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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 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 Mid Century 22-Karat Gold Rocks Cocktail Glasses Set of 8, circa 1965
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Dress your cocktails in high style with these beautiful rocks cocktail glasses in mint condition. This Mid Century Modern set dates back to the 1960s - dressing up sexy bars for deca...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Gold

Bottle Opener Model 4224 by Carl Auböck, 1949
Located in Brussels, BE
Bottle Opener Model 4224 by Carl Auböck, 1949
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Vintage Set of Four Imperial Glass Co. Tabique de Oro Rocks Glasses
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of 4 Mid-Century Modern rocks glasses made by Imperial Glass Co. in the Tabique de Oro Pattern. Each piece is molded with a raised pattern, the r...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Set of 18 Vintage Gold Rimmed Glass Stemware
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of 18 Vintage Gold Rimmed Glass Stemware. Set consists of 6 champagne coupes, 6 red wine glasses, 6 water goblets which can also be used for whit...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Midcentury Brass Shelter, Italy, 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Midcentury brass shelter, Italy 1960s.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Monkey Cork Screw by Richard Rohac, Vienna, 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Monkey cork screw by Richard Rohac, Vienna, 1950s Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Georges Briard Signed Ice Bucket Brown Vinyl with Bicycle Design Vintage 1950s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Georges Briard Signed Ice Bucket Mid Century. Unique large brown vinyl with bicycle designs ice bucket by Georges Briard. Good vintage original condition and ready for use. Mid centu...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic

Mid-Century Silver Plated Ice Bucket by Christofle
Located in Miami, FL
French Christofle Silver Plated Windsor Ice bucket. Designed by Lino Sabattini. Circa 1961. Excellent condition with hallmarks and signed.  
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Tall Mid-Century Teak Chrome Ice Bucket with Thermos Liner and Lucite Handle
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
America Mid-Century Ice Bucket in Teak and Chrome Lid with Thermos Liner and Lucite Handle A very tall ice bucket by The American Thermos Bottle Company from the 1960s.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Chrome

1960s Collectible Highball Black and Gold Barware Glasses by Fred Press.
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
1960s Collectible Highball Black and Gold Barware Drinking Glasses by Fred Press. Elegant exquisite vintage set of two Collins cocktail glasses designed by Fred Press. Hollywood rege...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Italian Thick Lucite Candy Ice Bucket, Vintage Mid-Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Candy Ice Bucket in Thick Lucite, Italy circa 1970's
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Lucite

Libbey Cavalcade Horse Decorated Tom Collins Cocktail Glasses-Set of 12
Located in Downingtown, PA
Golden Gallop: Libbey’s Frosted 'Cavalcade' Highball Glasses of the 1950s This spirited Set of Twelve Libbey Tom Collins or Highball Glasses belongs to the sought-after 'Cavalcade' ...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Set of Four Signed James Mont Black Drink Glasses with Hand Drawn Caricatures
Located in New York, NY
This whimsical and sophisticated set of James Mont glasses were realized by James Mont, circa 1960. Realized in translucent glass, these water glasses feature four unique hand drawn ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Enamel

Set of Four Rocks Glasses with Geometric Shapes
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of four gold decorated rocks glasses, each with a different geometric design. All in excellent vintage condition.
Category

1980s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Set of Four Cobalt Blue Crystal "Stocklhom" Glasses with Ice Bucket by Block
Located in San Diego, CA
Great set of four cobalt blue crystal "Stocklhom" highball glasses with ice bucket by Block Crystal of Krosno, Poland, circa 1980s. These are very heavy and finely crafted pieces wit...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Crystal

Vintage MCM Teak Serving Tray with Rails by Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage MCM teak serving tray with rails by Dansk, circa 1980s. This piece is well crafted in solid teak wood and built in rail styled handles. The piece has pegged detail construct...
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Teak

Set of 6 Mid-Century Modern Colored Etched Crystal Moser Bar Glasses with Box
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This set of six etched crystal multi-colored bar glasses were made by the renowned Moser glass factory of the Czech Republic in approximately 1965 in a period Mid-Century Modern style. Each of the six glasses in this set is done in a squat 'rolly polly...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Crystal

Midcentury 22-Karat Gold and Green Tall Cocktail Glassware by Culver, Set of 5
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A set of five midcentury glasses by Culver. This beautiful set is decorated in a bright lime green with 22-karat gold intricate stylized designs. Each glass depicts a bouquet of flow...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Gold

Vintage Large Italian Murano Art Glass Clown Decanter Bottle
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Large Hand Blown Italian Murano Glass Clown Decanter Bottle 13.5” . Amazing colorful hand blown Murano glass clown decanter with ha...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Art Glass

Mid Century Brown and Brass Ice Bucket
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Elevate your bar game, with this mid-century brown and brass ice bucket. With a brass lid, and handle, this piece exudes both form and function. Measures: 8" diameter 7.5" tall.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Guzzini Ice Holder
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1970s Italian Guzzini ice holder.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic

Red Aluminum Ice Bucket, Pear Shaped, by Ettore Sottsass
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare pear shaped aluminum ice bucket with brass stem designed by Ettore Sottsass, 1950s. No dents or significant scratches. Signs of light wear, wi...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Mid-Century Modern Anodized Gold Aluminum Modular Wine Rack
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage modular wine rack composed of nine individual anodized, extruded aluminum 'cylinders' that slide together to form a wine rack in various configurations (ca. late 1960s/early ...
Category

1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Aluminum

Jens Quistgaard JHQ copper ice bucket with porcelain insert for Dansk Denmark
Located in Ferndale, MI
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk design Denmark . Copper lidded ice bucket with porcelain insert . Appropriate for hot dishes as well . Nice patina finish .
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass, Copper

Set of 6 Credit Card Themed Highball Glasses, "Drink Today, Repent Tomorrow"
Located in Nantucket, MA
Six Mid-Century Modern highball glasses in the "Credit Card" pattern showing various credit cards with tongue-in-cheek names against a background of bar bills and below a band with t...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

French Mid-Century Modern Novelty Bugatti Radiator Decanter
Located in Northampton, GB
Bugatti Made in France From our Accessories collection we are pleased to offer this French Bugatti Radiator Decanter. The Radiator Decanter modelled...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Chrome

12 Bottle Capacity MCM Iron Walnut Wine Rack
Located in San Diego, CA
Black enameled iron wine rack sitting in solid walnut bars, 12 bottle capaciy in the style of Arthur Umanoff circa 1970's
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Iron

Ice Bucket Raffia and Golden Metal, France 1970s
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
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, Tommi Parzinger Nickel Ice Bucket
Located in New York, NY
Modernist midcentury ice bucket with signature finial lid and mercury glass liner. Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Nickel

Smokey Etched Martini Glasses with Milk Glass Base - A Pair
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A petite pair of smokey gray etched martini glasses with milk glass round bases. This pair of glasses will be a wonderful addition to your barware...
Category

20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Poul Knudsen Teak and Brass Nutcracker, Denmark, Mid-Century Modern
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish Mid-Century Modern Poul Knudsen teak and brass nutcracker. This Classic elegant nutcracker is as beautiful as it is stylish. A clever design dating back to the 1950’s, the tea...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Set of Three Walnut Stainless Steel Barware Tools from Japan
Located in San Diego, CA
Set of three walnut & stainless steel barware tools in box, circa 1980s. The set includes a bottle, can and wine opener made of stainless steel with waln...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Weimar Porcelain Romeo Drinking Set Germany 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Drinking set composed of a jug and six glasses in violet, white and gilt. The jug and glasses are signed, Weimar porzellein, Germany, Romeo. Jug dimen...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Porcelain

Aldo Tura Emerald Green Goatskin Brass Thermos Carafe 1960
Located in Paris, IDF
This is a beautiful thermos or carafe or pitcher designed by Aldo Tura in the early 1960s. This carafe is covered by goatskin parchment, in rich shades of emerald green, with brass a...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Aluminum and Lucite Ice Bucket and Tongs
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage aluminum ice bucket and lucite tongs.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Aluminum

Mid-Century Sterling .900 Silver Cocktail Spoon Set with Figural Animals
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This boxed set of six cocktail or ice tea spoons are unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Germany and date to approximately 1960 and done in the period Mid-Century Modern s...
Category

Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Mauro Manetti Italian Silver-Plated "Pumpkin" Ice Bucket
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage "pumpkin" ice bucket designed by Mauro Manetti (ca. 1970, Italy). Crafted from silver-plated cast aluminum with an aluminum interior bucket. Features a heavily textured, sc...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Aluminum, Silver Plate

Reed Barton Sterling Silver Home Alone Mini Martini Solo Shaker
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury Modern sterling silver mini martini shaker. Made by Reed & Barton in Taunton, Mass., ca 1939. Straight and tapering sides, curved shoulder, and short neck. Snugly fitting ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Set of 6 Libbey Marine Life Pilsner Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of 6 Vintage Libbey Sea Life pilsner glasses with raised green design and gilt seahorses and fish in an underwater ocean scene.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Set of eight Signe Persson Melin Kosta Boda whiskey or rocks glasses
Located in Ferndale, MI
Eight whiskey or rocks glasses designed by Signe Person Melin ( 1925 - 2022 ) . Produced by Kosta Boda Sweden in the early 1970's . Thick glass base with flared opening . The set i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Mid Century Black Gold MCM Feast Aperitif Glasses (Set of 6) by Libby
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible vintage Mid Century set of aperitif glasses by Libby. This amazing set portrays a story of a feast that nodes to tropical chic vibes. The lustrous black glass with the g...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Poul Knudsen Teak and Brass Nutcracker, Denmark, Mid-Century Modern
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish Mid-Century Modern Poul Knudsen teak and brass nutcracker. This classic elegant nutcracker is as beautiful as it is stylish. Teak and brass are in great condition. Crack some ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

8 Mid-Century Highball Glasses by Cera Glass in Translucent Enamel and 22k Gold
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Rare set of eight highball glasses by Cera Glassware with leaves in translucent blue and purple with outlines and details in 22 karat gold.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Tapio Wirkkala Freeform Molded Plywood Tray, 1950s
Located in San Diego, CA
Fincraft molded plywood tray designed in the 1950s by Tapio Wirkkala for Soinne et Kni, Helsinki. Embossed stamp on the bottom. Finland
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plywood

Set of Four Vintage Georges Briard Spanish Gold Rocks Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of Four Vintage Georges Briard Spanish Gold Rocks Glasses. Bold gold applied decoration in a scroll design. This is a rare pattern and hard to f...
Category

1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Gold

Jumbo Aluminum Kensington Ware styled Cocktail Shaker
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very large jumbo sized cocktail shaker formed in aluminum with large top and built in strainer with cap. This is your summer party sized mixer shaker or called a hotel shaker that ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Aluminum

Vintage Bartlett Collins Color Frosted and Gilt Chain Link Tom Collins Glasses
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-Century Modern set of eight Tom Collins glasses by Bartlett Collins, two each of four frosted colors with a clear central band with 22 karat go...
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

Circular Black Tray Platter Couroc of Monterey California, 1960s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Midcentury Couroc of Monterey Inlaid Brass and Wood Cardinal Circular Tray. Mid-Century Modern Couroc of Monterey California bird design barware serving black round tray...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Bakelite

Metal and Rope Bottles Holder
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This nice and unusual bottles holder is made of metal and rope. This is a French work. Circa 1970
Category

1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Rare Aldo Tura Large Lacquered Goatskin Tray Italy 1960s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This a wonderful example of Italian Aldo Tura Large Lacquered Goatskin In Brown & Red, 1960s. This tray has a Silver metal gallery on each side. This serving tray is 22" by 14". Cond...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Goatskin, Wood

Double Old Fashioned Gold and Black Coin Set of 4 Barware Glasses by Cera 1960s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Set of 6 gold and black coin barware double old fashioned glasses by Cera Glass. Mid-century 1960s Cera 22-karat gold and black glassware barware. Mid-century modern vintage set of 6...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Art Glass

Owl Mauro Manetti Gold Plate Insulated Ice Bucket Mid-Century Modern, Italy
Located in Miami, FL
1940s original Mauro Manetti gold plate owl ice bucket with metal insulation, made in Italy. Keeps the ice cubes frozen for a long time as the lid sits tight on the bucket. Highly ...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Gold Plate

28 Bottle Arch Top Metal Wine Rack Attributed to Arthur Umanoff
Located in New York, NY
Nice clean wine rack, having an arched dome form top, with 28 round bottle holder rings. This example is in very fine, original, clean and ready tones condit...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Attributed to Per Lutken for Holmegaard Six Cocktail or Water Glasses
Located in Ferndale, MI
Six cocktail glasses or water tumblers. Gently curving form in smoked glass.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Georges Briard Set of Six Rock Glasses Green and Gold
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Georges Briard Mid-Century Modern Glasses Barware - Set of 6 Elegant exquisite vintage set of six rock glasses designed by Georges Briard. They will create a dramatic display...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Eight Midcentury Libbey Glass Marine Life Atomic Design Tumblers
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of 8 Libbey Glassware 'Marine Life' tumblers or highball glasses with various fishes and marine animals in 22k gold on a ground or raised translucent g...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Cast Aluminum Streamlined Ashtray of Ocean Liner Form
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage hand finished cast aluminum ashtray for cigars or cigarettes in the form of a streamlined ocean liner.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Aluminum

Charming Couroc of Monterey Quail glasses
Located in Evanston, IL
Charming set of Quail glasses for a barcart or any MCM enthusiast. Perfect Father's Day Gift
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Vintage Collectible Retro Highball Spaghetti Tumblers Set of 3 Blue and Yellow
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Set of three vintage collectible retro spaghetti string tumblers. Set includes 3 highball vintage yellow gold and powder blue spaghetti drizzle drink...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

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.