Mid-Century Modern Lighting
MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe mid-century modern American 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.
Postwar American architects and designers were animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist “International Style” architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the ’30s 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, respectively, pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair. George Nelson and his design team created Bubble lamp shades using a new translucent polymer skin. Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were re-purposed: the Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs that used surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century 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, blonde-wood furniture — and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
As the collection of vintage mid-century modern American furniture on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
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Modernist Dutch Wooden Three Globe Chandelier by Bony Design, 1970s
By Bony Design
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Vintage organic modern sculptural chandelier. Oak wood mount with three arms holding three milky white glass globes. Manufactured by Bony Design in the Netherlands in the early 1970s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Oak, Glass, Opaline Glass, Wood
Italian Designer, Adjustable Table Lamp, Brass, Red Lacquered Metal, 1950s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A table lamp / desk light. Designed by an unknown Italian designer. Produced in Italy, 1950s. brass, red lacquered metal screen and base.
Other Italian lighting designers of the ...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair of Big Hancrafted Murano Table Lamps Murrine Millefiori Decor, Italy 2000's
Located in Budapest, HU
Table lamps made entirely with murrine millefiori murano glass.
Handcrafted by Murano glass master artisan. Custom made by hand and each piece differs from the other. Limited editio...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Murano Glass, Murrine
Scandinavian Mid Century Wall Lamps in Brass
Located in Karlstad, SE
Beautiful wall lamps, produced in Norway, circa 1950.
The lamps come with new off-white fabric shades.
Condition: Good original condition with patina.
Category
20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Midcentury Rattan and Brass Table Lamp, Germany 1950s
By J.T. Kalmar, Stilnovo
Located in Nümbrecht, NRW
This unusual rattan or wicker table lamp was designed and manufactured in Germany in the 1950s.
It features a minimalist tripod base with a conical shaped rattan lampshade.
Good...
Category
1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Wall Lights by Astra, Norway, 1960s
Located in Oslo, NO
Sculptural and organically shaped pair of two-armed wall lamps in brass. The lamps are designed and made in Norway by Astra from circa 1960s second half. Both lamps are fully working...
Category
1960s Norwegian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
1980s Glass Torchiere Lamp
Located in Antwerp, BE
A 1980s torchiere lamp in black metal and glass. Frosted shade. Memphis style design. Measures: height: 165 cm shade width: 35 cm.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Metal
Contemporary Pleated Wall Light with Linen Shade off-white Handmade
By Louis Jobst
Located in London, GB
Limited edition handmade pleated wall light, simple geometric pleats formed into a semi-circular sconce. The pleated shade is made from off-white linen with a metal wall plate that f...
Category
2010s European Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Metal, Stainless Steel
1950s Pendulum Floor Lamp by Maison Lunel
By Lunel
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Floor lamp with pendulum and ball joint in black lacquered metal brass composed of a tripod foot in black lacquered metal.
A black lacquered metal arm fixed by a ball joint, support...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pierre Cardin '1922-2020', Pair of Sconces, France, circa 1970
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Pierre Cardin (1922-2020),
Pair of Sconces,
Plexiglass, gilt brass, chrome,
France, circa 1970.
Measures: Width 53 cm, height 40 cm, depth 34 cm.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Eight-Arm Brass Chandelier, Ivory or Black Heads, Gold Inside in Stilnovo Style
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Best size for dining room use. Enchanting 54in - 135cm diameter chandelier. Midcentury eight-arm spider chandelier with ivory or black shades and natural patinated brass.
Pivotting...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Aluminum, Metal, Brass
Table Light by Felix Agostini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Table light by Felix Agostini. Designed and manufactured in France, circa 1960's. Sculpted bronze base, custom silk shade. We recommend one French bayonet 60w maximum bulb. Bulb not ...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Max Ingrand, Table Lamp, Chrome and Glass, circa 1970, Italy
By Max Ingrand
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Max Ingrand (1908-1969), table lamp,
Chromed and lacquered metal,
The top of the lamp in glass,
circa 1970, Italy.
Measures: Height 60 cm, diameter 50 cm.
Max Ingrand, bor...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Metal
Marble and Chrome Arch Floor Lamp
Located in Wichita, KS
Beautiful mid-century modern arch floor lamp with a round marble base and a chrome finish. the inside of the dome light is finished in white porcelain. The lamp is in Great vintage c...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Carrara Marble, Chrome
Stilnovo Pendant Model 1104 Italy 1959
By Stilnovo
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice and large ufo shaped pendant model 1104 designed and manufactured by Stilnovo, Italy 1959. Oval shaped opaline glass diffuser closed with black painted socket plate. Black ...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Aluminum
Orbitale Brass Chandelier 5 Rotating Balanced Arms, Stilnovo Style, Brass Shades
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Sculptural bespoke brass chandelier. Shown with 5 rotating arms.
Compact version, a great chandelier for low ceilings. Chandelier has a minimal height of 70 cm/ 28 inches and wil...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
XXL Hotel Chandelier with Brass Fixture and Hand-Blowed Frosted Glass Globes
By Preciosa
Located in Almelo, NL
XXL hotel chandelier with brass fixture and hand-blowed frosted glass globes by Preciosa, Czechia.
Extremely large diameter 7.2 Ft / 86 Inch hotel chandelier with brass fixture pr...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Large Mid-Century Modern Holophane Paris Street Pendant Light, France, 1960s
Located in Almelo, NL
This is an large original late 1960s Paris globe Holophane street light from Paris, France now turned into a pendant light. The hallmark of Holophane luminaries, or lighting fixtures...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Glass
Italian Modernist Chandelier, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
Very unique modernist Italian chandelier from the 1950s. Three brass arms each with a satin glass 'triplex opal' diffuser encased in Sputnik like structure with black lacquered shade...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Aluminum, Steel, Brass
Compact Orbitale Brass Chandelier 3 Rotating Balanced Arms, Low Ceiling Featured
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Sculptural bespoke brass chandelier.
The Orbitale collection is modular. Here a compact version using the short sections of the 5 arm to compact the height of the chandelier body...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Murano Glass Ceiling Flush Mount
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Murano glass ceiling flush mount
Italy 1960s
Hand blown glass, metal.
Three flush mounts available.
Can be sold as a set of three.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Metal
Pair of Martinelli Luce Wall Lamps in Hot Orange
Located in Berlin, DE
Rare pair of glass Martinelli Luce wall lamps in hot orange. Both signed! 1 x E27 / Model A bulb.
The lamp can hang upwards and downwards.
To be on the safe side, the lamp should be ...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Metal
Extreme Large Midcentury Chandeliers in Structured Glass and Brass from Europe
Located in Almelo, NL
Five extreme 48" large chandelier, in glass and brass, Europe, 1960s.
Wonderful and very heavy quality chandelier made in Europe, manufactured circa 1960s. The chandelier has nin...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Huge Midcentury Brass Opaline Glass Chandelier by Rupert Nikoll
Located in Vienna, AT
Brass construction with fifteen arms and opaline glass shades each fitted with E14 sockets. Made in Vienna by Rupert Nikoll in the late 1950s.
Category
1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Orbitale Grand Planetario Brass Chandelier 8 Arms, Stilnovo Style, Brass Shades
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Sculptural bespoke brass chandelier that belongs to the Orbitale collection.
I gave the Planetario name for the 8 planets and the sun representation. it's just one of the best chand...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Extra Large Midcentury Chandelier Doria Leuchten, Germany, 1950s
Located in Almelo, NL
(Extra large size) Gorgeous, 1950s midcentury chandelier was designed by Doria Leuchten, Germany. It features multi-tiered layers of textured ice glass tubes connected to a circular ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Massive Pair of 20th C. French Smokey Rock Crystal and Gilt Wood Base Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A massive pair of French Natural smokey rock crystal rectangular form lamps with gilt rectangular wood bases. These are truly a gorgeous pair of lamps, with hand-carved and hand-poli...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Rock Crystal
Scandinavian Functionalist Ceiling Light, Norway, 1950s
Located in Oslo, NO
Wonderful and decorative ceiling light in painted metal with two shades in opaline glass. Designed and made in Norway from the first half of the 1950s.
The lamp is fully working and ...
Category
1950s Scandinavian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Metal
XXL Mid-Century Modernist Chandelier with Hand Blown Opaline Glass Globes, 1970s
Located in Almelo, NL
Mid-Century Modernist extreme large chandelier with hand blown opaline glass globes. A warm and diffuse light will create a stunning light partition. This chandelier will contribute ...
Category
Late 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Steel
Bergboms, Adjustable Wall Lights, Brass, Sweden, 1970s
By Bergboms
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of wall lights. Designed and produced by Bergboms, Sweden, circa 1970s-1980s.
Other designers of the period include Paavo Tynell, Hans Bergström, Josef Frank, and Kaare Klint.
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Koch & Lowy Articulating Wall Sconce in Chrome
By Koch & Lowy
Located in Denver, CO
A sophisticated and iconic articulating wall sconce in chrome by Koch & Lowy. USA, 1970s.
Bulb shade articulates in all directions and the swing arm allows it to fold against the...
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Holophane Paris Street Pendant Lights, France, 1960s
Located in Almelo, NL
This is an original late 1960s Paris globe Holophane street light from Paris, France now turned into a pendant light. The hallmark of Holophane luminaries, or lighting fixtures, is t...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Glass
Large Bubble Glass Pendants by Limburg, circa 1970
Located in Vienna, AT
Large pear-shaped glass pendants by Limburg from the 1970s. The large blown glass bodies are textured with large circles as well as filled with tiny air bubbles trapped within the gl...
Category
1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Kai Ruokonen for LYNX Chandelier in Brass and Orange Acrylic
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Kai Ruokonen for LYNX, chandelier, brass, orange acrylic, Finland, 1952
Kai Ruokonen is a Finnish designer that mostly works under the artist ‘Kai Finnmark’. This chandelier was des...
Category
1950s Finnish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Olivier Mourgue for Desderot Adjustable Floor Lamp Model '2093'
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Olivier Mourgue for Desderot, floor lamp model '2093', chromed metal, aluminum, France, 1967
A floor lamp that features a stem with two flower shaped shades, that are adjustable in ...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
Pair of 1950s Articulated Wall Lights by Maison Lunel
By Lunel
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of double-light brass wall lights, composed of a rectangular brass base, on which is fixed a brass arm that can be swiveled from left to right.
terminated by a cylindrical bras...
Category
20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Sistema Solare, Luxury Ivory Onyx and Brass 8 Rotating Orbitale Arms Chandelier
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Sistema Solare is the variation of the Sistema chandelier where the shade is made of a thin cut Ivory Onyx slab.
Actually the whole project started for this incredible material. Ivor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Onyx, Brass
Pair Round Mid Century Italian Chandelier Bamboo and Brass 1950s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Pair round mid century Italian chandelier bamboo and brass 1950s.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Large Set of Mid-Century Modernist, 1950s Flush Mount Chandelier, Doria Leuchten
Located in Almelo, NL
Set of 12 (XL-size) gorgeous, 1950s Mid-Century Modernist flush mount chandeliers was designed by Doria Leuchten, Germany. It features multi-tiered layers of textured ice glass tubes...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Grand Midcentury Flushmount, Chandelier in Structured Glass and Brass, Europe
Located in Almelo, NL
Extreme 62" large flushmount chandelier, in glass and brass, Europe, 1960s.
Wonderful and very heavy quality flushmount chandelier made in Europe, manufactured, circa 1960s. The c...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Sognot Style Double Lights Mid Century Rattan Wall Light, France, 1960's
By Louis Sognot
Located in New York, NY
Elegant rattan sconce in the style of Louis Sognot.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Rattan
Large Midcentury Brass Chandelier with Eight Hand Blown Brass Globes ,1950s
Located in Almelo, NL
This amazing large brass chandelier was produced in Europe in the 1950s. A spirited and chic design set chandelier with brass fixture and hand blown glass. The chandelier with brass ...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Outdoor Wall Lights in Copper, Norway, 1970s
Located in Oslo, NO
Wonderful modernist pair of outdoor wall lamps in patinated copper and glass. Designed and made in Norway from circa 1970s first half by Stavanger Metalkunst. Both lamps are fully wo...
Category
1970s Norwegian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Copper
Tommaso Barbi and Carlo Giorgi, Organic Wall Light, Brass, G&G, Italy, 1960s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A two-armed wall light, designed by Tommaso Barbi and Carlo Giorgi for G&G Disegno, Italy, 1960s.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Italian Adjustable Spot Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of elegant cylindrical all brass adjustable spot sconces from 1950s Italy. Made in a brass patinated finish. Fully restored. 1 E26 medium based socket per sconce. Wired for use ...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Serge Mouille Tripod Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Serge Mouille tripod table lamp
Painted metal.
Lit.: Pierre Émile Pralus: Serge Mouille - un classique français,
Saint Cyr au Mont d'Or 2006, p. 204.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Metal
Six Model 1132 Sconces by Marco Zanuso for Oluce
By Marco Zanuso, Oluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Six Model 1132 sconces by Marco Zanuso for Oluce. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa 1960's. Crystal glass, custom chrome backplates. WIred U.S. standards. We recommend one E1...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Chrome
1 of the 4 Pairs Large Modern Wall Lamps by Glashütte Limburg, 1970
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 4 Pairs Mid-Century Modern wall lamps by Glashütte Limburg made in Germany in the 1970s. They have a beautiful cone shape and are made of solid brass and opaline glass. The ...
Category
1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
1 of the 8 Modern Wall Lamps by Glashütte Limburg, 1970
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 8 Mid-Century Modern wall lamps by Glashütte Limburg made in Germany in the 1970s. They have a beautiful cone shape and are made of solid brass and opaline glass. The the in...
Category
1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Large Rispal 'Praying Mantis' Sculptural Floor Lamp in American Walnut
By Rispal
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Rispal 'Praying Mantis' sculptural floor lamp in American walnut. The iconic model #14.950 was originally designed in 1950 by François Rispal. This newly produced authorized re...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Italian Mid-Century Sputnik Eighteen Arms Gold Color Chandelier, 1950s
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Marvelous "made in Italy" Sputnik chandelier of the Mid-Century Modern period. This chandelier has eighteen lights in E14 format, is made of semi-gloss brass. The great executive qua...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pink Tronchi Pair of Murano Glass Chandelier, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing pair of chandelier includes precious pink tronchi Murano glasses 20 cm long.
Nickel-plated metal structure on three levels,
Perfect vintage condition.
Available 8 chandeli...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Metal
Murano Art Glass Rectangular Pink Mid-Century Chandelier, 1970
Located in Rome, IT
Murano chandelier with an elongated design with a brass structure and unique glass pink color.
All in Murano glass with a brass structure. The glasses are treated with a particula...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Gordon and Jane Martz Table Lamps for Marshall Studios
Located in San Francisco, CA
Gordon and Jane Martz design ceramic table lamps for Marshall Studios, signed.
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
Italian Designer, Freeform Table Lamp, Brass, Green Acrylic, Fabric Italy, 1960s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A table lamp, produced in Italy, 1960s. Brass, green acrylic and original fabric lampshade. Stamped "Nitri"
Other designers of the period include Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte, Max Ingr...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
Sculptural Pendant, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare and very unique midcentury pendant with a slender satin glass diffuser surrounded by a red lacquered cage with brass details. Fine original condition with patina on the brass an...
Category
1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass, Steel
Italian Designer, Small Table Lamp, Rattan, Brass, Italy, 1970s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A table lamp, produced in Italy, 1960s-1970s. Rattan and brass.
Other designers of the period include Gio Ponti, Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand, Franco Albini, and Josef Frank.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Rattan
Large Set Extra Large Midcentury Chandeliers Doria Leuchten Germany, 1950s
Located in Almelo, NL
(XL-size) Gorgeous, 1950s midcentury chandeliers was designed by Doria Leuchten, Germany. It features multi-tiered layers of textured ice glass tubes connected to a circular brushed ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Lighting
Materials
Brass
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