Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

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

Emerged during the mid-20th century
Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
A heyday of innovation in postwar America
Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
Promotion of functionality

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

Charles and Ray Eames
Eero Saarinen
Milo Baughman
Florence Knoll
Harry Bertoia
Isamu Noguchi
George Nelson
Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa

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 celebrated 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.

Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. 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.

Style: Mid-Century Modern

David Gill Bennington Pottery Surreal Mirror on Stand Mid Century

By Bennington Potters

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Man in bowler hat with glasses on and moustache the glasses are mirrors applied made of ceramics with a burnt orange glaze signed on back in stamp "Bennington Potters Bennington Vermont...

Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

David Gill Bennington Pottery Surreal Mirror on Stand Mid Century

1950s Modern Impressionist Oil On Canvas "circus" by Arnold Benjamin Hodgkins

By Harold Hodgkin

Located in Buffalo, NY

1950s Modern Impressionist Oil On Canvas "circus" by Arnold Benjamin Hodgkins.. Retains original frame .Great use of color.. signed in lower left Arnold Hodgkins was born 1st Marc...

Category

1950s Canadian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Paint

1950s Modern Impressionist Oil On Canvas "circus" by Arnold Benjamin Hodgkins

Vintage Hand Painted Delfts Blawe Ceramic Tile With Old Dutch Children’s Games.

Located in Seattle, WA

Delft blue small ceramic Tile. Old Dutch children’ s plays.ceramic decor. Vintage Condition as pictured. Listing is for described item only. Dimensions. 2”W ; 2”D ; 0.12” D

Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Paper

1960s Dutch Papier Mache Curious Grandpa Carnival Parade Head

1960s Emil Milan 21" Modernist Crane Sculpture in Walnut Modern New Hope Era

Serene Sonata Sea Mist Green & Dark Ivory 240x300 cm Handknotted Rug

Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

David Gill Bennington Pottery Surreal Mirror on Stand Mid Century

1950s Canadian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

1950s Modern Impressionist Oil On Canvas "circus" by Arnold Benjamin Hodgkins

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Vintage Hand Painted Delfts Blawe Ceramic Tile With Old Dutch Children’s Games.

Late 20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Folk Art Wood / Tin "Campbell"s Soup Can" Wall Sculpture

1960s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

1960s Dutch Papier Mache Green Monster Carnival Parade Head

1960s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

1960s Dutch Papier Mache Curious Grandpa Carnival Parade Head

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

1960s Emil Milan 21" Modernist Crane Sculpture in Walnut Modern New Hope Era

1960s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

1960s Dutch Papier Mache Blue Monster Carnival Parade Head

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Antique Zsolnay Pecs Polar Bears Sculpture, ca. 1930s

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Primitive Modernist Wood Sculpture of Female Nude

1960s Unknown Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Vintage Japanese Daimaru Thong Sandal New from the Original Box, Mid-Century

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Serene Sonata Sea Mist Green & Dark Ivory 240x300 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Duskfall Tapestry Dark Ivory & Spice Brown 240x300 cm Handknotted Rug

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

California Design Studio Stoneware Weed Pot / Vase

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Arjumand Aruba Blue & Jasper 240x300 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Bahaar Wasabi & Gray Brown 150x240 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Crimson Vine Vintage Red & Vintage Red 240x300 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Serenity Blossom Oyster & Oyster 240x300 cm Handknotted Rug

1960s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Vintage Mid-Century Hand Painted Foosball Table w/ 8 Rows of Rods & 22 Players

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Dimensional Depths Colorado Clay & Granite Green 170x240 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Faraway Flourish Charcoal Gray & White 225X285 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Bahaar Peach dust & Amethyst 150x240 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Lunar Lining Smoke Gray & Smoke Gray 240x300 cm Hand Knotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Lirio Pebble & Mood Indigo 240x300 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Sakya Clove & Clove 180x270 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Autumnal Heirloom Russet & Medium Navy 210X315 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Echoes of Paradise Medieval Blue & Soft Beige 270X375 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Ethereal Lagoon White & White 240x300 cm Hand Knotted Rug

Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Antique Paper Mache Bobble Head Mikey Mouse ca. 1930s

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Arjumand Charcoal Slate & Shadow Gray 240x300 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Silvered Serenade Classic Gray & Caviar 240x300 cm Hand Knotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Maximalist Interplay Teal Play 195x295 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Samudra Ki Sair Pearl Blue & Powder Blue 180x270 cm Handknotted Rug

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Horn Sailing Boat Figurine

1990s American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Modernist Abstract Oil Painting on canvas by WNY Artist Kathrin Langley

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Muted Contours Clay & Soft Beige 240x300 cm Hand Knotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Persian Noir Silk Elegance Charcoal Gray 195X285 cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

UrbanVintage Indigo Blue & Blue Mirage 180x270cm Handknotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art

Pearly Shores Ivory & Beige 240x300 cm Hand Knotted Rug

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art