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Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

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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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Brass & Glass Lantern in Style of Pietro Chiesa, 1940s
Located in Amsterdam, NH
Beautiful classic lantern with 6-faceted glasses, nicely decorated with brass and green colored polychrome wiring. 1x bajonet fitting, circa 1940s.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Glass

Venetian Glass Snowflake Chandelier , 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A luxurious, , 1970s snowflake Sputnik light composed of a polished chrome sphere body and thick solid Murano glass obelisk shaped elements . The textured glass resembled ice. Twenty...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Chrome

Italian Sciolari Chandelier in Brass
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian Sciolari chandelier. Measures: Diameter 58 cm. Height fixture 38 cm. Total height 90 cm. Nine E14 bulbs.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Huge Beautiful Crystal Bakalowits Chandelier
Located in Antwerp, BE
A large and impressive chandelier or pendant light by Bakalowits und Soehne, Austria, manufactured in midcentury, circa 1970. The fixture is handmade and high quality pieces. A bras...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Italian Painted Wrought Iron Four Lights Chandelier
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian painted wrought iron four lights chandelier. Measures: Diameter 60 cm Height fixture 63 cm. The total height including the chain is 120 cm. Fou...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Wrought Iron, Metal

Murano Glass Pendant Light
Located in Antwerp, BE
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Chrome

Italian 1960's Striped Ceramic Pendant Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Italian turquoise and white stripe ceramic hanging pendant chandelier has textured glaze and walnut stem. Light illuminates through elongated openings in ceramic body. Lamp body mea...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Italian Modern Gothic Zinc and Stain Glass Pendants/Lanterns
Located in New York, NY
A rare pair of Italian hexagonal form lanterns/pendants in a modern Gothic spirit made from cast and hand-worked zinc with stained glass center panels. The chain and canopy are well...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Zinc

Hanging Light, Italy, 1965
Located in New York, NY
Beige painted metal and polished brass downlight, suspended from a cord (length to be determined during electrification). Three available. Measure: ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Metal, Brass

Iconic RAAK Amsterdam Extra Large Globe Chrome and Glass Table Lamp
By RAAK
Located in Voorburg, NL
Unique RAAK table lamp in excellent condition. Designed and made by RAAK Amsterdam, Holland. Very rare and beautiful lamp with a chrome base ad a glass globe all around it. Very larg...
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Chrome

1970s Chome and Glass Pendant Attributed to Veca
By VECA
Located in Amsterdam, NH
Stylish one lightbulb pendant light. Four arms attached to the chrome centre with at each end two hanging glass plates one larger than the other. In ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Chrome

Rostrato Lantern / Chandelier, Italy
Located in Stamford, CT
Rostrato refers to the glass technique of independently stacking each of the glass 'spikes' in rows and building to the ultimate unified shape. Produced in Italy.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Blown Glass

Italian MidCentury Seguso Venetian Pale Green Glass Lantern
Located in New York, NY
Italian 1950s Venetian Murano light green cased glass lantern with handkerchief form and gold dusted flower finial top with gilt metal canopy. (A...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Metal

1950s Glass and Brass Lantern Attributed to Fontana Arte
Located in Amsterdam, NH
Stylish lantern consist of a brass frame with cut crystal glass, hanging from a thick square glass plate. Great feature! Manufactured, circa 1950s.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Venetian Six-Light Glass Chandelier
Located in Antwerp, BE
Venetian Murano glass chandelier. Measure: Diameter 78 cm. Height fixture 70 cm. Total height with the chain 90 cm.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Charming Italian Midcentury Pink Peach Color Murano Fixture by Ercole Barovier
Located in Rome, IT
With a precious hand blown 'costolature' cup, rare pink peach color. Three E27 light bulbs.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Blown Glass

Pietro Chiesa Fontana Arte Chandelier Green Faceted Glass Chrome Metal Lamp 1940
Located in Nierstein am Rhein, DE
A rare Italian chain hanging green faceted and beveled glass panel chandelier, lantern or pendant with nice chromed metal details attributed to Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, Italy ...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Chrome

Italian Mid-century Murano Bicolored Petal Chandelier by Mazzega
Located in Rome, IT
With 20 precious dark blue and withe painted petals. Height without chain is 70 cm with 100cm, diameter cm 38. Frame with three E14 and one E27 light bulb.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Glass

Italian Midcentury Delicious Brass Lantern in the Style of Pietro Chiesa
Located in Rome, IT
Brass-mounted with elegant engraving on glass, original conditions. Measures: Height without chain 40 cm diameter 26 cm. Single light bulb E 27.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Chandelier with Porcelain Flowers
Located in Antwerp, BE
Brass chandelier with porcelain flowers. Diameter 47 cm. Height fixture 40 cm. Total height 6 cm. Six E14 bulbs.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Italian Mid-Century Reggiani Metal Lantern
Located in New York, NY
Italian 1950s lantern with metal circular slat design suspended from a fabric stem with a cylindrical metal canopy (attributed to REGGIANI).
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Metal

1970s Chrome and Glass Pendant Attributed to Veca
By VECA
Located in Amsterdam, NH
Playful two-light lantern with eight gray collored plates attached to a chrome centre. Each glass plate is attached to the centre with two chrome bars, one before the other. Manufact...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Chrome

Pair of Murano Glass and Brass Lanterns
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Pair of lanterns made of brass structures and side panels made of textured and opaque Murano glass.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Large French Mid-Century Wrought Iron Lantern / Pendant / Chandelier, 1940
Located in New York, NY
French Mid-Century hand-wrought iron lantern in a spare, modern traditional style.
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Vintage Glass and Brass Pietro Chiesa Style Lantern or Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A Mid-Century lantern or chandelier in the style of Pietro Chiesa featuring a brass columnar pole with four newly wired chandelier light sockets attached to two shaped pieces of beve...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Blue and Brown Staggered Acrylic Hard Wired Pendants, 1960
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Mid-Century Modern blue and brown acrylic swag pendant lights. Each acrylic plate is affixed to a metal structure and surrounds a yellow drum shade. Each pendant contains one light and hangs from a black chain. These hard wired pendants...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Acrylic, Lucite

Brass and Cristal Glass Chandelier
Located in Antwerp, BE
Brass and cristal glass chandelier with tem arms. Height fixture:83 cm. Total height with the chain:112 cm. Diameter:60 cm. Ten E14 bulbs.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Mid Century Murano Glass Pendant Lantern Light Fixture
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Venetian white and blue cased glass pendant shape light fixture. Italy, circa 1960's. Newly re-wired, comes with 27 inches of chain and canopy. We can shorten the chain length to b...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Glass

Important Pair of Murano Glass Lanterns
Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
Important pair of Murano Glass lanterns, gilt metal structure, entirely covered by glass, numerous inside lights
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Metal

Pendant Light in Plexiglass
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful pendant light in plexiglass. Measures: Diameter 40 cm. Height fixture 45 cm. Total height 120 cm. One E27 bulb.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Plexiglass

Bakalowits Crystal Pendant Lantern
Located in Antwerp, BE
Impressive crystal, brass, gilded chandelier by Bakalowits & Söhne. Brass construction with faceted diamond shaped crystals.
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Rock Crystal, Brass

Gilt Metal Crystal Glass Chandelier by Kinkeldey
Located in Antwerp, BE
A beautiful Kinkeldey chandelier with 46 clear handmade ice crystals in varying lengths. New wiring, three E-14 base bulbs and one E27 bulb up to 40 watts per bulb. Materials: Chrom...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Crystal, Metal, Chrome

Italian Chrome Sputnik Chandelier in the Style of Gaetano Sciolari
Located in Houston, TX
Italian chrome Sputnik chandelier in the style of Gaetano Sciolari. Italian Mid-Century Modern chrome Sputnik chandelier or pendant in the style of Gaetano Sciolari or Stilnovo, circa 1960. This unusual chandelier...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Chrome

Chrome Flower Chandelier
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rare Italian chrome flower chandelier from the 1960s presumably by Reggiani. The reflector lamps give an incredible effect on the shiny metal. The min...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Italian Giltwood Chandelier with Flowers
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian five-light giltwood chandelier with flowers. Measures: Diameter 51 cm. Height fixture 66 cm. Total height 80 cm. Five E14 bulbs.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Metal, Brass

Charming Italian Midcentury Murano Fixture by Ercole Baroviera
Located in Rome, IT
With a precious handblown 'costolature' cup, rare pink peach color. Three E27 light bulbs.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Blown Glass

Murano Glass Pendant Light
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian Murano glass pendant light. The round shade creates a warm and cozy light with a distinct light right underneath the shade. The lamp features one light source of max 80W. The...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Red and White Opalescent Glass Cone Lamp by Giusto Toso for Leucos, Italy 1970s
Located in Voorburg, NL
Very stylish red and white opalescent glass cone lamp designed by Giusto Toso for Leucos, Italy, 1970s. Born in Murano in 1939, Giusto Toso's lights are included in the collections o...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Aluminum

Beautiful Vintage Glass and Iron Pendant Ceiling Lamp, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful glass and brass pendant by Limburg, Germany, 1960s. Lamp sockets: One x E27 (US E26)
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Four Lanterns, Italy, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Handblown polyhedral glass, open at the base and with an etched, rivulet texture on the outer wall; suspended from a wire. OUR REFERENCE N8482 A-D
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Art Glass

1960's four light Pendant Attributed to Veca
By VECA
Located in Amsterdam, NH
Majestic four-light pendant, 4 arms attached to the chrome centre with at each end 2 glass plates attached. One larger than the other, the large circular glass plate is natural-color...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Chrome

Italian Murano Glass Chandelier
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian Murano glass chandelier. The light requires ten single E14 screw fit lightbulbs (40Watt max.) LED compatible. Measures: Total height 110 cm. Diameter 38 cm. Height of the l...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass, Chrome

Tall Pair of Murano Glass Lanterns
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Very nice pair of tall lanterns made of brass stems and structure covered by textured Murano glass. These lanterns were originally part of a set with...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

2 Italian Modern Neoclassical Brass & Milk Glass Ball Pendants / Flush Mounts
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Modern neoclassical brass chandeliers / pendants / lanterns/ flush mount fixtures in a rare design embracing the modern, the neoclassical and the neo-baro...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Midcentury Modernist Brutalist Pendant by Tom Greene
Located in New York, NY
A terrific Mid-Century Modernist Brutalist pendant by Tom Greene featuring torch-cut patinated brass box frame that holds a single bulb. Its top offers sculptural segments mimicking ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Elegant Vintage Brass and Encased Glass Lantern Table Lamp, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950. This lantern is made in brass, white encased glass and features a turned wood handle. It is a vintage piece, therefore it mig...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Elegant Brass and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Antwerp, BE
Elegant brass and crystal chandelier with seven E27 bulbs. Diameter 48 cm. Height with chain 80 cm. Height fixture 62 cm.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Crystal, Brass

1940s Brass and Glass Lantern in the Style of Pietro Chiesa
Located in Amsterdam, NH
Stylish Italian lantern in style of Pietro Chiesa. The lantern consists of two beautifully curved glass panels that are partly etched and clear. Attached to a elegant brass frame wit...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Elegant 1950s Chandelier in Wood and Acrylic
Located in Antwerp, BE
Elegant 1950s chandelier is wood and acrylic. Diameter:32 cm. Height 65 cm.
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Acrylic, Wood

ITALIAN BRASS CHANDELIER - 24-Lighting Spots
Located in Hawthorne, CA
An exceptional large-scale brass chandelier by an unknown Italian designer, Italy, circa 1960. Chandelier measurements are updated and correct as of August 2022. This piece is a perf...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Mazzega Clear and Amber Curved Glass Tile Chandelier on Chrome Frame
Located in Antwerp, BE
Mazzega clear and amber curved glass tile chandelier on chrome frame, Italy, 1970s.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Metal

Pair of German Vintage Minimalist Glass Ceiling or Wall Lights Flush Mounts
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of large geometric glass and brass ceiling or wall flush mounts. Germany, 1960s Lamp sockets: 1x E27 (US E26)
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Chrome-Plated Sculptural Pendant Light chandelier, style of Maison Charles
Located in New York City, NY
A futuristic 1970s Modern fusee chandelier of sinuous, organic forms in a trio of polished metal tubes that form a harmonious musical note. In the style of Maison Charles et Fils si...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Chrome

Polished Chrome Italian Sculptural Pendant Light
Located in Antwerp, BE
A polished chrome Italian sculptural pendant.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Metal

Italian Brass Chandelier with Porcelain Flowers
Located in Antwerp, BE
Brass chandelier with porcelain flowers and green leaves. Total height with the chain is 100 cm. Diameter 50 cm. Height fixture 52 cm...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Brass, Metal

1970s Chrome and Glass Pendant Attributed to Veca
By VECA
Located in Amsterdam, NH
Remarkable Italian pendant consists of four glass panels, two on each side, attached to a glossy chrome frame.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Chrome

Ceiling Sputnik Lamp in the Manner of Arteluce, Italy, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Midcentury 12-armed brass Sputnik lamps. In the manner of Arteluce. Rare and elegant midcentury Sputnik lamps, 1950s, Italy. Executed in la...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Metal, Brass

1940's Three-Light French Lantern with Blue Crystal Flowers
Located in Amsterdam, NH
Charming gilt metal lantern with bright blue colored crystal petals creating a flower. It holds three E27 sockets. We also have a similar fixture with amber colored petals. code 320d
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Mid-century Modern lanterns for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern lanterns 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 lanterns created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern lanterns made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original lanterns, popular names associated with this style include L'Aviva Home, Glashütte Limburg, Venini, and Siemon & Salazar. 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 lanterns differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $50,300 while the average work can sell for $2,247.

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