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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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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Period: 1970s
Joe Colombo model Birillo set of four bar stools Zanotta Italy 1971
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Iconic set of four bar stools model Birillo designed by Joe Colombo for Zanotta, Italy 1971. These pop art bar stools feature a white fibreglass base with black rubber edge, heavy du...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Steel

Set of 3 low tables/pouf “Gli Scacchi” by Mario Bellini per C&B Italia 70’s
Located in Padova, IT
With a playful character, the Gli Scacchi series is made up of three inspired elements as the name reveals at most classic game, in particular the Queen, Knight and Tower pieces. Lig...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Acrylic

Karl Springer Striking Hinged Box in Mottled Lacquer with Silver Foil 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Stunning hinged box in mottled red and yellow lacquer with applied silver foil by Karl Springer, American 1970s. This is an early Springer design. The interior is lined in red suede...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Silver

Italian Midcentury Extra Large Vintage Wall Mirror with Brass Frame, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Beautiful and elegant extra large vintage wall mirror with deep solid brass frame and original vintage crystal mirror glass. Made in Italy in the 1970s. The brass frame with its orig...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Artona Double bed by Afra e Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto 1970s
Located in Padova, IT
The Artona line by the Scarpa duo was the first line ever produced by Maxalto, the specialist division of B&B Italia. This well designed bed convinces visually trough its syabile c...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather, Walnut

14 Piece Brown Jordan Tamiami Outdoor Patio Furniture
Located in Highland, IN
This 14 piece suite of Brown Jordan "Tamiami" furniture is exceptional for several reasons. Brown Jordan has been know for their high quality outdoor furniture for decades. Using the...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Travertine Side Table by Angelo Mangiarotti, Up and Up
Located in Brussels , BE
Very elegant and practical coffee table.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Travertine

Mid Century Curved Sofa Milo Baughman Jack Lenor Larsen Style
Located in Baltimore, MD
Stunning mid-century modern five-piece sectional curved sofa Milo Baughman style, in original Jack Lenor Larsen style upholstery. An exceptional sofa both for its form and quality, i...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Upholstery

Midcentury "Siesta" Lounge Chair by Ingmar Relling for Westnofa, Norway, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
- iconic model - very confortable
Category

1970s Norwegian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Wood

J.C. Mahey pair of pink black lacquer brass nightstands chests 1970s
Located in Paris, IDF
These twin nightstands chest of drawers in a beautiful peach pink and black lacquer could serve in a bedroom, or as sturdy end tables in a living room or office, or else as small com...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Trio Modular Sofa by Franz Hero and Karl Odermatt by Team Form AG for COR
Located in Kelkheim (Taunus), HE
Designer: Franz Hero and Karl Odermatt by Team Form AG Brand: COR, Germany Era: 1970’s Material: Beige, Teddy Fabric Size: 468 cm x 96 cm x 62,5 cm (first pricture) Seat: High 36cm...
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric

1970s Antonin Suman Set of Four Dining Chair by TON
Located in Praha, CZ
- Carefully refurbished - Newly upholstered white boucle fabric - high of seat 46 cm
Category

1970s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Bouclé, Wood

Set Mod. Togo Designed By Michel Ducaroy For Ligne Roset
Located in Madrid, ES
Set mod. Togo designed by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset. Upholstered in brown leather. France 70's. Double armchair size: W 120 x D 100 x H 35 / 70 cm Corner sofa: W 100 x D 100 x ...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather

Flavio Poli Hand-Crafted Red Murano Vase, Italy, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Italian vase designed by Flavio Poli in the 1970´s. The vase is hand-crafted in faceted Murano glass with a polygonal shape, in different colors with predominant red.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

1970s Milo Baughman Satellite Style Chaise Lounge Chair
Located in Boston, MA
Milo Baughman Satellite chaise lounge chair, circa 1970s. Reupholstered in blue velvet with ornate design and gold piping. Two matching pillows. Fabric plinth platform base. Deep sea...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric

Set of 6 Guido Faleschini 'Tucroma' Armchairs for i4 Mariani in Carbon Leather
Located in Chicago, IL
Set of 6 Guido Faleschini "tucroma" dining armchairs for i4 Mariani, 1970's.. These vintage armchairs have been newly upholstered in Knoll Carbon Gray color leather retaining the ori...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Metafora coffee table by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Casigliani Italy, 1970s
Located in amstelveen, NL
Sculptural Metafora travertine coffee table designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli. in the 1970s. Inspired by the four forms of Euclidean geometry, the cube, the pyramid, the cylinde...
Category

1970s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Travertine, Marble

Teli ceiling lamp designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos, Italy 1970s
Located in Milano, IT
The Teli ceiling lamp designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos in the 1970s is an extraordinary piece of design where minimalist elegance and innovative design harmoniously converge ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Vintage Blenko Hand Blown Glass Yellow-Red Fish Sculpture by Winslow Anderson
Located in St. Louis, MO
Vintage Mid-Century Modern large scale Blenko sculptural fish vase designed by Winslow Anderson, hand blown glass that fades yellow to red. Blenko model #971, in fine condition, one ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Midcentury Rare Table or Wall Lamp Pokrok, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
- very rare type - space age style - marked by label - adjustable - table or wall - very nice style of lighting
Category

1970s Slovak Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Vintage French Brass Drinks Trolley
Located in London, GB
A fabulous vintage French brass drinks trolley. This was recently imported from France, it dates from the 1970’s. It is of superb quality, with a beautif...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

1 of 2 Stunning Murano Glass Chandelier by Ernst Palme, Germany, 1970s
Located in Aachen, NRW
Large stunning chandelier with many Murano flower crystal glass over a brass frame, made by Ernst Palme in Germany, 1970s. High quality and in very good condition. Cleaned, well-wire...
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of Swedish Vintage Brass Table Lamps
Located in London, GB
A very stylish and well made pair of Swedish vintage brass table lamps. We have recently imported these from Sweden, they date from around the 1970’s. They are of excellent quality ...
Category

1970s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

'Teli' Pendant light by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos
Located in TOURS, FR
'Teli' Pendant light by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa the 1970s
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Olaf Von Bohr for Kartell Mod. 4963 Chest of Drawers, I§taly 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
Designed by Olaf Von Bohr and meticulously manufactured by Kartell, this versatile sideboard or shoe cabinet, model 4963, is a masterpiece of avant-garde vintage design. The rectangu...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Plastic

70s Italian White Grey Dining Table or Desk table Carrara marble
Located in Valladolid, ES
One of a King and amazing dining table or work table in beautiful Italian Carrara marble, Italian design from the 70s following the lines and style of the great designers of the time...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Carrara Marble

Alain RICHARD reading lamp 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
Alain RICHARD (1926-2017) " A19 L " reading lamp in off-white lacquered metal, pivoting light head. Edition Disderot, made in France, c. 1967. Minimalist ...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Italian Midcentury Vintage Wall Mirror with Brass Frame and Decor, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Beautiful and elegant vintage wall mirror with solid brass frame and new crystal glass. The brass frame of the mirror has a beautiful golden color and a circumferential decoration co...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Willy Rizzo eggplant lacquer brass bar swivel coffee table TRG 1970s
Located in Paris, IDF
This stunning TRG Yin Yang coffee table is guaranteed to be the focus of attention when you entertain guests in your living room. Following the glamorous mid-century look of other cl...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Willy Rizzo burl wood and brass square bar coffee table Alveo 1970s
Located in Paris, IDF
This stunning square Alveo coffee table is guaranteed to be the focus of attention when you entertain guests in your living room. Following the glamorous mid-century look of other cl...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Anfibio, natural leather sofa by Alessandro Becchi for Giovannetti, Italy 1970s
Located in Padova, IT
3 seater sofa, day bed Anfibio designed by Alessandro Becchi and produced by Giovannnetti in 1970s. Designed in 1970, the Anfibio sofa bed has been described by critics around the wo...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather

1970s Substantial White, Grey, Black, Pink Marble Coffee Table, sculptural Base
Located in Basel, BS
Absolutely gorgeous marble coffee or cocktail table from the 1970s, in fantastic, virtually unused condition. Features incredibly stunning sculptural bases. The top comes off from t...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Marble

Afra & Tobia Scarpa Black Leather and Monk Dining Chair for Molteni, Set of 8
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of eight “Monk” dining chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni in 1973. Made of black leather and ash wood. Fully restored in Italy. Interesting is the ‘flat’ s...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather, Ash

Mid-Century Modern "Bells of Carefree" Brutalist Bronze Sculptural Wind Chime
Located in St. Louis, MO
Vintage new old stock cast bronze sculptural wind chime or bell with great patina by "Bells of Carefree" in the style of architect and artist, Paolo Soleri or Jeff Cross...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Ibisco Italian hideleather dining sling chairs in brandy colour, 1970s
Located in Zevenaar, NL
Introducing a set of four Ibisco chairs, a timeless embodiment of Italian craftsmanship from the 1970s. These chairs seamlessly blend cubistic and minimalistic design elements, featu...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather, Beech

Peill & Putzler Large Pair of 1970s Smoked Glass Biomorphic Wall Sconces Lights
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Midcentury pair of 32cm diameter flush mount wall lights or sconces by Peill & Putzler in the 1970s. This is an absolutely classic piece of German design, featuring a smoked toned co...
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal, Aluminum, Brass

R09B Cabinet by Pierre Chapo, France, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
R09B cabinet by Pierre Chapo, a rare gem from 1970s France. Crafted with precision from solid elm, this small cabinet is adorned with remarkable joint connections that showcase the m...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Elm

Elmar Flototto model S23 stacking chairs Pagholz Germany 1970
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Large lot of stacking chairs model S23 designed by Elmar Flototto and manufactured by Pagholz, Germany 1970. These chairs have black metal frames and dark brown pressed wood seats. T...
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni ‘Morna’ Bed with Nightstands
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Molteni, bed with nightstands model ‘Morna’, leather, opaline glass, wood, plastic, Italy, designed in 1972 This rare bed named ‘Morna’ reflects the duo’s s...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood

Carlo Bartoli for Kartell Mod.4875 Plastic Chair, Italy, 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
Modern Italian white plastic chair with rounded seat and back, Mod." 4875" by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell, 1970s. The circular chair legs are ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Plastic, Rubber

Cognac Leather Office Chair by Guido Faleschini for Mariani, Italy, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Cognac leather office chair designed by the renowned Italian designer Guido Faleschini for I4 Mariani. This swivel desk chair, part of The Pace Collection, captures the essence of th...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Rare Willy Guhl Modular Planting System, Switzerland 1970s
Located in Malibu, US
Exceptionally rare modular planting system by Swiss neo-functionalist and industrial design pioneer Willy Guhl for Eternit in Switzerland. I have yet to see a complete collection av...
Category

1970s Swiss Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Cement

Harvey Guzzini Chrome and Travertine Base Arc Table Lamp
Located in Toronto, ON
Spectacular Harvey Guzzini table lamp made in Italy in the 1970s. This gorgeous design features a chrome body and a travertine base. The heavy travertine base is square shaped while ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Travertine, Chrome

Large Thick Massive Handmade Glass Brass Flush Mount or Wall Light, 1960
Located in Rijssen, NL
1 of the 2 high quality modern thick textured ice glass flush mount lights , (D 19.6) circa 1965. The flush mount is featuring a impressive huge round handmade glass dish. The back p...
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Hugues Poignant coffee table in marble and glass
By Hugues Poignant
Located in LYON, FR
Very beautiful coffee table from the 70s by designer Hugues Poignant. Rosewood veneered and resting on four legs connected by two cross spacers. Two round tops, one in glass and the ...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Marble

Xavier feal steel brushed rectangular mirror
By Xavier-Feal, Inox-Industrie
Located in Medesano, IT
A Xavier-Feal French rectangular brushed stainless steel wall mirror, circa 1970. Produced by Inox Industrie, circa 1970. This mirror was previously attributed to Michel Boyer. Excel...
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Steel

Extendable Coffee Table With Hidden Bar In The Style Of Willy Rizzo, 1970's
Located in Zwijndrecht, Antwerp
Spectacular Italian Coffee table designed by Willy Rizzo for Cidue, circa 1970. When extended, this table contains a hidden mirrored dry bar with plenty of storage room. It features...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Metal

Large Stunning Kaiser Sputnik Glass Globes Chandelier, Germany, 1970s
Located in Aachen, NRW
Stunning Sputnik brass chandelier with 12 glass globes by Kaiser Leuchten, Germany, 1970s. High quality and in very good condition. Cleaned, well-wired, and ready to use. The fixtu...
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Tall Pair of Pine and Brass Obelisks, 1970's
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Pair of Knotty Pine Obelisks, Circa 1960's. Featuring three solid panels of smooth, adhesed Knotty Pine with thin tipped pyramidal apex, atop 1.25H balanced square Brass box, bases ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

1970s Antonin Suman Set of 4 Oak Dining Chairs, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
- Newly upholstered in light pink fabric - Carefully refurbished - Sturdy and stable - heigh of seat 47 cm
Category

1970s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Oak, Fabric

1 of 6 Large Amber Bubble Glass Pendant by Helena Tynell, Limburg, Germany
Located in Aachen, NRW
1 of 6 round smoke tone bubble glass pendant designed by Helena Tynell for Limburg, manufactured in Germany, circa 1970s. Handcrafted with precision by skilled artisans at Limburg L...
Category

1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Round Rattan and Wood Coffee Table. Italian Work in the Style of Franco Albini
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice and unusual round coffee table is made of a very nice rattan work with a wooden top. This is an Italian work in the Style of famous designer Franco Albini. Circa 1950
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Rattan, Wood

Chrome and glass dining table
Located in Toronto, ON
Elegant chrome and glass square dining table. It was made in the 1970s. This minimal piece is in line with the design of the time. The refined solid chromed body is constructed seaml...
Category

1970s Unknown Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Confidential Seating Set by Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti, Beige Boucle Fabric
Located in Brussels, BE
Confidential Seating Set by Alberto Rosselli for Saporiti, Beige Boucle Fabric, Italy, 1970s - New Upholstery
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric

Solid Oak Coffee Table by Søren Holst for Fredericia Furniture
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice solid Oak coffee table . Good quality and well made table . Design by by Søren Holst for Fredericia Furniture 1970s . signed Please don't hesitate to reach out for al...
Category

1970s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Oak

Mid - Century Modern "Florida" Chandelier by Kalmar, Glass and Brass, 1970s
Located in Wien, AT
Mid - Century Modern "Florida" Chandelier by Kalmar, Glass and Brass, 1970s Brass polished and stove enameled Murano glass leaves We also have 2 matching wall lamps ( see last pictur...
Category

1970s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Brass

Brazilian Pair of Easy Chairs
Located in Brussel, BE
Brazilian pair of easy chairs with new fabric.
Category

1970s Brazilian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wood

1970s Vintage Italian Lucite Pair of Tables with Encased Travertine & Marble Top
Located in New York, NY
1978 rare pair of Italian cocktail tables (they can also be purchased individually) by the company Roman Deco (from Rome), an exceptionally unique design an...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Materials

Travertine, Breccia Marble

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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