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Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

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 celebrated 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.

Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. 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
Vintage Ron Fritts Signed Chrome, Wood, Plexi Pop Art Shadow Box Wall Sculpture
Located in North Miami, FL
This eye-catching and rare vintage Ron Fritts Pop Art shadow box wall sculpture has suspended resin or lucite balls floating in four different window vignettes that change. The background is black Mylar plexiglass and the exterior wood is newly ebonized. The original labels on the back that says RF studios Inc. and a number. The silver interior balls jump around as you pick it up and rotate it and even turn it upside down. The components of the resin have slightly yellowed from age and sun exposure. There is also glue residue from age and coming apart. It is what it is...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

Materials

Aluminum, Chrome

Thomas C. Strobel "Optical" Three-Dimensional Op Art
By Thomas C. Strobel
Located in Skokie, IL
Thomas Carey Strobel "Optical" Three-Dimensional Op Art This is an unusual piece of three-dimensional Op Art aptly titled "Optical." The work is constructed of a series of 3D acryli...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

Materials

Metal

Antique Butterfly Collection Glass Shadow Box Wall Decoration, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Shadow box made in wood and glass containing a butterfly collection.
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

Materials

Glass, Wood

Vintage Metal Letter F Lighted Sign
Located in San Diego, CA
Cool vintage metal rusted letter F, new rewired lighted cord and bulbs switch off/on in perfect working condition nice rusted patina.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

Materials

Metal

1950's Seagram's Gin Advertising Electric Clock Old Stock New In Box
Located in San Diego, CA
A very rare 1950's plastic box with aluminium face electric clock with illuminated martini cup , we have 4 available new old stock a very rare find beautiful piece for a mancave or s...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

Materials

Metal

Vintage "Canal Zone" Panama 1960 Framed License Plate
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage "Canal Zone" Panama 1960 framed license plate, circa 1960. This unique shadow box piece presents this rare piece of US history very nicely. The piece is in very good vintage ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

Materials

Metal

Set of 30s/40s bank safes in steel and brass
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Lot of old bank safes from the 30s/40s. Steel structure (fairly heavy), painted yellow on the outside and blue on the inside (original paint). Brass locks and keys. Security system n...
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

Materials

Metal, Brass

Mid-Century Modern Geometric Shadow Box Wall Shelf
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A dynamic and graphic Mid-Century Modern shadow box wall shelf, featuring an asymmetrical geometric composition and bold color contrast. The outer frame is finished in a warm blonde ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

Materials

Wood

Large Octagonal Wood and Glass Shadow Box or Collectible Box with Latch
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A wonderful mid-century wood octagonal shadow box perfect for display on a coffee table, or for hanging on a wall. The inside features 9 shelves for storing collectibles. A glass lid...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

Materials

Glass, Wood

Sculptural Vintage Painted Metal Cut-Outs, Mounted and Framed
Located in North Miami, FL
This intricately cutout vintage painted Metal Art piece with original paint and patina, showing losses and age appropriate. Very much reminiscent of Calder or Noguchi era. Stunningly...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

Materials

Metal

Sculptural Vintage Painted Metal Cut-Outs, Mounted and Framed
Located in North Miami, FL
This intricately cutout vintage painted Metal Art piece with original paint and patina, showing losses and age appropriate. Very much reminiscent of Calder or Noguchi era. Stunningly...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

Materials

Metal

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Vintage Gujarat Saurashta Ethnic Beaded Textile India Framed
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage hand made Gujarat Saurashta Ethnic beadead textile India. Hand Beaded Guarat Indian panel textile framed in a lucite box. Amazing work of hand beading by Chakla Indian, Gujarat state, Saurashtra or Kutch region. Such a nice piece of visual interest, and a beautiful acquisition for any textile lover. Vintage Chakla hand-embroidered wall hanging, Rabari of Gujarat Beadwork, Patchwork. The method of work is a tri-bead system (tran moti-no thansiya), worked row-by-row, three beads being taken up at each stitch; on the return row, the stitching of the beads moves forward one position, so that as the work progresses row-by-row a close rhomboid network is formed.The beadwork is set into a frame of applique silk material Manufacturing Process: Handmade Materials: Cotton, silk. Period: Late 19th/ early 20th century. Most native beadwork...
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Seascape Themed Iron Sculpture Signed A. Melia, Architectural Wall Art
Located in Miami, FL
A captivating mid-century modern iron wall sculpture depicting a scene of sailboats on a rolling sea. The meticulously crafted ironwork captures the essence of the scene, with sails,...
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Pair of Framed Antique Intaglios
Located in East Hampton, NY
Pair of Antique intaglios newly framed on camouflage burlap.
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Burlap, Glass, Plaster, Wood

Pair of Framed Antique Intaglios
Pair of Framed Antique Intaglios
$2,900 / set
H 10.13 in W 10.13 in D 1.63 in
Ron Schmidt Wall Sculpture Iron, Nail & Brass Brutalist Sculpture
Located in Toledo, OH
Mid-Century Modern iron, brass and nail Brutalist wall sculpture by Ron Schmidt circa 1960's. Fan pinwheel pattern. Very nice condition. Dimensions: 3.5" d...
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Cat Shadow C Sculpture
Located in Paris, FR
Sculpture Cat Shadow C all in steel in black finish. Flat decoration piece. On steel round base: 16cm diameter. Available with other cat shadows.
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Cat Shadow C Sculpture
Cat Shadow C Sculpture
$385 / item
H 14.18 in W 11.82 in D 6.3 in
Sea Life and Shell Diorama /Shadow Box
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
3-715 Beautiful sea life diorama including sea shells various crustaceans ,seahorse starfish encased in a walnut frame under glass. Brass hanging ring
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Sea Life and Shell Diorama /Shadow Box
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Set of '15' 19th Century Framed Botanical Specimens
Located in East Hampton, NY
19th century French dried plant specimens... signed by G. Babou, dated, and meticulously catalogued including location in France.... a wonderful set of 15.
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Paper

Set of '15' 19th Century Framed Botanical Specimens
Set of '15' 19th Century Framed Botanical Specimens
$6,800 / set
H 21.75 in W 15.25 in D 0.25 in
Vintage Sailors Valentine
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lofty vintage sailors valentine handcrafted with exotic organic seashells ambitiously composed with a heart and flowers inside geometric borders. Presen...
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20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

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Vintage Sailors Valentine
Vintage Sailors Valentine
$2,400
H 10.5 in W 10.5 in D 2.5 in
Previously Available Items
Vintage Signed Greg Copeland Wall Op Art Lightbox, 1970s
Located in Detroit, MI
This original mid century Greg Copeland three-dimensional art lightbox is signed and dated 1970. This rare configuration includes plug-in lamp. The modernist Op art design features b...
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Three Mounted Scrolls by Rune Hagberg, Sweden, 1970s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Three mounted scrolls by Rune Hagberg, Sweden, 1970s. Paper scrolls mounted on a board in a plexiglass box. Unique. Signed. H: 76 cm W: 81 cm D: 12 cm Rune Fredrik Hagberg was a renowned Swedish artist that took much of his inspiration from Zen Buddhism spirituality and Eastern Calligraphy. He is represented at, among many others, the Modern Museum and the Norrko¨ping Art Museum. Hagberg’s meditative informalism is placed between the concretism and expressionism of the 1950s, his art becoming simpler until he reduced it so far that only tightly closed picture reels...
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1970s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

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Greg Copeland 1973 Shadow Box Print 39/500
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Greg Copeland shadow box print on Plexiglass. Signed and numbered 39/500. Unique Dimensional Quality gives this Piece a lively feel. All Original and in Good Shape.
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1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

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Plexiglass

Vintage Glass Box Frame with Butterflies
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern glass box frame with Butterflies, American, circa 1960. Good vintage condition to the Reverse of Frame. Great for teaching Nature ...
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1960s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

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Glass, Wood

Vintage Glass Box Frame with Butterflies
Vintage Glass Box Frame with Butterflies
H 12 in W 8.75 in D 1.13 in
Handcut Marbleized Paper Butterfly Box
Located in Houston, TX
Handcut marbleized butterfly box from vintage hand painted Marbalia wallpaper samples (circa 1957) handcut into butterfly shapes. Each mounted on brus...
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2010s American Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

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Foil

Handcut Paper Butterfly Box
Located in Houston, TX
Handcut butterfly box from vintage hand painted Marbalia wallpaper samples (circa 1957) handcut into butterfly shapes. Each mounted on brushed gold foi...
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2010s American Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

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Foil

Handcut Paper Butterfly Box
Handcut Paper Butterfly Box
H 25 in W 25 in D 2 in
Handcut Paper Butterfly Box
Located in Houston, TX
Handcut butterfly box from vintage hand painted Marbalia wallpaper samples (circa 1957) handcut into butterfly shapes. Each mounted on brushed gold foi...
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2010s American Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

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Foil

Handcut Paper Butterfly Box
Handcut Paper Butterfly Box
H 25 in W 25 in D 2 in
Greg Copeland 1970s 3-D Geometric Op Art
Located in St. Louis, MO
Greg Copeland 1970s 3-D assemblage of 7 layers of geometric cutout in acrylic frame. Form of abstract art in shadow box frame. Signed Copeland, date ...
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1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

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Lucite, Paper

Greg Copeland 1970s 3-D Geometric Op Art
Greg Copeland 1970s 3-D Geometric Op Art
H 10.25 in W 10.25 in D 2.38 in
Miss Transportation 1977 Tiara
Located in Essex, MA
A rhinestone tiara which was used to crown Miss Transportation in 1977, mounted in a black velvet line deep shadow box with a silvered wood frame.
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1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

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Metal

Miss Transportation 1977 Tiara
Miss Transportation 1977 Tiara
H 12.13 in W 11.13 in D 3.5 in
Pair of Midcentury Lucite Butterfly Display Boxes
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Exotic butterfly specimens presented in custom Lucite display or shadow boxes, each with thirteen butterflies and signed in the lower left by its creator.  
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

Piero Fornasetti Jester Maschere Ceramic Plaques Custom Framed Pair of Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
These amazing pair of Mid-Century Modern original Piero Fornasetti hallmarked harlequin jester "MASCHERE" ceramic plaques are very unique. Th...
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1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

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Silver Leaf

Signed Ron Fritts Pop Art Wall Shadow Box Sculpture
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small rare pop art in a shadow box, by US artist Ron Fritts. Ron Fritts has led a life motivated by the creative impulse. He was always making things, drawing and having to produc...
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Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Shadow Boxes

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Aluminum, Chrome

Mid-century Modern shadow boxes for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern shadow boxes 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 shadow boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with plastic, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern shadow boxes 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 shadow boxes, popular names associated with this style include Greg Copeland, (after) Fernand Léger, and Ron Fritts. 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 shadow boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $275 and tops out at $12,000 while the average work can sell for $2,246.

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