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Mid-Century Modern Bookends

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
Vintage Stacked Solid Wood Bookends
Located in Denton, TX
Vintage solid wood bookends made of ash, walnut, mahogany and maple. Glued together in a stacked design then shaped in a curved pattern. They make nice decorative sculptures.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Mahogany, Maple, Oak, Walnut

Lars Hellsten for Orreford Glass Elephant Bookends
Located in New York, NY
Stunning pair of large and heavy art-glass elephant bookends designed by Lars Hellsten for Orrefords, in vintage original condition both of them are signed.
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Art Glass

Blenko Clear Glass Half Circle Bookends, Pair
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of vintage handmade half circle bookends in solid glass by Blenko. Both with original foil label.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Glass, Art Glass

Pair of Art Deco Bookstands
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of Art Deco Bookstands
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Wood

Arrow Brass and Wood Bookends with Hand Stiched Leather, France 1960's
Located in Den Haag, NL
Arrow Brass and Wood Bookends with Hand Stiched Leather, France 1960's
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Leather, Wood

Onyx Figural Bookends, a Pair
Located in Germantown, MD
Fantastic pair of Onyx figural bookends. Measure 5" W x 5.25" H W6051522.  
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Onyx

Pair of Solid Brass Folding Chinese Foo Dog Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful pair of solid brass folding foo dog bookends, circa 1960s. The bookends are in good vintage condition and measure 7"W x 3.5"D x 6"H. Great look! #3588
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Pair of MCM Ceramic Tile and Walnut Bookends by Jane & Gordon Martz
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice pair of MCM ceramic tile and walnut bookends by Jane & Gordon Martz for Marshall Studios, circa 1950s. The bookends are in very good vintage condtion and measure 8.5"W x 5"D x...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Pottery, Walnut

Rare Bronze Train Locomotive Bookends 1940´s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Nice & Rare Silvered Bronze Train Locomotive Bookends 1940´s. Heavy Bookends. Hight quality. Train entering a tunel. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau an...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Beech and Copper Barrel Bookends, France, circa 1940
Located in Labrit, Landes
Pair of French bookends Beech and copper, made in France Shipping: L 20 P D 15 H 12 1 kg.
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Copper

Funky Danish Bookends
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Funky Danish bookends-blond guy and dark guy caricatures! Well made and hand painted.
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Teak

Carl Auböck Pair of Bookends, Austria 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck pair of bookends, Austria 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Vintage Triangular Cast Glass Bookends by Blenko
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An awesome pair of heavy mid-century modern cast glass triangle shaped bookends by Blenko. Two sides are polished smooth and the other three sides are textured. In very good vintag...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Glass

Marshall Studios Gordan Jane Martz Tile Walnut Bookends Mid Century
Located in Forest Grove, PA
Iconic walnut and ceramic tile plinth bookends, designed by Jane and Gordon Martz of Marshall Studios. 1960s. One retains the original production sticker. The thickness of the walnut...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Metal

Pair of Vintage MCM Mouse / Cheese Wedge Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
A whimsical pair of vintage MCM brass mouse on walnut cheese wedge bookends, circa 1970s. The bookends are in very good vintage condition and measure 8.25"...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Wrought Iron Brutalist Bookends with Spiral Design
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Heavy and sculpturally interesting pieces indeed are our pair of spiral wrought iron Brutalist bookends - if you are a fan of midcentury pieces,...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Wrought Iron

Iconic Midcentury Gender Symbol / Sex Bookends by C. Jere
Located in San Diego, CA
Original pair of midcentury sculptures / bookends featuring the universal symbols for male and female (Sexes) signed by C. Jere, circa 1960s The pieces are made of heavy metal with a gold leaf-like finish and have a wonderful, worn vintage patina. Each symbol is approx. 7" tall and sits upon a 4" x 4" base. These iconic 1960s Curtis Jere gender symbol bookends...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Atomic Era Jack / Jax Bookend, Doorstop or Paperweight by Bill Curry
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool vintage atomic era / MCM iron jack / jax in the style of Bill Curry, circa 1970s. The piece in well worn vintage condition with a great lime green...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Iron

Mid-Century Modern Bullicante Glass Bookend Vases By Carl Erikson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This wonderfully unique pair of mid-century modern glass vases double as bookends for a fantastic accent in any room. The bookend vases were designed by Swedish American master glass...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Art Glass

Mid-Century Modern Pair of Sailboat Bookends, Powder-Coated White
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Powder-Coated Creamy White Set of Mid-Century Sailboat Bookends Substantial in size and weight, these solid vintage brass newly powder-coated boats are both form and function. Fabu...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Pair Mid-Century Modern Beveled Rectangle Lucite Bookends
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage pair of tall, heavy monogramed thick lucite bookends with beautiful beveled edges on aluminum bases. These bookends almost glow when the light hits them. Polished and substan...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Aluminum

Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4100 Patinated Brass Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4100 patinated brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated brass. Price is f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern 1970s Geometric Trapezoid Lucite Bookends - Astrolite
Located in St. Louis, MO
Pair of MCM 1970s Herb Ritts for Astrolite designed clear & frosted lucite Trapezoid shaped bookends. In fine condition, no damage. no Label. In fine condition, no issues.
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Lucite

Signed 1980s Arts and Crafts Handcrafted Pressed Plywood Sitting People Bookends
Located in Miami, FL
Mid Century Modern handcrafted pressed plywood sitting people bookends, table sculptures, decor, room accents and accessories. Signed by Artist. O-542-335
Category

1980s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Plywood

1960s Vintage Midcentury Double Panel Teak Bookends
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Vintage Midcentury Double Panel Teak Bookends 7 h x 5.25 d x 5 w Unrestored preowned original vintage condition Wear and tear are present Refer to all images for condition
Category

Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Teak

Massive Pair of Brass on Walnut Base Rams Head Bookends by Sarreid
Located in San Diego, CA
A massive pair of brass rams head bookends on walnut bases by Sarreid, circa 1970s. The bookends, which were made in Spain, are in very good condition and have a great look. They mea...
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Pine

Silvered Bronze Bulldog Bookends. France 1930´s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Silvered Bronze Bulldog Bookends. c1930´s. Lovely pair of Bulldog bookends. Silvered Bronze mounted over Black and Gold ¨portoro¨ italian marble. Very n...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Brass Judaica Shalom Peace Tree of Life Bookends
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful pair of Midcentury modern brass Shalom Judaica bookends. Brass with lovely patina with color enameled accents. Felt under the stands for use on multiple surfaces, signed “T...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Rare Vintage Mid Century Lucite Bookends with Embedded Sea Shells
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage mid century lucite bookends with embedded shell. These 1960s gems are glamorous, lustrous and enigmatic. Two perfectly proportioned seashell specimens float in luci...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Lucite

Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3847 Brass Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3847 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in polished and patinated brass. Price i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Charles Hollis Large Lucite Dice
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Feast your eyes on this glorious oxblood red pair of acrylic dice by Charles Hollis. These are spectacular when the light hits them, as they glow in burgu...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Acrylic

Antonio da Ros Handmade Glass Sculptural Bookends, circa 1960
Located in San Francisco, CA
Antonio da Ros handmade glass sculptural bookends, circa 1960 Absolutely beautiful vintage 1960s bookends by noted Italian glass master Antonio da Ros. This matching pair measu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Art Glass

Pair of Modernist Chrome Chain Link Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous pair of modernist chrome chain link bookends, circa 1970s. The pair are in very heavy and in good vintage condition; they measure 11.5"W x 8"D x 7"H. Great addition to any MCM office...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Pair of MCM Brass Bookends with Louis Vuitton Monogram Fabric
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair of 1970's Brass Bookends with Vintage Louis Vuitton Fabric, Mid Century Modern These monogrammed bookends have been custom made and hand cra...
Category

Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

1960s Silver Jack Bookend Modern Pop Art George Nelson Design Line CA
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Bookend Vintage single silver Jack bookend accessory Modern Pop Art Style George Nelson 1960s No label, attributed to George Nelson Design Line California Measures: 4.5 tall x 5 ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Metal

Pair of Italian Red and Green Leather Equestrian Bookends, circa 1950s
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Extra Large Set of Vintage Leather Bookends with Patinated Bronze Horses in Full Sprint, Italy circa 1950s. One bookend is in red leather and...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Sunshine Yellow Boat Bookends
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Powder-Coated Sunshine Yellow Set of Mid-Century Sailboat Bookends These solid vintage newly powder-coated boats are both form and function. Fabulous pair displayed on a bookshelf ...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Metal, Iron

Ermanno Nason for Cenedese Italian Murano Alexandrite Glass Horse Head Sculpture
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Stunning, rare and vintage midcentury centrepiece glass sculpture by Ermanno Nason (1928-2014) for Cenedese of Murano, Venice, Italy. An absolutely stunning piece of Mid-Century Mura...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Wooden Art Deco Bookends Spherical Round
Located in Sacile, PN
Art Deco bookends in wood.
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Wood

Pair of Tennis Players on Quartz Court Bookends by Curtis Jere for Artisan House
Located in San Diego, CA
Excellent and rare pair of bronze tennis players on quartz court bookends by Curtis Jere for Artisan House, circa 1976. The pair are signed and da...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Quartz, Bronze

Vintage BLENKO USA Glass Duck Bookends a Pair from the 1980s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Striking pair of duck glass bookends by Blenko, circa 1980s. Pair of Blenko Ducks bookends featured in a clear textured glass. Pair of handmade heavy and sturdy glass bookends with t...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Art Glass

Musical Violin and Horn Sculpture Cast Metal Bookends Vintage Circa 1950's
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage cast metal bookends in musical instruments orchestra violin horn sculpture theme. Mid-Century Modern Pair of bronze cast metal bookends in the shape of musical instruments. M...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Metal

Amethyst Specimen Lucite Encased Bookends, 1970s
Located in San Diego, CA
A pair of Amethyst Specimen lucite encased bookends from the 1970s. A unique statement piece.
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Amethyst

Post Modern Marble Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful pair of vintage Italian marble bookends, circa 1970s. In the style of Sergio Asti. Stone is beautifully veined and in great c...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Marble

Vintage Modernist Stair Cut Polished Steel Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage modernist stair-cut polished steel bookends, circa 1970s. Beautiful and simple with great mid-century minimal lines, the bookends are in very good vintage condition and meas...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Steel

Pair of Mid-Century Italian Abstract Marble and Ceramic Bookends
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage pair of abstract marble and ceramic bookends. This interesting design is attributed to Fratelli Mannelli and was manufactured by Raymor. These stylish pair of abstract mar...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Marble

Vintage Hand painted Duck Motif Bookends
Located in Seattle, WA
This pair of vintage handpainted bookends are adorned with a scene of a duck in a pond and gives a cottagecore feel. This piece has nice patina and character.Vintage condition as pic...
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Wood

Pair of Chrome Elephant Bookends by Walter von Nessen for Chase USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of chrome bookends by Walter von Nessen for Chase, c.1930s, USA. The pair of bookends feature two chrome plated brass elephants with curved tubular bodies and geometric shaped h...
Category

1930s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass, Chrome

F.lli Mannelli Pair of Bookends in Rapolano Travertine Marble, Italy 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
Pair of stone bookends by Fratelli Manelli. Made from exquisite Rapolano Travertine, a type of Italian travertine known for its distinctive cream color and delicate veining.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Marble

Pair of Patinated Brass Rams Head Bookends, Midcentury
Located in San Diego, CA
A pair of vintage brass rams head bookends, circa 1970s. The bookends are in very good condition nice patina.
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4637 Brass Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #4637 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass. Price i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Italian Equestrian Brass Sculptural Bookend in the shape of a Horse Head, 70s
Located in Roma, IT
I am offering for sale a sculptural bookend made in Italy between the 70s and 80s, probably a gift made by, or coming from, an office of the Rome Airports, as is engraved in the arti...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Bookends #3653
Located in Berlin, DE
Classic pair of Carl Auböck bookends in a patina and polish brass mix.  
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Vintage Mid-Century Wood Plank Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Unique and simply exceptional pair of vintage bookends. Deriving on the uniqueness of the wood grain, these bookends are elegant and modernist. Simple lines contrast with organic pat...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Wood

Polished Brass Teddy Bear Vintage Bookends Paperweights
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Polished brass teddy bear vintage bookends or paperweight. Vintage mid-century brass teddy bear bookends. These pair of teddy bear would make a luxu...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Bookends #3848
Located in Berlin, DE
Classis pair of Carl Auböck bookend in a patina and polish brass mix.  
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Pair of Ice Block Emerald Glass Bookends by Blenko Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice pair of of free flow ice block emerald glass bookends by Blenko Glass, circa 1970s. The bookends look like a large chunk of ice with a very cool three dimensional effect and mea...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Glass

Pair of Modernist Chrome and Cork Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool and hard to find pair of modernist chrome and cork bookends, circa 1970s. The pair are heavy and in good vintage condition; they measure 4.75"W x 4.5"D x 6"H. Great addi...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Chrome

Mid-century Modern bookends for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern bookends 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 bookends created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern bookends made in a specific country, there are North America, Europe, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original bookends, popular names associated with this style include Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Blenko, Ben Seibel, and Curtis Jeré. 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 bookends differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $50 and tops out at $7,500 while the average work can sell for $525.

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