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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 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
Recognized Seller Listings
Solid teak tray, anonymous, for Uppsala, Sweden, 1960s, table decoration
Located in Stockholm, SE
Tray, anonymous, for Uppsala, Sweden, 1960s. Solid teak. Stamped.
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Teak

Jens H. Quistgaard Tray Manufactured By Dansk Designs, Denmark, 1960's
Located in New York, NY
A lacquered wood tray with a flat rim in the form of an eye.
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Lacquer

Tiffany Large & Heavy Midcentury Modern 18-Inch Round Tray
Located in New York, NY
Large Midcentury Modern sterling silver tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Round well with narrow shoulder and folded-over rim. Super functional with nice heft and balance. Ful...
Category

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

Materials

Sterling Silver

Aldo Turo Cocktail Tray
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cocktail Tray created by Italian Designer, Aldo Tura, 1960's. Lacquered goat skin over mahogany with metal railings. Durable finish. Top quality materials and craftsmanship. 12" W ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Goatskin, Mahogany

Arman ‘Violon’ Cutlery Service with 116 Pieces in Artistic Cabinet
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Arman, service with 116 parts in an artistic storage cabinet, gold plated silver, wood, plexiglass, velvet, France, 1971 An incredible violin service ‘Violon Menagère’, a 12-guest ...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Silver

Kirk Midcentury Modern Sterling Silver 11-Inch Round Tray
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury Modern sterling silver tray. Made by S. Kirk & Son in Baltimore. Round with tapering shoulder and flat rectilinear rim. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (1932-61) and ...
Category

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

Materials

Sterling Silver

Large Tiffany Midcentury Modern Sterling Silver Tray
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury Modern sterling silver tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Rectangular with curved corners, flat narrow shoulder and stepped rim; scroll bracket end handles. Fully ma...
Category

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

Materials

Sterling Silver

Kirk Midcentury Modern Sterling Silver Round 14-Inch Tray
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury Modern sterling silver tray. Made by S. Kirk & Son in Baltimore. Round with tapering shoulder and flat rectilinear rim. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (1932-61) and ...
Category

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

Materials

Sterling Silver

Set of Four Mid-Century Stackable Storage Containers with Burnt Orange Lids
Located in New York, NY
Fun playful storage solution for food and/or dry goods.
Category

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

Materials

Glass, Plastic

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

'Cesto' Fruit/Bread Bowl by Lino Sabattini
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Italian for basket, this "Cesto" Sabattini piece is made of a single piece of heavy gage silver plated metal wire. The single piece is coiled in the shape of an oval bowl. Functional...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Silver Plate

Midcentury Period Sterling Silver and Glass Hors d'oeuvres/Caviar Platter
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Modern period, sterling silver and glass hors d'oeuvres/caviar platter, the Watson Company, Attleboro, Mass., circa 1950s. Glass dip/caviar holder...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Italian Designer, Ice Bucket, Brass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A hammered brass ice bucket designed and produced by an Italian designer, Italy, 1940s.
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Brass

Silver "Baja" Centerpiece Bowl by Lino Sabattini
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This oblong silver plated centerpiece bowl is known as the "Baja" by Lino Sabattini. It is stamped "SABATTINNI" on the edge of the bowl and signed "LINO SABATTINO" with "BAJA B/239 C...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Silver Plate

Cartier Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver Footed Plate
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Modern sterling silver footed plate. Retailed by Cartier in New York. Round and gently curved with short and flared foot. Fully marked includ...
Category

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

Materials

Sterling Silver

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

Italian Designer, Ice Bucket, Copper, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A copper ice bucket produced in Italy, 1930s-1940s.
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Copper

Large American Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver Footed Serving Plate
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Modern sterling silver serving plate. Made by International Silver Co. in Meriden, Conn. Round with shallow integral well. Short and spread foot. Stark and functional. Fu...
Category

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

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vallauris Vintage Ceramic Plate
Located in Austin, TX
Charger from Vallauris, France made of glazed ceramic. This piece is signed.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Ceramic

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

1960s Ceramic Tiger Plaque by David Gill
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A delightful and expressive unique hand-modeled ceramic plaque depicting a tiger having a rich matte black-brown-green glaze.
Category

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

Materials

Ceramic

Collection of Wood Serving Pieces
Located in Chicago, IL
Collection of nine serving pieces, consisting of trays, dishes and bowls. Various sizes 14" x 24" is approximate size of rectangular trays the circular trays are 13" diameter approxi...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Teak, Walnut

Stunning Italian Ice Bucket in Solid Molded Lucite 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully crafted and stunning ice bucket in solid molded and polished lucite on a swivel hinge with original ice tongs, Italian 1970s. This is one of the best lucite ice buckets ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Lucite

Wooden Plates by Antti Nurmesniemi, Finland, circa 1980s
Located in Utrecht, NL
The design of products can relay various insights about the society and culture in which they have been produced. This set of four plates by Finnish industrial designer Antti Nurmesniemi is a great example of this. Finnish design is appreciated around the world for its minimalistic appearance, playful ruggedness and strict functionalism. In many pieces, design is sometimes ranked as a secondary feature since a product primarily serves its practical tasks. Therefore, unique design is generally regarded as a feature of exclusive products. In the second half of the 20th century, a great deal of Finnish design products utilised a mode of production still based more on handicrafts than completely mechanised mass production. These four pieces of beautifully carved and laminated plywood plates exemplify these characteristics of Finnish design. While functionality – especially in kitchenware – remain at the core, the raised detail in the centre of these plates adds a design element that makes them distinctive. The wooden pattern follows the curves, accentuating the centre. The plates are marked with the maker’s mark on the bottom. Dimension: 15.55 in Ø x 1.97 in H 39.5 cm Ø x 5 cm H About the designer: Antti Aarre Nurmesniemi (1927–2003) was a Finnish designer who is known for his iconic coffee pots and interior design work. Nurmesniemi is considered one of the pioneers of the Finnish design industry, he studied at the University of Arts and Design Helsinki. Nurmesniemi created a wide range of products, including pieces of furniture, telephones, and kitchenware. Some of his most famous pieces were the enameled coffee pot for Wärtsilä and furniture pieces such as the Jakkara sauna stool designed for Helsinki Palace Hotel, or the Triennale chair...
Category

1980s Finnish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Wood

Related Items
Round Silver Tray
By Eric Viner
Located in New York, NY
Round sterling silver tray with scalloped edges resting on scrolled feet. Hallmarked "Eric Viner, Sheffield 1930."
Category

20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Round Silver Tray
Round Silver Tray
H 1.5 in Dm 12 in
Vintage Swedish Midcentury Trays by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn
Located in San Diego, CA
A set of three vintage serving trays by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn. Sweden, 1960s Classic textile design by Josef Frank over molded plywood tray...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Kobenstyle Wrapped Saucepan by Jens Quistgaard, Dansk Designs Denmark, 1960s
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Kobenstyle Wrapped Saucepan By Jens Quistgaard, Dansk Designs Denmark, 1960s Excellent condition with very little wear to the enamel.
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Metal, Enamel

1960s Denmark Serving Snack Tray Set Teak & Glass Lüthje Wood Denmark 1
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Denmark serving snack tray set teak & glass. Danish modern set produced by Lüthje Wood Denmark 1 maker stamped. Measures: 6.38 wide x 13.75 deep x ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Glass, Teak

Teak Dansk Jens Quistgaard JHQ Serving Tray
Located in New York, NY
1970s Jens Quistgaard for Dansk teak serving tray or board.
Category

Early 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Teak

Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Teak Surfboard Serving Tray
Located in Montréal, QC
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Teak Surfboard Serving Tray. Excellent condition.
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Teak

Venere Large Round Orange Tray
Located in Milan, IT
This luxe tray is an exclusive accessory upholstered with orange-dyed calfskin, its solid, opaque shade is only interrupted by a thin, chromed circle acce...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Leather

Venere Large Round Orange Tray
Venere Large Round Orange Tray
H 1.58 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Aldo Tura Goatskin and Brass Small Serving Tray for Macabo Milano 1960
Located in Paris, IDF
This is a beautiful barware serving tray designed by Aldo Tura for Macabo Cusano Milanino in Milan in the early 1960s. Rounded shape with a brass gallery and varnished goatskin parch...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Brass

"Aldo" Riveted Square Leather Tray Designed by C. Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Aldo" is a square leather tray, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable tanned. Colors c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Metal

Gio Ponti Silver Cutlery Set for Twelve by Krupp Italy 1950s
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
Cutlery silver set for twelve in nickel silver or German silver, this set includes a total of 36 pieces; 12 spoons, 12 forks, and 12 knives with a steel blade. Set designed by Gio ...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Nickel, Stainless Steel

Tray Midcentury Brass and Lucite 'Acrylic' Mascagni tray, Italy
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
* request a shipping quote Vintage Italian Mascagni Lcucite tray Lucite tray (acrylic or plexiglas) with tortoise shell design and gold metal edge. It is oval in shape and ha...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Piero Fornasetti Studio, Pistol Barware Metal Serving Tray, 1960s
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is a great studio Fornasetti pistol tray from the 1960s. The design is attributed to Piero Fornasetti, Italy. The stylishly decorative enamel square metal tray features a quirky and cool print of...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Previously Available Items
Very Rare Pair of English Sterling Silver Cake Stands, Garrard 1954 & 1959
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1954 and Sheffield 1959, both by Garrard & Co., this rare and handsome pair of sterling silver cake stands, are elegant in design. Sterling silver cake st...
Category

1950s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Swedish Designer, Ice Bucket, Metal, Leather, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A metal and leather ice bucket designed and produced in Sweden, 1940s.
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Metal

Small Cast Brass & Aluminum Mixed Metal Serving Tray with Handles, France 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Elegant little cast brass & aluminum tray with handles.
Category

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

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Large Teak Bowl with Four Smaller Ones, Sweden 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Swedish Teak serving set with five elements.
Category

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

Materials

Teak

Carl Poul Petersen Large Sterling Dish, C.1940
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Sterling silver Tazza dish, Carl Poul Petersen Montreal, circa 1940. Plain on pedestal base, slightly scalloped with corn husk intervals. Measures: diameter 11.25 inches, height 2 in...
Category

1940s Canadian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Tiffany Midcentury Modern Sterling Silver Rectangular Tray
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Modern sterling silver tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Rectangular with flat shoulder and curved corners. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and postwar patter...
Category

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

Materials

Sterling Silver

Silver Plated "Stairs" Coffee/Tea Set by Lino Sabattini
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This stunning 5 piece Lino Sabattini "Stairs" coffee/tea set is silver plated and sits atop a mirrored silver tray. Comprised of a coffee pot, a tea pot, a cream pitcher and a sugar ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Silver Plate

Cartier Modern Deep and Round Sterling Silver Serving Tray
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Modern sterling silver tray. Retailed by Cartier in New York. Round and deep with wide and tapering sides. Fully marked including maker’s (Graff, Washbourne & Dunn) and r...
Category

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

Materials

Sterling Silver

American Sterling Silver Party Platter by Poole
Located in New York, NY
Georgian-inspired sterling silver tray. Made by Poole in Taunton, Mass. Rectangular cartouche with curved sides and curvilinear corners. A great party platter. Marked “Sterling by Po...
Category

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

Materials

Sterling Silver

Cocobolo Rosewood Tray Table by Don Shoemaker for Señal, c. 1970
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisitely crafted rectangular shape tray table designed by Don Shoemaker for Sen~al, crafted in circa 1970s Mexico. The tray has cocobolo rosewood inlays formed in a intriguing pat...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Jacaranda, Rosewood, Cocobolo

Set of 6 Service Plate by Gabriella Crespi
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Set of six octagonal service plates in amber color lucide and chrome frame. Each plate is signed "Gabriella Crespi".  
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Metal

Set of 6 Service Plate by Gabriella Crespi
Set of 6 Service Plate by Gabriella Crespi
H 0.79 in W 14.57 in D 14.57 in
Set of “Carte a jouer” Plates designed by Salvador Dali for Puiforcat
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Great full set of “Face Card” plates manufactured in Limoges France by Puiforcat and Decoration by Salvador Dali. The set includes the King, Queen, Jack, Ace, and Joker. From an edit...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Porcelain

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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