Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
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.
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Skoby Joe Round Sand Cream Ceramic Vase Wabi Sabi Mid-Century Modern Sculpture
By Skoby Joe
Located in La Jolla, CA
Joseph Skoby is a Southern Californian whose work is inspired by the nature of his native state. His ceramics, created in his own lush garden, recall his intimate dance with the ocea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Skoby Joe Round Sand Cream Ceramic Vase Wabi Sabi Mid-Century Modern Sculpture
By Skoby Joe
Located in La Jolla, CA
Joseph Skoby is a Southern Californian whose work is inspired by the nature of his native state. His ceramics, created in his own lush garden, recall his intimate dance with the ocea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Bronze Sculpture, Il Cavalino, by Barbara Beretich '1936-2018'
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This is a signed bronze sculpture of a horse entitled, Il Cavalino, by Barbara Beretich. This is a lost wax cast and the piece is from her home gallery as seen in picture #8. During ...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Aldo Londi Bitossi Signed Double Dragon Head Mondrian Midcentury Italian Bowl
By Aldo Londi
Located in Studio City, CA
A very rare and scarce, exquisite large pottery bowl from Italian designer Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy. This piece features a dragon's head on each end.
The bowl is impeccable ...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Moss Boy Sculpture by Kim Simonsson, circa 2020, Finland
By Kim Simonsson
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Moss Boy sculpture by Kim Simonson. Synthetic moss sculpture over a porcelain base. From the series of “Moss People”, circa 2020, Finland. Unique piece. Excellent condition.
Kim ...
Category
2010s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Porcelain
David Leach Feather Design Grey Glazed Studio Pottery Bowl
By David Leach
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A large and stylish studio pottery bowl decorated with an abstract feather patterned design in a grey powdered glaze by David Leach (1911-2005) and probably dating from his early day...
Category
1960s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Mexican Jewelry Box in the Style of Don Shoemaker
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970 We offer this rare Mexican jewelry box in the style of Don Shoemaker.
Category
1970s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Abstract Carved Stone Outsider Art by Louise Abrams, c1970
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Carved stone by abstract outsider artist Louise Abrams.
This particular piece is from the artists personal collection of her own art.
Sits on a black laminate plinth base. This ite...
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Alabaster
Vintage Mid-Century Rust Colored Barkcloth with Gold Speckles
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This beautiful fabric is a 100% cotton barkcloth. Barkcloth is a textured printed woven fabric. The manufacturer is unknown but this lovely orangish rust-colored vintage fabric has s...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Rare and Original Ceramic Bottle, Signed and Located in Vallauris, circa 1950/19
By Roger Capron
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rare and original ceramic bottle, signed and located in Vallauris, circa 1950/1960.
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Skoby Joe Textured Ceramic Vessel Wabi Sabi Mid-Century Modern Sculpture
By Skoby Joe
Located in La Jolla, CA
Joseph Skoby is a Southern Californian whose work is inspired by the nature of his native state. His ceramics, created in his own lush garden, recall his intimate dance with the ocea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Wall Mask of Afro Child, Afro Woman , Mid-20th Century, Germany
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage Afro Child , Afro Woman Wall Mask which looks great.
This wall head decoration is very detailed and was made in Germany.
This German pottery mask dates circa 1950-1960.
It's ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stone
French Rope Magazine Rack Audoux Minet, circa 1960
Located in The Hills, TX
French rope magazine rack Audoux Minet, circa 1960.
Measures: Height 15.3 inches, length 14.7" on 12.5 inches.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Rope
Putaway, Vintage Toy Chest in Lacquered Metal, circa 1960
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Putaway, vintage toy chest in lacquered metal, circa 1960.
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Bram Bogart, Painting, Signed, Belgium, 1981
By Bram Bogart
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Bram Bogart,
Painting, Mixed Media,
Signed,
1981, Belgium.
Measures: Height 49.5 cm, width 40.5 cm, depth 4 cm.
Category
1980s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Decorative Tapestry for Wall Robert and John F.Kennedy Late 1960s or Early 1970s
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
Decorative tapestry carpet
Normally they were framed with a golden and wooden molding. These tapestries or carpets were very typical of the middle of the last century
Almost al...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
NYC 42nd Street Sex Show Street Scene Painting
Located in Atlanta, GA
NYC 42nd Street Peep Show Street Scene Painting, artist unknown, signed Layton, American, circa 1960s. Great depection of New York City's sleazy side, the Times Square area and all i...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Trio of Minimalist Kokeshi Doll Sculptures Signed
Located in San Diego, CA
A set of three Kokeshi dolls from Japan. Two are signed. One has an inventory number from the collection of Mingei International Museum founder, Martha Longenecker. It was purchased ...
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Mid-20th Century Three-Panel, Hand Painted Oil on Canvas Screen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Mid-20th century three panel, hand painted oil on canvas screen. Measures: 72" tall
Three panels 16.5" W each. The screen can be displayed up to 46 x 48" wide.
The back is hand pri...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Lisa Larson 'Mikey' Cat Fabric Cushions
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
Cushions with zip on covers, fronts in 'Mikey' fabric designed by Lisa Larson, in typical Lisa Larson style, very reminiscent of her comical animal figures for Gustavsberg.
Category
Early 2000s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Mid-Century Modern C. Jere Style Sailboat Wall Art
By Curtis Jere
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stunning Mid-Century Modern metal sailboat wall art features intricate detailing from the mast to the keel. The unique design displays a miniature steering wheel, railing, rudder, an...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
1970s Karl Howard Galvanized Steel Handmade Mid-Century Era Art Basket, Signed
By Karl Howard
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Mid-Century Modern Era, circa 1970s footed basket hand made by the wire artist Karl Howard, using the traditional antique French method. Without the use of solder or welded joints,...
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Vintage English Rifle Bayonet, 1940s
Located in National City, CA
Vintage English rifle bayonet,
circa 1940s.
Measure: 15" L x 1.75." D.
Category
1940s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Steel
First Edition Pedro Friedeberg Book by IDA Rodríguez Prampolini, 1973
Located in San Diego, CA
Pedro Friedeberg first edition vintage book by IDA Rodriguez Prampolini.
Published by Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 1973. x.
Category
1970s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paper
Vintage Rosewood Cribbage Board, 1960s
Located in National City, CA
For your consideration a beautiful vintage rosewood cribbage board.
For decoration only, we are selling only the board.
1960s.
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Rosewood
Beatrice Wood Signed Mid-Century Large Figurative Sculpture Chocolate Drop, 1970
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful, Classic, and rare sculpture by famed American ceramist Beatrice Wood which she whimsically titled "Chocolate Drop".
Titled and signed by Beatrice in her customary "B...
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Earthenware
Early Carta Blanca Beer Sign. Mexico, 1940’s.
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare Carta Blanca beer porcelain metal sign.
Mexico, ca. 1940’s.
Category
1940s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Sheet Metal
Ceramic Sunburst Mirror Designed by Oswald Tieberghien
Located in Antwerp, BE
Tieberghien Oswald (born 1936) is a sophisticated Belgian artist, who has his own ceramics studio in Eeklo started in 1955.
Glazed ceramic in strong red, white, grey colors.
Category
1960s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
1950s Giuseppe Barile Albisola Italian Midcentury Modern Pottery Vase
Located in Clivio, Varese
Gorgeous and rare polychrome pottery vase.
Made in the pottery manufactury from Giuseppe Barile in Albisola, Italy.
The manufactury was founded in 1950, and closed in 1977.
This v...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Midcentury Colored Stoneware Ceramic Pitcher or Vase by Schlichenmaier handmade
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Hildegund Shlichenmaier
Original and decorative stoneware ceramic pitcher
Signed at the base by French artist in the 70's
Original perfect condition
Colored ceramic glazes
Mea...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
20th Century Folk Art Hand Carved Blue Jeans Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
20th century Folk Art hand carved and hand painted blue jeans sculpture.
Category
1950s North American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Metal Magazine Chartreuse Rack, Powder-Coated
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Magazine rack looking bold and fun in freshly powder coated chartreuse. Just look at this fun piece in all it's glory! Functional and bright, this magazine rack will be a wonderful a...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Dutch Hand Made Mid-Century Brutalist Vase in the Style of Jaap Ravelli
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual and striking mid-century Dutch Brutalist orange glazed art pottery vase possibly by Jaap Ravelli (1916-2011) and dating from around 1960. The vase is heavily made in terra...
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Terracotta
Large Modern Abstract Oil Painting by Marguerite 'Kittie' Bruneau, 1959
Located in Buffalo, NY
Bruneau was born in Montreal in 1929. She studied at École des beaux-arts de Montréal from 1946 to 1949.She studied for a year at the Montreal School of Arts under the supervision of...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Burlap, Paint
Laura Andreson Signed Large Glazed Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Pottery Vase, 1940
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic, wonderfully drip glazed large vase by renowned American potter Laura Andreson. Gorgeous in design and color.
Signed, dedicated and dated (1940) on the base by Andreso...
Category
1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Earthenware
Mid-Century 1950s Pepe Mendoza Decorative Pull Handle
By Pepe Mendoza
Located in San Antonio, TX
Gorgeous vintage Pepe Mendoza decorative brass pull handle with turquoise ceramic inlay.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Unusual Corner Armchair Audoux Minet, circa 1960
Located in The Hills, TX
Unusual corner armchair with woven rope Audoux Minet, circa 1960.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Rope, Wood
Danish Mid Century Bird Candle Holder
Located in Austin, TX
This is a great danish bird shaped adjustable candle holder that holds 5 thin taper candles. The “feathers” that hold the candles are moveable, creating a very dynamic beautiful piec...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Teak
Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tortoise Bamboo and Wicker 6 Bottle Wine Rack
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A handmade Mid-Century Modern wine rack created from bentwood bamboo and wicker. Two layers of bamboo are carefully woven together creating a space for 6 bottle so wine (or other bev...
Category
Mid-20th Century Southeast Asian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
1961 Tin Advertising Sign MARTINI BLANC , Apéritif Beverage
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage " MARTINI BLANC " or WHITE MARTINI Metal Advertising Sign.
This Tin Sign has a gold colored metal frame, is mounted on Cardboard and dates from 1961.
This Sign for the fa...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Tin
Stone Cluster of Grapes in Jade Green, Brown and Light Green Midcentury
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Cluster of carved stone grapes in a multitude of greens. A fabulous piece for accenting any table. This beauty features rounded oval carved grapes in green stone in a jade like hue. ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stone, Wire
Mid Century Wooden Lacquer Pull Toy Caterpillar Banana Slug and Colorful Balls
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful unique caterpillar toy solid lacquer painted wood in colorful colors, circa 1950;s Made in Greece by Kouvalias.
Category
20th Century Greek Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Mid-Century Modern Patinated Brass Pocket Watch Style Wall Mirror France 1960s
Located in Miami, FL
Jacque Adnet style French Mid-Century Modern wall convex mirror in patinated brass pocket watch shape.
Made in France in the late 1960s.
Can be polished & lacquered when desired a ...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Brass
African Painting Woman and Child Kongo
Located in Antwerp, BE
African painting of a woman and her child.
It depicts a woman in a colorful dress carrying her child in a sash.
The artist signed the piece on the bottom of the painting.
Height:84 c...
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Canvas
Mid-Century Remote Control Model Airplane
Located in New York, NY
American (1950s) hand made model airplane with working engine and remote control.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paper
French Rope Bottle Opener Audoux Minet, circa 1960
Located in The Hills, TX
French rope bottle opener Audoux Minet with a large knot, circa 1960.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Original Vintage on Canvas Painting by Bali Artist W. Suardana, 1960s
Located in Appeltern, Gelderland
This is an original vintage on canvas painting by Bali artist W. Suardana. Signed right below as shown. Dates: 1960's to 1970's. Looks good, in beautiful colors! Condition: Couple sc...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indonesian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Bob Stocksdale Signed Monumental Mid-Century Modern Turned Exotic Wood Charger
Located in Studio City, CA
An exquisitely crafted, rare wood charger/platter by American California master Woodturner Bob Stocksdale.
Signed and marked ("Harewood from England") by the artist on the verso....
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Harewood
Skoby Joe Bronze Handmade Ceramic Vase Wabi Sabi/ Mid-Century Modern Sculpture
By Skoby Joe
Located in La Jolla, CA
Joseph Skoby is a Southern Californian whose work is inspired by the nature of his native state. His ceramics, created in his own lush garden, recall his intimate dance with the ocea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Skoby Joe Natural Cream Ceramic Vessel Wabi Sabi Mid-Century Modern Sculpture
By Skoby Joe
Located in La Jolla, CA
Joseph Skoby is a Southern Californian whose work is inspired by the nature of his native state. His ceramics, created in his own lush garden, recall his intimate dance with the ocea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Ceramic Vase from the 1950s by the French Ceramist Edouard Cazaux F296
Located in Lyon, FR
Ceramic vase from the 1950s by the French ceramist Edouard Cazaux. Very nice drawings of the artist of women and goats all around the vase that create an impression of movement, enam...
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Rare Twisted Rope Sconce Audoux Minet, circa 1960
Located in The Hills, TX
Rare twisted rope sconce Audoux Minet, circa 1960.
With a green glass sphere.
Nautical style.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Rope
Albert Chubac, Painting, France, circa 1960
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Albert Chubac,
Painting, mixed-media on paper,
Stamped,
circa 1960, France.
Measures: Height 55 cm, width 83 cm, depth 3 cm.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Vintage Mid Century Barkcloth with Abstract Woodland Design
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This beautiful fabric is a 100% cotton barkcloth. Barkcloth is a textured printed woven fabric. The origin of the fabric company is unknown but it features a lovely mid-century abstr...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Midcentury Lucite Bathroom Set, Towel Bar, Toilet Paper Holder
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool Mid-Century Modern Lucite bathroom set including three towel bars and a toilet paper holder, circa 1970s. The set is in very good vintage condition and measures: Paper to...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Lucite
Elephant Rocking Chair for German Shoes Brand Elefanten Schuhe, Wood, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Nostalgic elephant rocking chair for the german shoes brand Elefanten Schuhe.
This Advertising Display - Advertising Object was used to place the kids on while fitting shoes.
It'...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Chrome
Round Rope Mirror Audoux Minet, circa 1960
Located in The Hills, TX
Round nautical rope mirror Audoux Minet, circa 1960.
Size: 12.5 inches diameter.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Rope, Mirror
Rectangular Rope Mirror Audoux Minet, circa 1960
Located in The Hills, TX
Rectangular nautical rope mirror Audoux Minet, circa 1960.
Measure: Height / 26.5 inches on 10.8 inches.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Rope, Mirror
