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Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

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
Creator: Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Carl Aubock "Palm" Hand Cork Stopper #4220
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubock "Palm" hand cork stopper #4220. This beautifully crafted cork stopper by Carl Aubock is a wonderful example of the marriage of form and functi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Auböck Brass Coin Bottle Opener, Around, 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Auböck brass Coin bottle opener, around 1950s Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Brass Ashtray, Model 3317, Austria 1935
Located in Den Haag, NL
Carl Auböck brass ashtray, model 3317, Austria 1935.
Category

1930s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Auböck Bottle Stopper Vienna Around, 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Auböck bottle stopper vienna around 1950s. Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Aubock II Fondue Set Mid-Century Nutwood Steel Austria, 1960
Located in Vienna, AT
Carl Aubock desigend this Fondue-set in the 1960. Included is the original box made of paper. The contents of the packaging are described on the lid in 4 languages: Fondue-Set in s...
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Steel

Carl Aubock Polished Brass Hand Bottle Opener #4224
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Carl Aubock polished brass hand bottle opener #4224. This whimsical 1950's hand bottle opener by Carl Aubock is a wonderful example of the marriage ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Rare Carl Aubock Copper & Brass Tripod Floor Ashtray, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A rare modernist vintage floor standing ashtray from the 1950s, designed and executed by Carl Auböck, Vienna. The bowl of this beautiful...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Copper, Brass

Carl Auböck Knife, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Knife made of steel and horn, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Steel

Austrian Midcentury Steel and Leather Fish Bottle Opener by Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
This charming fish shaped stainless steel and cognac brown leather bottle opener has been designed by Carl Auböck, Modell Nr. 4687. Produved by Solingen Germany...
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Stainless Steel

Auböck Big Brass Key Paperweight & Cork Screw, Midcentury, 1950s, Austria
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Beautiful Carl Auböck "Big Key" bottle opener, corkscrew & paperweight in solid brass, made by Werkstätten Carl Auböck in 1950s. The key is in a very good condition.  We ship via...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Bottle holder, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Bottle Holder, Austria 1960s. The leather part measures 10cm in diameter.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Fish Shaped Bottle Opener, Vienna, 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Carl Auböck fish shaped bottle opener, Vienna, 1950s Wood handle Bottle opener model no. 4687 Carl Auböck II.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Stainless Steel

Exceptional Mid-Century Modern Teak Nut Bowl by Carl Auböck Austria 1950s
Located in Munich, DE
Extremely rare and elegant Mid-Century Modern nut bowl by Carl Auböck II, Vienna, Austria, 1950s. Executed in solid teak wood and brass handle upholstered in leather. Dimension...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Wooden Bottle Stopper/Cork by Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
The item on sale is an original Carl Auböck bottle stopper. It was hand crafted and is made from the finest wood and cork. It has a robust leathe...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Leather, Wood

Vintage Carl Auböck Brass and Copper Floor Ashtray, Austria, 1954
Located in NUEMBRECHT, NRW
This very rare 1950s standing floor ashtray was designed by Carl Auböck and produced by Carl Auböck Wertstatten in Vienna in the 1950s. It has got a brass stand and a removable co...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass, Copper

Rare Set of 6 Glasses, Pitcher, Tray and Bamboo Whisk by Designer Carl Aubock
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare complete serving set of 6 small leather wrapped drinking glasses (hight 9,6cm) and 1 glass pitcher (hight 16cm) featuring leather coverings with intricate stitching. Everything ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Leather, Glass, Nutwood

Carl Auböck, Salt & Pepper Shaker, Black & White Horn, Teak, Austria, 1950s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck, beautiful black & white horn salt & pepper shaker. Manufactured in Vienna, Austria, 1950s. Excellent vintage condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Horn, Teak

Carl Auböck Model #4828 Cane and Steel Knife
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4828 cane and steel knife. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural knife is executed in polished steel and handwoven cane. Price is per item...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Steel

Original Brass Carl Auböck Korkscrew
Located in Vienna, AT
This beautiful and unique corkscrew is made from stainless steel and features a brass handle with an antique coin replica. Design by Austrian Bauhaus designer Carl Auböck and crafted...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Set of Two Serving Trays with Stainless Steel Pans and Cutlery by Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
These two dining sets were designed and executed by the Austrian Werkstätte Carl Auböck. They date back to the 1950s and were crafted using the fin...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Stainless Steel

Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Signed Carl Auböck Brass Nutcracker with Leather Handles
Located in Vienna, AT
This nutcracker is an original piece of Mid-Century craftsmanship. The design and execution by the Wiener Werkstatte Carl Aubock. Fully signed Aubock and Made in Austria. It is made ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Striped Enameled Pan with Lid by Riess, Unused, Austria, 1970s
Located in Vienna, AT
A very beautiful enameled pan with lid, designed by Carl Auböck Vienna. Executed by Riess/Austria, 1970s. Diameter without handle 10 in Excellent condition, unused in original box. We are offering many other Carl Auböck pans...
Category

1970s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Auböck Brass Coin Bottle Opener, Midcentury, 1950s, Austria
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Beautiful Auböck coin bottle opener in solid brass, made by Werkstätten Carl Auböck in 1950s. The casting is very fine because this is an earlier opener. T...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Bottle Holder, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Pair of Cork Screws, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck cork screws, Austria, 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass, Steel

Carl Auböck Brass and Steel Cork Screw, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Cork Screw, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Steel, Brass

Auböck Brass Coin Bottle Opener, Around 1950s, Austria
Located in Wien, AT
Auböck brass coin bottle opener, around 1950s, Austria Oroginal condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #4230 'Skull' Polished Brass Corkscrew
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4230 'Skull' Polished Brass Corkscrew. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese corkscrew is executed ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Bottle Opener, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Bottle Opener, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Fish Bottle Opener by Carl Auböck, Stainless Steel and Cane
Located in Kansas City, MO
Bottle opener by Carl Auböck. Stainless steel with rare cane cover detail. Hardly used.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Stainless Steel

Carl Auböck Knife, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck knife, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Steel

Carl Auböck Wooden Salad Tong, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Wooden Wooden Tong for Salads or other dishes, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Wood, Leather

Carl Auböck Wooden Tray, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck tray, Austria, 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Wood

Carl Auböck Cork Screw, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck cork screw, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass, Steel

Large Light Teak Bowl with Brass and Leather Handle by Carl Auböck Austria, 1950
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: light Teak bowl, shell element Design: Carl Auböck, 1950s Producer: Auböck Workshop Vienna, Austria Origin: Austria Age: 1950s ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Beautiful Carl Aubock Cast-Iron Pepper Salt Mill with Peugeot Grinder, 1970s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful and solid modernist pepper- or salt mill with Peugeot grinder, made of black-finished cast iron. Designed and executed by Carl Aubock in th...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Iron

Vintage 1950s Two Sets of Knives and Forks Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
Two vintage sets of knives and forks, model number #4244, by the Auböck Workshop, Vienna, circa 1950. The body of the cutlery is made from stainless steel, the handle of each piece is woven with wicker cane. Each set is complete with the original leather holster...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Stainless Steel

Carl Auböck Horn and Steel Cork Screw, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck horn and steel cork screw, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Steel

Carl Auböck Nutcracker in Brass, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Nutcracker in Brass, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Aubock for Amboss 30 Piece Flatware Set
Located in Atlanta, GA
Moderniststainless steel flatware set, designed by Carl Aubock for Amboss, Austria, circa 1960s. This is a 5 piece set for 6 guests, 30 pieces total. It is constructed of dishwasher ...
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Stainless Steel

Carl Auböck Fondue Forks, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Set of 4 Fondue Forks, Austria 1960s. The measurements given apply to one fork. The box is 25.5 cm wide, 2cm deep and 7.5 cm high.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Steel

Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck ashtray, Austria, 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

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 Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Horn

Carl Aubock Big Brass Key Cork Screw, Bottle Opener Paperweight, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful cork screw bottle opener & paperweight in the shape of a large golden key, designed and executed by Carl Aubock Vienna, Austria, 1950s. The big model. A Carl Aubock clas...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Pair of Bottle Openers in Leather and Steel, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck set of two leather and steel bottle openers, Austria, 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Steel

Carl Auböck Bottle Opener, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Pitcher, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck pitcher, Austria 1960s. The width of the item including the handle is 18 cm.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Leather, Glass

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 Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Horn

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

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Horn

Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Ashtray, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

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

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Horn

Carl Auböck Set of 2 Cork Screws, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck set of 2 cork screws, Austria 1960s. Please get in touch with us regarding the exact measurements.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass, Steel

Carl Auböck II Brass Tray, Bowl, Vide-Poche, Maria Theresia Coin, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful solid brass coin tray or dish, designed and executed by Werkstätte Carl Auböck II in the 1950s. Suitable as a jewelry bowl or „vide-poche“. In good condition with nice pa...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Corkscrew #5970-1 "Modern Key", Austria 2022
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Corkscrew #5970-1 "Modern Key", Austria 2022.
Category

2010s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass, Steel

Carl Auböck Neptune Fish Bottle Opener, Leather & Steel by Amboss Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful fish-shaped mid-century bottle opener, made of stainless steel, covered with dark-brown tan leather. Model #4687, designed in 1995 by Carl Auböck, Vienna. Executed by Amb...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Stainless Steel

Mid-century Modern serveware, ceramics, silver and glass for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern serveware, ceramics, silver and glass 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with glass, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern serveware, ceramics, silver and glass 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, popular names associated with this style include Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Cenedese, Rörstrand, and Piero Fornasetti. 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $22 and tops out at $295,000 while the average work can sell for $679.

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