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
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
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.
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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Mid Century Ceramic Vase in Green Black and Cream Signed, Spain
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A tall vintage ceramic one-of-a-kind vase by Spanish artist Domingo Punter Teruel. This lovely piece is decorated and glazed in geometric designs green,...
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Paint
$640 Sale Price
20% Off
Old, Set of 5 Japanese Tea Cups, Signed
Located in Norton, MA
Old - set of 5 Japanese Teacups with hand-painted paintings, signed at the bottoms.
Original box included
In good original new condition and just foun...
Category
20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Pottery, Stoneware
$325 / set
Pair of Japanese Mid-Century Studio Pottery Tea Cups
Located in Norton, MA
In good original new condition and just found in the warehouse, never used before.
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Mid-Century Modern Skeletal Wire Rod Abstract Sculpture
Located in Garnerville, NY
An amazing spider's web of a rollercoaster of design and line. This sculpture is just as delicate and light filled like a spider's web. A work that reaches, careens, and zigzags Constantly changing maze of line and perspective. Comprised of welded metal rods and airbrushed in different colors. Circa 1960. Good overall condition with all welds intact. Some minor rust and pitting, but that just adds to the piece's outsider art charm. Clipped corners on the piece's base. Reminiscent of a small skeletal sculpture by the artist, Lee Bontecou...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Steel
$2,300 Sale Price
20% Off
Big Spanish 'Hachero' Traditional Ancient Stained Wood Candleholder, circa 1930
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish 'Hachero' traditional ancient stained wood candleholder. By unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1930. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and u...
Category
1930s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Fabric Collage Floor Screen by Rose Lautman
Located in Hanover, MA
Rose Lautman, worked exclusively in fabric collage with a meticulous hand and a fine needle.
Rose's artwork was exhibited in galleries primarily in Sara...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Fabric
Large Oil on Canvas Painting, Unknown Artist, 1956, Danish Midcentury
Located in Odense, DK
Presenting an enigmatic oil on canvas painting created by an unknown Danish artist made in 1956. This captivating artwork showcases a woman bathing her feet in a bathroom, and it is ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Contemporary Signed Modern Abstract Constructivist Styled Wooden Oak Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This contemporary abstract wooden sculpture was done by Czeslaw Budny a Polish-Canadian artist in the constructivist style circa 2019. This sculpture was made entirely of up-cycled, ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Oak
Large Delft Blue Tile Panel "the smiling boy" Frans Hals
By Delft
Located in Den Haag, NL
Love this painting. The original "The smiling boy" by Frans Hals, 17th century. This Delfs blue tile panel image is hand painted by Nico Koelewijn in the 19...
Category
1950s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Albert Chubac, Composition, Acrylic on Paper, circa 1960, France
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Albert Chubac (1925-20008),Composition,
Acrylic on paper representing an abstract character,
Workshop stamp lower right,
Framed,
circa 1960, France.
Measures : Width 50 cm, Height 65 cm.
Albert Chubac was born in Geneva in 1920. After studying decorative art, then at the Beaux-Arts in Geneva, he obtained grants to travel to Italy, Algeria, Spain, Egypt and Greece, stages which will mark his work.
He settled in 1964 on the Côte d ‘Azur in Aspremont in a very Spartan house, attracted by the light, the sun and the colors of nature.
The year 1967 is the year of the establishment of the School of Nice. He will work and exhibit alongside Aman, César, Tinguely, Gilli, Ben, Rayse, etc ...
In 1990, it was the consecration with the opening of MAMAC in Nice. Albert Chubac then becomes accessible to the general public.
He will use solid primary colors, will develop modifiable structures and then develop the collages in three dimensions.
Gradually, he broke away from his classical training and figuration to move towards abstraction through the encounters and influences of contemporary artists.
Always in search of simplicity, He will radically limit the plastic means with a reduced palette, geometric shapes and simple gestures to concentrate on minimum conditions of possibility.
His work, which lies between constructivism and geometric abstraction, is playful and imbued with the artist's joie de vivre.
In 2004, following the major retrospective at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nice, he donated around one hundred works to the City of Nice.
Albert Chubac died in 2008 in Tourrette-Levens, near Aspremont.
Bibliography:
- Albert Chubac, MAMAC Nice, Cultures Nice Editions, 2004.
- Albert Chubac: exhibition, Nice, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, January 29 - May 16, 2004.
- Albert Chubac, Galerie Harter, 2013.
- Albert Chubac, a lifetime of artist, Patrick Boussu and Cynthia Lemesle, South Art éditions, 2021.
During the workshop auctions in Nice and Marseille, the Harter Gallery acquired the largest part of his work.
Personal exhibitions:
- 1950: Personal exhibition in Athens at the Zappéion museum.
- 1954: Exhibition at the Arman Gallery in Geneva.
- 1956: Exhibition at the Galerie Connaître in Geneva.
- 1957: Exhibition at the Galerie La Palette in Zurich.
- 1958: Exhibition at the Galerie L’Entracte in Lausanne.
- 1960: Exhibition at the World House Gallery in New York.
- 1967: Exhibition at the Galerie Loo in Geneva, at the Salon Comparaison in Paris, Aspects in Chexbres in Switzerland.
- 1968: “Paintings” exhibitions from March 30 to May 11 at the Galerie Alexandre de la Salle.
- 1970: Exhibition at the Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture de Magnan in Nice, at the Maison de la Culture Le Corbusier in Firminy entitled "Chubac recent works" and at the Galerie Royal Luxembourg in Nice.
- 1971: Exhibition at the Galerie Germain in Paris and at the Fernand Léger School in Malakoff.
- 1972: Exhibition on the village square of Aspremont, at the Galerie Royal Luxembourg in Nice.
- 1973: Exhibition at the Galerie Ferrero in Nice.
- 1974: Exhibition at Art-club in Antibes.
- 1975: Exhibition at the Galerie Jacques Boudin rue de Dijon in Nice.
- 1978: Exhibition at the Galerie Anne Roger in Nice.
- 1980: Exhibition at the Galerie de la Salle in Saint-Paul de Vence from August 8 to September 9.
- 1981: Exhibition at Lieu 5 in Nice from February 13 to March 20.
- 1983: Exhibition at the Galerie d'Art Contemporain in Nice, at Anne Roger.
- 1984: Exhibition "Lille Nice" at the Galerie GodArt in Lille from April 14 to May 17 and at the Galerie Luisella d´Alessandro in Turin.
- 1985: Exhibition in Thonon les Bains at the Galerie Galise.
- 1988: Exhibitions at Galerie Argéco in Nice and Galerie Triade in Barbizon
- 1989: Exhibitions at the Galerie de la Salle, at Lola Gassin's in Nice, in galleries in Nice
- 1990: he made four mobiles for the MAMAC in Nice, Exhibitions at the Galerie François Moulin in Lyon and Golden Gallery, ArtJunction in Nice.
- 1991: Exhibition at the Galerie de la Salle in Saint-Paul.
- 1992: Exhibitions at the Espace du consulat suisse in Nice, Besançon and opening of the Espace Chubac in Tourrette-Levens.
- 1993: Exhibition at the Maison Comoni in Revest-les-Eaux, at the Galerie François Moulin in Lyon.
- 1994: Exhibition at the Espace Caravadossi in Aspremont.
- 1996: Exhibition at the Espace Dellile in Nice.
- 1997: Exhibition at the Galerie de la Salle in Saint-Paul.
- 1998: Last personal exhibition at the Galerie de la Salle in Saint-Paul.
- 2000: Exhibition at Lympia college in Nice.
- 2001: Exhibition at the Espace Chubac in Tourette-Levens.
- 2002: Exhibition at the Galerie Scholtès in Nice and in Carcès in the Var entitled "Albert Chubac-Couleurs mobiles".
- 2004: Great Albert Chubac retrospective at MAMAC in Nice.
- 2011: Permanent exhibition at the Galerie Harter in Nice.
- 2012: Exhibition at the Olympia Show in London at the Christopher Jones Gallery and at the Serge Castella Interiors Gallery in Bascara, Spain.
- 2013: Exhibition at the Municipal Contemporary Art Gallery of Pochettes in Nice.
- 2019/2021: Exhibition of works belonging to the permanent collection of MAMAC in Nice and exhibition "Geometry according to Albert Chubac" at the Galerie Harter in Nice.
- 2021/2021: Permanent exhibition at Galerie Atelier 55...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Carved And Painted Wood Sunburst Bust
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A striking Mid Century Sunburst with a central benign Goddess type face with staggered red and gray painted curved rays. They frame the high relief face with wavy brown hair and pain...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage Leather Mask
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Leather Mask
Italian, circa 1960, signed
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Leather
Traditional Spanish Wood Cutlery Holder, circa 1930
Located in Barcelona, ES
Traditional Spanish wood cutlery holder, circa 1930 Made by unknown manufacturer in Barcelona, Spain, circa 1960. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and...
Category
1930s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Carl-Harry Stålhane Signed Rörstrand Studio Swedish Scandinavian Midcentury Bowl
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautifully designed, richly, and deeply blue-colored/ glazed ceramic bowl by famed Swedish designer Carl-Harry Stålhane for Rörstrand, Sweeden. The craftsmanship and color are stu...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Harrison Mcintosh Signed Mid-Century Modern Set of 6 Pottery Sake Liqueur Cups
Located in Studio City, CA
An exquisitely formed and deeply blue glazed set of six ceramic sake/ liqueur cups by renowned American West Coast Californian master ceramist Harrison McIntosh who was famed for his Mid-Century Modern designed ceramics.
Mcintosh's works have been exhibited in such acclaimed venues as the Smithsonian in the United States the Louvre in France. Over his more than 60-year career, McIntosh had some 43 solo exhibitions from Los Angeles, New York, Belgium, Cannes, France to Japan. His work can be found in numerous collections and museums throughout the world including:
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France
The National Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
Mingei International Museum, San Diego, California
The Huntington Library, San Marino, California
American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California
Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred University, Alfred, New York
American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California
Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, Arizona
Belgian...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Beatrice Wood Signed Iridescent Luster Glaze California Studio Pottery Face Vase
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful gem of a piece by famed American/California ceramicist Beatrice Wood featuring her highly coveted iridescent luster glaze and highly desi...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Earthenware
20th Century Design Ceramic Pitcher by Pierre Digan La Borne, 1970
By Pierre Digan
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Pierre Digan
20th century ceramic pitcher by the french artist
Signed under the base
Elegant ceramic glazes colors effects
Original perfect condition
Circa 1970 in La...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Eugene Deutch Signed Mid-Century Modern Studio Pottery Ceramic Vase, 1950
Located in Studio City, CA
Wonderful work my well-known Hungarian-born, Midwest potter Eugene Deutch.
This magnificently glazed vase/ vessel features a dark, rich glaze that drips freely down the inside of the work.
Signed and dated (1950) on the underside.
Would make for a great addition to any midcentury pottery collection or eye-catching Stand-alone work in about any setting.
Deutch's work is held in many private collections and museums and he was exhibited in solo shows at the Dallas Museum of Art...
Category
1950s North American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Paul Ami Bonifas Signed Large Early Mid-Century Swiss Studio Pottery Art Bowl
By Paul Bonifas
Located in Studio City, CA
A truly gorgeous and wonderfully crafted large art bowl by Swiss American sculptor/artist/ceramicist Paul Ami Bonifas (1893-1967). The glaze on this par...
Category
1930s Swiss Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Modern Abstract Constructivist Wood Sculpture Signed Czeslaw Budny
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This contemporary abstract wooden sculpture is by Czeslaw Budny in constructivist style circa 2024. This unique sculpture is made of recycled wood. Budny utilizes the simplicity of s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Reclaimed Wood
Modernist Marble and Stone Sculpture by David F.Soule
By David F. Soule, Henry Moore
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist marble and stone sculpture by David F. Soule, hand-carved, wonderfully executed, trapizoid shape stone base, mounted carved and polished marble sphere, stunning.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stone, Marble
A large painting by Moacir Andrade, Brazil, 1960s "A Lenda Do Pacu"
By Moacir Andrade
Located in London, GB
A large stunning painting from the legendary Amazonian artist Moacir Andrade "A Lenda Do Pacu" (The legend of the Pacu)
Acrylic on canvas depicting a central Pacu which is a lar...
Category
1960s Brazilian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic, Wood
$16,557 Sale Price
33% Off
Gloria Caranica for Creative Playthings Cradle
Located in Hanover, MA
Molded plywood doll cradle by Gloria Caranica for Creative Playthings, circa 1956.
Creative playthings of Princeton, NJ was founded in 1949 by Frank & The...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Plywood
Accolay Vase, circa 1960 the Color is Pink / Brown
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Accolay vase, circa 1960
the color is pink / brown.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
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
$750 Sale Price
25% Off
Vintage Aztec Inspired Sterling Silver Brooch/Pendant, Mexico, 1960s
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage Aztec god of death Miclantecuhtli inspired pendant/brooch in sterling silver.
Marked: FV México, Sterling 925.
Category
1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Silver
$520 Sale Price
20% Off
Black and Brass Modernist Fire Tools by Pilgrim 1960's
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Black and Brass Modernist Fire Tools by Pilgrim 1960's.
Stunning set of 1960's modernist brass and iron fireplace tools by Pilgrim.
Modernist Wrought Iron and Brass Fireplace Tools by Pilgrim Manufacturing.
Modernist, five-piece, fire tools set by Pilgrim attributed to designer George Nelson features a black wrought iron frame and fire tools with polished brass handles and matte brass base.
Architectural iron fire tool set by Pilgrim in black and brass.
Features 4 tools in a minimalist open frame tools include a poker, shovel, brush, and log grabber with matching stand.
Black frame with solid brass handles and decorative trim.
Signed Pilgrim Fireplace...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Brass, Iron
$2,720 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Large Modern Abstract Oil on Canvas "Sound Wave" by Carlo of Hollywood
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large modern abstract oil on canvas 'Sound Wave' by Carlo of Hollywood.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Rupert Deese Signed Mid-Century Modern California Studio Pottery Floral Bowl
Located in Studio City, CA
A gorgeous floral or leaf pattern decorated bowl by California master ceramist Rupert Deese who worked closely with pottery legend Harrison Mcintosh.
Signed with Deese's cipher/ stamp and sticker on the base.
Would be a great addition to any Mid-Century Modern ceramics and pottery collection or a very eye-catching stand-alone accent piece in about any setting.
Deese's work can be found in numerous collections and museums including:
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston
Everson Museum, Syracuse, New York
Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle
Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, California
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles
Maloof Foundation, Alta Loma, California
Millard Sheets Collection, Gualala, California
Mingei International Museum, San Diego
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Logan, Utah
Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Richard & Alice Petterson Museum, Claremont, California
Roger Corsaw...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Large Stoneware Ceramic Brutalist Decorative Plate by Hervé Rousseau
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Hervé Rousseau
Amazing and large stoneware ceramic Brutalist decorative plate by the French artist
Grey and brown stoneware firing ceramic effects...
Category
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Guido Gambone Bud Vase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rustic bud vase by master ceramicist Guido Gambone. Hand-thrown in an alluring organic shape with an elongated neck. The vase depicts a pastoral scene of a shepherd with his herd pai...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
$3,000
Robert Vick, Modernist Abstract Collage, Tuscan Landscape, 1970s
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A large modernist abstract by Hampton Roads artist Robert Vick, circa 1970s. Titled “Tuscan (ineligible)”., featuring a collage and acrylic paint on canvas. A modern landscape with cool blues and grays accented by warm golds, terracotta and peach colors. The collage providing a raised affect, with great depth.
Signed.
Condition: Some flaking and loss of collage. White paint splatter in some areas. Signed.
Dimensions: 69 3/4” W x 56.5” tall x 1.5”D
Shipping: This item will ship by personal courier. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery depending on your distance from the east coast and our shipper’s routes.
Robert V. Vick ( 1935 - 2010) was a native of Portsmouth , Virginia and received a B.F.A. from Old Dominion University. He studied art under the prominent Virginia artist Charles Sibley...
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Acrylic
"Cabin by the Lake at Dusk" Midcentury Modern Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Pasadena, CA
“The important thing is not to find, but to seek ». These words by André Gide are deeply echoed in this midcentury oil painting, which offers no answers, but invites us on a quest: t...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Vintage Hand Carved Elephant Stool with Ornate Decoration All over Must See Pics
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning hand carved Elephant stool with ornate detailing all over
A very good-looking and decorative ...
Category
20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage Life-Sized Folk Art Harley Davidson Motorcycle Sculpture
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Hand-carved from wood in the 1960s, this life-sized Folk Art Harley-Davidson is a one-of-a-kind sculpture. Not just for the hog aficionado, this piece is an incredible example of ear...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$4,111 Sale Price
36% Off
Goat Ceramic by Dominique Pouchain
Located in bruxelles, BE
Ceramics in the shape of a goat stamped Dominique Pouchain.
Category
1990s French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage Belgian Tile Faced Entry Door Pull Handle by Artist Juliette Belarti
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Architectural door pull by Belgian ceramic tile artist Juliette Belarti.
Vintage midcentury Belgian tile faced entry door pull handle.
Great bri...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Los Castillo Mexican Multi Metal Leaf Pitcher
By Los Castillo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Multiple metal philodendron leaf handle pitcher by Mexican Designer Los Castillo - the pitcher is made of four metals that appear to be, Copper, Silver, Brass and Nickel. The Pitcher...
Category
20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Silver, Brass, Copper
Russian Midcentury Toy Truck from Wood
Located in Vienna, Austria
This wonderful wooden dump truck was made in USSR in the 1950s.
Lovely proportions, it´s not only a vintage toy, it´s work of art.
Condition in distress...
Category
1950s Russian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Mixed Materials Wall Decoration Sculpture by Johannes Wilhelmus Van Dartelen
By Johannes Wilhelmus van Dartelen
Located in Buffalo, NY
Johannes Wilhelmus Van Dartelen copper art fossilized stone signed Brazil made and presented for the crew of the Pan American.
This is a one of a kind piece of art by Johannes...
Category
1970s Brazilian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stone, Copper
Painting “Motion” by Earl Daniels 'Midcentury 1960s' American Painter
By Earl Daniels
Located in San Diego, CA
Earl Daniels (1920-1999), California painter of landscapes, seascapes, coastal scenes, still- lives and abstracts, was born in New York City where he worked both as a commercial arti...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint
$704 Sale Price
20% Off
Belgian Vintage Tile Faced Entry Door Pull Handle by Artist Juliette Belarti
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Architectural door pull by Belgian ceramic tile artist Juliette Belarti.
Vintage midcentury Belgian tile faced entry door pull handle.
Great bri...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Carved Wood Nautilus Shells
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid-century nautilus sculptures or objects of art carved from mahogany in a stylized form with a dark lush finish.
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
$3,600 / set
Primitive Modernist Wood Sculpture of Female Nude
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Primitive Modernist Wood Sculpture
Female Nude
Unsigned - Artist Unknown
Vertical Grain Douglas-Fir
Geometric Carving near "Hip"
"Nice Color and Grain"
"Some minor scratches and dents"
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Softwood
Serene Sonata Sea Mist Green & Dark Ivory 240x300 cm Handknotted Rug
By JAIPUR RUGS
Located in Milano, IT
Ever dreamt of bringing the serene hues of rural India into your modern sanctuary? Dive into the captivating allure of the Tattvam rug from the Gauri Khan collection. Hand-knotted wi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Early 20th Century Kodak Advertising Enamel Sign, English, For Train Rides
Located in Crespières, FR
This antique Kodak advertising sign is made of thick enamel in black, yellow and red colours.
The colours are bright and shiny, with an good relief.
The condition is fairly good co...
Category
1950s British Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Vintage Mexican 1950’s Pepsi Cola Bottle Cap Embossed Metal Sign
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare 1950’s. Mexican Pepsi Cola Soda Pop Bottle Cap Gas Embossed Metal Sign
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Sheet Metal
$1,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Rare 1975 Robert Swain Geometric Color "Study for 7' x 7' Painting" Signed
By Robert Swain
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A key figure in American color theory, Robert Swain (b. 1940, Austin, TX) is known for his vibrant, grid-based compositions. After studying fine art at The American University and sp...
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Large Hand-Thrown Stoneware Drip Glaze Vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Textured studio pottery vase with variegated olive-green and tan glaze. The vessel has a tapered body with a tulip mouth. The base of the vase is a speckled tan while the olive green...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Pottery, Stoneware
Tall Mid-Century Octagonal Geometric Ceramic Vase in Blue and Brown, Signed
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Glazed in an ombre blue, cream, and brown, this tall geometric vase will bring a touch of mid-century to any space. The piece is octagonal and decorated with applied geometric circle...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Paint
$280 Sale Price
20% Off
1950 watch repair light box sign
Located in Surrey, BC
A vintage all original advertising light box sign depicting watch repairs in faded original glass.. a nice addition to sign collector or watch dealers ....
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
XXth century wood stool center of France circa 1950 traditional design
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Center of France
Traditional all wood french stool
Original perfect condition
Height 48 cm
Large total 55 cm
Seat height 48 cm
Seat large 20 cm
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Edward Wormley Dunbar End Side Table with Gertrud and Otto Natzler Ceramic Tiles
Located in Studio City, CA
This very rare and absolutely stunning Edward Wormley designed end/ occasional table for Dunbar Furniture for their "Janus" collection, circa 1956-1957 comes with inlaid, glazed tile...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Wood
Albert Chubac, Painting, France, circa 1960
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Albert Chubac, Composition,
Mixed-media on paper,
Stamped,
circa 1960, France.
Measures: Height 67 cm, width 50 cm, depth 3 cm.
Albert Chubac was born in Geneva in 1920. After stu...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Glen Lukens Signed Early Midcentury Glazed California Pottery Weed Pot Vase
By Glen Lukens
Located in Studio City, CA
A very rare early work featuring a dark chocolate brown glaze by master Mid-Century Modern ceramist/potter Glen Lukens whose work has become quite collectible and relatively scarce and difficult to find.
The work is signed and dated (1924) by Lukens on the underside (we have only seen one other piece dated this early and that piece is in the Forrest Merrill Collection).
Lukens was the founder of the University of Southern California (USC) Architectural School’s Ceramics Department where he helped establish and promote clay pottery as a universally acceptable art form. The current popularity of Studio Pottery and ceramics is widely accepted to have started with Lukens who is oft credited with being one of the first artists to raise the stature of Mid-Century Modern Studio Pottery within the art world.
Lukens is famed for his experiments with various glazes and glazing techniques. His influence and glazes can be clearly seen in the works of Otto and Gertrud Natzler, Beatrice Wood, James Lovera, etc. He was also known for combining bright, colorful textile glazes (using natural, organic materials and elements he found in the Mojave Desert, Palm Springs, and Death Valley to make what he referred to as "California Colors") with the rough and raw clay surfaces of his often rudimentary forms and vessels.
Lukens currently has an award in his name (Glen Lukens Award) at the University of Southern California's School of fine Arts.
A very rare, unique, and truly special work This piece would be a tremendous stand-out addition to any collectors of Lukens' work or Mid-Century Modern ceramics collection or eye-catching accent piece in about any setting, modern or otherwise. A must-have.
Lukens work can be found in various museum collections including:
Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, Arizona
Huntington Library...
Category
1920s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Earthenware, Pottery
1950s American Studio Craft Iron Triangle Dinner Bell
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Hand-forged dinner triangle, delicate swan head, in the manner of Early Russel Wright designed Iron Works, very reminiscent of the deer andirons.
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Iron
$1,295 Sale Price
28% Off
Janet Leach Signed British Studio Pottery Japanese Chawan Tea Bowl with Box 1971
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderfully designed and glazed Japanese Mingei style Chawan tea ceremony bowl with ears by esteemed American born/ British potter Janet Leach, wife of f...
Category
1970s British Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Pottery, Stoneware
Antique Carved Oak Tripod Tri legged Plant Stand
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Antique Carved Oak Tripod Tri legged Plant Stand
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Oak
Signed Modern Abstract Constructivist Styled Wooden Oak Sculpture Czeslaw Budny
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This contemporary abstract wooden sculpture was done by Czeslaw Budny a Polish-Canadian artist in the constructivist style circa 2019. This sculpture was made entirely of up-cycled, ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Oak
Hand-Painted Plate Terra Cotta Danish Pottery Decorative Dish 1950s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Romanian Ceramika hand-painted terra cotta pottery decorative plate.
European plate highly detailed marbleized pattern in shades of green, rust, yellow, ivory and dark brown.
Vintage Handmade ceramica de Horezu pottery...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Mid-century Modern folk art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern folk art 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 folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern folk art made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original folk art, popular names associated with this style include Albert Chubac, Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet, La Borne Potters, and Beatrice Wood. 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 folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $41 and tops out at $64,764 while the average work can sell for $1,325.
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