Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe mid-century modern American 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.
Postwar American architects and designers were animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist “International Style” architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the ’30s 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, respectively, pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair. George Nelson and his design team created Bubble lamp shades using a new translucent polymer skin. Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were re-purposed: the Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs that used surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century 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, blonde-wood furniture — and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
As the collection of vintage mid-century modern American furniture on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
Applied Filters445 results
Style:Mid-Century Modern
441
4
to
77
3
Item Location
215
211
461
445
211
193
155
91
81
55
38
31
25
22
18
18
7
6
5
1
2
439
4
3
299
96
3
6
14
96
88
69
4
2
256
94
83
75
58
445
445
445
324
121
83
71
56
15
13
13
9
9
Christian Dior Midcentury Tortoiseshell and Lucite Italian Serving Tray, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful midcentury piece of serveware, produced in Italy during the 1970s.
Its design is attributed to Willy Rizzo for a Christian Dior home production.
It is an iconic metal...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Glass and Gold Serving Trolley or Bar Cart, 1970's
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Gold metal bar cart with glass shelves. The upper handle is extendable.
In good condition.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Italian Midcentury Painted Pin Tray by Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern, painted porcelain, pin tray by Fornasetti, Milano, 1960s in black, white and gold.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Ceramic
1960s Vintage Lacquered Parchment Ice Bucket by Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in London, GB
This vintage ice bucket was designed by Aldo Tura, it was made in Italy in the 1960s. It’s made from lacquered goat skin parchment and steel, with an insulated interior. This is in e...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Goatskin, Lacquer
Set of Gio Ponti Reed & Barton "Diamond" Sterling Silverware
By Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Set of sterling silver flatware, designed by Gio Ponti for Reed and Barton, in the diamond pattern. A total of 18 place settings are available.
Priced at $890 per five-piece plac...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Sterling Silver
Mid-Century Modernist Peter Muller-Munk, Collection Symbol Cook Ware, circa 1962
By Griswold Manufacturing 1, Peter Muller-Munk
Located in Dallas, TX
Mid-Century Modernist Peter Muller-Munk, Collection Griswold Symbol Cook Ware, circa 1962. Cookware.
12 Covered pieces, plus one extra lid. Only 9 pictured in the main pic. Pleas...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
1960s White Sushi Saki Tableware Set Salt Pepper Spice Vessels, Japan
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful simple, elegant 5-piece tableware condiment set. The vessel heights are; 5 1/2, 3 1/2, 2 1/2, and 1 1/2 inches. Lidded vessel does not have spoon.
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Porcelain
Serving Tray Lucite, Brass & Rattan Christian Dior Style, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Rectangular serving tray in lucite and rattan with elevated brass borders and handles in the style of Christian Dior.
Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal, Brass
Tray Anonymous, Italy, 1980s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Tray anonymous,
Italy, 1980s.
Plexi glass.
Sold by Svenskt Tenn.
Measures: L 52 cm/ 20 1/2"
D 38 cm/ 15".
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Plexiglass
Elegant Pewter Ship Decanter & Six Cups Liquor Set
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
AN ELEGANT PEWTER SHIP DECANTER AND
SIX CUPS LIQUOR SET
Les Etains du Manoir, Paris, France.
Mid 20th century.
Decanter, 8 in.(20.3 cm.) high.
7 in.(17.7 cm.) dia. at the ba...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Pewter
Aldo Tura Macabo Pitcher
By Aldo Tura
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An unusual example of Aldo Tura for Macabo pitcher or coffee pot. Mixed materials with brass, painted and natural stain wood.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
French Rope Mirror Serving Tray
Located in JM Haarlem, NL
Rope mirror serving tray from France. Gilded metal. Measurements: height 3.5 in. (9 cm), length 21.6 in. (55 cm), width 15.7 inches (40 cm).
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Up To Three Beautiful Pistol And Gun Trays Attributed to Piero Fornasetti, 1960s
By Fornasetti
Located in Vienna, AT
Up to three beautiful serving trays, made of metal, with nice pistol and guns pattern. From the 1960s, unmarked, attributed to Piero Fornasetti, Italy. All in very good condition. Me...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Vintage Organic Modern Faux Python Leather Tray in Ivory and Black, circa 2010
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mid-Century Modern style decorative tray with shadowbox design. Handcrafted with wood frame wrapped in faux leather and embossed python print in hues of black and cream. Makes a grea...
Category
2010s North American Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Faux Leather, Wood
Tortoise Shell Effect Lucite and Wood Serving Tray Centerpiece, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Vintage rectangular serving tray or centerpiece in tortoiseshell-effet lucite and raised handles in wood. Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Lucite, Plexiglass, Wood
1960s Shigemichi Aomine Japanese Midcentury Teak Trays Serving Sushi Platters
By Aomine Shigemichi 1
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Shigemichi Aomine for the National Crafts Council. Pair of sculptural serving trays. The larger one is 22 inches in length. The small one is L 9 x W 6.75 x H 3/8 in.
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Teak
Round Black Mathieu Matégot Serving Tray, 1950s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Round black Mathieu Matégot serving tray, 1950s.
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Steel
Luigi Massoni Minimalist Plastic White Bed Tray Element by Guzzini, Italy, 1980s
By Luigi Massoni, Guzzini
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article:
Plastic tray
Design:
Luigi Massoni
Producer:
Guzzini, Italy
Decade:
1980s
Description:
This tray table was designed by Luigi Massoni and p...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Plastic
French Modernist Brass Tray "Rigituelle" in Style of Mathieu Matégot, 1950s
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Metal tray.
In style of Mathieu Matégot.
Origin: France,
1950s.
This original vintage tray element was produced in the 1960s in France. It was made of metal in whole patt...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal, Brass
Richard Nissen & Carsten Jorgensen Salt & Pepper Mills for Bodum Denmark 1960s
By Richard Nissen, Bodum
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Richard Nissen & Carsten Jorgensen Salt & Pepper Mills for Bodum Denmark circa 1960.
Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Iron
1970s Steel Brass Bakelite Tray, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Elegant tray made up of steel and brass frame, and black Bakelite base, with steel and Bakelite handles.
Category
1970s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Brass, Steel
Vallauris Coffee Set, Gray Brown Ceramic, France, 1950
By Vallauris
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Original signed Vallauris French Mid-Century Modern cups creative design full Coffee set made in ceramics.
6 cups diameter 8-8,5cm H 7 cm
6 saucers L 11 cm x L 11.5 cm x P 2 cm
Ja...
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Ceramic
Asteroid Serving and Dessert Plates by Jan Sylwester Drost, Pressed Glass, 1970s
Located in Wrocław, Poland
"ASTEROID" dessert set for six by Polish designer Jan Sylvester Drost made by Huta Szkla Gospodarczego - Glassworks "Zabkowice". The set consists of six smaller plates (diameter 16cm...
Category
1970s Polish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Glass
Italian Modern Pewter Serving Tray, Richard Cipolla
By Cipolla
Located in Hollywood, FL
An ornate, pewter serving tray, made by Richard Cipolla in Lombardia, Italy. The handmade piece has a beautiful patina. Made with the highest grade pewter, it contains no lead or alu...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Pewter
Tony Paul 3-Plate Iron and Wood Serving Tray
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three plate serving tray by Tony Paul, USA, c.1950s. The tray features a trio of circular concave wood disks that are supported by an iron frame with wooden ball feet. There is a rec...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Iron
Stainless Hardwood Fondue Forks by Carl Auböck for Amboss Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
Two sets each four pieces.
Stainless hardwood fondue forks by Amboss Austria designed by Carl Auböck in 1959.
Very good original condition.
Category
1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Stainless Steel
Mid-Century Two Tier Walnut and Chrome Cake Stand
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very stylish quality mid-century, believed British, wood and chrome cake stand dating from around 1960. The cake stand is made from two rounded tiers, probably made from walnut and...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Wood
Mexican Midcentury Serving Cart
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Two levels, solid walnut structure wood and brass, include ice bucket and dish, recently refinished, circa 1970s,
Category
1970s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Walnut
Christian Dior Brass and Faux Tortoise Octagonal Tray, 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
Beautiful and large octagonal tray in faux tortoise with brass edges attributed to Christian Dior Home from the 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Brass
Polish Ceramic Mid-Century Modern Serving Dish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hand painted Mid-Century Modern serving dish. Lovey blue background with red and white accents. Handmade in Poland. Retains original label. Stamped on underside.
Category
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Ceramic
Aldo Tura Goatskin and Chrome Placemat or Charger, 6 Pieces
By Aldo Tura
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant lacquered goatskin and chromed metal placemat or plate charger, a set of 6 pieces by Italian designer Aldo Tura, Milano. A beautiful 1970s square wooden base with lacquered o...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Set of Cypress Silverware Designed by Designed by Tias Eckhoff for Georg Jensen
Located in New York, NY
A five-piece place setting in the Cypress pattern designed by designed by Tias Eckhoff for Georg Jensen in 1953. Sterling silver.
Each place setting includes dinner knife, dinner...
Category
1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Sterling Silver
1960s Peacock Serving Tray by Higgins Glass
Located in Austin, TX
1960's Higgins – Peacock Feather abstract design on this huge art glass dish/tray with 3-sectioned round and triangular bowls/dips. The fused monumental glass is a beautiful display ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Gold Leaf
Danish Penguin Peppermill
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An unusual Danish teak peppermill shaped like a penguin. Movement by Peugeot Freres, France.
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Steel
Vintage Finnish Hand Produced Juniper Wooden Block Tray Plate, Finland
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
Vintage wooden tray plate made from block wood and then hand-turned. Hand produced in Finland the early 1980s from solid Juniper wood
Yvaskuua Finland 1980 hand written to the und...
Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Wood
California Studio Pottery Ashtray by Robert Maxwell, 1965
Located in Denton, TX
Blenko crackled glass in the center signed by Robert Maxwell.
Category
20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Earthenware
Hotel Silver Food Dome with Tray
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful mid-20th century hotel silverplate food dome with a simple fixed ring handle and resting atop an oval pewter tray.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver Plate
Lladró Fish & Lemon Sauce Tureen in Glazed Ceramic, Spain, 1960s
By Hispania CH
Located in Barcelona, ES
A beautiful hand-painted Majolica glazed ceramic fish shaped sauce boat with half lemon on the top. By Hispania CH Lladró.Spain, 1960-1970s
Manufactured by Hispania CH and marked on ...
Category
20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Danish Vintage Teak Plates and Bowl 1960s, Set of 6
Located in Nibe, Nordjylland
Danish vintage teak plates and bowl 1960s, set of 6.
Mid-Century Modern Danish tableware in teak.
This set consists of:
Four teak serving plates by Wiggers Denmark, diameter 28 cm...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Teak
NOS Mathieu Matégot Metal Yellow Bonbonniere Mini serving tray France 1950's
Located in Den Haag, NL
Mathieu Matégot Bonbonniere mini serving tray France 1950's
Manufactured by Arimeta The Netherlands ( with original rare label )
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Midcentury German Porcelain Decorative Dessert Plate Set of 9 Heinrich Bavaria
Located in Miami, FL
A Set of 9 decorated Porcelain Plates by Heinrich Bavaria, Germany from the 1960s. Consisting of one large serving platter and 8 dessert plates. Each white porcelain plate with a gol...
Category
1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage Sambonet Set of Six of 40 Pieces in Chrome and Hard Bone, Italy, 1950s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage sambonet set of six of 40 pieces in chrome and hard bone, Italy, 1950s
Original Blu box inside in red velvet included.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Chrome
Jacques Adnet Leather Bottle Holder, France, 1950s
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Jacques Adnet sling leather and brass 4 bottles holder, France, 1950s
midcentury French modern. In a very good general condition. Very charming piece.
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Brass
Set of Galliano Ferro Venetian Stemware
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A stunning set of Murano glass tableware by Galliano Ferro. Gold flecked glass with blue glass accent. Sold as a four piece place setting for 4, includes wine glass 6.5" x 3.125...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Studio Made Ceramic Bowl by Gordon and Jane Martz for Marshall Studios
By Gordon Martz
Located in Buffalo, NY
Earth-tone ceramic bowl with matte glaze by Gordon and Jane Martz for Marshall Studios. Signed in the ceramic along with original paper tag.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Ceramic
Tray by Piero Fornasetti, Original 1950s
Located in JM Haarlem, NL
Original metal tray by Piero Fornasetti, Milano Italy. This is a rare first production called 'Palloni' (hot-air balloons) from the early 1950s. Marked.
Dimensions: length 23.6 in....
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Jens H. Quistgaard “Bow Tie” Palisander Rosewood Tray for Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Stylish tray designed by Jens H. Quistgaard for Dansk in Denmark circa 1960s. Impeccably crafted in palisander rosewood, this sculptural serving tray features a bow tie shape with th...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Rosewood
Hermès "Cartouche De Chasse" Set of Pepper Mill, Salt Shaker & Sugar Sprinkler
By Hermès
Located in Munich, DE
Gold and Silver plated "Cartouche de Chasse" Set by Hermes / Paris with the following dimensions Sugar sprinkler 9.5cm/7cm pepper mill and salt shaker 8cm/4.5cm. Due to contact of sa...
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Brass
Serving Tray in Bronzed Lucite and Brass by Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Lucite and nickel serving tray designed and manufactured by Charles Hollis Jones.
The tray is part of the ball collection that was originally created for Lucille ball and th...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Brass
Celadon Shagreen Tray with Handles
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Rectangular tray cover with green and white detail shagreen. Bronze finish handle and tortoise finish on brass.
Size: Height with handle 1.5 inch.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Brass
Cenedese Vintage Murano Glass Vibrantly Colored Cobalt Blue Glass Cake stand
By Cenedese
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Glass cake stand or serving plate by Cenedese. Wonderful color/color of blue with black banding and simplistic yet elegant form. Fun to dine with vibrant vintage midcentury Murano gl...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Murano Glass
Mid-Century Italian Guzzini Serving Tray Tortoiseshell Effect Lucite and Brass
By Guzzini
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful piece of midcentury tableware, produced in Italy during 1970s. It is a drawing by Guzzini in the style of Willy Rizzo.
It is an iconic turtle shell tray or plate of Luci...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal, Brass
Cini & Nils Peppermill and Salt Cruet Set
By Cini & Nils
Located in Great Barrington, MA
A masterfully designed modernist salt shaker and pepper grinder of impeccable quality made of Lucite and stainless by Cini & Nils, Italy, 1970s. 5.75" high. In great condition with s...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Stainless Steel
Murano Glass Carafe Set
Located in Antwerp, BE
Amber color Murano set of carafe and five glasses.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Glass, Murano Glass
Reed & Barton "Denmark" Coffee Service with Tray
Located in Stamford, CT
Classic "Denmark" pattern by John Prip for Reed & Barton.
Includes coffee pot, sugar bowl with lid, cream pitcher and black laminate center serving tray.
Dimensions given are of co...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver Plate
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 Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver Plate
Piero Fornasetti Ceramic Plates Decorated with the Orchestra Pattern 1970s-1980s
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti ceramic plates decorated with the orchestra pattern,
The set of plates each depict groupings of different musical instruments on a faux bois ground.
Dimensions...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Ceramic
Carlo Scarpa Midcentury Aluminum Italian Serving Tray with Mirror Top, 1960s
By Carlo Scarpa
Located in Roma, IT
Elegant midcentury aluminium serving tray with mirror top. This astonishing piece of barware was designed by Carlo Scarpa in Italy during the 1960s.
This item is amazing because o...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Aluminum
