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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
Mid-Century Modern illuminated glass globe on a satin glass base by Columbia Duo
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
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...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

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...
Category

Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Plastic, Paper

Raths Politischer Erdglobus Globe DDR 1980s
By Raths Politischer Erdglobus
Located in Den Haag, NL
Räth Raths Politischer Erdglobus DDR 1980s . with light . Teak base . Dutch language . Good condition .
Category

1980s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Teak

Circa 1960s Mid-Century Modern Brass Sputnik Globe - Opens to Cigarette Holder
Located in St. Louis, MO
Mid-century Modern Sputnik era, brass globe cigarette holder. The lid slides open on the globe's axis to reveal an interior enamel metal compartment designed to hold cigarettes or wh...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Brass, Metal

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

1960s Replogle Globe World Classic Series
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Replogle Globe World Classic Series 15.5 h x 13.25 w x 11.5 d made in USA maker stamp Preowned original unrestored vintage condition Refer to images.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

Heavy Solid Brass Base Reploge Floor Stand Globe Paul McCobb MINT
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Heavy Solid Brass Base Reploge Floor Stand Globe Paul McCobb MINT
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Brass, Bronze

MCM Brass Globe Cigarette Holder Mounted on Marble c.1960 (FREE SHIPPING)
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An original mid-century brass cigarette holder mounted on a solid marble base. The lid slides open on the globe's axis to reveal a metal...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal, Brass

Brass Globe Cigarette Holder and Ashtray/Coin Dish, circa 1960-FREE SHIPPING
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An original mid-century brass cigarette holder and ashtray or coin dish. The lid slides open on the globe's axis to reveal a metal interi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal, Brass

Midcentury Mahogany Floor Globe by Replogle
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Mid-century era floor globe featuring a steel globe suspended by a mahogany stand. The globe rotates 360 degrees on two point axis comprised of metal ball bearings. Manufactured by ...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Steel

1970's Vintage World Globe/ Dry Bar
Located in Opa Locka, FL
1970's Vintage/ Mid Century Modern World Globe Dry Bar. The top opens to reveal the dry bar storage area. Great looking accent piece.
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Wood

1950s Replogle Mid-Century Modern Illuminated 10" Glass Globe with Atlas
Located in St. Louis, MO
Replogle (Chicago, IL) 10" 'Precision' Globe was manufactured in the early 1950s by and edited by cartographer, Gustav Brueckmann. Composed of paper over glass with a cast brass hal...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Brass

Beautiful large Mid Century earth globe from Columbus Verlag Paul Oestergaard
Located in München, DE
Beautiful 1950s Columbus globe. Scale 1:40,000,000. Produced by Columbus Verlag Paul Oestergaard K.G. Berlin and Stuttgart. Shiny walnut base with a small functioning compass. The gl...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Bakelite, Walnut

Vintage 1982 Rand McNally Physical/Political Lighted Light Up World Globe
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage 1982 Rand McNally Physical/Political Lighted Light Up World Globe. Circa 1982. Measurements: 17" H x 13" W x 12" D.
Category

1980s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Plastic

Brass Globe Cigarette Holder and Ashtray/Coin Dish, circa 1960 (FREE SHIPPING)
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An original midcentury brass cigarette holder and ashtray or coin dish. The lid slides open on the globe's axis to reveal a metal interio...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal, Brass

1960's Mid Century Modern World Globe/ Dry Bar - Interior Bottle Storage
Located in Opa Locka, FL
1960's Mid Century Modern World Globe Dry Bar. Top half opens to reveal bottle storage. Very nice art work. Turned wood supports.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Wood

Beautiful Mid Century Modern glass light globe from JRO Globus Germany
Located in München, DE
Beautiful Mid Century glass light globe from the 60s by JRO Globus. Manufacturer is JRO-Verlag Munich. Very detailed descriptions and in...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Aluminum

Mid Century Modern Replogle Brass Stand Globe in the Manner of Paul McCobb, 1955
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
1950's era Paul McCobb style globe with patina brass stand. Brass is original and has not been polished. Globe does have age, pictured. Dimensions: 34.5 H x 14.5 D.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Modern Columbus Earth globe by Columbus Verlag Paul Oestergaard
Located in München, DE
Beautiful 1950s Columbus terrestrial globe. Scale 1:48,000,000. Produced by Columbus Verlag Paul Oestergaard K.G. Berlin and Stuttgart. Base made of shiny walnut wood. The globe is m...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Bakelite, Walnut

Vintage Table Globe, English, World Map, 13.5 Inch Diameter, Cartography, C.1960
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage table globe. An English, paper finished world map with chrome meridian, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1960. Fascinating mid-cent...
Category

1960s British Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Chrome

Mid-20th Century Terrestre Columbus World Globe Oestergaard Berlin, Germany
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage nice 20th century globe. Made by German manufacturer Oestergaard, Berlin, Germany. It's made of lithographed paper globe with a solid wood and metal base, aluminum knob...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

Replogle Terrestrial Floor Globe
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
This floor globe by Replogle floats within a ring of walnut, supported by four 'turned' chrome stiles, which connect to a base of walnut. The ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Vintage Mid-Century World Map Globe Lamp Light by JRO Verlag Munich circa 1970s
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
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...
Category

Late 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

Replogle World Globe in the Style of Paul McCobb, 1960s
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Replogle World Globe in the Style of Paul McCobb, 1960s.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal, Brass

Large Vintage Illuminated Glass Globe
Located in Seguin, TX
Large vintage 16" circa 1960 illuminated table top glass globe. Made by Cram's, heavy glass with bronzed finish metal harp and turned wood base. Chain pull for light, pretty dark whe...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Glass, Wood

Midcentury Modern Replogle Illuminated Glow Globe on Wood Stand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Light up world globe by Replogle. Signed and guaranteed authentic. Attractive with or without globe being illuminated. Simple elegant modernist lines on solid wood frame. In good con...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Wood

Replogle Vintage American Globe on Metal Stand
Located in New York, NY
Vintage American Modern globe of the world resting on a curved cantilevered black metal stand (REPLOGLE).
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal, Brass

Standing Jro Globus, 1960s, Germany
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice Vintage JRO Globus on a Wooden base. Rare model. On the ring a Paper telling the Months and the Zodiac in Dutch. Vintage condition.
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Wood

Vintage Bakelite, Sheet Metal / Tin Globe from the 1950s, West Germany
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Globe from the 1950s. Specially made on the subject of aviation. Depicted with all kinds of flying lines. Made by the company M.S. Germany. The globe is made of Tin and the stand is Bakelite. Globe and stand...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

Replogle Standard Globe with Atlas, C.1950
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A replogle standard globe with a metal bracket mounted on a metal pedestal. The original atlas slides into the base. CREATOR Replogle. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1961-1964....
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

Vintage Replogle Articulating Globe on Brass Stand, Ca. 1970
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Vintage Replogle articulating globe on brass stand, ca. 1970. Globe dates to the late 60's, early 70's based on geographic name changes, etc. Beautifu...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Illuminated Replogle World Floor Globe in Wood and Glass, Chicago
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
American 1950's back light green painted floor globe by Replogle, Mid-Century Modern. Remarkable and charming Chicago made world globe featur...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Steel

Mid Century Style Illuminated Floor Globe by Scan-Globe A / S Denmark
Located in San Diego, CA
Large luminous globe, created in the 1980s by the Danish label Scan-Globe A / S. Made in plastic and wood, this piece depicts the representation of land and political geography at a scale of 1: 32,000,000. The world ball...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Acrylic, Wood

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...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Teak

Mid-Twentieth Century Illuminated Terrestrial Glass Globe by George F. Cram
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Electrified glass 10.5" Terrestrial Globe by George F. Cram Co (ca. 1951, Indianapolis, IN, USA). Composed of paper gores over glass with ocean finishes in an attractive aqua with bo...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

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

Floor Model Light Up Globe by Replogle Ca. 1950/1960's
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional light up floor model globe, by Replogle Globes Inc. The globe is 16 in. in diameter, it features an interior light, and restrain a solid mahogany frame. This example is i...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Glass, Mahogany, Paper

Mid-Century Light Glass Globe with Wooden Base by Paul Rath, 1950s
Located in Praha, CZ
-Fully functional -Photo surface defects -Made of glass, metal and wood.
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Midcentury Globe on Smoked Lucite Stand
Located in San Diego, CA
Large midcentury globe on smoked Lucite stand by National Geographic, circa 1970s. This a very cool piece with removable and super colorful 16" D glo...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Lucite

MCM Repogle World Horizon Series Lighted World Globe on Custom Pine Stand
Located in Topeka, KS
Wonderful Repogle World Horizon Series lighted 12” diameter plastic world globe, metal axle, and a custom pine Stand. Beautiful condition with wear as you would expect with a vintage piece. Please see photos, Circa 1950-1980.   See the world in a different light…. this is a fabulous Mid-Century Modern World Horizon Series lighted world globe...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

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

American Victorian Globe
Located in New York, NY
American Victorian style globe of the world with a relief supported on a pedestal base stand with 3 legs.   
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Wood

Large-Scale Vintage Military Globe / Activity Globe by A.J. Nystrom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Machine Age-style A.J. Nystrom of Chicago Military or Activity Globe composed of a spun metal blue orb with green slated land masses outlined in yellow. These globes were used by the...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

Sculptural Relief World Globe by Nystrom
Located in Buffalo, NY
Sculptural relief world globe by Nystrom, wonderful design, aluminum stand, raised graphics, nice color and patina. Measures: 16".
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Composition, Aluminum

1950s Replogle Glass Illuminated Precision Globe
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This 10" 'Precision' Globe was manufactured in the early 1950s by Replogle (Chicago, IL) and edited by cartographer, Gustav Brueckmann. Composed of paper gores over glass with a cast...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal, Brass

1960s Replogle 'Comprehensive' Illuminated Globe on Walnut Base
Located in Brooklyn, NY
1960s Replogle 'Comprehensive' globe composed of paper gores over plastic with a cast aluminum half-meridian all mounted to a walnut base equipped with two upright dividers for paper...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Aluminum

Globe by Denoyer Geppert Company
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A graphic and finely fabricated spun steel teaching globe mounted on a weighted stand.
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Steel

Vintage School Globe by Nystrom
By Lennart Nyström
Located in New York, NY
Vintage school globe by Nystrom. USA, circa 1950. Features bold green continents on blue ocean, mounted on a metal base with swivel mechanism.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

C.S. Hammond & Co. 1950s Inflatable Globe on Tripod Stand
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hammond's International Globe (circa 1955) composed of an inflatable globe on painted metal tripod base. Images and font are large in scale and very l...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

Illuminated Globe Lamp attributed to Edward Wormley Dunbar
Located in Chicago, IL
Globe Lamp attributed to Edward Wormley for Dunbar. These are wired and illuminate.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Atomic Wood Sculpture
Located in North Miami, FL
This amazing vintage French atomic wood sculpture is one the largest one seen. It is Mid-Century Modern. It would be great on a pedestal or large cabinet and or console. It is quite ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Wood

Telescoping Adjustable World Globe by Rand McNally, Chicago
Located in Buffalo, NY
16 inch diameter telescoping adjustable world globe by Rand McNally, Chicago, wonderful color and proportion, adjustable from 52 inches to 76 inches, retains original metal baseball ...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

Vintage World Globe by AJ Nystrom
Located in New York, NY
A vintage large school globe by A.J. Nystom Co. USA, circa 1950. Features delineated brown continents, along with oceans, latitude and longitude numbe...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

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

Chicago Midcentury Papier-Mâché Globe Brass Metal Black Made in USA, 1950s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Chicago midcentury Papier-Mâché globe brass metal black made in USA 1950s, variable height, traces of wear and original Patina.
Category

1950s Virgin Islands Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal, Brass

Mid-Century Modern Illuminated Glass Globe on a Brass Tripod Base by Columbia
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Mid-Century Modern illuminated glass globe on a brass tripod base, 1960s. Dimensions Height: 16.14 in. (41 cm) Diameter: 12.59 in. (32 cm) Very nice, rare Columbia Duo ground globe...
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Metal

Giant Mid-Century Globe by Columbus Verlag Paul Oestergaard, 32” tall
Located in Atlanta, GA
Giant Mid-Century Globe by Columbus Verlag Paul Oestergaard, made in the 1950s in Germany. The globe is elevated on a circular platform stepped base of beechwood and is mounted on it...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Chrome

Mega Large Globe "JRO Verlag" Munich, 1950s
Located in Oostrum-Venray, NL
Mega Large Globe "JRO Verlag" Munich, 1950s A beautiful mega large globe. It stands on a wooden base and can easily be rotated. The sphere is made of a thick paper cardboard and is...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Globes

Materials

Paper

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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