Skip to main content

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.

278
29,504
to
2,808
15,848
12,754
29,504
29,504
29,504
5,005
886
757
667
347
296
169
97
96
90
84
66
62
61
52
50
47
265
420
172,340
18,863
1,007
115,236
42,426
79
32
238
1,129
4,110
29,504
40,985
30,142
5,264
1,368
15,692
11,950
8,967
6,649
4,617
21,931
9,959
5,830
5,421
3,414
398
385
377
300
230
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Period: 1950s
American Designer, Lounge Chair, Bamboo, Rattan, Velvet, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A moulded bamboo, rattan and green velvet lounge chair designed and produced in the US, c. 1950s. Seat height: 18”
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Velvet, Bamboo, Rattan

Small Table lamp with fabric shade vienna around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Small Table lamp with fabric shade vienna around 1950s Brass polished and stove enameled The fabric shade is replaced ( new )
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

1950s Italian Midollino Chandelier 4 Lights
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Original 1950s Italian handmade Midollino chandelier 4 Lights E14 Max 40 watts each
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Bottle Holder vienna around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Bottle Holder vienna around 1950s Original condition The bottle is not includet it is only for the photoshooting
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Andrianna Shamaris Impressive Minimalist Hand Carved Teak Wood Bench
Located in New York, NY
Furniture constructed by hand from start to finish. A beautiful single slab of teak wood taken from my finest collection is hand carved by our master carver to produce this impressiv...
Category

1950s Indonesian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood

Giuseppe Ostuni "Ochetta" Wall or Table Lamp for O-Luce, 1950
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Petite table lamp "Ochetta" by Giuseppe Ostuni for O-Luce, brass frame with perforated, red enameled hood, fully adjustable, can be used as a wall lamp as well, wired for US standard...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Argentine Dresser 1950s
Located in Milano, IT
Dresser, mahogany veneer wood, brass ferrules.
Category

1950s Argentine Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

A Pair of Ypsilon Red Glass Carafes by Bormioli Rocco
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Pair of Ypsilon Red Glass Carafes by Bormioli Rocco Beautiful red glass carafes by Bormioli Rocco made in Italy.  These are the Ypsilon carafes they are tall and elegant with a ...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Art Glass

Classic Modernist Lounge Chair by Heywood Wakefield , after Gio Ponti
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Modernist Lounge Chair by Heywood Wakefield , Reminiscent of amazing designed chairs by Gio Ponti. Angular solid birch wood legs.Recently reupholstered in a nice cream /off w...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Birch

Andrianna Shamaris Mid Century Couture Coffee Table
Located in New York, NY
The Mid-Century Couture Collection. Furniture constructed by hand from start to finish. A beautiful reclaimed single slab from my finest collection is hand carved to produce this imp...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood

1950s Danish teak and oak draw-leaf dining table by Børge Mogensen
Located in Victoria, BC
We're delighted to present this 1950s Danish teak and oak draw-leaf dining table by Børge Mogensen, crafted for Søborg Møbelfabrik. Designed with both functionality and elegance in m...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Oak, Teak

1950s Swedish Teak and Beech Credenza
Located in Victoria, BC
Introducing this captivating 1950s Swedish teak and beech credenza, perfect for small-scale living spaces. This charming piece, enhanced with a tastefully finished back which was add...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Teak

Swedish Designer, Wall Light, Fabric, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pink fabric wall light designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 11.5” H x 15.25” W x 5.5” D Back Plate Dimensions (inches): 3.44” H x 3.05” D Bulb S...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric

Large Vase with Lid in Italian Midollino 1950s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Large Vase with Lid in Italian Midollino 1950s
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Mid-Century Modern High Back Lounge Chair by Jan den Drijver for De Stijl, 1950s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Elegant and rare Mid-Century Modern high back lounge chair. Design by Jan den Drijver for De Stijl Den Haag. A true example of Dutch Modern,Jan den Drijver designed this distinctive ...
Category

1950s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Bouclé, Oak

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

Midcentury rare decorative dining table made in the 1950s, Belgium
Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp
Rare decorative dining table made in the 1950s. This Belgian made dining table features a rectangular top laminated in white formica and detailed with a warm wooden veneer at the edg...
Category

1950s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Formica, Wood

Set of 4 Mid-century dining chairs, made by Consorzio Sedie Friuli, Italy 1950s
Located in Wolfurt, AT
This set consists of 4 chairs from the Italian manufacturer Consorzio Sedie Friuli. The wooden frame, made of lacquered beech wood, shows slight fading, while the olive-coloured genu...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Faux Leather, Wood

Malatesta and Mason Armchair, Year 1950
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Malatesta and Mason armchair, 1950s, Made in Italy. Ebonized wood armchair with original patina of the period. The fabric of the armchair is red faux leather and is original. This s...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Wood

Circular Gio Ponti style brass and glass table. Italy c1950
Located in London, GB
Lovely circular brass table on casters. Italy c1950. Lovely patina to brass.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

American Designer, Slipper Chairs, Walnut, Fabric, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of white fabric and walnut slipper lounge chairs designed and produced in the US, c. 1950s. Seat height: 16.25”
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

Unagusta, Nightstands, Wood, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of wood "Del Mundo" nightstands or side tables produced by Unagusta, USA, c. 1950s.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Wood

Tony Paul, Table Lamps, Walnut, Brass, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of walnut and brass table lamps designed and produced in the US, c. 1950s. With glass diffusers. Overall Dimensions (inches): 25” H x 14” W x 15” D Stated dimensions include...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Midcentury Typewriter / Zeta, 1950s.
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of metal, steel, plastic The packaging of the machine has surface defects that are associated with the age of use,cannot be locked,there is no key. Re-...
Category

1950s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Steel

High Sideboard designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, Serie CU 04
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rare beautiful high sideboard designed by the Dutch designer Cees Braakman for Pastoe, a sideboard from the Japanese series CU 04 made in teak with a warm color. Features with harmon...
Category

1950s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Solid Brass and Lucite Coffee Table with Flamingos France 1950s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Small table in solid Brass and Lucite with Flamingos, probable Maison Jansen manufacture France 1950/60.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Exquisite Credenza by Edmond J. Spence made by Industria Mueblera Mexico
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
This is an extraordinary credenza cabinet or sideboard designed by Swedish designer Edmond J. Spence. This Beautiful piece showcases Spence's exceptional talent and reflects his uniq...
Category

1950s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Iron

Seguso Vetri D'Arte Poli Murano Sommerso Italian Art Glass Squirrel Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, rare, and cute vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso green Italian art glass squirrel figure / sculpture. Documented to designer Flavio Poli for...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass

(3) Venini Fasce Orizzontale globe pendants or shades
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Smoked glass shades with vibrant red, green and blue horizontal stripe. These are easily converted to hanging globes, which we can do on spec for an additional fee. Can be purchased ...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Italian Midollino Conical Chandelier 1950s Brass Chain
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Original Italian wicker conical chandelier circa 1950s , with brass chain .
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Pair of Armchairs Gigi Radice Minotti fabric Weave green Yellow Mid-century
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Pair of Armchairs Gigi Radice Minotti fabric Weave green Yellow Mid-century
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Fully Restored Medea Side Chair in Dark Exotic Hardwood, Nobili, 1955 Italy
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
'Medea' chair, designed by Italian designer Vittorio Nobili for Tagliabue, Italy 1955. Molded dark brown exotic hardwood ply shell in a delectable satin oil finish accented with high...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Fully Restored Medea Side Chair in Medium Exotic Hardwood, Nobili, 1955 Italy
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
'Medea' chair, designed by Italian designer Vittorio Nobili for Tagliabue, Italy 1955. Molded medium brown exotic hardwood ply shell in a delectable satin oil finish accented with hi...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Vintage Bohemian Blue Glass Lens Bullet Vase by Rudolph Schrotter
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Vintage Bohemian Blue Glass Lens Bullet Vase by Rudolph Schrotter A very stylish retro art glass blue vase by Sklo Union Rudolfova no chips or cracks, a lovely colour The vase is ...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Art Glass

Bamboo bar cart, 1950s
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Bamboo bar cart, 1950s, Made in Italy. Food bar cart with structure made of bamboo. Condition is perfect, some slight signs of use due to time. The price of shipping is for the It...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Porcelain Girl Figure by Kurt Steiner for Wallendorf Porzellan, 1950s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Figure of girl in porcelain by Kurt Steiner for Wallendorf Porzellan
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Flat-Weave Rug by Anna-Greta Sjöqvist, Vintage Sweden
Located in Stockholm, SE
A vintage Swedish flat-weave by Anna-Greta Sjöqvist from the mid 20th century. It is 205 x 146 cm and in very good condition except from some minor stains and shows wear on the fring...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Wool

Gio Ponti Style Modernist Dressing Mirror, Italy, 1950's
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Nice simple design
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

STILNOVO Italian Suspension Light: Mid-Century Elegance
Located in Rome, IT
Experience the charm and sophistication of the 1950s with this elegant Italian suspension light, attributed to the iconic STILNOVO. This piece combines the best of mid-century modern...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

A Vintage Finnish Design Wall Lamp, 1950s
Located in Helsinki, FI
Vintage ceiling lamps like this one were made by different companies in Finland in the 1950s. Itsu, Valinte, Stockmann along with Taito, Idman and Orno were some of the leading light...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Austrian Midcentury Brass Floor Lamp Mod. 2097 Pelikan by J.T. Kalmar
Located in Vienna, AT
This rare Austrian Midcentury height adjustable brass floor lamp model 'Pelikan' (engl. 'Pelican') no. 2097 was designed and manufactured by J.T. Kalmar Vienna. The light is document...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

Large adjustable and extendable floor lamp by Maison Lunel, France circa 1950/60
Located in Paris, FR
Large extendable and adjustable floor lamp by Maison Lunel, produced between 1950 and 1960. This floor lamp is made of polished brass, with a large ball-and-socket joint embedded in ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Neoclassical Modernist French Buffet
Located in Austin, TX
Buffet from France in the Modernist style with neoclassical lines. This piece boasts a striking flamed sycamore with a striking inlay on the four doors inlayed wit ebony. This expert...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

Mid-Century Italian Grace: Adjustable Cream and Brass Table Lamps
Located in Rome, IT
Presenting a pair of gracefully designed Italian table lamps from the 1950s, these pieces blend the elegance of aged brass with the softness of cream-colored lacquered metal. Each la...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Japanese Serie DU03 Sideboard by Cees Braakman for Pastoe 1958, Dutch design
Located in Antwerp, BE
Minimalistisch Japanese series DU03 sideboard by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1958. Dutch design icon of high quality. The DU03 is one of the most famous but also most coveted sideboard...
Category

1950s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Charles Dudouyt Attributed Tall Table Lamp in Oak, France, 1950s
Located in The Hague, NL
This striking tall table lamp was manufactured in France in the 1950s. The design is attributed to Charles Dudouyt. Crafted from dark stained oak wood, the lamp consists of a circu...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Oak

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

Sligh Furniture, Cabinet, Maple, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A dark-stained maple cabinet produced by Sligh Furniture, USA, 1950s.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Maple

Fröske, Wall Mirror, Teak, Metal, Sweden, 1954
Located in High Point, NC
An etched glass, teak and metal wall mirror produced by Fröseke, Nybrofabriken, Sweden, 1954.
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Swedish Designer, Wall Light, Fabric, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pink fabric wall light designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 10.5” H x 11” W x 4.75” D Back Plate Dimensions (inches): 2.98” H x 2.75” D Bulb Spe...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric

Vintage Mid Century Boomerang Ashtray by Stangl Pottery
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage Mid Century Boomerang Ashtray, Stangl Pottery, Trenton, New Jersey. Marked 3938. This beautiful and stylish piece is a great tasteful touch to any decor. Captivating as a sc...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Art Deco Val Saint Lambert Cobalt Crystal Ashtray Faceted, 1950s
Located in Verviers, BE
Art Deco Val Saint Lambert Label Cobalt Crystal Ashtray Faceted, 1950s Beautiful Val Saint-Lambert crystal vases, handcut Faceted, the glass is thick, deeply and evenly cut, Val S...
Category

1950s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Brass Tripod Bar Stools France 1950s Set of 4
Located in Munich, DE
Elegant rare tripod bar stools designed in a tripod oak base with a brass stand and the top is made in light grey leather.
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Dining table by George Nelson for Herman Miller F66
Located in Antwerpen, Antwerp
George Nelson was a pioneering modernist who ranks with Raymond Loewy, Charles Eames, and Eliot Noyes as one of America's outstanding designers. Beside being a leading designer and n...
Category

1950s Unknown Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

1950s Candelabra for Five Candles in Stainless Steel, Handmade, Made in Italy
Located in Milano, IT
1950s Stunning candelabra for five candles in stainless steel. Handmade, in excellent condition. Made in Italy Dimension: diameter 11,81 x 16,92 inches (size without candles) diamete...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Stainless Steel

Small vase Icaro Rodi Italy 1950s Faenza Pomegranate
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Small vase Icaro Rodi Italy 1950s Faenza Pomegranate
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Swing Arm Wall Light by Rene Mathieu for Lunel, 1950
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful double cone swing arm wall light by Rene Mathieu for Lunel, France 1950, original yellow colored enameled metal shade with decorative ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass, Metal

Danish Mid-Century Modern Rocker Model J16 by Hans Wegner in Beech, 1944
Located in Belmont, MA
Whether soothing a newborn or unwinding after a hectic day, nothing compares to the gentle rocking motion of the Wegner J16 Rocking Chair. Designed by Hans J. Wegner, one of his earl...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Beech

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.

Recently Viewed

View All