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Mid-Century Modern Tableware

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
LOVELY LIBERTY'S LONDON STYLE ASHBERRY PEWTER PEWTER PLATE WITH CABOCHON STONEs
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this this lovely vintage English Ashberry Pewter plate with Cabochon stones made in the Liberty's London styel A good looking and highly decorativ...
Category

20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Pewter

Vintage Piero Fornasetti Display Plate, Barney's New York Collection
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A Classic midcentury Italian Designed plate featuring an iconic image from Piero Fornasetti’s work, his muse the opera singer, Lina Cavalieri. Crisp black and white timeless design i...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

New Old Stock/ Cork and Chrome 1970’s Coasters set of 8
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Set of 8 Silverplate and Cork Coasters. NOS. All are unused and still in their plastic wraps! Marked Italy on backside.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate

Comprehensive Wmf Stockholm Silver Plated Flatware, Kurt Mayer, Germany, 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
A meticulously curated set of silver-plated cutlery, the "4100 Stockholm Laurel" series, was designed in 1955 by Kurt Mayer for WMF Germany, Württembergische Metallwaren Fabrik. This...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Rare Russel Wright Spun Aluminum and Cork Tankards / Mugs Set '8'
Located in Buffalo, NY
Seldom seen set of 8 Spun Aluminum and Cork Tankards / Mugs designed by Russel Wright.. Beautiful original condition, All retain Impressed Russel Wright st...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Aluminum

Emilia Castillo Set of Eight Silver Plate Goblets with Toucans
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout set of eight vintage goblets or wine glasses handcrafted in silver plate over hammered copper in classic form and featuring stone clad toucans perched over the twisted stems...
Category

Late 20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate, Copper

Gerald Benney Stainless Cutlery by Viners of Sheffield, British, 1970s
Located in Melbourne, AU
Superb set of 'Fisheaters', i.e. Six knives and six forks designed by Gerald Benney, in original box. The influence of Danish design is very clear, yet these are quintessentially midcentury British in their trim, measured and practical style. 'Gerald Benney CBE (21 April 1930 – 26 June 2008) was a British silver and goldsmith who along with David Mellor...
Category

1970s British Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Christofle Silver Plate Knife Rests Set Of Twelve
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A stylish set of twelve (12) knife rests by Christofle. In two original boxes, made in France ca' 1960's, silverplate. In the shape of a racquet.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate

Amboss Austria Mid-Century Flatware Cutlery with Antler Handles for Six Persons
Located in Vienna, AT
A set of modernist flatware for six persons. Consisting of 18 pieces, spoons, forks and knives. Executed in the 1960s by Amboss Austria. Made of stain...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

3 Sets '6 Pieces' of Aubocks Favorite Cobe Holder, Mid-Century
Located in Vienna, AT
3 sets (6 pieces) Corncob holder from Carl Aubock II. The corncob holders are also shown in the Auböck catalog (see photo). The holders have a beautiful streamline shape and it see...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Complete Set of 8 Mid-Century Square Solid Teak Coasters in Caddy 1960s
Located in Hawthorne, CA
Set of eight (8) solid teak coasters with caddy. Carved ripple pattern catches condensation and prevents glasses from getting stuck to the coaster. Wood has been conditioned, light w...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Teak

Twenty-Two Piece Set of Sterling Silver and Ebony "Contrast" Flatware by Lunt
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous twenty-two piece set of sterling silver and ebony nylon "Contrast" flatware by Lunt Silver Co.., circa 1950s. The set is in very good vintage condition and is stamped on the...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

20th Century Gabriella Crespi Decorative Box in Brass and Plexiglass '70s
Located in Turin, Turin
Born in 1922, Gabriella Crespi studies architecture at the Politecnico in Milan, where her work is permeated by her perspective on Le Corbusier’s and Frank Lloyd Wright’s design expe...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Italian Pewter Salt and Pepper Mill Shaker
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pewter Salt and Pepper Shaker, MCM Italy Tall and sturdy Vintage MCM Italian salt and pepper grinder or shaker with its original patina...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Pewter

Chicken cutter vienna around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Chicken cutter vienna around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Steel

Danish Vintage Teak Serving Trays 1960s Set of 4
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish vintage teak serving trays 1960s set of 4. Danish Mid-Century Modern teak trays. This set consists of: A large oval tray by Silva, ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Teak, Glass

Aldo Tura Goatskin and Chrome Placemat or Charger, 6 Pieces
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian designer Aldo Tura, Milano, designed this lacquered goatskin and chromed metal placemat or plate charger set in the 1970s. The pieces boast a beautiful square wooden base des...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Set of 10 cocktail or pickle forks with bamboo handles, Germany 1950s
Located in Herentals, BE
The set of forks has a bamboo handle and the fork itself is made of stainless steel. The forks are in very nice condition and of very good quality. They were produced in Germany arou...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Watering can vienna around 1920s
Located in Wien, AT
Watering can vienna around 1920s Original condition
Category

1920s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass, Copper

Ice bucket by Aldo Tura, Italy 60s
Located in Kiel, SH
High decorative ice bucket set in very good condition. It's marked with the original paper-sticker on the bottom.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Leather, Acrylic

Art Deco Amber Glass Bowl on a Chrome Stand made in NY
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Art Deco / Hollywood Regency style compote made by Farber Bros., New York, ca. 1940s. Amber colored glass bowl, atop a gracefully curved pedestal, sits inside a chrome overly. A classic Farber Bros. style that is perfect for candy, nuts or potpourri. Marked on the bottom, "Farber Bros. - N.Y.C. - There is no marking on the glass bowl, but the majority of glass for Farber Bros. was made by Cambridge Glass Company. Other makers included Corning, Duncan and Miller...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Metal

1960 Mexican Set 4 Drinking Glasses Encased in Etched Cutwork Floral Brass Decor
Located in New York, NY
1960s mid-20th century set of 4 organic glasses, entirely handcrafted in Mexico, overlayed in a handmade antique brass open sheath, ornate with an etched cutwork floral and foliage d...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

1960s Mexican Pair Drinking Glasses Encased in Etched Cutwork Floral Brass Decor
Located in New York, NY
1960s mid-20th century pair of organic glasses, entirely handcrafted in Mexico, overlayed in a handmade antique brass open sheath ornate with an etched cutwork floral and foliage dec...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Iconic 50s Ice Bucket by Ettore Sottsass for Rinnovel - Vintage Italian Charm
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Dive into the retro charm of the Fifties with this iconic Ettore Sottsass‘ 50s Ice Bucket produced by Rinnovel. Crafted from anodized aluminum in a delightful shade of pink, this vin...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Aluminum

Set of 6 Ceramic English Earthenware Tea Plates in Focus Pattern by Midwinter
Located in Chicago, IL
Set of 6 English earthenware tea plates with printed overglaze decoration in the 'Focus' pattern. Made by W. R. Midwinter Ltd., Burslem, England, 1964. The broad rims are decorated ...
Category

1960s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic, Clay, Earthenware

Figural Italian Tre Spade Fish Shaped Wood & Silverplate Pepper Mill or Grinder
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Italian designer pepper mill. By Tre Spade. With a dark wooden body and a silver-plated head, fins, and tail. Pepper is placed in the body through an opening under the fin ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate

Seven Hammered Bronze Polished Round Napkin Rings Mid-Century Modern
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful set of seven round hammered polished bronze napkin rings. Diameter: 1.75 inches. Height: 0.88 inches.
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Bronze

Brass, copper watering can vienna around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Brass, copper watering can vienna around 1950s Polished and stove enameled
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass, Copper

Set of Italian Polished Pewter Salt & Pepper Shakers
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Italian Set of Salt Shakers & Pepper Grinder in Polished Pewter, a Set of Two. This classic pair is marked Made in Italy on the bottom. Wonderful addition to add to your table for e...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Pewter

Olive Wood Salad Servers, France 1970s
Located in ROUEN, FR
Olive Wood Salad Servers, France 1970s. Very elegant design in perfect condition. Servers are polished, which gives them a very soft touch. A chic piece to add to the kitchen !
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Fruitwood, Olive

Diamond by Reed and Barton Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 51 pieces Modern
Located in Big Bend, WI
This pattern was designed by internationally renowned Italian architect and designer Gio Ponti and introduced by Reed & Barton in the year 1958. It has a wonderful Mid-Century Modern...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Paramount by Kirk Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 66 pieces in Chest
Located in Big Bend, WI
Gorgeous Paramount by Kirk sterling silver Flatware set, 69 pieces. This modern design is based on the New York city skyline and architecture (see copy of original advertisement for ...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

6 Glasses Cognac Smoke Joe Colombo for Arnolfo di Cambio
Located in Milano, IT
6 Glasses Cognac Smoke Joe Colombo for Arnolfo di Cambio
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass

Dansk "Artisan" Flatware Set, Service for 8/ 44 pieces
Located in Philadelphia, PA
1970's Dansk Design Flatware Set. Service for 8, 44 pieces! "Artisan" for Dansk, made in Japan. Nice solid weight Set, feels good in your hand! Nice large set! Set includes 2 La...
Category

1970s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

6 Bicchieri Smoke Joe Colombo per Arnolfo di Cambio altezza 14 cm.
Located in Milano, IT
6 Bicchieri Smoke Joe Colombo per Arnolfo di Cambio
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass

Fruit bowl brass vienna around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Fruit bowl brass vienna around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Pair of MCM Teak Salt and Pepper Shakers by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of MCM teak salt and pepper shakers by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1970s. The set are in very good vintage condition and measure as follows: Salt 2.5" x 4.75" ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Teak

6 Bicchieri Smoke Joe Colombo per Arnolfo di Cambio altezza 12 cm.
Located in Milano, IT
6 Bicchieri Smoke Joe Colombo per Arnolfo di Cambio
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass

6 Smoke Joe Colombo glasses for Arnolfo di Cambio height 9 cm.
Located in Milano, IT
6 Smoke Joe Colombo Glasses for Arnolfo di Cambio
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass

Brass Champagne Bucket vienna around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Brass Champagne Bucket vienna around 1950s Brass polished and stove enameled
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Italian 1940s Sculpted Wood Nut Cracker with Hammer
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1940s Sculpted Wood Nut Cracker with Hammer
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Oak

Block Spain Flatware "Chromatics" 42 piece, Service for 8
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Block Spain "Chromatics" Service for 8 plus 2 large Serving pieces. Set still has their original boxes and appear mostly unused. Nice feel and weight! Block did several nice stain...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Brass Coaster vienna around 1970s
Located in Wien, AT
Brass Coaster vienna around 1970s Only polished
Category

1970s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Suisse Langenthal Plates
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unearth the charm of vintage tableware with this striking set of Suisse Langenthal plates. Each plate boasts a captivating modernist design, graced w...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic

1960s Spaghetti Colorful Drinkware Tumbler Glasses – Set of 9
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a vintage set of nine spaghetti tumblers, circa the 1960s. This distinctive type of drinkware is characterized by their unique texture, which resembles s...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass, Plastic

Art Deco Coffee set from Thermisol. 1930 1940
Located in CADALSO, ES
Great condition
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic

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 Tableware

Materials

Nickel, Stainless Steel

Steak Knives by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
A set of 6 teak and stainless Fjord steak knives, designed in the 1950s by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. They look barely used. Comes with the box and original plastic sleeves. This des...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Vintage Teak Salt And Pepper Grinders By Peter Piper Super Salt And Pepper Mill
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
Wonderful pair of grinders by Peter Piper. Very good quality, made from Teak, with Peter Piper mechanisms to the underside. Originally designed in the late 1960s, this set is from ...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Teak

Vintage Silver Plated Caviar Dish in the Shape of a Crab, c. 1970
Located in London, GB
A silver-plated caviar dish in the shape of a crab, made by Almazan in Spain c. 1970. The crab is excellently modelled, with fine attention to detail in the legs and claws. The ori...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate, Bronze

Boxed Helmut Alder Amboss 2050 Flatware Cutlery for Six, 30 pcs., Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
Beautiful Mid-century flatware, 2050 series, designed by Helmut Alder, executed by Amboss Austria in the 1950s. High-quality flatware, made of solid, brushed and polished stainless s...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Six Sweet Animal Knife Rests - by Etain Royal French vintage Metal Set in Box
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A lovely set of six knife rests. Made of pewter (etain) in France, the set is so pretty, consisting of 6 different animals in their slightly distressed original box. There are one ea...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Metal

Rhinoceros Silver Plate Vintage Wine Bottle Holder
Located in London, GB
A mid 20th century silver plate double wine bottle holder in the shape of a rhinoceros, made in Spain c. 1960s. It is a most charming object, with the rhinoceros head, feet, and ta...
Category

1960s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate

Toothpick Holder with African Boy by Richard Rohac
Located in Wien, AT
Toothpick holder with African boy by Richard Rohac Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Pair of Don Drumm Bubble Spoons
Located in Redding, CT
Pair of Don Drumm Bubble Spoons. Perfect for a collector. Use them as serving spoons or as salad tongs. Great Brutalist style in aluminum with bulbous handles. Don Drumm was born in ...
Category

1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Aluminum

Crystal Mix Set of 6 Nachtmann Stem Glasses with Colored Overlay Cut to Clear
Located in Verviers, BE
Vintage mix set of 6 cut to clear crystal stem glasses. Mix crystal (Bleikristall 24% Mundgeblasen Handgeschliffen) glasses Clear crystal glass. Side facetted and toothed stem. Th...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Vintage MCM Focus by Gense Sweden Flatware Stainless - 39 pcs. Partial Set
Located in St. Louis, MO
Vintage Mid-Century Modern, Focus by Gense Sweden flatware in satin stainless. Partial set, to add to your current or to build your own set. Light scr...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ausrian Flatware, Cutlery Set by Berndorf
Located in Vienna, AT
Austrian high-quality flatware silver plated by Berndorf, former Krupp company from the 1960s. The cutlery has a handle with a very interesting geometric decor. Used but in excellent...
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Silver, Steel

Mid-century Modern tableware for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern tableware 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 tableware created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern tableware made in a specific country, there are Europe, Austria, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original tableware, popular names associated with this style include Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Amboss Austria, International Silver, and Jens Quistgaard. 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 tableware differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $50 and tops out at $32,500 while the average work can sell for $652.

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