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Mid-Century Modern Barware

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
Midcentury ceramic pear shaped ice bucket, France 1960s
Located in Firenze, IT
Midcentury ceramic pear shaped Ice bucket France 1960s Brass, ceramic, glass, metal h 26 cm - diam. 19 cm Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use.
Category

1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

1970s Mid-Century Modern Brass Italian Ice Bucket
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A solid brass ice bucket designed and manufactured in Italy in the Seventies. It's in very good condition overall, brass it's in original patina. This ice bucket is a standout piece ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Four - RARE - Vintage Fred Press "Lotus" Pattern Old Fashioned Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of four hard-to-find Fred Press "Lotus" pattern old fashioned having raised and textured translucent pink petal design with gold diamonds.
Category

Early 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

MCM Lucite Cube Form Covered Ice Bucket in the Manner of Alessandro Albrizzi
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid-Century Modern cube form ice bucket attributed to Jet Set designer Alessandro Albrizzi having a spherical interior space enclosed by a swivel mounted lid and finished on the exte...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Lucite

1950s Aldo Tura Goatskin and Brass Carafe Thermos Italy
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents 1950s Aldo Tura Goatskin and Brass Carafe Thermos Pitcher Barware made in Italy, maker stamped. 11.5 h x 3.75 diameter x 4.5 d Preowned vintage wear, see all images...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Set of Four Hard to Find Cera Glassware "Golden Dragon" Large Rocks Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Four Large size vintage rocks glasses by Cera with a Golden Dragon chasing the "Pearl of Wisdom" on a textured frosted ground within borders of orange and gold.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Set of 4 Hard to Find Cera Glassware "Golden Dragon" Large Rocks Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Four Large size vintage rocks glasses by Cera with a Golden Dragon chasing the "Pearl of Wisdom" on a textured frosted ground within borders of orange and gold.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

1970's Vintage Honey Dew Blenko Style Wine Decanter
Located in San Carlos, CA
🎉 Elevate Your Entertaining Experience! 🍸 Introducing our Very Cool Mid Century Brown Decanter – the ultimate statement piece for your next gathering...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Cocktail Shaker With A Red Wire-Netting
Located in Vienna, AT
Glass bottle with red wire-netting and a cover made in the early 1970s.
Category

1970s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Steel

Set of Four Retro "Bamboo" Motif High-Ball Cocktail Glasses by Culver LTD
Located in San Diego, CA
Set of four retro "Bamboo" motif high-ball cocktail glasses by Culver LTD, circa 1970s. The glasses are in good condition with no cracks or chips; the graphics are crisp. Each glass...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Modernist Brass Bar Pitcher w/Hinged Lid and Curved Butterscotch Bakelite Handle
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Italian modernist brass bar pitcher with hinged lid and tapering S-curved butterscotch Bakelite handle. Marked on bottom "Made in Italy"
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Christian Dior Set of Six Coasters Lucite Faux Tortoiseshell & Brass, Italy 1970
Located in Rome, IT
Beautiful set of six octagonal coasters in faux tortoiseshell lucite and brass borders in the style of Christian Dior. Made in Italy 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

1960s Gorgeous Red Bohemian Cut Crystal Glass Cocktail Shaker, Made in Italy
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Gorgeous red bohemian cut crystal glass cocktail shaker. Made in Italy in excellent condition. Dimension diameter 3,54 x 8,66 H inches diameter cm 9 x cm 22.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Cut Glass

Tommi Parzinger Brass Ice Bucket
Located in New York, NY
Tommi Parzinger modernist brass ice bucket featuring a mercury glass liner and a finial top on lid. Professionally polished and lacquered.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Set of 4 Vintage American Eagle Rocks Glasses by Cera Glassware.
Located in Nantucket, MA
Four vintage rocks glasses by Cera, decorated as a teal and red parade drum with a spread-wing eagle holding a stars and stripes shield on the front and with a shield on the back.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Christofle Silver Plate Ice Bucket in the Talisman Pattern with Brown Enamel
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Silver plate wine / champagne bucket by Christofle in the "Talisman" pattern., having brown enameled bar handles with silver capped ends on central curved stems from the sides of a t...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate, Enamel

Tommi Parzinger Modernist Brass Ice Bucket
Located in New York, NY
Modernist brass ice bucket with a mercury glass liner designed ny Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn. Professionally polished and lacquered.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Cut Crystal Champagne Coupes; Set/5
Located in Malibu, CA
Intricately cut crystal champagne coupes with blown glass stems.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Crystal

Vintage Large Italian Murano Art Glass Clown Decanter Bottle
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Large Hand Blown Italian Murano Glass Clown Decanter Bottle 13.5” . Amazing colorful hand blown Murano glass clown decanter with hat and bow tie. This Italian hand blown Mura...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Art Glass

1970’s Saks Fifth Avenue Ice Bucket
Located in Charleston, SC
A wonderful and absolutely classic leather and canvas ice bucket from Saks Fifth Avenue C. 1970’s.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Leather, Canvas, Plastic

Frankli Wild Pewter & Crystal Alligator Form Decanter
Located in Chicago, IL
Whimsically modeled mixed media glass and metal bar barware themed article designed in the form of a crocodile alligator from the South African company Frankli Wild. The decanter is ...
Category

1980s South African Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Crystal, Pewter

Four - RARE - Vintage Fred Press "Lotus" Pattern Old Fashioned Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of four hard-to-find Fred Press "Lotus" pattern old fashioned having raised and textured translucent pink petal design with gold diamonds.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Sintzenich Old Fashioned Glasses w/Nautical Flags and Suggestive Meaning
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Vintage set of 4 old fashioned bar glasses in clear glass, each painted with a different nautical flag. To the left of each flag is the letter/word meaning and below each is a sugges...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Four Vintage Cera Parade Drum Rocks Glasses with Eagle and Shield Design
Located in Nantucket, MA
Four vintage rocks glasses by Cera, decorated as a teal and red parade drum with a spread-wing eagle holding a stars and stripes shield on the front and with a shield on the back.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Rattan, Black lacquered Metal and Faux-leather Bottles Rack
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This bottles rack is made of rattan, black lacquered metal and faux-leather. This is a French work. Circa 1970
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Large Carl Aubock Brass Key Corkscrew Bottle Opener Paperweight, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful sculptural Mid-Century cork screw bottle opener in the shape of a big key. This is a rare and not common model, designed by Carl Aubock, executed by the Carl Aubock works...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Nutcracker Vienna Around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Nutcracker Vienna Around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Nickel

Pineapple Ice Bucket, Silver Plate Extra Large, Portugal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This a beautiful Pineapple Ice Bucket, Silver Plate Extra Large, from Portugal. Very big, 20" tall by 9" across. The lid sits on the rim and has a small peg that adapts into a whole ...
Category

Late 20th Century Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Mid Century Silver Fade Roly Poly Cocktail Glasses - Set of 6
Located in Vallejo, CA
A beautiful set of 6 mid century silver fade roly poly cocktail glasses. Each glass decorated with metallic silver that fades to clear at the bases. Made in the Dorothy Thorpe styl...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Large Mid-Century Modern Solid Brass Square Wheat Engraved Tray - Signed Italy
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A stunning large mid-century modern solid brass serving tray. This Italian piece is square, with rounded edges. It is created from solid brass and is hand etched with a wheat motif a...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Signed David Marshall Solid Brass Wine Holer, Spain 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful wine holder in solid brass. This rare piece was designed by David Marshall and is signed on the handle. It was produced in Spain during the early 1970s. This charming win...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Vintage Brass "Porthole" Ice Bucket Marked "Nauticalia / Made in England"
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Brass ice bucket of cylindrical form with a "Porthole" top, having a hinged glass lid in brass frame with working screw and nut locks enclosing a removable aluminum liner. Marked on ...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Mid-Century Modern Italian Square Ice Bucket, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Mid-Century modern Italian square ice bucket, 1970s Mid-Century Italian pear shaped ice bucket in chrome plated silver platter, 1970s A wo...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass, Chrome

1960s Mercury Glass Roman Centurion Coasters in Caddy - 9 Pieces
Located in Draper, UT
1960s Mercury Glass Roman Centurion Coasters in Caddy. It includes eight coasters and one caddy with handle. Each coaster has an embossed head of a Roman soldier or centurion - (a ...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Mercury Glass

Mathieu Mategot Style Leather and Pony Fur Bottle Holder Wine Rack, France 1950s
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant bottle holder or wine rack, whose design is attributed to French designer Mathieu Mategot (1910 - 2001,) features a typical 1950s work with leather and pony skin fur fro...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

1960s Brass Black Leather Hip Flask Spain
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Spanish Gold Brass or Plated Black Leather Flask Decanter Secret Bottle Label underneath. 6 h x 4 x 1.25 d Made in Spain Preowned original vintage condition See images provided.
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Brass

Danish Modern Teak Ice Bucket by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Round, teak ice bucket with black plastic interior insulation designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk (1960s, Denmark). Elegant form with vivid teak grain a...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic, Teak

Set of Two French Giant Champagne Wine Bottles, Gordon Rouge and Chauvenet
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Two Oversized Bottles from Gordon Rouge GH Mumm and Co. and Francoise E. Chauvenet. These vintage bottles are perfect for display either in a home or on a bar in a store or restauran...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Bottle Holder Around, 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Bottle Holder Around, 1950s Original condition Bottle is not included (it is only for the Photoshooting).
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Set of 4 Vintage Rocks Glasses in the 22k Gold "Canella" Pattern by Culver, LTD.
Located in Nantucket, MA
Four vintage rocks glasses in the "Canella" pattern by Culver, LTD. in 22 karat gold on clear glass with a design of woven cane pattern having a textured and raised surface.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Six "METH" Mid-Century Highball Glasses w/Fishing Lures in 22k Gold and Enamels
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of six vintage highball glasses of clear glass with white frosted interior and decorated with a design by Robert Meth in 22 karat gold and colored enamels, having fishing lures h...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Silver Plate Spirit Measure / Jigger of Double Bell Form, Marked Kirk
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Vintage silver plate spirit measure / jigger of double bell form with a ring centered between the two sides. Marked Kirk / Steiff inside one of the measures.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Six Vintage Rocks Glasses with a Parrot in a White Scrollwork Cage by Cera Glass
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of six vintage rocks glasses by Cera Glassware decorated with a colorful parrot in a white scrollwork cage on clear glass.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Culver Frosted Rocks Glasses with Anchors Between Bands of Flags
Located in Nantucket, MA
Six mid-century rocks glasses decorated in blue and white having large anchors between two bands of nautical flags all on a frosted ground.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Ice Bucket Raffia and Golden Metal, France 1970s
Located in ROUEN, FR
Champagne and Ice Bucket from the 1970s. Made with braided raffia and gold metal. The inside is made of white plastic. Manufacturer is Kraftware Company NY City. Beautiful patina...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Gold

Midcentury Pewter Pineapple Form Ice Bucket by Mauro Manetti Italy, 1960s
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful form pineapple ice bucket, a container with lid, in pewter by Mauro Manetti for Fonderia D'Arte Firenze. Made in Italy in the 1960s. Manufacturer's stamp on th...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Aluminum, Pewter

MCM Silver Fade Ombre French Carafe Decanter & 8 Stems Style Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Topeka, KS
Stunning vintage mid-century modern beverage serving set of eight silver fade ombre French stem glasses and one carafe or decanter in the style of Dorothy Thorpe but unsigned. Beauti...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Set of 8 Fred Press Highball Glasses, Party Set with 2 Each of 4 Colors
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of eight Fred Press designed highball glasses consisting of 2 each in four colors having clear circles with white borders on a colored ground with a woven texture below a band of...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

1960s Italian Burlwood Silver Chrome Ice Bucket Italy
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents 1960s Italian Vintage Burlwood Silver Chrome Ice Bucket Made Italy After Milo Baughman Handsome Mid-Century Modern burl wood and metal ice bucket with handle. Ice b...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Gucci, Italy - Nautical Anchor Bottle Opener c.1970/1980
Located in Bath, GB
A rarely found Italian chromium bottle opener in the form of an anchor signed on the underside by " Gucci Italy". Dating to c.1970/1980 it remains in excellent condition. 3 3/4" x ...
Category

Late 20th Century Vatican Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Chrome

Pair of Gold Painted MCM Pump Glass Decanters
Located in Weymouth, MA
Pair of mid-century glass pump decanters with painted gold floral design.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Gucci, Italy - Handsome Fox Head Bottle Opener c.1970
Located in Bath, GB
A handsome and whimsical bottle opener made from silver plated metal, designed by the Iconic fashion house of Gucci, Italy. One side of the base is struck "Gucci" and the other side...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

American Art Deco Chrome "Penguin" Ice Bucket by West Bend Manufacturing
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful Art Deco chrome "Penguin" ice bucket by West Bend Manufacturing, circa 1940s. The design features three bakelite handles and an embossed penguin design on the perimeter of ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Cobalt Opalescent Italian Opaline Vase on Foot from Florence, 1960s
Located in Verviers, BE
Opaline di Florence (Empoli) opalescent Italian art glass vase the late 1950s or early 1960s.  Beautiful hand-blown opal and hand-applied one foot Measures: 27 cm tall, diameter 20 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Murano Glass, Opaline Glass

MCM Yellow Glass-Snap Mugs by Corning - Set of 4
Located in Vallejo, CA
A set of 4 mid century "Glas-Snap" mugs by Corning. Each is made of glass that snaps into a yellow plastic base. Great mid century design with the bases acting like coasters to prote...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass, Plastic

MCM Sterling Silver "Stoplight" Jigger / Shot Glass by Gorham
Located in San Diego, CA
A rare MCM sterling silver "stoplight" jigger / shot glass by Gorham, circa 1950s. The piece is in good condition and measures 2.25"D x 2.5"H. The jigger has 1oz, 2.5oz and 3.5oz ma...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vintage Swedish Glassware 1960s Set 5
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Swedish glassware 1960s Set 5 Mid-century modern barware. A stylish and colorful addition to the bar cart or bar cabinet. This set ...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Mid Century Silver Plate Ice Bucket
Located in Sheffield, MA
Vintage Mid Century Silver Plate Ice Bucket. In good vintage condition with some minor blemishes. 6" D body of ice bucket only 7....
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Mid-century Modern barware for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern barware 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 barware created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern barware 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 barware, popular names associated with this style include Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Culver Ltd., Georges Briard, and Aldo Tura. 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 barware differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $29 and tops out at $295,000 while the average work can sell for $495.

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