aluminum

Large French Midcentury Oval Red Ceramic Serving Platter by Voltz, Vallauris
Located in New York, NY
Very large French Mid-Century Modern oval red ceramic serving tray or platter, handmade by Voltz, Vallauris, France circa 1950-1960. Signed on the...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

Green Crystal Bowl, Poland, 1960s
Located in Chorzów, PL
A crystal bowl made in Poland in the 1960s. Very good condition. Measures: height 9cm, diameter 24cm.
Category

Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Glass

Mid-century Modern platters and serveware for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern platters and serveware 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 platters and serveware created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern platters and serveware 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 platters and serveware, popular names associated with this style include Jens Quistgaard, Dansk Designs, Robert Picault, and Tiffany & Co.. 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 platters and serveware 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 $48,500 while the average work can sell for $578.

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