Mid-Century American Collection
Mid-Century Modern Furniture Collection (UNITED STATES, ca. 1933–65)
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe mid-century modern American 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.
Postwar American architects and designers were animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist “International Style” architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the ’30s 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, respectively, pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair. George Nelson and his design team created Bubble lamp shades using a new translucent polymer skin. Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were re-purposed: the Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs that used surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century 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, blonde-wood furniture — and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
As the pieces on 1stDibs demonstrate, the mid-century modern American period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
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Arthur Umanoff Desk Clock, George Nelson
Associates, 1950s
By George Nelson, Howard Miller
Located in Amarillo, TX
George Nelson & Associates
table clock.
Howard Miller Clock Company,
USA.
Rosewood, steel.
Measures: 4.25 W x 3 D x 5.5 H inches.
Signed with decal manufacturer's label t...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Steel
George Nelson Prototype Domino Clock
By George Nelson
Located in Chicago, IL
Nelson office, designed by Irving Harper for Howard Miller.
This is the only clock and was never produced.
Purchased from Howard Miller Executive.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Wood
Eames Office radio for Emerson
By Charles Eames
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A nice radio design by the Eames office. Model 578A.
Mahogany veneer case with plastic face and dials.
Category
1940s American Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Metal
Fabulous Restored Pair of Cane Back Armchairs in the Style of Robsjohn--Gibbings
Located in Atlanta, GA
These magnificent club chairs are shipped as professionally photographed and described in the listing narrative: Meticulously professionally restored and completely Installation Read...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Pair of Roger Sprunger Jack Larsen Dunbar Guest Chairs
By Dunbar Furniture, Roger Sprunger
Located in Pasadena, TX
Pair of Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Guest Arm Chairs
A pair of Mid-Century Modern arm chairs designed by Roger Sprunger for Dunbar. Ebonized wooden frames with X stretchers. Original ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Fabric, Wood
$3,920 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Set of 4 Vintage Eames Chairs by Herman Miller
By Herman Miller
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 4 Vintage Eames Chairs by Herman Miller. All original, not a recent edition. Stamped under.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Acrylic
$5,000 / set
James Mont Cabinet
By James Mont
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Oriental Carved bamboo two door cabinet with a light up top.
Original silver leaf on the bamboo,original open grain ceruse finish over oak.
With Four adjustable shelves
Category
1940s American Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Wood
$6,500
George Nelson Marshmallow Sofa
By George Nelson
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
George Nelson Marshmallow sofa, model 5670
Manufactured by Herman Miller
A great example of an iconic form.
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Chrome, Stainless Steel, Steel
Warren Platner Custom Wall Sconce
By Warren Platner
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren Platner Associates architects: Wall sconce. Custom for important commission. Features lift-up. Mirrored polished brass shield with four steel louvers.
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Brass, Steel
Maxwell Royal Settee
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A tall and sculptural settee with tapered wood arms and back, often attributed to Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Designed by Maxwell Royal in the 1950's. Hig...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
$3,600 Sale Price
50% Off
A Pair of Charles Eames LCW
s Early Original Examples Evans
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A rare pair of early production (5x2x5 screw mounts) Charles Eames LCW (lounge chair wood). Original analine black finish in very good condition. Bac...
Category
1940s American Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Ash
World Globe by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
The ultimate world globe designed by Edward Wormley for Rand McNally, USA, circa 1950. Features a rotating globe mounted on a walnut base with brass capped legs. Marked "Rand McNally...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Pair of Two-Toned Flambe Glazed Hexagonal Balauster Vases
Located in Asheville, NC
This pair hexagonal ceramic vases feature a wonderful multi toned flambe glaze. This traditional Chinese form has been given a midcentury treatment similar to examples from Haeger.
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
A Faceted Table With Inlays By Andrew Szoeke
By Andrew Szoeke
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A rare eight sided table by Andrew Szoeke. Made of walnut and exotic wood veneer inlays on top forming a sunburst pattern.
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Walnut
Charles Hollis Jones Revolving Lamp/Magazine Rack
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Water Mill, NY
Rare Charles Hollis Jones Midcentury brass and beveled opaque white Lucite revolving lamp/magazine rack with custom shade.
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Brass
Set of five prints after Norman Rockwell
By Norman Rockwell
Located in NYC, NY
Set of five prints depicting illustrations by the all-American artist, of Scouting interest.
Famed for his Life Magazine covers, Rockwell devoted a large number of his works to Sco...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
$2,950 / set
Coquina Stone Column Table Lamp Attributed to Samuel Marx
By Samuel Marx
Located in North Miami, FL
Wonderful solid natural coquina stone column lamp. Shade is Not included .
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Stone
Milo Baughman For Thayer Coggin Console Sofa Table
By Milo Baughman
Located in Pasadena, TX
A mid century modern console or sofa table designed by Milo Baughman and made by Thayer Coggin. A chrome base with oval gray laminate top.
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Chrome
$3,840 Sale Price
20% Off
Edward Wormley for Drexel Drop-Leaf Precedent Dining Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in Pasadena, TX
A Mid-Century Modern dining table designed by Edward Wormley for Drexel's Precedent collection. The drop leaf table measures 50" x 28" when folded and 70" x 50" when fully extended.
Category
1950s Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Ash
$2,320 Sale Price
31% Off
Sterling Silver Box
Located in San Diego, CA
Studio executed solid sterling silver lidded container. Piece has an organic modernist design. Marked on base as pictured.
Category
20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Sterling Silver
$2,200
George Nelson Steel Frame Group Rolling Table / Cart
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare and unusual George Nelson for Herman Miller table on rollers from the Steel Frame Group, made by Herman Miller. White lamina...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Steel
Pair of Paul McCobb step side tables with drawer from the Predictor Group.
By Paul McCobb
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare pair of Paul McCobb Predictor Group end table manufactured by O'Hearn of New England. The Predictor Group was only in production from 1951 to 1954.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Maple
Coffee Table with Faceted Olive Burl Pedestal Base by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Coffee table No. 6302G with faceted olive burl pedestal base and thick glass top by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, American, 1963 (Dunbar metal tag on base).
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Glass, Burl
Val Bertoia Double Vertical Spray Sculpture, Steel Wires with Brass Base, 2014
By Harry Bertoia, Val Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Val Bertoia's Double Vertical Spray Sculpture made in 2014. This Kinetic sculpture was made by cutting one grouping of stainless-steel wires that were made by Har...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Brass, Stainless Steel
Eames LKH-2 Lounge with Girard Upholstery by Herman Miller
By Alexander Girard, Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Highland, IN
This terrific example of the Eames LKH-2 easy chair has a black wire seat, a bikini pad in magenta naugahyde designed by Alexander Girard and a zinc lounge ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Steel
Paul Laszlo Cocktail Table
By Brown Saltman, Paul Laszlo
Located in New York, NY
Architectural cocktail table by Paul Laszlo for Brown Saltman. Dark stained mahogany top floating on two rectangular side supports. Recently refinished and signed on underside.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Mahogany
Edward Wormley Long John Shelf for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Long John Shelf can be used as shelf or console. Walnut wood with great sapwood striped details.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Walnut
Paul Laszlo Chair
By Paul Laszlo
Located in New York, NY
Custom designed pull-up chair by Paul Laszlo. Bleached mahogany frame, with recessed grip detail on the back. Upholstered seat and back.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Mahogany
$5,800
Donald Deskey Fireplace Set
By Donald Deskey, Bennett Co.
Located in New York, NY
Seven piece fireplace set by Donald Deskey for Bennett. Black iron and polished brass set. Includes fire screen, andirons, fire tools and stand. Andir...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
$7,500 / set
Early Jens Risom Side Chair for Knoll
By Jens Risom
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed for Knoll by Jens Risom in 1943. Basket-woven parachute straps.
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Birch, Canvas
American Post War Chrome Abstract Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
American Post-War Design "Atomic" table lamp with a swirl chrome design supporting 4 sphere shaped lights and resting on a square ebonized cube base.
Condition consistent with age
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Chrome
Mahogany and Brass Table by Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Inlaid brass edged coffee and end table model no. 7012 in mahogany with three drawers by Paul McCobb, American, 1950s.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Elegant Coffee Coffee Table in Walnut by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings 1940s
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in New York, NY
Square two-tier coffee table in walnut by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb, American, 1940s (label on bottom). This beautiful clean line coffee table would add to any interior.
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Walnut
Florence Knoll Desk
By Florence Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Knoll International Planed Office Group double pedestal desk with modesty panel model 1503.
Features five drawers one for files.
Modesty pane...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Metal
$5,198