Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
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
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
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
Jean-Jacques Duval (1930-2021) Abstract Stained Glass Window Piece
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A rare and outstanding piece of stained glass by the French/American (1930-2017) artist Jean-Jacques Duval. Etched signature and N.Y. N.Y. on the cl...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Lead
Pannello Decorativo in Lacca Cinese 1950s con Uccelli Fiori di loto e Piante
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Pannello in Lacca Cinese Decoratico con Pavoni uccelli e piante con fior di loto.
Category
1950s Chinese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Lacquer
1950s Karl Drerup Enamel on Copper Frame Artwork
By Karl Drerup
Located in New York, NY
1950s modern enamel on copper frame artwork by American enamel artist Karl Drerup.
A rare collection of 5 pieces is available.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Abstract Vibrant Wall Tapestry by Junghans, 1960's
Located in London, GB
Colorful hand knotted wool hanging is probably a translation of the work of an artist. This was a time when modern artists work began to work with weavers...
Category
1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wool
K. Lee Manuel Framed Hand Painted Feather and Textile Wearable Necklace / Collar
By K. Lee Manuel
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautifully designed, decorative and stunning feather and fabric collar by famed fashion designer K. Lee Manuel. The piece has been professionally mounted and artfully framed in an acrylic box frame...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Nylon, Paint, Feathers, Leather
Mid-century modern pottery wall plaque with an abstract pattern, from Tilgmans
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A unique and rather large ceramic wall plaque with an abstract pattern of a star and amazing colors from Tilgmans, Sweden. The amazing glazin...
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Selection of Italian Pietra Dura Plaques
By Montici, G. Ugolini
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of Mid-Century Modern Pietra Dura plaques, attributed to Richard Blow for Montici or Ugolini, unsigned, Italy, circa 1950s.
They are:
1) I...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Stone
2 Tapistries by Simone Prouve
By Simone Prouvé
Located in Long Island City, NY
Cotton, wool and mix-media. Both signed.
Simone Prouve (born 1931) is the daughter Jean Prouve.
Dimensions: H 93’´x W 62’´ and H 93’´x W43" for the rope ...
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wool, Cotton, Rope
Statum by E.T. Frankland
Located in Chicago, IL
A large-scale wall sculpture titled ‘Statum’ by E.T. Frankland. This striking hexagonal piece has a black painted wood background with a cream lacquered wood textured geometric patte...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wood
Amour, Délice, Orgue by Roger Capron, Glazed Ceramic Wall Plaque, Vallauris
By Roger Capron
Located in Brussels, BE
Glazed ceramic wall plaque with mat and shiny decoration in black, white, gray, blue and ox blood. 3 words are inscribed “Amour, Délice et Orgue” (Love, Delight and Organ).
The 3 w...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Pair Of Mid Century 1960s String Picture Wall Art
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
Wonderful mid-century string art pictures from the 1960s.
Painted plywood board with steel pins and cotton thread / string. Very well executed, beautiful shapes and detail giving a ...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Steel
Vintage Dutch Canvas Postal Bag with Steel Loops and Red, White, Blue Stripe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage canvas postal bag with steel loops. 'Dutch Postal Service' stamped in Dutch and French hints that this piece is likely associated with shipments to bilingual Belgium. This we...
Category
1960s Dutch Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Canvas
Roger Capron Panel with 5 Ceramic Tiles - FISH 3
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Playful and whimsical, Capron’s art panels are the most sought after, as editions were small, and in some cases not more than a few, or by special commission. Some are rough and mat...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Karl Mann Mid Century Modernist Assemblage Collage Sculpture Chicago Art
Located in Sarasota, FL
Sculpture by Chicago artist Karl Mann.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Terracota Wind Chime Bell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition:
Original Vintage Condition
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Terracotta
Set of 5 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 5 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 3 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 3 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 4 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 4 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 5 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 5 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 9 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 9 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 14 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 14 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 108 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 108 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 32 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 32 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 30 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 30 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 17 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 17 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 25 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 25 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 5 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 5 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 4 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 4 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 7 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 7 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 12 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 12 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 7 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 7 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 12 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 12 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 38 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 38 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 48 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 48 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 50 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 50 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 73 ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 73 tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 169 (3 Sqm) ceramic tiles by Roger Capron, France - 1970s
By Roger Capron
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 169 tiles (around 3 Sqm) by Roger Capron, France - 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
French Majolica Oyster Marcel Guillot, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
Large French Majolica oyster signed Marcel Guillot, circa 1950.
10.5 diameter.
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Aqua Majolica Oyster Plate Gien, circa 1950
By Gien
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica oyster plate signed Gien, circa 1950.
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Aqua Majolica Oyster Plate Gien, circa 1950
By Gien
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica oyster plate signed Gien, circa 1950.
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Mid Century Helmut Schaffenacker, Germany Pottery Wall Plaque Horses, c1960s
Located in Chino Hills, CA
Step back in time and infuse your living space with the allure of mid-century modern design with this exquisite vintage wall plaque by the renowned German ceramist, Helmut Schaffenac...
Category
1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Large Ceramic Wall Panel Giovanni De Simone 1960 Sicilian Art Picasso
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Large ceramic wall panel Giovanni De Simone 1960 Sicilian Art Picasso Horse Rider.
In his hometown he founded his own workshop "Maioliche d'Arte De Simo...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
French Majolica Oyster Marcel Guillot, circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
Large French Majolica oyster signed Marcel Guillot, circa 1950.
10.5 diameter.
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Mid Century Horses Wall Decoration Panel Embossed Copper c1950
Located in Mimizan, FR
Mid century horses wall decoration panel embossed copper c1950-70
Good vintage condition with good patina.
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Copper
Original Oil on Paper Painting by Alexander Gore, Dated 2012 and Certified
Located in Miami, FL
A stunning original oil on paper painting by Alexander Gore. The piece is dated 2012, painted in high relief. The artist works of art have been displayed around the world and to this...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Paper, Giltwood
Roger Capron Panel with 5 Ceramic Tiles - BIRD
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Playful and whimsical, Capron’s art panels are the most sought after, as editions were small, and in some cases not more than a few, or by special commission. Some are rough and mat...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Roger Capron Panel with 3 Ceramic Tiles - SUN
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Playful and whimsical, Capron’s art panels are the most sought after, as editions were small, and in some cases not more than a few, or by special commission. Some are rough and mat...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Roger Capron Panel with 5 Ceramic Tiles - FISH 2
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Playful and whimsical, Capron’s art panels are the most sought after, as editions were small, and in some cases not more than a few, or by special commission. Some are rough and mat...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Roger Capron Panel with 5 Ceramic Tiles - HEN
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Playful and whimsical, Capron’s art panels are the most sought after, as editions were small, and in some cases not more than a few, or by special commission. Some are rough and mat...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Roger Capron Panel with 5 Ceramic Tiles - FISH
By Roger Capron
Located in Stratford, CT
Playful and whimsical, Capron’s art panels are the most sought after, as editions were small, and in some cases not more than a few, or by special commission. Some are rough and mat...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage Stained Glass Parrot Artwork.
Located in Seattle, WA
Stained Glass Handmade artwork of blue and red parrot. Wire attached for hanging. Vintage Condition Consistent with Age as Pictured.
Dimensions. 12 W ; 1/4 D ; 13 1/2 H
Category
1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Art Glass
Charming Mid-Century Modern Hand-Made Latch Hook Tapestry / Wall Art, USA, 1970s
Located in Deland, FL
Equal parts charm and nostalgia this lovely hand-made, latch-hook tapestry is ideal for a cabin in the woods. With warm, vintage colors and intricate details this wall-art piece is s...
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Wool, Walnut
Judith Daner Enamel Artwork Wall Panel Cityscape, a pair
By Judith Daner
Located in Atlanta, GA
Judith Daner designed this pair of superb Mid-Century modernist enamel on copper artworks. Each panel is one tile plaque mounted on the original walnut wood frame. The abstract and s...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Metal, Copper, Enamel
French Butterflies Glass Box Frame Midcentury
Located in Labrit, Landes
Midcentury glass box frame with butterflies, French, circa 1950.
Good vintage condition
Shipping:
4/22 / 52 cm 1.4 kg.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Danish Mid-century modern pottery wall decoration by Dietlinde Hein, Knabstrup
By Knabstrup
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Mid-century modern signed Scandinavian art pottery wall tile decoration, a fantastic wall plaque made and signed by Dietlinde Hein Knabstrup, Denmark. This piece is known as “the Thr...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Charlotte Perriand Orange sheet metal panels 1968 Arcs ski resort
Located in Grenoble, FR
Charlotte Perriand
set of orange sheet metal panels from the arcs ski resort in 1968
perfect condition
the interior designs made by Charlotte Perriand always bring an artistic dimen...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Sheet Metal
Vintage Orange Toned Stained Glass Wall Decor
Located in Seattle, WA
Square shaped stain glass Art with orange toned Accents. Beveled clear glass as the border. Vintage Condition Consistent with Age as Pictured.
Dimensions. 10 W ; 1/4 D ; 10 H
Category
1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Art Glass
Giovanni Petucco Italy Ceramic Wall Tile of Woman on a Horse, 1950s
Located in Atlanta, GA
This gorgeous rare glazed polychrome ceramic or terracotta wall tile was created by listed Italian ceramicist Giovanni Petucco (Italian, 1910 – 1961).
The decorative wall-mounted pl...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic, Terracotta
Mid-century Modern decorative art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern decorative art 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 decorative art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern decorative art made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative art, popular names associated with this style include Robert Picault, Curtis Jeré, Vallauris, and Daniel Clesse. 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 decorative art 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 $406,322 while the average work can sell for $1,323.
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