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Mid-Century Modern Globes

MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE

Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.

ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS

VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.

Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively. 

Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer

Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.

The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.

As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.

Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.

As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.

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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Creator: Edward Wormley
Vintage Mid Century Modern Illuminated Globe on Mahogany Stand By Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Mid Century Modern Illuminated World Globe on Mahogany Stand By Edward Wormley for Dunbar This light up globe is perfect for anyone searching for eclectic light sources. This soft light will make any living room or waiting area cozier. American designer Edward Wormley was inspired by sleek Scandinavian modernism with this wood stand. This is a great for history buffs, as the globe displays mid...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Illuminated Glass World Globe on Mahogany Stand by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mahogany sculptural globe stand supported by brass sabots originally designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar in 1953. The globe itself is a 16" Rand McNally Terrestrial globe composed ...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Brass

Ed Wormley of Dunbar Mid-Century Modern Illuminated Globe Light Fixture
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Walnut and brass tripod or tri-leg base stand Mid-Century Modern illuminated globe by Ed Wormley.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Brass

World Globe by Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
The ultimate world globe designed by Edward Wormley for Rand McNally, USA, circa 1950. Features a rotating globe mounted on a walnut base with brass capped legs. Marked "Rand McNally...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

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Mid-Century Modern illuminated glass globe on a satin glass base by Columbia Duo
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Mid-Century Modern illuminated glass globe on a satin glass base by Columbia Duo, 1960s Dimensions Height: 16.14 in. (41 cm) Diameter: 12.59 in. (32 cm) Very nice, rare Columbia Du...
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World Globe Cram's Imperial Circa 1950 12 inch
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Vintage Mid-Century World Map Globe Lamp Light by JRO Verlag Munich circa 1970s
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Wonderful vintage Mid-Century fun world map globe table lamp or desk light by JRO-Verlag München. Made in Germany circa 1970, this whimsical lamp would...
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Mid-20th Century Terrestre Columbus World Globe Oestergaard Berlin, Germany
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1980 Romanian Political Geographic Terrestrial World Globe Lamp Light
Located in Dayton, OH
Illuminated 1980 / II Globul Geografic Politic (The Political Geographic Globe) published by the Intreprinderea Poligrafica (Polygraphic Company) of Brasov, Romania. Comprised of pap...
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1960's Pair of Vintage Chests by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in London, GB
A magnificent pair of vintage chests, these were made in the USA by Dunbar furniture, they were designed by Edward Wormley. Edward Wormley was one of the leading pioneers of mid-cen...
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20th Century Vintage Globemaster World Globe
Located in Chula Vista, CA
20th Century Vintage Globemaster World Globe 15.5 h x 13 d x. 11.5 w Paper Plastic Some damage to paper. Unrestored original vintage condition. Re...
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Plastic, Paper

20th Century Vintage Globemaster World Globe
20th Century Vintage Globemaster World Globe
No Reserve
H 15.5 in W 11.5 in D 13 in
Post Modern Lapis & Gemstone Revolving World Globe on Brass Stand
Located in San Diego, CA
Post-modern lapis and gemstone revolving world globe on brass stand, circa 1990s. This gorgeous globe is made of various gemstones that are perfectly cut and inlaid to form contents...
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Jens Risom Deisgned Illuminated Globe on Teak Stand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautiful vintage globe turns on its axis as mounted on a vintage teak stand. Complete with casters and interior illumination this vintage Replogle...
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Mid Century Bookends Revolving World & Moon Globe
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A pair of vintage German decorative bookends with spinning globes of the moon and earth
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Materials

Metal

Edward Wormley King Size Headboard for Dunbar
Located in San Francisco, CA
Edward Wormley design King size headboard for Dunbar Furniture, Berne Indiana. Featuring an ebonized mahogany frame with a caned backrest intended for a king size mattress, no rails ...
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1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

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Cane, Mahogany

Previously Available Items
Mid Century Modern Dunbar Illuminated Floor Globe by Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Mid Century Modern Dunbar Illuminated Floor Globe by Edward Wormley This beautiful and classic Dunbar Illuminated Floor Globe by Edward Worml...
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Brass

Edward Wormley Illuminated Globe for Dunbar, USA, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
An illuminating globe suspended in a brass frame mounted in a walnut stand with tapered legs and brass tips. Designed by Edward Wormley for Rand McNally and made by Dunbar.  
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Brass

Edward Wormley “Cosmopolitan” Rand McNally World Globe
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Edward Wormley Rand McNally World globe on stand. Paper over glass ball, globe spins and pivots in stand. Wood base has brass accents. Globe sh...
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Glass, Walnut, Paper

Illuminated "Cosmopolitan" Globe by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Kansas City, MO
An illuminating globe in a walnut stand designed by Edward Wormley for Rand McNally and made by Dunbar. Called the Cosmopolotan, it has an X-base of four tapered walnut legs with bra...
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1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Brass

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Illuminated Globe
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
Illuminated globe on walnut tripod with brass tips on the bottom of the legs.
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1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Vintage Illuminated Edward Wormley Globe Stand for Dunbar
Located in San Jose, CA
Vintage globe stand designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, circa 1950s. This piece features a rotating light up 16" globe made with a walnut stand.
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1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Illuminated Edward Wormley Globe for Dunbar
Located in San Jose, CA
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Edward Wormley for Dunbar Illuminated Glass Globe on Mahogany Stand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
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Brass

Illuminated globe by Edward Wormley
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Illuminated globe by Edward Wormley
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Dunbar Globe Lamp by Edward J. Wormley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dunbar Globe Lamp by Edward J. Wormley
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Walnut

Dunbar Globe Lamp by Edward J. Wormley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dunbar Globe Lamp by Edward J. Wormley
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1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

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Walnut

Illuminated Globe By Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Rand McNally world map affixed to an Illuminated electric glass globe. Rotating globe can be repositioned within the brass tipped walnut floor stand.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Brass

Mid-century Modern globes for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern globes 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 globes 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, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern globes made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original globes, popular names associated with this style include Replogle Globes, JRO-Verlag, Edward Wormley, and A.J. Nystrom & Co. 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 globes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $120 and tops out at $6,500 while the average work can sell for $900.

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