Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

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 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.

Style: Mid-Century Modern

Creator: Hans-Agne Jakobsson

Hans Agne-Jakobsson Pendants, Set of Two, 1970s

By Markyard, Hans-Agne Jakobsson

Located in Renens, CH

Vintage pair of ceiling lamps produced by AB Markaryd, Sweden, design Hans-Agne Jakobsson. These pinewood lamps are in vintage condition with some small signs of wear, but in good...

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1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Pine

Hans Agne-Jakobsson Pendants, Set of Two, 1970s

Cascade Pendant Lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobsson for AB Ellysett Markaryd, 1960s, Swe

By AB Markaryd, Hans-Agne Jakobsson

Located in Hagenbach, DE

Cascade Pendant Lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobsson for AB Ellysett Markaryd, 1960s, Sweden Lampshade is in very good vintage condition. This lamp works with 4xE14 light bulbs. Wired...

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1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Plywood

Cascade Pendant Lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobsson for AB Ellysett Markaryd, 1960s, Swe

One of four Orange Glass Pendant Light 'Oplight' by Hans Agne Jakobsson 1960

By AB Markaryd, Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Staff Leuchten

Located in TERHEIJDEN, NB

Beautiful Swedish design by Hans Agne Jakobsson made by AB Markaryd and sold by Staff Leuchten. Model is called Oplight and is produced around 1960. Has a nice bright orange color an...

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Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Glass

One of four Orange Glass Pendant Light 'Oplight' by Hans Agne Jakobsson 1960

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Hans Agne Jakobsson Sputnik Orbit Brass and Glass Ball Flush Mount Sweden 1960s

Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans Agne-Jakobsson Pendants, Set of Two, 1970s

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Cascade Pendant Lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobsson for AB Ellysett Markaryd, 1960s, Swe

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

One of four Orange Glass Pendant Light 'Oplight' by Hans Agne Jakobsson 1960

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans Agne Jakobsson Sputnik Orbit Brass and Glass Ball Flush Mount Sweden 1960s

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Midcentury Hans-Agne Jakobsson Brass and Opaline Ceiling Lamp, Sweden, 1950s

1960s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans Agne Jakobsson Chrome 8 Arm Chandelier , 1960s , Sweden

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans Agne Jacobssen Hanging Lamp in Plywood 1960s Sweden

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Green Fringe Light with Glass Liner By Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Sweden '2 Available'

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Mid-Century Brass Pendant Light by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Sweden

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Pastoral' Chandelier in Glass and Brass

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans Agne Jakobsson Brass Pendant Lamp for Markaryd, Scandinavia, 1960s

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans Agne Jakobsson Sputnik Orbit Brass and Glass Ball Chandelier Sweden 1960s

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Midcentury Hans-Agne Jakobsson Pair of Brass "Egg" Pendents Sweden 1960s

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans Agne Jacobssen Hanging Lamp in Plywood 1960s Sweden

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Midcentury Hans-Agne Jakobsson Pendant Hanging Lamp, Sweden, 1960s

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Chandelier Light, Brass, Purple Glass, Sweden, c. 1970s

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans-Agne Jakobsson T526 Pendant for AB Markaryd, 1960s

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Sputnik Ceiling Lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, 1960s

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Midcentury Hans-Agne Jakobsson T325/450 Copper Ceiling Lamp, Sweden, 1960s

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Set of Three Brass and Glass Light Fixtures in the Style of Jakobsson, 1960s

20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Pair of Scandinavian Pendants in Pine by Hans-Agne Jakobsson

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

One Hans Agne Jakobsson Chandelier

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Mid-Century Modern Designed by Hans-Agne Jakobsson Chandelier for Markaryd, 1960

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans-Agne Jakobsson Five Globe Pastoral Chandelier

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans-Agne Jakobsson Chandelier

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Sophisticated Midcentury Modernist Twelve-Arm Chandelier by Hans-Agne Jakobsson

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Ceiling Lamp Designed by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Lacquered Steel, Sweden, 1950s

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Midcentury Scandinavian Swedish Chrome Pendant by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, 1960s

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Geometric Swedish 1970s Chandelier in Brass and Glass by Hans-Agne Jakobsson

20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Mid-Century Modern Swedish Chrome-Plated Light Fixture Chandelier

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Industrial Mid-Century Modernist Copper Pendant by Hans Agne Jakobsson

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Set of Midcentury Sputnik Chandelier & Wall Lamps by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, 1960s

20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Midcentury Swedish Pendant by Hans-Agne Jakobsson

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Sputnik 'Tulipan' Chandelier by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Sweden, 1950s

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Fringe Pendant by Hans Agne Jakobsson, Markaryd

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Brass Pendant Lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobsson

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Exceptional Beehive Pendant Lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Sweden, 1960s

20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Pendants T292 in Copper by Hans-Agne Jakobsson

20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Hans Agne Jakobsson Amber Glass Strand Chandelier

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants