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Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

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
Creator: Arteluce
Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Arteluce 'Ochetta' Wall Lights
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Arteluce, 'Ochetta' wall lights, model 141, metal, frosted glass, Italy, 1962. The 'Ochetta' wall lights were designed by Franco Albini and Franca ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Gino Sarfatti 194/N Wall Lamp Arteluce Italy 1950
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice large sized extendable wall lamp model 194/n designed by Gino Sarfatti and manufactured by Arteluce, Italy 1950. This lamp is constructed by an engineer’s mind, that is cle...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Chrome

Sergio Asti, Sconce, Black-Lacquered Aluminum, Glass, Arteluce, Italy, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A sizeable black-lacquered aluminum and glass sconce / wall light, model 145, designed by Sergio Asti and produced by Arteluce, Italy, late 1960s. Dimensions of Back Plate (inches...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum

Very Rare Suspension Lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy, circa 1950s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
A very rare pendant lamp by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy, circa 1950s. Cup-shaped reflector in white lacquered and coppered aluminium. Counter cup in perforated and nickeled br...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Aluminum, Copper, Nickel

Italian Design Classic Paolo Rizzatto Model 265 Wall Lamp, Arteluce, 1960s
Located in Renens, CH
An Early pre-Flos model 265 counter balance wall lamp in black metal by Paolo Rizzatto; the lamp can rotate into many directions, and provides a dire...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Mod. 113/5 Light Wall Bracket
Located in Hanover, MA
Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce 5-light wall mounted sconce, Model 113/5 (1946-1948); a series of five Model 10 white lacquered aluminum reflector shades connected by bronze patinated brass swivel joints to a 23 inch length of white lacquered "half circle" brass (Arteluce's words). I would describe it as a bisected 1.5 inch brass tube. Original Arteluce...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Rare Pair of Gino Sarfatti Red Wall Scones, Arteluce, Italy, 1956
Located in Den Haag, NL
Rare pair of Gino Sarfatti red wall scones, Arteluce Italy, 1956 Enameled aluminum, brass. Adjustable in any position desired. Gino Sarfatti: O...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Ico Parisi Sconce, Lacquered Metal, Glass, Arteluce, Italy, C. 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A lacquered metal and glass sconce / wall light designed by Ico Parisi and produced by Arteluce, Italy, c. 1960s. Dimensions of back plate (inches) : 4.14 x 2.36 x 0.89 (height x ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Wall Sconce 194n by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Beautiful extending arm wall sconce designed by Gino Sarfatti and produced by Arteluce circa 1958. It is made of a brass multi part arm and...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Gino Sarfatti Mod. 34 Variant Adjustable Wall Lamp for Arteluce, Italy 1954
Located in Milan, IT
Gino Sarfatti Mod. 34 variant grey and burnished brass adjustable wall lamp for Arteluce, Italy, 1954.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Brass

Paolo Rizzatto 265 Wall Lamp Arteluce, Italy, 1973
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Impressive sized wall lamp model 265 designed by Paolo Rizzatto and manufactured by Arteluce, Italy 1973. This is for the early Arteluce production with the Arteluce sticker on the s...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Aluminum, Chrome

Arteluce 'Attribution', Adjustable Wall Light, Steel, Acrylic, Italy, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A steel and acrylic wall light design and production attributed to Arteluce, Italy, c. 1960s. Variable dimensions, measured in the wall light's maximum extended position. Dimens...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Steel

20th Century Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Set of 3 Wall Lamps in Brass and Plexi
Located in Turin, Turin
One of the most significant figures in the world of Italian design of the second half of the 20th century was Gino Sarfatti. Venetian by birth and Genoese by training, Sarfatti becam...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconce in White for Arteluce
Located in Glendale, CA
Gino Sarfatti Model #10 sconce for Arteluce. Executed in white painted aluminum and custom fabricated period styled brass backplates designed to mount over a...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconce in Red for Arteluce
Located in Glendale, CA
Gino Sarfatti Model #10 sconce in red for Arteluce. Executed in red painted aluminum and custom fabricated period styled brass backplates designed to mount o...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Aluminum

Sconces by Vittorio Vigano for Arteluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sconces by Vittorio Vigano for Arteluce. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa 1950's Enameled metal, brass, custom brass backplates. One sconce is...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Metal

Pair of Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconces in Green for Arteluce
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Gino Sarfatti Model #10 sconces in green for Arteluce. Executed in original green painted aluminum and custom fabricated period styled brass backplates designed to mount over a standard American j-box for hardwiring. Ball jointed arm allows flexible shade adjustments and multiple configurations. Originally designed between 1937-1941, the simplicity of Sarfatti's iconic Model #10 "detto Calla" or "Lily...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Aluminum

Pair of Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconces for Arteluce
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Gino Sarfatti Model #10 sconces for Arteluce. Executed in white painted aluminum and custom fabricated period styled brass backplates designed to mou...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconce in Green for Arteluce
Located in Glendale, CA
Gino Sarfatti Model #10 sconce in green for Arteluce. Executed in original green painted aluminum and custom fabricated period styled brass backplates designed to mount over a standard American j-box for hardwiring. Ball jointed arm allows flexible shade adjustments and multiple configurations. Originally designed between 1937-1941, the simplicity of Sarfatti's iconic Model #10 "detto Calla" or "Lily...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Italian Wall Scone by Vittoriano Vigano for Arteluce
Located in Munich, DE
Wonderful Visor wall light by Vittoriano Vigano for Arteluce.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Brass

Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconce in Black for Arteluce
Located in Glendale, CA
Gino Sarfatti Model #10 sconce in black for Arteluce. Executed in black painted aluminum and custom fabricated period styled brass backplates designed to mou...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Pair of Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconces in Red for Arteluce
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Gino Sarfatti Model #10 sconces in red for Arteluce. Executed in red painted aluminum and custom fabricated period styled brass backplates designed to mount over a standard A...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Aluminum

Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Black Wall Lights Pendant Lamps (2x) Model 194n, 1950
Located in Vienna, AT
Genuine pair of Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce wall-mounted pendant lamp model 194/N, circa 1950 We have two lights available, priced individually Great set of 2 wall lights which are ...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Brass, Chrome

Pair of Gino Sarfatti Model #10 Sconces in Black for Arteluce
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Gino Sarfatti Model #10 sconces in black for Arteluce. Executed in black painted aluminum and custom fabricated period styled brass backplates designed to mount over a standard American j-box for hardwiring. Ball jointed arm allows flexible shade adjustments and multiple configurations. Originally designed between 1937-1941, the simplicity of Sarfatti's iconic Model #10 "detto Calla" or "Lily...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Mod.142 Rare Table or Wall Lamp, Italy, 1960s
Located in Naples, IT
Rare and great wall or ceiling lamp model 142 designed by Gino Sarfatti, production Arteluce, Italy 1960. This lamp has an aluminium structure and a tubular shade in red painted alum...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum

Articulated Wall Lamp Model 265 by Paolo Rizzatto for Arteluce 1973 Italy
Located in Munich, DE
Articulated, huge and elegant Mid-Century Modern wall lamp. Model no 265. Designed by Paolo Rizzatto for Arteluce, 1973, Italy. This one must have been produced by Arteluce in 1980s....
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Steel, Iron

Pair of Vintage Gino Sarfatti 237/2 Wall Sconces
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Original pair of vintage model 237/2 wall sconces by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce. Two frosted glass globes resting on the black lacquered iron bar sup...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Gino Sarfatti Wall Lamps Model 238/2 Arteluce, 1960
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Pair of wall lamps model 238/2 designed by Gino Sarfatti, manufactured by Arteluce, Italy 1960. This pair of wall lamps are an iconic and famous design by Sarfatti. There are many di...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum

Gino Sarfatti Wall Lamps Model 142 Arteluce, 1958
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Pair of large wall or ceiling lamps model 142 designed by Gino Sarfatti, manufactured by Arteluce, Italy 1958. These lamps have an aluminum frame and a white...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum

Adjustable Sconce #149/N by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce
Located in New York, NY
Brass wall mount and extended arm. Black painted metal shade and counter weight. Height can be adjusted and arm moves from side to side. Manufacturers label on inside of shade.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gino Sarfatti Arteluce Mod. 238/2 Wall Lights Lacquered Metal Glass, Italy, 1960
Located in Catania, IT
Pair of wall lamps model 238/2 designed by Gino Sarfatti and manufactured by Arteluce, Italy, 1960s. The frames are black metal lacquered and have two transparent glass globes that...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Gino Sarfatti Model #21 Red Perforated Sconces for Arteluce, circa 1955
Located in Glendale, CA
Gino Sarfatti model #21 red perforated sconces for Arteluce, circa 1955. Executed in red painted perforated aluminum and brass. Adjustable shade...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Metal

Gino Sarfatti Sconces #238-3
Located in New York, NY
Rare Pair of Sconces #238-3 by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce. Black enameled steel frames with aluminum caps. Smoked glass globes and Edison sockets. Newly created circular mounting pl...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Mod. 113b Pair Refurbished Sconces, 1950
Located in Vienna, AT
Genuine pair of Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce wall-mounted lights 113b Great set of 2 wall lights in restored condition. Both were manufactured by Arteluce in Italy, circa 1950s. The...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Chrome, Aluminum

Sergio Asti Wall Lamp Arteluce Model 257, Italy, 1966
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice large and rare four armed wall lamp designed by Sergio Asti for Arteluce, Italy, 1966. This is for model number 257 documented in the Arteluce catalogue. The lamp has four ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum

Pair of Model 257 Wall Lights by Sergio Asti for Arteluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of model 257 wall lights by Sergio Asti for Arteluce. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa the 1960s. Frosted glass diffusers, chrome armature. Retains original manufacture...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Chrome

Pair of Gino Sarfatti Model #21 Red Perforated Sconces for Arteluce, circa 1955
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Gino Sarfatti model #21 red perforated sconces for Arteluce, circa 1955. Executed in red painted perforated aluminum and brass. Adjustab...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Metal

Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Pair of Sconces Model 113b Midcentury
Located in Rovereta, SM
Gino Sarfatti model 113b white lacquered metal and aluminium. 1960, Italy.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

1950s Italian Wall Light by Vittoriano Vigano for Arteluce
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A wall light or sconce having an asymmetrical adjustable shade in painted white finish with brass stem and bracket.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Pair of 1950s Gino Sarfatti Model 114 3-Shade Articulating Wall Lights
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of 1950s Gino Sarfatti model 114 3-shade articulating wall lights. Comprised of 3 white painted metal perforated shades mounted on a polished brass "hal...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of White‚ Drop 1’ Wall Lamps by Marc Sadler for Arteluce, Italy, 1993
Located in Hagenbach, DE
A pair of wall lamps by Marc Sadler for Arteluce made in Italy in 1993. The shade of the lamp is made of silicon and has a beautiful white color. The base is made of hard plastic.  
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Plastic, Silicone

Pair of Sconces by Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce, Italy, circa 1956
Located in New York, NY
Each sconce composed of a burnished brass structure with two arms, shielded by a white bent acrylic shade. OUR REFERENCE N10128       
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gino Sarfatti Four Sconces Per Arteluce, 1955
Located in Rovereta, SM
Four sconces designed by Gino Sarfatti and edited by Arteluce in 1955.Adjustable reflectors in coloured lacquered aluminium. Arm, pivot and base in polished brass. Litt. "Gino Sarfat...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gino Sarfatti Wall Lamps Model 237/3 Arteluce, 1959
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Pair of wall lamps model 237/3 designed by Gino Sarfatti, manufactured by Arteluce, Italy 1959. This pair of wall lamps are an iconic and famous design by Sarfatti. There are many di...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

1950s by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce Midcentury Italian Design Large Wall Sconce
By Scarfatti, Arteluce
Located in Brescia, IT
Brass frame and frosted glass shades Rare model. Slight sign to one glass Excellent condition Perfect working order.  
Category

1950s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Gino Sarfatti Wall/Table Lamp Model 7 Arteluce, 1957
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare wall/table lamp version of model 7 designed by Gino Sarfatti, manufactured by Arteluce, Italy 1957. I have never seen this fairly unique version before. T...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Metal

Set of 2 Sconces by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set of four-light sconces by Gino Sarfatti, 1960st. Featering a Midcentury metal chrome hanging wall lamp with four bakelite sockets each. Very nice wall hanging up-lights for hallwa...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Mid-century Modern wall lights and sconces for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern wall lights and sconces 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 wall lights and sconces created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, mirrors, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern wall lights and sconces made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original wall lights and sconces, popular names associated with this style include J.T. Kalmar, Glashütte Limburg, Kalmar Lighting, and Serge Mouille. 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 wall lights and sconces differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $65 and tops out at $119,007 while the average work can sell for $1,956.

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