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Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

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 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
SS United States Sign Notice and Information for Passengers
Located in Hanover, MA
Hefty enameled solid aluminum framed passenger safety and information sign from Passenger Stateroom 139 on the Main deck of the SS United States. Fo...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Aluminum

Nautical Polished Brass Seashell Ashtray Sculpture Mid-Century Modern
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern Nautical polished brass ashtray seashell sculpture. Coastal Tabacco Accessories all handmade.   A-582-335
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Spectacular French Mid-Century Clipper Ship Wall Light, circa 1950
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Spectacular iron wall light, France, circa 1950. Square three-masters clipper. Ambient and decorative wall light. Measures: height : 28"(71cm), width : 16.9"(43cm), depth : 7.2"(18.2...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Iron

Mixed Metals on Quartz Dragonfly Sculpture by C. Jere for Artisian House
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice and hard to find mixed metals on quartz base dragonfly sculpture by C. Jere for Artisian House, circa 1971. The piece is in great vintage condition with a wonderful pati...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Quartz, Brass, Bronze, Iron

Spanish Scrollwork Iron Galleon / Sailing Ship Sculpture
Located in Barcelona, ES
Wrought iron Spanish caravel boat / galleon sculpture. Spain, 1940s-1950s This sailing ship sculpture was handcrafted in Spain at the mid-20th century period. The ship has a richly detailed scrollwork...
Category

20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Metal, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf, Iron

Sailor Scottish Terrier Drinking Beer Cigarette Box, 1950s
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Midcentury sailor Scottish terrier drinking beer cigarette box, France, 1950s. Wood, metal and synthetic. Glass eyes. Measures: Height 8.2" (20.8cm), width 9" (22.9cm), depth 5.3" (1...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Metal

Mid Century Modern Vintage Brass Oak Sailing Ship 1950s Vienna
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage sailing ship from hammered brass and oakwood designed and executed in Vienna 1950 in the style of Franz Hagenauer. This amazing sailing ship with a stained...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

John Demott Brutalist Mid-Century Torch Cut Metal Clipper Ship Boat Sculpture
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Mid Century era torch cut metal sculpture by John DeMott. The Brutalist style clipper ship has gold, copper and bronze colors to the metal. The stone base appears to be onyx. DeMott’...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Stone, Metal, Brass

Rare Kelvin and Hughes Teak and Brass Navigational Nautical Binnacle Compass
Located in Nantucket, MA
A rare ship's binnacle brass compass in working order housed in a teak and brass case. It includes the kerosene side light to illuminate the compass at night. By Kelvin and Hughes,...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

1930's Jacques Adnet Style Barometer by Dirk Muller
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Leather and brass barometer by Dirk Muller, 1930's. In good, working, original condition with visible wear consistent with its age and use.
Category

1930s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

1976 Curtis Jere Brass Wire Galleon Ship Sailboat Metal Sculpture Art
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Huge, free standing metal galleon shop sculpture by Curtis Jere. Signed and dated '76. Shiny golden metallic hues and blended colors of gold, brass...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Metal, Brass

New / Old Stock Precision Wall Barometer in Brass by The Nature Company
Located in San Diego, CA
New / old stock precision wall barometer in brass by The Nature Company, circa 1990s. The piece is in excellent working condition with original box and measures 4.25"D x 1.75"H. #...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Pair of Nautical Brass Port & Starboard Sconce or Table Lights with Fresnel Lens
Located in Nantucket, MA
A fabulous pair of nautical and marine port and starboard brass running lights from a decommissioned ship. These were originally wall/side mounted and can be used that way as a scon...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Rare Nautical Compass and Cosmographic Cart Round Coffee Table, France, 1950
Located in Antwerp, BE
A rare decorative French coffee table with a cosmographic map under a glass top with a functional compass positioned in the middle. Supported by a round brass frame with four legs co...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

American Mid Century Airguide Walnut Case Desktop Barometer
By AirGuide
Located in San Diego, CA
elegant classic desk top barometer in solid walnut case circa 1950's by Air Guide nice original condition great for mid century Danish modern atomic age home decor.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Seguso Murano Signed Topaz Clear Italian Art Glass Nautical Sailboat Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and large, vintage Murano hand blown Italian art glass clear glass sail with topaz gray boat sculpture. The sailboat is fully signed underneath, "Archimede Seguso Murano (Italy)". The piece has done in the Minimalism style. Very clean lines and design. The signature is acid etched on the bottom of the boat. Would make a great display piece on any coffee table or credenza. As you can see from the photos in the sun, it created a beautiful shadow. The topaz boat really picks up in color intensity. A must for collectors of Archimede Seguso pieces and Nautical / Sailing objects...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Uranium Glass

American Mid Century Atomic Age Walnut & Brass Wall Thermometer & Baromether
By Springfield Armory
Located in San Diego, CA
A classic wall Thermometer by Springfield circa 1950s, nice walnut case in great condition working.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Vintage 20th Century English Made Large Mahogany Pond Yacht c.1930
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A fantastic Gaff Cutter pond yacht, lovely “bread and butter“ wood hull construction dating to the first part of the 20th Century. Bread and butter construction is when planks of woo...
Category

1930s British Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Wood

Large Vintage Ship Propeller Display, English Bronze, Oak, Maritime, Mid Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a large vintage ship propeller display. An English, bronze and oak decorative four-blade maritime mount, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1950. Of great proportion and superb decorative appeal Displaying a desirable aged patina and in good order Polished bronze blades present wonderful golden tonality Propeller blades ringing...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Bronze

Mid Century Chrome Binnacle Compass with Side Oil Lights
Located in Nantucket, MA
From a decommissioned lifeboat, a chrome binnacle compass in working order. It has two oil side lights for use at night. Top comes off. Dated 1978. Came off of a Russian lifeboat. T...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass, Chrome

Teak and Brass Nautical Ship's Clinometer
Located in Nantucket, MA
A handsome brass and teak ship's clinometer with a black melamine type background. An brass embossed clipper ship at the top. Used to measure the degree of healing on a boat, or on l...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Vintage Large Metal Wall Mounted Sailboat Sculpture
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Large Sailboat sculpture for wall Mount in mixed metal. A sailboat with a gray metal hull and iron sails and rigging. With projecting loops on the back for hanging. L. 33", H. 44" ...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Metal

Elegant Wall Barometer in Brass & Glass by Taylor
By D. Taylor
Located in San Diego, CA
The beautiful design on this wall barometer by Taylor in patinated brass and glass can be hung on the wall or table top.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Les Ateliers L&M Bordeaux Barometer stich leather 1960s France
Located in Den Haag, NL
Les Ateliers L&M Bordeaux Barometer Green Stich Leather, Savannah made in France. Ship decor .Works perfect .
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Leather

Seguso Murano Blue Red Rope Italian Art Glass Boat Anchor Nautical Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and rare, vintage Murano hand blown sapphire blue Italian art glass boat anchor nautical sculpture on base. Documented to designer Archimede S...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass

Mid-Century Modern Large Ceramic Relief Tile Plaque by Helmut Schaffenacker
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern large relief tile handmade fat lava Helmut Schaffenacker ceramic wall plaque sail boats colorful abstract West German art. Wonderful and colorful midcentury matte...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Ceramic

20th c. Nautical Hand-Painted Trinket Pottery
Located in Clermont, FL
A hand-painted trinket dish by ceramic pottery artist.
Category

20th Century South African Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Pottery, Ceramic, Paint

Carved and Polished Rosewood Conch Shell
Located in Ferndale, MI
Solid piece of rosewood carved and finished smooth in the shape of a conch shell. Fine display as desk top sculpture or paperweight.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Rosewood

Mixed Metals on Quartz Anchor Sculpture by C. Jere for Artisian House
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice mixed metals on quartz base anchor and sea gulls sculpture by C. Jere for Artisian House, circa 1971. The piece is in great vintage condition with a wonderful patina and ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Quartz, Brass, Bronze, Iron

Machine Age / Art Deco Wood & Brass Speedboat Model Secret Box, circa 1930s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Machine Age / Art Deco wood & brass speedboat model secret box, circa 1930s. Nautical Streamline boat model. Unique and decorative Art Deco piece. T...
Category

Early 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Maison Lancel 2 Light Brass Dolphin Sconces Black Shade, France, 1950, Pair
By Maison Lancel, E. Guillemard
Located in Miami, FL
Superb pair of Maison Lancel 2 Light Brass dolphin sconces, wall lights with Black shades. These animal sculpture lighting was made in the style of E....
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Maison Lancel Polished Bronze Koi Fish Sconces Creme Cone Shade France 1950-Pair
By Maison Lancel, E. Guillemard
Located in Miami, FL
Superb pair of Maison Lancel Bronze Japanese Koi Sconces, wall lights with cream Cone Paper shade. These animal sculpture lighting was made in the...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Bronze

Pair, Maison Lancel Gilt Bronze Sconces Ruffled Opaline Glass Shade France, 1950
By Maison Lancel, E. Guillemard
Located in Miami, FL
Superb pair of Maison Lancel gilt bronze sconces, wall lights with original white ruffled Opaline glass shade. These animal sculpture lighting was made in the style of E. Guillemard...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Bronze, Brass

Mid-Century Luxury Liner Ship Model
Located in New York, NY
Mid-century model of a luxury liner boat / ship model painted red, white and blue with 2 smoke stacks supported on a stand.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Paint

Vintage Allbrit Polar Planimeter, English, Scientific Instrument, Stanley, 1950
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage Allbrit polar planimeter. An English, adjustable scientific instrument by Stanley, dating to the mid-20th century, circa 1950. Comprehensive scientific instrument set Displays a desirable aged patina Presented in a carry case with a rich blue velour lining Ideal for measuring on maps or drawings Rotating measurement scales in good order Replete with small magnifying loupe...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Steel

1940s Copper+Brass Ships Starboard Lantern Wartime Merchant Vintage Cabin Light
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Rare to be presented in unmolested and unpolished condition. No electric light source, would need this to be added. A large C.P.G. & Sons STARBOARD copper and brass ships lantern ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass, Copper

Audoux Minet Rustic Nautical Rope & Green Glass Ball Table Lamp, circa 1960
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A mid-century French Riviera Marine themed Audoux Minet table lamp, circa 1960. An Iconic design – a green blown glass ball modeled on the buoys used by French fisherman...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Rope, Blown Glass

Mid-Century Framed Yacht Club Flag
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool mid-century framed yacht club flag, circa 1960s. The flag is presented in a black wood frame with a red back ground. The overall piece meas...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Paper

Maison Lancel Brass Dolphin Sconces Ruffled Opaline Glass Shade France 1950-Pair
By Maison Lancel, E. Guillemard
Located in Miami, FL
Superb pair of Maison Lancel brass dolphin sconces, wall lights with original white ruffled Opaline glass shade. These animal sculpture lighting was m...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Italian Mid-Century Monumental Carved Wood Painted Sea Shell
Located in Stamford, CT
Large scale hand carved sea shell painted in white with an ocher wash. This impressive piece will make a unique decoration for the Hamptons home or beach...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Wood

Perpetual Maritime Date Calendar in Bronze, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A nautically themed date calendar in bronze. It features a ship in waves at the top, an anchor at the bottom and a sliding N/S/E/W disc that sets the dat...
Category

1970s Scandinavian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Bronze

Rare Table Lamp Natural Specimens Shellfish Shells & Resin, Original Midcentury
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
It is very rare, nothing usual. Midcentury resin table lamp with shells seafood inside. Crab and Shellfish, natural sand crab preserved in a b...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Resin, Shell

Mid-Century Modern C. Jere Style Ship Wall Sculpture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautiful mid-century wall art features a three dimensional sailboat sculpture with plenty of intricate detail. A wonderful realistic design in the style of C. Jere with multipl...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Metal

American Brass Telegraph Mounted on Circular Mahogany Base Bendix NY, Circa 1930
By Bendix Corporation
Located in Charleston, SC
American brass ship's double engine order telegraph mounted on circular mahogany base. E. O. T. has been electrified and has a faint bell ring when changing positions. Bendix Corpor...
Category

1930s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass, Wire

Large Naval Pulley Table Lamp with Flintlock Pistol, Barometer & Horn
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large early 20th Century naval pulley converted into a table lamp with gentleman’s flintlock pistol, bullets, barometer and powder horn.  
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Metal, Brass

Midcentury Three-Piece Lucite Powder Room Set
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An amazing group of three vintage Lucite accessories for the powder room; wastebasket, tissue holder and soap-dish. Each piece has meticulou...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Lucite

Collectible Object Duck Vide Poche in Silver and Shell Signed by Binazzi
Located in Miami, FL
Decorativ object, vide poche, signed by Binazzi in silver and natural shell. Italian work, circa 1970.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Silver

S.S. United States Aluminum Grand Stairway Hand Rails
Located in Hudson, NY
These aluminum handrails which once graced the center of the grand staircase of the S S United States exemplifies the sophisticated sleek aesthetic of Mid-Century American design. When launched in July 1952 the S S United States was the culmination of years planning and design. On the heels of WW II, the U S Government saw the need to have modern ships that could be easily converted to troop transport ships in wartime constructed with safety and speed as the top priorities. They worked in partnership with the United States Line and underwrote a great deal of the liner's finished cost of 72 million as well as the future operating and maintenance cost of this proud symbol of her country and her age. The designer of the ship William Francis Gibbs had to incorporate the requirements of the government into his designs for the great liner. From her knife-edge bow across the superstructure and a pair of massive blue white and red raked funnels to the perfect arc of her stern, she sat proudly in the water and conveyed a sense of movement and speed even when still. His design incorporated a "secret" hull, numerous bulkheads which limited the grand open spaces of most liners of the time, no flammable material used in construction and fitting out other than the Steinway grand piano...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Aluminum

Signed M. Coloman Framed Oil Painting on Canvas Titled Venice Italy 1940
By Coloman
Located in Miami, FL
VENICE oil painting, featuring the Doges Palacio, Italian School, circa 1940s in its original 1940s frame. Signed M. Coloman, 20th century.  
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Wood, Paint, Canvas

Mid-century Modern nautical objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern nautical objects for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage nautical objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern nautical objects 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 nautical objects, popular names associated with this style include Maison Lancel, Curtis Jeré, Artisan House, and Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet. 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 nautical objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $150 and tops out at $14,000 while the average work can sell for $1,500.

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