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Mid-Century Modern Pottery

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
Period: 20th Century
Blue and Cream Ceramic Vessel by Mado Jolain, France, 1955
Located in New York City, NY
Blue and cream glazed ceramic bowl/vessel by Mado Jolain, France, c. 1955. This elegant ceramic dish, executed in deep blue and cream tones, displays the signature "pinch grip" foun...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Hammered Watering Can, circa 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Hammered watering Can, circa 1950s Polished and stove enameled.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Brass, Copper

Marcel Vertès Ceramic Plate Tete De Femme, Signed, Edit 8/100, Vallauris, 1950s
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Large glazed ceramic plate 'Tete de Femme' created by Marcel Vertès for Tapis Vert, Vallauris, France, in the 1950s. Signed 'Vertes' and numbered 8 of 100. The inner circle with fac...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Marcello Fantoni Bowl Decorated with a Still Life of Italian Vases
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Marcello Fantoni bowl decorated with a still life of Italian vases Decorated with rich applied enamel, signed on the front lower right and on the ...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Adam Dworski Sculptural Studio Pottery Figure of a Lady
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very fine mid-century studio pottery sculptural figure of a lady by renowned potter Adam Dworski (Croatian, 1917-2011) and probably made in his early da...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Ed Langbein Mid-Century Modern Hand Painted Italian Hilltop Village Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Mid-Century Modern pottery plates, designed and hand-painted by the American industrial designer Ed E. Langbein, and manufactured in Italy, circa 1930-1950. Offered individually, ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Carstens West German Handled Art Pottery Vase with Cockerels
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Beautiful hand thrown West German glazed handled vase decorated with cockerels by Carstens Tönnishof and dating from around 1965. Carstens are considered to be one of the finest prod...
Category

1960s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Classic Victoria Littlejohn Hand Thrown Mid Century Pottery Vessel Dish Ashtray
Located in Miami, FL
An enticing pottery design by Victoria Littlejohn, hand thrown Dish with a wonderful neutral oatmeal color glaze with a central red orange crystalline thick glaze surrounded by a cri...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Clay, Earthenware, Pottery

Kurt Tschörner Mid-Century Rusha Orange Glazed Art Pottery Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A large West-German mid-century twin handled orange glazed art pottery vase attributed to Kurt Tschörner for Rusha and dating between 1950 and 1960. The...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

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 Pottery

Materials

Clay

Strawberry Shaped Majolica Ceramic Tureen by Bordalo Pinheiro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Majolica ceramic white and green strawberry shaped tureen. Manufactured by Bordalo Pinheiro, Portugal, 1960s. This cute tureen has a very realistic design with leaves on the top. A leaf shaped serving plate and a small serving spoon complete the set. This highly decorative serving piece will be a nice addition to any kitchen or dining table. It will be a cool choice used as sauce tureen. Excellent condition. On sale as a set of three pieces, strawberry tureen...
Category

Mid-20th Century Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Majolica, Pottery, Ceramic

Piero Fornasetti Pottery Plate, Sezioni Di Frutta, #6, 1960s
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Pottery Plate, Sezioni Di Frutta, #6 1960s. The stunning Piero Fornasetti Pottery Plate depicts a cut red pepper from the Sezioni Di Frutta series. Mark: Hand and ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Studio Crafted Weed Pot
Located in Denton, TX
Hand crafted studio pottery with partial glaze.
Category

20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Clay

Gunnar Nylund, Eggshell Stoneware Pitcher, Rörstrand, Sweden, 1940s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impeccable stoneware pitcher produced by Rörstrands, Sweden, 1940s. Designed and signed by Gunnar Nylund, (Swedish, 1914-1997). Nylund served as artistic director at Rörstrands, w...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Olle Alberius for Rorstrand Mid-Century Studio Pottery Bowl
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A superb Swedish mid-century studio pottery of shallow form in tenmoku and green glazes by Olle Alberius for Rorstrand. The heavily potted porcelain bowl is or wide rounded shape wit...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Stoneware

Edouard Chapallaz, Small Sandstone Single-Flower Vase, Signed by Swiss Artist Ed
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
Edouard Chapallaz. Small sandstone single-flower vase. Signed by Swiss Artist Edouard Chapallaz and stamped CHAPALLAZ DUILLIER. Switzerland. Circa 1950.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Sandstone

Midcentury Indistinctly Signed Studio Pottery Dish Painted with a Fish
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A good decorative hand painted vintage Studio Pottery dish with a fish swimming amidst weed believed to date from the midcentury. The rounded shall...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Bay Keramik Mid-Century West German Floral Design Art Pottery Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish mid-century West German art pottery vase with relief molded floral designs by Bay Keramik. The vase stands on a narrow rounded unglaz...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Jan Jones American Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Denton, TX
Hand crafted slabs of clay with a light teal partial glaze. Signed Jan Jones 74.
Category

20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Clay

1960s Piero Fornasetti Roman Foot Italian Design Blue Pottery
Located in Brescia, IT
Blue pottery by Piero Fornasetti Italy, 1960 Perfect condiction.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

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

20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Geometric Design Ceramic Vase
Located in Denton, TX
Modernist Italian vase with a mottled glaze over the geometric design.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Mid Century Carstens White Matte Sculptural Vase
By Dieter Peter
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
CARSTENS TÖNNIESHOFF was very successful for many years and produced an enormous variety of shapes and glazes. The 'Luxus' and 'Atelier' ranges were more expensive lines and they sol...
Category

Late 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

1970s Large Green Lava Glazed West German Pottery Floor Vase by Carstens Atelier
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Beautifully hand thrown and glazed floor vase designed by Heinz Siery for Carstens Tonniesh of circa 1965. Carstens are considered to be one of the finest producers of West German pottery from the mid-century era. This vase, part of the 'Atelier' range, stands beautifully with its simple yet elegant form complimented by the textured moss green lava...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Clay, Ceramic

Hand Made Pottery Bowl with Figural Drawing in the Style of Cocteau
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A hand made bowl in reminiscent of a Picasso style figural drawing. A wonderfully decorative piece, or to be used practically. A heavy and delicate piec...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery, Terracotta

Scheurich Mid-Century West German Flagon Shaped Art Pottery Handled Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very stylish mid-century West German art pottery handled vase in buff and brown glazes by Scheurich and dating from around 1960. The pottery was founded in 1954 and has been prolif...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

All Seeing Eye Hand-Made Ceramic Bowl, by Bruce Anderson Pogonip Pottery
Located in Soquel, CA
Unique small hand-made terracotta bowl, incised with a decorative all seeing eye pattern, by California potter Bruce Carlton Anderson (American, 1915-1986). This earthy piece is in the style of Marguerite Wildenhain of the Pond Farm, where Anderson was a student. The underside is incised with Anderson's mark and POGONIP A 31. Measures 1.75" H x 6" D. Bruce Anderson...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Clay, Pottery

Modern Glazed Weed Pot
Located in Denton, TX
Mid-century squat pottery with abstract glaze.
Category

20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Bofa Keramik, Miniature Pitchers, Glazed Ceramic Cane, Bornholm, Denmark, 1960
Located in High Point, NC
Bofa Keramik, Miniature Pitchers, Bornholm, Denmark, 1960s. One with paper label, other dated 1960. Stated dimensions of taller example. Other ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Cane, Stoneware

Glazed Ceramic Kitchen Accessories, Wall Hanging Salt Box, Salt Shaker and Vase
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of glazed ceramic radish salt wall container, vase & pink onion salt shaker Beautiful set of Majolica ceramic radishes wall salt container and vase and ...
Category

20th Century Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica

Large Carstens 1960s Mid-Century Modern West German Ceramic Pottery Vase Bamboo
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Large ceramic vase made in Germany by Cartens in the 1960s with a very beautiful Bamboo design. Carstens only produced copies in limited amounts of each design. Stamped underneath ...
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Bitossi Aldo Londi Cavalero Italy c1968
Located in Pymble, NSW
A brilliant depiction of a lance wielding Middle Ages knight on horseback with round shield. A naive, rustic style in muted ochre and green glazes. In wonderful condition it still re...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Tim Orr French 1960s Art Pottery Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
An excellent French mid century sculptural art pottery table lamp by Tim Orr. Signed. The vase measures 8.5” H x 8.5” W x 4” D. Biography: orn in England, Tim Orr is a sculptor, ...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Mid-Century Set of Various Pottery Bowls 1970s, Studio Pottery
Located in Rosendahl, DE
This beautiful set of handmade ceramics consists of 16 bowls, all of which differ in size and color. Since they come from the same artist but different painting techniques were used,...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Mid-Century Ceramic Pitcher and Set of Drinking Cups by Jacques Blin, circa 1950
Located in London, GB
Mid-century French ceramic pitcher set with four cylindrical drinking cups by Jacques Blin (circa 1950s). To find an intact set such as this is rare and certainly fortuitous. An eleg...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Blue Pottery Vase with Figurative Design Bitossi, circa 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful and rare Italian modern hand-thrown, hand carved, and hand painted blue pottery vase with figurative design, attributed to designer ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Terracotta

Large Midcentury Majolica Red Fish Pottery Ceramic Tureen Box, Portugal, 1950s
Located in Coimbra, PT
A magnificent big size hyper realistic glazed ceramic fish tureen in shades of vibrant red and grey with dark accents manufactured in Portugal, 1950s. Beautiful to use as a wall deco...
Category

Mid-20th Century Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery, Majolica, Earthenware, Ceramic

Vintage Studio Crafted Ceramic and Glass Decorative Plate
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Vintage ceramic and glass decorative plate. Beautiful crackled pattern and matte glazing.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century French Decorative Earthenware Crockery Pot by Albert Thiry
Located in London, GB
French vintage decorative earthenware crockery pot by Albert Thiry (circa 1960s). Delightfully pear-shaped body with incised floral motif decoration. A creamy white enamel covers the...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Pottery Bowl And Ice Bucket by Inge-Lise Koefoed For Aluminia of Denmark
Located in Søborg, DK
Vintage pottery bowl and ice bucket from the series Tenera by Inge-Lise Koefoed for Aluminia of Denmark. In great vintage condition with no crac...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Large Glazed Stoneware Vase by Stig Lindberg, Scandinavian Pottery, 1960s
Located in Zagreb, HR
Stunning and very rare large size glazed stoneware vase by Stig Lindberg Produced by Gustavsberg, Sweden 1960s Glaze in beautiful yellow to brown color and with traces of viole...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Stoneware

Lauritz Adolph Hjorth Danish Midcentury Pottery Seated Nude Figurine
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish midcentury Danish Bornholm terracotta pottery sculpture of a nude maiden sat on a rock her arms raised by Lauritz Adolph Hjorth. The figure is glazed in white with elements...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Studio Pottery Vase or Bowl Gertrud + Otto Natzler
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Natzlers moved to Los Angeles from Austria in 1938. They were trained artisans. She made the simple pristine pot forms and he made the amazing glaze designs. This piece is anothe...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Alfred Burgess Read Mid-Century Poole Pottery Vase in PRB Pattern
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very stylish mid-century Poole pottery vase decorated in the dinstinctive PRB pattern by Alfred Burgess Read. This elegantly shaped bottle vase stands on a skirted rounded...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Franco Bucci Italian Midcentury Modern Gres Pottery Big Vase, 1970s
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Very big Italian gres vase designed and produced by Italian artist Franco Bucci Pesaro, logo under the base, 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Stoneware

Large French Midcentury Black Matte and Glazed Green Ceramic Bowl Signed
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning very large French mid-century black matte and glazed green ceramic bowl, signed. This mid-century ceramic piece features magnificent colors of various shades of glazed green...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Mosaic Tile Decorative Plate
Located in Denton, TX
Mosaic tiled decorative plate/ dish. Signed made in Denmark.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Giovanni Ronzan Italian Midcentury Art Pottery Resting Dog Figure
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine midcentury vintage Italian ceramic figure of a resting puppy dog by Giovanni Ronzan. This figure is well modeled with molded and painted feature...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Freeform Weed Pot
Located in Denton, TX
Studio crafted freeform ceramic weed pot with speckled glaze 1960s.
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Stoneware Lidded Bowl with Handle
Located in Denton, TX
Ochre stoneware lidded bowl with massive handle.
Category

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

Materials

Stoneware

Guy Sydenham Large English Poole Studio Pottery Atlantis Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A large and scarce mid-century English Poole Pottery studio vase from the Atlantis range by Guy Sydenham (1916-2005). The vase stands on a narrow rounded unglazed foot with a recesse...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Midcentury Set Majolica Red Fish Ceramic Covered Sauce Tureen Box Salt & Pepper
Located in Coimbra, PT
Gorgeous small size set hyper realistic glazed ceramic fish covered sauce tureen and salt and pepper in shades of vibrant red and grey with dark accents ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery, Majolica, Earthenware, Ceramic

Vintage English Midcentury Sitting Bulldog Pottery Statue with Black Collar
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English vintage pottery bulldog statue from the mid 20th century, with black collar. Created in England during the midcentury period, this statue de...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Studio Ceramic Charger
Located in Denton, TX
Abstract glaze design on this large hand crafted plate.
Category

20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Midcentury German or Scandinavian Art Pottery Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very stylish and finely made midcentury art pottery vase probably of German or Scandinavian origin. The vase is very lightly potted with a layered skirt style pattern around the bo...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

1960s W. Germany Ceramic Vase
Located in High Point, NC
This ceramic vase was made in Germany, circa 1960. It was produced during the period of West German Pottery, a postwar ceramics style known for its expressive nature and experimentat...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Midcentury Sculpted Ceramic Bowl by Flora Eckert Hammat, Turquoise Art Pottery
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning naturalistic pottery bowl by an American ceramics artist, Flora Eckert Hammat of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Vivid colors, original organic form. Signed Hammat original...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Ceramic

Thomas Hellstrom for Nittsjo Swedish Art Pottery Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A modernist mid-century Swedish tall art pottery vase with a rough cast finish by Thomas Hellstrom for Nittsjo Pottery and dating from around 1960. Th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Pottery

Materials

Pottery

Mid-century Modern pottery for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern pottery 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 pottery created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, pottery and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern pottery made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original pottery, popular names associated with this style include Bitossi, Aldo Londi, Scheurich Keramik, and Marcello Fantoni. 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 pottery differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $78 and tops out at $29,941 while the average work can sell for $726.

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