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Mid-Century Modern Furniture

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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1,110
937
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12,703
436
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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Recognized Seller Listings
Clyde Burt Ceramic Vessel
Located in Chicago, IL
Clyde Burt stylized face vase in matte gray glazed stoneware with manipulated and applied facial details. Signed to underside: [CB]. American, circa 1965.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Designer, Floor Lamp, Brass, Fabric, Italy, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
An adjustable brass and off-white fabric floor lamp designed and produced in Italy, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 63.25” H x 33”W x 9” D Stated dimensions include shade. Bu...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Style Murano Glass Chandelier
Located in Austin, TX
Spectacular, Mid-Century Modern style, oval-shaped chandelier. Five levels of alternating smoked and clear crystal glass "tronchi" elements make this piece a bold and sophisticated s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Murano Glass Green Disc Lamps
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of Italian lamps made of Murano glass. This pair features iridescent green glass discs separated by a brass structure. They are hand-crafted and have been newly wired to fit US ...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

WYETH Original Tall Bronze 'Rope' Table Lamp
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A Wyeth Original, spare, sinuous table lamp made from a continuous coil of thinly gauged bronze tubing. Available in polished, brushed, darkened or blackened bronze finishes. Produce...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Set of Six Dining Chairs in Chrome-plated Steel and Rush
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Set of six dining chairs, chrome-plated steel, rush, Europe, 1970s These sleek modern dining chairs, dating back to the seventies, constitute an open framework crafted from steel, f...
Category

1970s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Steel, Chrome

De Sede Sectional Sofa ‘DS-76’ in Black Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede, modular sofa, model ‘DS-76’, leather, Switzerland, 1970s This high-quality sectional sofa designed by De Sede in the 1970s contains one corner element, one regular element ...
Category

1970s Swiss Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather

Rare Lounge Chair by Bengt Ruda for Artifort, The Netherlands 1960s
Located in Utrecht, NL
This cosy mid-century lounge chair by Bengt Ruda is one of the designer’s rarest designs. The combination of the Swedish designer’s idea and the Dutch manufactury’s execution is exce...
Category

1960s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Sheepskin, Wood

Stilnovo Pair of Rare Pendants, Italy, 1960s
Located in New York, NY
Pair of rare pendants each with opaline glass globe shades held by brushed aluminum and brass fittings suspended by cable and original brushed aluminum canopy. This iconic Stilnovo m...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass, Aluminum

Petite Burnt Orange French Mid-Century Ceramic Vessel
Located in New York, NY
Petite burnt orange French mid-century ceramic vessel with splayed black paint overlay. ' Signed underneath J Blin.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Small 1950's Italian Sommerso Murano Glass Vase Attributed to Flavio Poli
Located in New York, NY
Attributed to mid-century Italian designer Flavio Poli, this 1950's vase is composed of green in amber sommerso Murano glass blown in a teardrop form with a bulbous bottom gracefully...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass, Murano Glass

Italian Pair of Dining Chairs in Stained Wood & Beige Patterned Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pair of dining chairs, beech, fabric, Italy, 1960s Everything about this pair of chairs is elegantly round. The back-/armrest echoes the base in the same semicircular, open form. Th...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Beech

Elm wood wavey border wall mirror, anonymous, Sweden, 1960s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Wave wall mirror, anonymous, Sweden, 1960s Elm and mirrored glass.
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Elm

Böhlmarks, Adjustable Table Lamp or Wall Light, Brass, Metal, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
An adjustable wall light or table lamp. Designed and produced by Böhlmarks, Sweden, 1950s. In brass and red-lacquered metal. Other designers of the period include Jean Royere, Pa...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Italian Designer, Table Lamp, Steel, Metal, Italy, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A steel and black-lacquered metal table lamp designed and produced in Italy, 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 19 “ H x 7.75 “ Diameter  Bulb Specifications: E-14 Bulb Number of S...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Steel

Jane & Gordon Martz, Table Lamps, Walnut, Ceramic, Linen Marshal Studios, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of walnut and ceramic table lamps designed by Jane & Gordon Martz. Produced by Marshall Studios, Veedersburg, Indiana, c. 1955. Bases are sculpted walnut, with ceramic inlays...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Walnut

Agne Aronson, Vase, Blue-Glazed Stoneware, Sweden, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A blue-glazed stoneware vase, designed and produced by Agne Aronson, Sweden, c. 1960s.
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

Vallauris, Coffee Table, Iron, Ceramic, France, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown and orange-glazed ceramic and iron coffee or cocktail table, designed and produced by Vallauris, France, c. 1960s.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Iron

1960s Austrian Cow Horn Comb by Carl Auböck
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant comb hand carved from cow horn with naturally occurring variations in color and pattern.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Horn

Wilhelm Kåge, Vase, Stoneware, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A red-glazed stoneware table lamp designed by Wilhelm Kåge and produced by Gustavsberg, sweden, c. 1950s.
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

Extraordinary Lounge Chair in Ash and Off-White Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Lounge chair, ash, fabric, metal, Europe, 1970s. Unconventional lounge chair that features an outstanding design. The seating contains multiple tube-shaped cushions attached togeth...
Category

1970s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Jean Royère Style Oak Four Poster Bed, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Oak bed in the manner of Jean Royere with undulation design on the headboards and posts that end in spheres, a classic design of the period.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Oak

Gino Sarfatti, Adjustable Table Lamp, White Metal, Leather, Arteluce, Italy 1966
Located in High Point, NC
An adjustable table lamp, designed and produced by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, Italy, 1966. White-lacquered metal socket is mounted on the base in form of a leather pouch filled w...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Brass & Parchment Floor Lamp, Italy 1960s
Located in New York, NY
Brass reading floor lamp with its original hand stitched parchment shade.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Jane & Gordon Martz, Table Lamp, Ceramic, Walnut, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A brown-glazed ceramic and walnut table lamp designed by Jane & Gordon Martz and produced by Marshall Studios, USA, c. 1950s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 14” H x 10” Diameter Dimen...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Walnut

Pair of Large Space Age Chrome & White Enamel Sconces, France 1960’s
Located in New York, NY
Large fixtures. Soft wired.
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Enamel, Chrome

Swedish Designer, Wall Lights, Fabric, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of hand-embroidered fabric wall lights designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 13.75” H x 12” W x 4” D Back Plate Dimensions (inches):N/A Bulb...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric

Italian Designer, Wall Lights, Brass, Teak, Metal, Glass, Italy, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of teak, brass, opaline glass and metal wall lights designed and produced in Italy, 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 8.5” H x 5” W x 7” D Back Plate Dimensions (inches): 3...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Italian Designer, Pendant Lights, Brass, Galvanized Steel, Glass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass, galvanized steel and glass pendant lights designed and produced by an Italian designer, Italy, 1940s. Dimensions of Canopy (inches): 1.86 x 4.10 x 4.10 (Height x ...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass, Steel

ALF, Wall Lights, Brass, Teak, Glass, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of adjustable brass, teak and green glass wall lights produced by ALF, Sweden, c. 1950s. Dimensions variable  Overall Dimensions (inches): 15.5” H x 5.75” W x 5.75” D Back Pl...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Swedish Designer, Adjustable Floor Lamp, Brass, Paper, Plastic, Sweden 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
An adjustable brass and plastic floor lamp, designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1960s. Overall Dimensions: 59" H x 20.75" W x 26" D  Bulb Specifications: E-26 Bulb Number of Socke...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

French Pastoral Chairs in Stained Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining chairs, stained wood, France, late 1940s. Rustic dining chairs manufactured in France. Simple yet stylish, these chairs feature a modest frame with sleek, elegant elements. ...
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Beech

Adrien Audoux and Frida Minet Chair with Rope Seating
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet for Vibo Vesoul, dining chair, beech, straw, France, 1950s. The seating and backrest are made of woven hemp from the abaca plant which is close to the s...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Rope, Beech

Three Seater Sofa with Stained Beech Legs, Denmark 20th Century
Located in Utrecht, NL
Designed in the early phase of what we know today as mid-century modern, this charming sofa is evidence of how traditional Danish craftsmanship was brought into modernism. The sofa’...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Beech

Pair of Ward Bennet Swivel Channel Back Lounge Chairs
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Ward Bennet Swivel Channel Back Lounge Chairs. Reupholstered with Spinneybeck leather Dimensions: 28" High 28" wide 30" deep 16.50 Seat Height
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather

Van Keppel Green "VKG"Bench
Located in Chicago, IL
Van Keppel Green "VKG" Outdoor/Indoor Bench 1955c. Custom made by California Living 2000c. Metal T legs with mesh top covered by 2" thick cushion' Dimensions: 72" long 18" deep 18.2...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Pair of DIA Drink Tables
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of DIA Drink Tables, Polished Chrome, Drink Tables, with glass tops, slender design for space saving profile legs can slide under sofas and Lounge chairs. dimensions: 22" high ...
Category

1980s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Paul McCobb for Calvin Dresser
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul McCobb Dresser for Calvin, features a rich Mahogany veneer. Its bi-fold doors, mounted on piano hinges, open up to reveal four spacious drawers. Additionally, the dresser offers...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Guillerme & Chambron Double Cup Armchairs, France 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Rare solid oak armchairs by Guillerme & Chambron with swiveling drink trays on either side. Very comfortable with their new latex cushions upholstered in Pierre Frey Bouclé with cont...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Bouclé, Oak

Square Wrought Iron Chairs in the Manner of Quinet, France 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Square section wrought iron chair with comfortable curved back. Twelve available.
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

MetalArte Brass & Stitched Brown Leather Floor Lamps, Spain 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Brass floor lamps by MetalArte Elegantly Wrapped in brown leather, fully adjustable in height from 50” to 70”, Base is 10".
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

1950s Gaming Table by Charles Eames for Herman Miller
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A square dining or game table with an ash top, on folding steel legs. Model DTM.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Steel

Pair of Enameled Lava Tile Tables, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Stripped Enameled lava slabs in intricately detailed wrought iron bases.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Lava, Wrought Iron

Murano Glass Gray Vase Trio
Located in Austin, TX
Set of three gray vases made of hand-blown Murano glass vases. Each vase differs in size, yet has the striking fluted detailing and frosted appearance that unites them. Small vase - ...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Mid-Century Style Italian Stools
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of stools in the mid-century style from Italy. The stools are circular in design with curved legs on each. They have been upholstered in a Paul Smith fabric.
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric

Gilbert Steiner Black Armchair, France 1960's
By Gilbert Steiner
Located in New York, NY
Modernist Visiteur chair in original vinyl, on brass legs. Six available. Priced as singles in COM.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Small Wrought Iron & Travertine Curule End Table, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Black enameled steel end table with brass feet and a travertine top.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Travertine, Wrought Iron

Murano Glass Avventurina Sommerso Bowl
Located in Austin, TX
Bowl from Murano, Italy made of hand-blown glass using the sommerso and avventurina blowing techniques. 23 carat gold is fused within the glass in the avventurina process. Then the p...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Mathieu Mategot Wrought Iron & Wicker Table, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Wicker and wrought iron table by Mathieu mategot. Multi layered rod base with all the rods converging in a central sphere. Finished in a gunmetal patin
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Jansen Travertine, Bronze & Lucite Table, France 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Large center table or console, very thick travertine top supported by two massive lucite legs two inches thick, linked by a Bronze stretcher.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Travertine, Bronze

Petite Bamboo Table Lamps, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Petite bamboo and bronze tripod table lamps. Manner of Jacques Adnet.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Bronze & Brown Leather Floor Lamps by Metalarte, Spain 1950's
Located in New York, NY
A pair of floor lamps by MetalArte Wrapped in a Chocolate leather, on heavy bronze bases. Signed on the counterweight.
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Isamu Noguchi Coffee Table, USA 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Early Classic Noguchi IN 50 table in black stained Cherry and vintage apple green glass, aluminum connecting pin present.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Pale Blue Tall Italian Wingchairs, Italy 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Pair of light blue cotton upholstered armchairs in the style of Paolo Buffa on cherry legs with brass accents.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Bronze & Twist Leather Wrapped Floor Lamps, Spain 1950's
Located in New York, NY
A pair floor lamps by MetalArte Elegantly wrapped in a Tobacco leather, on heavy bronze bases. Base only: 9"x55"
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Brass & Saddle Leather Floor Lamp, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Elegant floor lamp in brass, the large square stem wrapped in a rich tobacco colored leather. Base is 9"x55" without shade.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Murano Glass Avventurina Sommerso Vase
Located in Austin, TX
Vase from Murano, Italy made of hand-blown glass using the sommerso and avventurina blowing techniques. 23 carat gold is fused within the glass in the avventurina process. Then the p...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Mid-Century Vallauris Tiled Coffee Table
Located in Austin, TX
Coffee table from mid-century France. The structure is made of bamboo, while the top is tiled with tiles from Vallauris. The tiles showcase a hand-painted design of lilies.
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Bamboo

Mid-century Modern furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, seating, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Cassina, Knoll, Fabio Ltd, and J.T. Kalmar. 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.

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