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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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Price: $1 to $2,500
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Fornasetti salt and pepper shakers with an additional container
Located in London, GB
Set of three condiment containers. By Piero Fornasetti c 1950
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

1970s Astonishing Oval Metal Tray By Piero Fornasetti. Made in Italy
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Astonishing oval metal tray by Piero Fornasetti. Made in Italy It's in excellent condition and is signed at the bottom. Dimension: 20,47" x 16,14" x 1,57 H inches cm 52 x cm 41...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Metal

Mid Century Nordika Teak Danish Chargers or Plates 8
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Set of 8 teak chargers or plates circa late 1960s. Nordika out of Sweden. These all original examples are in excellent vintage condition. Beautiful grain. Price listed is for the set...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Teak

Pair of Spratling Silver Salad Servers
Located in Montreal, QC
Spratling made numerous stylish items in his day and these salad servers are among that production. The deep brown and slightly redish wood contrasts subtilty with the sterling silver.
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Max Meder, Hand Carved Wooden Squirrel Brush & Pan, France, 1950s
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Large mid-century wooden squirrel brush & pan by Max MEDER (Paris), France, 1950s. Squirrel eating a nut. Noble woods. Measures: Squirrel - Height: 6.7...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Wood

Maison Jansen Attributed Gold Pineapple Dish, 1970s
Located in Hastings, GB
Maison Jansen attributed brass pineapple dish, 1970s Large brass handcrafted brass dish with classic Jansen edging detail Measures: 45cm length, 28cm wi...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

small yellow cube form wall unit element by Mathieu Matégot attrib., France 1950
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: wall unit element with hole pattern Designer and Producer: Mathieu Mategot attributed. Origin: France Material: metal Decade: 1950s Description: This origi...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Metal

Mexican Modern Don Shoemaker Wood Trays
Located in San Diego, CA
Set of four serving trays or plates by Mexican Modernist Don Shoemaker, from his workshop in Señal Mexico. Designer Don Shoemaker ( was born in Nebraska and studied at the Art Inst...
Category

1950s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Wood

Two Amboss 1050 Snack Board Fork and Knife Sets, Austria, 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
Up to two charming country house style snack sets from the 1960s, consisting of a cutting board and forks and knives. Designed and executed by Amboss Neuzeughammer Austria, who colla...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Pair of MCM Teak Salt and Pepper Shakers with Box by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of MCM teak salt and pepper shakers with original box by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, circa 1970s. The set are in very good vintage co...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Teak

Nutcracker Mid Century Modern Austria 1950s
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Mid-century nutcracker from Austria. Both in terms of quality and design used, this piece is located in the circle of Carl Auböck's work.
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Bronze

Danish Nutcracker Preben Broste Teak Brass Denmark 1960s
Located in Basel, BS
Danish nutcracker by Preben Broste in teak and brass, hand-crafted in the 1960s. Cleaned and oiled, remains wear and patina to brass, a few scratches. Length: 28 cm Width: 4 cm
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Six Silver Plate Dessert Forks with Server in Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A lovely set of 6 Silver Plate Dessert Forks with coordinating silver plate serving piece. The set has a unique design and would be a com...
Category

20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate

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. With Tray Brass and Mirror. With age spots in mirror Mix crystal (Bleikristall 24% Mu...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Christian Dior blond tortoiseshell oil and vinegar glass cruet, Italy 1960s
Located in Milan, IT
Christian Dior blond tortoiseshell oil and vinegar glass cruet, Italy 1960s
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Set of 5 Small Plate or Coasters in Porcelain by Piero Fornasetti, Italy 1950s
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury a set of five beautiful black and white small plates or coasters in porcelain displaying drawn animals with money (snail, dog, hen, turtle, duck) by Piero Fornasetti. Mad...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

Set of 12 Dachshund Vintage Silver Plate Knife Rests
Located in Westport, CT
Set of twelve Dachshund dog silver plated knife rests, vintage in very good look to be unused from the 1950s.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate

Pipe holder by Hagenauer vienna around 1950s ( marked )
Located in Wien, AT
Pipe holder by Hagenauer vienna around 1950s Marked on Bottom
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Modernist Lacquered Brass Pepper Mill and Salt Shaker, Italy, Original Box, 1960
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An exceptional quality, modernist salt and pepper set executed in lacquered, solid brass, made in Italy. In impeccable, unused condition and with original presentation box labeled, "...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Blue Yellow and Green Cotton Table Napkins - Set of 4
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A set of four square cotton dinner napkins with blue, yellow, and green stripes. A perfect way to add a pop of color to your next dinner party. Dimensions: 15" x 15" Square
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Fabric

Coffee Service for 8, Ćmielów, Poland
Located in Chorzów, PL
Coffee service for 8, Cmielów, Poland.
Category

1980s Polish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Gold Lotus Silhouette Tableware, Service for 8
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Gold Lotus Silhouette Tableware, Service for 8. Beautiful set of service for 8 includes: 7 Dinner Plates 8 Salad Plates 8...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

Arthur Percy Sky Blue Opalescent Glass Cream and Sugar Set, Gullaskruf, 1950s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Swedish midcentury modern light blue glass milk and sugar set. Delicate sky blue tinted textured glass bowl from the Reffla series (re...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass, Art Glass

Mid Century olive oil and vinegar set designed and produced by Artek in the 1960
Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp
Mid Century olive oil and vinegar set designed and produced by Artek in the 1960s. Artek was founded in Helsinki in 1935 by four young idealists: Alvar and Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichs...
Category

1960s Finnish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass, Wood, Olive

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 Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Rare Mathieu Matégot Rigitulle Black Perforated Serving Tray, France, 1950s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Rare Mathieu Matégot Rigitulle Black perforated and lacquered serving tray, France, 1950s. In very good original vintage condition
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Steel

Lauffer Design 2 Don Wallance Service for 6 Stainless Flatware Germany 38 Pieces
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Beautiful 38 piece, service for six, stainless steel flatware set in the Design 2 pattern manufactured by Lauffer. Originally designed in 1956 by the American industrial designer Don...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Italian silverware by Krupp Berndorf, 1950s
Located in Palermo, PA
Italian silverware by Krupp Berndorf, 1950s Dimensions: forks 2x1x22 cm. knives 2,5x1x25 cm. spoons 2x4x22 cm.
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Metal

MCM Teak and Cork Peppermill
Located in San Diego, CA
A unique MCM teak and cork peppermill, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition and measures 2.5"D x 7.5”H. Super unique piece! #3147
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Teak, Cork

Vintage Italian Decorative Scoop by Sabatini 1960
By Daniele and Massimo Sabatini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Certainly! The Vintage Italian Decorative Scoop by Sabatini is a delightful and unique piece that effortlessly combines functionality with artistic flair. Crafted with the meticulous...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Metal

Gio Ponti Cutlery Set for Six in Nickel Silver by Krupp Italy 1950s
Located in Montecatini Terme, IT
Tan France Pick Cutlery silver service for six in nickel silver or German silver, this set includes a total of 18 pieces; 6 spoons, 6 forks, and 6 knives with a steel blade. Set d...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Nickel, Stainless Steel

Set of 12 Tiffany French Limoges Dessert or Salad Plates
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of 12 Tiffany French Limoges Dessert or Salad Plates, France, circa 1970s. Very graphic design! As seen in the first photo, there are 5 each of the ...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

Figgjo Flint * pepper & salt shaker * Market * Turi Design * Norway * 60s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Figgjo Flint * pepper & salt shaker * Market * Turi Design * Norway * 60s * good condition . Very rare these, comes with there Original Teak lid . Design ...
Category

1960s Norwegian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Italian Decorative Murano and Mirror Tray 1950
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Vintage Italian Decorative Murano and Mirror Tray from the 1950s is a captivating piece that marries the renowned Murano glass artistry with the functionality of a mirror tray. O...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Colorful Set of Six Mid-Century Modern Glass Decanters by Empoli
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Very colorful and decorative set of six Italian glass decanters. There is one white decanter, one red, two brown and two blue ones. All carafes have a ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass

xxl 51x36cm Metal and brass Tray element by Mathieu Matégot, France 1950
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Tray element with hole pattern Designer and Producer: Mathieu Mategot Origin: France Material: metal and brass Decade: 1950s Description: This original mid...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Metal

Set of Twelve French Vintage Oyster Plates from Salins France C1960
Located in Trensacq, FR
A set of a dozen French mid-century modern oyster plates in green, white and yellow glazed faience. Twelve stylish high-glazed platters, all in very good vintage condition with no ch...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic, Faience

Campanella da Tavola Piero Fornasetti Italia Anni '60
Located in Milano, IT
Campanella da tavola in porcellana con presa ad anello in ottone. Decoro con calendario e segni zodiacali trattenuti da due fasce in oro. All'interno marchio della manifattura.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Nissen Denmark Pepper Mill Teak Integrated Salt Shaker Mid Century 1960s
Located in Basel, BS
Pepper mill with integrated salt shaker by Nissen, Denmark in the 1960s. Made of solid teak. The salt can be filled in on top, the pepper on the bottom. The stainless steel mill...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Teak

Blue and Green Restaurantware Stoneware Dinner Plates, Set of 4
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A set of four stoneware restaurantware plates. Each plate is glazed in white, with either a blue or green border around the rim. (Two blue, and two green) Marked at bottom: stoneware...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Mid-Century South Seas Silverplate Flatware Set for Community / Onedia
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A 58 piece set of silverplated sculptural south seas pattern styled flatware with 8 serving pieces, with five pieces for each place setting salad, dinner fork, tea, soup spoon and knife. There are eight severing pieces butter, cake knife, slotted, large severing and condiment spoon...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate

Pesach "Seder" plate by Copeland Spode, England 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Jewish Pesach "Seder" plate by Copeland Spode, England 1950s Fully signed
Category

1950s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

Unusual Modernist 63 Piece Stainless Flatware Set, "Night & Day" Japan
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Modernist 63 piece Stainless Flatware Set. "night & day" JAPAN. Classic Mid-Century Modern. Place setting for 8. missing 3 dinner spoon...
Category

1950s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel, Other

Rattan Bottle Holder. French. Circa 1970
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This unusual bottle holder is made of rattan. This is a French work. Circa 1970
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Rattan

Set of six glasses, 1950s, Mid-Century, Sights of Venice, Italy
Located in Wien, AT
Very nice set of six glasses with the representation of the main sights of Venice, Italy. The cups have a base in round shape of colorless glass with a golden ring, which then merges into a bulbous shape that has a rubin...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass

Toothpick holder walter bosse around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Toothpick holder walter bosse around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Lalique Paperweight Figurine Caroline Turtle Crystal
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Vintage figurine or letter weight in clear and amber crystal glass Caroline tortoise signed on the bottom "Lalique France". The head is in clear glass ...
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Crystal

Copper Watering Can Around, 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Copper watering can around 1950s Polished and stove enameled.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Copper

Napkin Holder, Vienna, 1960s
Located in Wien, AT
Napkin Holder, Vienna, 1960s Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

3 Amboss Party Palette & Spork Sets, Plate & Spoon & Fork, Austria, 1970s
Located in Vienna, AT
Up to three very nice stackable party sets, „Partypalette“, model K70, consisting of square plates plus spork, a combination of spoon and fork (Göffel). Designed by Ernst Otto Loewe,...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Fine And Rare Aldo Tura Cocktail Bar Set
Located in Antwerp, BE
Exceptional 4 piece bar set in lacquered goatskin by Aldo Tura. Set features 3 ice buckets and 1 pepper mill.brass finial and glass insulated liner.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Marianne Denzel Salt And Pepper Menage Condiment Set, Berndorf, Austria, 1960s
Located in Vienna, AT
A very stylish modernist cruet set from the 1960s. Designed by the German artist and designer Marianne Denzel, executed by Berndorf Austria. Consist of...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Mid-Century Brazilian Modern Decorative Spoon in Brazilian Rosewood
Located in New York, NY
This mid-century modern decorative bowl is handcrafted with Brazilian rosewood (also known as jacaranda) and features clean lines with elegant curves. The wood has a deep, dark, and ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Wood

45 Piece Laufer Rosewood Handle Stainless Steel Flatware Service for Eight
Located in Ferndale, MI
Fine large set of Lauffer Japan stainless steel flatware. Rosewood handles also in fine condition. Included are large spoon with larg...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Suisse Langenthal Bowls
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Immerse yourself in the elegance of these vintage Suisse Langenthal bowls. This collection of four bowls embodies a striking modernist design, accentuated with captivating blue line ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic

1956 , Edwin Knowles "Strawflower" Dining Set - 38 Items, 6 Place Settings
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Bring back memories with this beautifull Universal "Ballerrina Mist" china set. The set is in excellent condition and has no chips or cracks. It is a full service for 6 people and ...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

6 Midcentury Pastel Daisy Porcelain Espresso Coffee Cups, Lilien, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A mokka set of six charming conical espresso coffee cups and saucers from the „Daisy“-series, made of thin, fine china in six differen...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

Up to 7 Midcentury Party Spork (Spoon & Fork) Flatware Göffel by Amboss Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
Up to 7 identical party sporks (a smart combination of a spoon and a fork) from the 1960s. Model „Göffel“, award-winning design by Ernst Otto Loewe and K.H. Hoelscher, executed by Am...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel, Chrome

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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