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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 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
A pair of pink marble bookends by Vermont Marble Co, mid 20th century
Located in View Park, CA
A pair of pink marble bookends by Vermont Marble Co, mid 20th century. Pale pink with burgundy and brilliant coral veining. Felted bottoms. Note the ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Marble

Cast Brass Duck Head Bookends, Korea 1970s
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Cast Brass Duck Head Bookends, Korea 1970s
Category

1970s Korean Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Abingdon Pottery Pair White Ceramic Mid Century Modern Horse Head Bookends 1940s
Located in Miami, FL
Handsome Pair of Mid Century white Horse Head Modern Bookends by Abingdon Potteries. Beautiful designed horse heads bookends in glossy creamy white glaze which were produced from 193...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Pair of Large Carl Auböck Model #4219 'Hands' Brass Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Large Carl Aubo¨ck Model #4219 'Hands' Brass Bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in polished brass. Hand ful...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Pair Mid Century Modern Pottery White Horse Head Bookends Abingdon Pottery 1940s
Located in Miami, FL
Handsome Pair of Mid Century white Horse Head Modern Bookends by Abingdon Potteries. Beautiful designed horse heads bookends in glossy white glaze which were produced from 1938 thr...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Abingdon Pottery 1940s Mid Century Modern Pair Black Horse Head Bookends
Located in Miami, FL
Handsome Pair of Mid Century Horse Head Modern Bookends by Abingdon Potteries. Beautiful designed horse heads bookends in glossy black glaze which were produced from 1938 through 1...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

1940s Pair Modern Pottery Black Horse Head Bookends Abingdon Pottery
Located in Miami, FL
Handsome Pair of Mid Century Horse Head Modern Bookends by Abingdon Potteries. Beautiful designed horse heads bookends in glossy black glaze which were produced from 1938 through 1...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Pair of Art Glass Cast Elephant Bookends by Don Shepherd for DAS Designs
Located in San Diego, CA
A pair of art glass cast elephant bookends by Don Shepherd for DAS Designs, circa 1980s. The pair are the back and front end of an elephant and are in ve...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Art Glass

Brass Gazelle Bookends
Located in Vallejo, CA
A pair of vintage brass bookends in the shape of gazelles. Beautiful gold patina and green stone bases. Great stylized deco design.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Stone, Brass

Brass Bookends Ben Seibel for Jenfred Ware Orb, 1950s
Located in London, GB
Pair of rounded sculptural brass bookends in organic form by Ben Seibel for Jenfred Ware, distributed by Raymor, USA, 1950's. Cast metal with shiny brass finish and partly a dark pat...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

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

Pair of Modernist Solid Marble Cube Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
A really nice pair of modernist solid black and white marble cube bookends, circa the 1970s. The pair are in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measure 3"W x 3"D...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Marble

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

Vintage Mid-Century Wall Street Bear Bronze Bookend Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
Mid-Century Modern stock market bookend sculpture brass bear on a solid marble base. These iconic symbols of Wall Street presented majestically on a marble base that adds a solid (li...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Marble, 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

Mid-Century Hand Carved Alabaster Owl Sculptures with Glass Eyes Bookends 1950s
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful, meaningful, practical and decorative mid-century bookends. Given the fact that owls are the international symbol for wisdom and learning, these are the perfect sculptures...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Alabaster

Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3530 'Flatiron' Patinated Brass and Cane Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #3530 'Flatiron' patinated brass and cane bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Jane and Gordon Martz Ceramic and Walnut Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful pair of ceramic and walnut bookends by Jane and Gordon Martz for their company, Marshall Studios. Each bookend stands sculpturally and presents a ceramic inlay detail in wo...
Category

1950s North American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Pottery, Walnut

Brass Praying Hands Bookends, 1970's
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Brass Praying Hands Bookends, 1970's.
Category

20th Century Indian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3654 Brass Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #3654 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

Pair of Carl Auböck Model #4636 Brass Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #4636 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

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

Bronze Cast Patinated American Eagle Bookends Circa 1950s
Located in San Diego, CA
Bronze-patinated American bald eagle bookends circa 1950s. Beautiful elegant pair.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Pair of Brass Hermes Style Horse Saddle Stirrup Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful pair of horse saddle stirrup bookends in brass. This beautiful set is sure to create interesting impact in your décor or office. The brass shapes are light on the eye but...
Category

1970s Korean Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

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 Vintage 1950s Bronze Carl Auböck Austria Bronze Square Bookends #4575
Located in St. Louis, MO
Pair of vintage circa 1950s "Square" handmade bookends #4575 designed by Carl Auböck Austria. Square bookends with round hole in the center and cross hatch lines with nice warm patin...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Bronze

Italian Onyx Horse Art Deco Head Bookends
Located in Antwerp, BE
A beautiful and elegant pair of Art Deco hand-carved onyx horse head sculptural bookends with bowed head. Italy, circa 1940s.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Onyx

Cast Brass Bookends, Israel 1967
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Cast Brass Bookends, Israel 1967 made by Tarra Sancta Guilt.
Category

1960s Israeli Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Mid Century French Brass Nautilus Shell Paper Weight Bookend Objet d'Art Decor
Located in Pearland, TX
Beautiful vintage Mid-Century French brass nautilus shell paper weight bookend objet d'Art. A solid and heavy piece, weighing approximately 2 lbs. It's a stylish piece for any room d...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Gucci Italy Hand-Stitched Red Leather Bookends with Gilt Metal Partridges, 1970s
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gucci, Italy, designed this superb pair of handcrafted leather and metal bookends in the 1970s. This rare large-scale set features two gilded metal partridges resting on a hand-stitc...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Metal, Brass

Don Shoemaker Bookends for Señal
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Born in Nebraska, Don S. Shoemaker studied painting at The Fine Arts Institution of Chicago. In the late 1940s, he moved to Mexico with his family and settled in Santa Maria de Guido...
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Hardwood

1970s Vintage Jewish Hebrew Brass Bookends Israel
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage Jewish Hebrew Brass Bookends Israel Decorative Metal 3.5 diameter x 7 h x 4.25 w Made in Israel Original Vintage Condition Unrestored Refer to i...
Category

Late 20th Century Israeli Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Metal, Brass

Modernist Acrylic Lucite Brass Bookends Art Deco Style Crespi Maison Jansen 1970
Located in Nierstein am Rhein, DE
Sculptural pair of French or Italian acrylic lucite clear plastic bookends in Art Deco Style with patinated gilt brass globe balls, Italy or France around 1970s. The chic, elegant an...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Sheldon Rose AlphaSculpt Typesetter Block Sculpture Bookend
Located in San Diego, CA
Signed Sheldon Rose (American 20th Century) Typesetter cube sculpture, can also be used as bookend. In polished polychrome silver metal. Sheldon Rose (American, 20th century), attend...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Metal

Pair of Travertine Bookends-Mid 20th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of mid-20th century Italian travertine bookends carved in creams and beige coloration. They are a classic and elegant addition to any bookshelf of decor.
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Travertine

Pair of Vintage Rare Pink & White Geode Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Versatile set of pink and white geode bookends, circa 1980s. The set is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks.
Category

15th Century and Earlier American Antique Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Rock Crystal

Ben Seibel by Jenfred-Ware Mid-Century Modern Brass Sculptural Dumbbell Bookends
Located in St. Louis, MO
Ben Seibel MCM sculptural dumbbell brass plated bookends with handles, designed for Jenfred-Ware and marketed for Raymor c.1950s. Nice vintage condition...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Pair of Sculptural German Art Nouveau Brass Bronze Bookends 1900
Located in Berlin, DE
Decorative pair of Art Nouveau brass/bronze bookends. Germany, 1900s.   
Category

Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Pair Vintage Murano Glass Millefiori Bookends
Located in Troy, MI
Found in Italy, this pair of millefiori (thousand flowers) bookends have multi color murine flowers suspended in clear, heavy Murano glass. Oval shape with flat base and flat inside ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Murano Glass, Murrine

Aus-Ben Studios Black Labrador Dog Head Bookends, United States, circa 1987
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Aus-Ben Studios Black Labrador Dog Head Bookends, United States, circa 1987. Original label to the bottom of one example.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Resin

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

1960s Jax Design Line Single Jack Patinated Bookend California
Located in Chula Vista, CA
George Nelson Style of Design Line Single Jack Bookend California Bill Curry Unmarked 4.75 h x 6 w x 5.25 d Unrestored vintage original preowned condition Review our images
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Metal

Vintage Majolica Staffordshire Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Bookends - a Pair
Located in Centennial, CO
A charming pair of vintage majolica Staffordshire Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Bookends. The black and white dogs with a red collars rest their paws ...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Ceramic

Circular Chrome Bookends in the Style of Curtis Jeré
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair metal chrome plated bookends in the Style of Curtis Jeré. Each bookend has a heavy rectangular base. Dimensions Each bookend measures: 6.5” width x 4.5” depth x 7.5” height. C...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Pair of Solid Bronze Elephant Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Solid Bronze Elephant bookends. The pair are very handsome and ready to hold some of your heaviest books, at 2.8 pounds each they pack a lot of power. Well suited for any d...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Bronze

Vintage French Wooden Bookends
Located in High Point, NC
These original bookends, originating from 20th-century France, showcase expert carving into smooth, L-shaped geometric figures. Accompanied by bottle-like wooden containers, they pro...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Wood

Pair of Wood Donkey Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of solid wood bookends hand carved into the shape of donkey heads. Each donkey has ears that stand at attention and a dark walnut finish. Marked Made in Haiti -1953. Dimensio...
Category

Early 20th Century Haitian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Wood

Midcentury Sculptural Jacks Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Solid iron sculptural jacks bookends in a chocolate brown. Could also be used as doorstops. 1950s.  
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Brass

Pair of Vintage Blue and Yellow Metal Bookends
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An awesome pair of pop art styled mid-century modern bookends. They are a stacked combo of metal circles and squares painted in yellow and blue that are heavy enough to hold up most...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Metal

Vintage Regency Hand-Painted Bookends - a Pair
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fabulous pair of vintage Regency bookends. A charming little couple in period dress. Hand painted detail on a ceramic cast. Acquired from a Palm Beach e...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Blenko Clear Textured Glass Elephant Bookends by Wayne Husted
Located in St. Louis, MO
Pair of MCM Wayne Husted designed clear textured glass Elephant bookends for Blenko, circa 1960s. In fine condition, no damage. no Label. In fine condition, no issues.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Glass

Pair of Brass Finish "Ladder-Form" Bookends by Ben Seibel for Jenfred Ware
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Ladder" bookends designed by Ben Seibel for Jenfred Ware in the 1950s (New York) and distributed by Raymor. Beautifully aged with a rich, patinated brass finish. Wear throughout, as...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Metal

Vintage Midcentury Glass Owl Bookends by Blenko
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful pair of midcentury glass owl bookends by Blenko from the 1960s. Incredible craftsmanship and detail in this pair of glass bookends that can adapt to your style as sculpture...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Blown Glass

Curtis Jere Signed A to Z Bookends, United States, 1960's
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Curtis Jere Signed A to Z Heavy Gold Leaf over Iron Bookends, United States, 1960's.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Iron, Gold Leaf

Vintage Contemporary Carved Column Bookends- a Pair
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fabulous pair of vintage Contemporary bookends. A beautiful deep red on a carved wooden column. A chic and simple design. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Category

Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Blenko Bookends by Wayne Husted, USA, 1960's
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Mid-Century Modern Blenko Bookends by Wayne Husted, USA, 1960's.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Glass, Art Glass

Studio Crafted Wood Heart Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Sweet pair of Studio Crafted Wood Heart Bookends for the book lover in your life. Solid carved wood.
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Wood

Pair of Mid Century Italian Alabaster Bookends
Located in London, London
Pair of bookends Alabaster Handcarved  Bookshaped Italy Mid 20th Century
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends

Materials

Alabaster

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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