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Mid-Century Modern Tableware

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
Mid-Century Modern Teak Triangle Napkin Holders – Set of 4, 1960s
Located in Toronto, CA
A charming set of four Mid-Century Modern napkin holders crafted from solid teak wood, each in a clean, minimalist triangular form. With a warm grain and timeless design, these piece...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Teak

Carl Auböck Wooden Tray, Austria, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck tray, Austria, 1960s.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Wood

Watering can vienna around 1920s
Located in Wien, AT
Watering can vienna around 1920s Original condition
Category

1920s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass, Copper

Ben Seibel Jenfred Concentric Square Tray
Located in New Windsor, NY
Cast metal concentric square dish designed by Ben Seibel for Jenfred. Circa 1950. Seibel creates a nice optical maze of ever enlarging concentric squares. Good overall condition with...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Metal, Brass, Zinc

Midcentury Danish Stoneware Candlestick Set by Jens Harald Quistgaard, 1960s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Dinner set consisting of an oblong serving tray or dish, a butter storage unit with a teak lid, and two candleholders (one for a small candle and one fo...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stoneware

Cantone by Wilkens Germany 800 Silver Flatware Set Service 108 Pieces Modern
Located in Big Bend, WI
Mid-Century Modern cantone by Wilkens German 800 silver flatware set - 108 pieces. This set includes: 18 Knives, 8 1/2" 18 Dinner Forks, 7 3/4" ...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vase Flora Rare De Frantisek Koudelka, Beige-Rouge, Prachen, 1970s
Located in Verviers, BE
Vase Flora rare de Frantisek Koudelka, beige-rouge, Prachen, vers les années 1970, verre d’art tchèque / Boho ... Sklo Union, Beranek, Exbor.
Category

1970s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Art Glass

Vintage Italian Decorative Murano and Mirror Tray 1950
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Vintage Italian Decorative Murano and Mirror Tray from the 1950s is a captivating piece that marries the renowned Murano glass artistry with the functionality of a mirror tray. O...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Decorative Deer Napkin Holder 1930s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Decorative 'Deer' Napkin Holder. Netherlands, early 20th century. Very stylish and decorative napkin holder with a deer at the front. A very elegant ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Metal, Silver Plate

mid century TABLEWARE schirnding bavaria abstract decor in pastel colors 1950s
Located in Mannheim, DE
Very beautiful 1950s coffee crockery. Manufactured by Schirnding, Bavaria. A very beautiful, contemporary mid-century decor in different pastel colors (pink, light blue, yellow with ...
Category

1950s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

18 Vintage Silverplated Dinner Forks -- Set Can Be Split
Located in Sheffield, MA
The 18 vintage silver plated dinner forks are stamped "International Silver Co." The tines are sharp for easy piercing. There is an undecipherable monogram on each fork. Each fork ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate

Glazed Ceramic Majolica Coffee or Tea Cups Orange Design, Set of Six
Located in Barcelona, ES
Coffee or tea set of cups orange design, Spain, 1960s. Cool set of hand-painted orange glazed ceramic cups. Manufactured at the Mid-Century Modern Period. This set will be a nice...
Category

20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery

Italian Designer, Wine Bottle Holder, Brass, Leatherette, Italy, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A brass and red leatherette wine bottle holder designed and produced in Italy, c. 1950s.  Dimensions (inches): 7.75” H x 3.94” W x 8” D All items ship from High Point, North Carolina.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

LaGardo Tackett California Modernist Design Terracotta Tall Pitcher Rockingham
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and rare tall water pitcher by Lagardo Tackett for Rockingham. circa 1950's excellent condition no chips or cracks , beautiful glozy brown finish on terracotta .
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Terracotta

Brass Coaster vienna around 1970s
Located in Wien, AT
Brass Coaster vienna around 1970s Only polished
Category

1970s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Silver Sculpture by R&B Sterling Silver Flatware Set 12 Service 84 Pieces Modern
Located in Big Bend, WI
Designer of the pattern Silver Sculpture, Robert H. Ramp describes his inspiration for this pattern (Modernism in American Silver Book).... "...Even though it was named Silver Sculp...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vintage Descoware Mid Century Modern Cast Iron Orange Enamel Lidded Dutch Oven
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Descoware Mid Century Modern Cast Iron Orange Enamel Lidded Dutch Oven. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 5" H x 9.5" W x 8" D.
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Iron

Pompeo Pianezzola Ceramic Coppa for Zanolli Sebellin Nove
Located in Milan, IT
Pompeo Pianezzola ceramic coppa for Zanolli & Sebellin Nove Original labels.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic

Brass, copper watering can vienna around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Brass, copper watering can vienna around 1950s Polished and stove enameled
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass, Copper

Fruit bowl brass vienna around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Fruit bowl brass vienna around 1950s Original condition
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Neptune Fish Bottle Opener, Leather Steel by Amboss Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful fish-shaped mid-century bottle opener, made of stainless steel, covered with dark-brown tan leather. Model #4687, designed in 1995 by Carl Auböck, Vienna. Executed by Amb...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Carl Aubock Brass Maria Theresia Coin Bottle Opener, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful brass coin bottle opener, designed and executed by Carl Aubock in the 1950s. In good condition with nice patina.
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Carl Aubock Big Brass Key Cork Screw, Bottle Opener Paperweight, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful cork screw bottle opener & paperweight in the shape of a large golden key, designed and executed by Carl Aubock Vienna, Austria, 1950s. The big model. A Carl Aubock clas...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Signed Carl Auböck Brass Nutcracker with Leather Handles
Located in Vienna, AT
This nutcracker is an original piece of Mid-Century craftsmanship. The design and execution by the Wiener Werkstatte Carl Aubock. Fully signed Aubock and Made in Austria. It is made ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Olive Wood Salad Servers, France 1970s
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Olive Wood Salad Servers, France 1970s. Very elegant design in perfect condition. Servers are polished, which gives them a very soft touch. A chic piece to add to the kitchen !
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Fruitwood, Olive

Very rare white glazed ceramic ice box, 1970s
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Very rare white glazed ceramic ice box, Made in Italy, 1970s.  Beautiful large glazed ceramic ice cube prover with plastic ice box inside and brass lid. Condition is perfect.  The pr...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Midcentury Glass Pitcher Jug by Ostovics Culinar, Austria, 1970s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful pitcher or jug for water, soft drinks or juice, designed by Carl Auböck, executed by Ostovics Culinar in Austria in the 1970s. A beautiful, unus...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass

Colorful Set of Six Mid-Century Modern Glass Decanters by Empoli
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Very colorful and decorative set of six Italian glass decanters. There is one white decanter, one red, two brown and two blue ones. All carafes have a ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass

Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths Brass Silent Butler
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Lacquered brass lidded silent butler with incised lines designed by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths, New York. Stamped "Dorlyn Silversmiths" on the back. More recently polish...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Gio Ponti A Volute brass and cut glass salt pepper serving bowls
Located in Milan, IT
Splendid pair of Gio Ponti "A Volute" brass and cut glass salt & pepper serving bowls. A classic signature design from the 1940s
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Contour by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 64 Pieces, Modern
Located in Big Bend, WI
Stunning Contour by Towle sterling silver flatware set of 64 pieces. This set includes: Eight knives, 8 3/4". Eight forks, 7 5/8". Eight sal...
Category

1950s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Glass Bottle, Holmegaard Glass Bottle, Denmark, C 1960, Vintage Grey Decanter
Located in New York, NY
Decorative glass bottle by Holmegaard, C 1960. Color of the glass bottle is light grey. This bottle is sold but we have another bottle exactly the same.
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass

Champagne or wine cooler alpaca vienna around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Champagne or wine cooler alpaca vienna around 1950s Only Polished
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Alpaca

Blue Yellow and Green Cotton Table Napkins - Set of 4
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A set of four square cotton dinner napkins with blue, yellow, and green stripes. A perfect way to add a pop of color to your next dinner party. Dimensions: 15" x 15" Square
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Fabric

Constanze by Wilkens German 800 Silver Flatware Set Service 64 Pieces Modern
Located in Big Bend, WI
Constanze By Wilkens German 800 Silver Flatware set with modern unadorned design - 64 pieces. This set includes: 12 Knives, 7 7/8" 12 Forks, 7 - 7...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Mid-Century Restaurant Ware Porcelain Bowls in White and Green, Set of 3 1960s
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A set of three heavy restaurant ware bowls in green and white. Vintage restaurant ware is making a comeback in entertaining. Known for their strength and versatility, they seem to last forever. This set is from Shenango China...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Modern Arzberg Dinning Set Golfball
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Mid-Century Modern Arzberg dining set Golfball.
Category

1960s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

Kenji Fujita for Tackett Associates, Five Coffee Cups with Porcelain Saucers
Located in København, Copenhagen
Kenji Fujita for Tackett Associates. Five coffee cups with porcelain saucers. Dated 1953-56. The cup measures: 8 x 4.5 cm. Saucer...
Category

1950s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Porcelain

Exstraordinary Water Can Brass, Around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Exstraordinary Water can brass, around 1950s Polished and stove enameled. Wicker.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Hertha Baller Pipe Holder, Vienna, circa 1950s Marked
Located in Wien, AT
Hertha Baller pipe holder, Vienna, circa 1950s (Marked) Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Figgjo Flint * pepper salt shaker * Market * Turi Design * Norway * 60s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Figgjo Flint * pepper & salt shaker * Market * Turi Design * Norway * 60s * good condition . Very rare these, comes with there Original Teak lid . Design ...
Category

1960s Norwegian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic

Purple glass bottle (decanter), 1960s
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Purple glass bottle (decanter), Made in Italy, 1960s.  Pretty purple decanter with engraved design creations. The handle has a very special workmanship that makes it unique. It is a ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass

Mid Century Hand Embroidered Linen Table Napkins with Pink Flowers, Set of 7
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A set of crisp white dinner or cocktail napkins with hand-embroidered pink flowers. A wonderful set of seven napkins. Each is square and features an applique ombre pink, peach, and y...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Fabric

Mid-Century Bar Party Set 1517 in Original Box by Amboss, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A gorgeous bar set nestled in its original wooden box from the 1950s. It comprises a bottle opener, a corkscrew, and a can opener. Model #1517, crafted by Amboss Austria, this set is...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Jaap Ravelli Mid Century Studio Pottery Pitcher Vase
Located in Tilburg, NL
Jaap Ravelli mid century studio pottery pitcher vase. The Netherlands, mid 20th century. Very distinct and special pottery pitcher vase by renowned pot...
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic

20th Century Gabriella Crespi Decorative Box in Brass and Plexiglass 70s
Located in Turin, Turin
Born in 1922, Gabriella Crespi studies architecture at the Politecnico in Milan, where her work is permeated by her perspective on Le Corbusier’s and Frank Lloyd Wright’s design expe...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Buckingham by Gorham Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 8 Service 61 Pcs Dinner
Located in Big Bend, WI
Dinner Size Buckingham by Gorham circa 1909 sterling silver Flatware set - 61 pieces. This set includes: 8 dinner size knives, 9 1/2" 8 dinner size forks, 7 1/2" 8 luncheon/dessert f...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Salt and Pepper Shaker with Stand in Teakwood and Ceramic, Around 1960s
Located in Wien, AT
Salt and pepper shaker with stand made of teak and ceramic around the 1960s Signs of use Original condition.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Ceramic, Wood, Teak

Mid Century Teak and Brass Nutcracker 1950s
Located in San Diego, CA
A great mid century teak and brass nutcracker. Beautiful craftsmanship. Unsigned. 1950s
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Danish Modern Steak Knife set by Chef Le Blanc for Selandia NIB
Located in San Diego, CA
A set of 6 teak and stainless steak knives, designed in the 1970s by Chef JP LeBlanc for Selandia. They were never used. Comes with the box and original plastic sleeves. Beautiful Sc...
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Copper Coffee Pot with Bamboo Handle Around 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Copper coffee pot with bamboo handle around 1950s Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass, Copper

Mid-Century Copper Brass Milk Creamer and Sugar Bowl with Lid, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful set of a milk creamer and a sugar bowl, made of copper and brass with nice wicker handles. Executed in the 1950s by Erich Kolbenheyer, Vi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass, Copper

Set of six glasses, 1950s, Mid-Century, Sights of Venice, Italy
Located in Wien, AT
Very nice set of six glasses with the representation of the main sights of Venice, Italy. The cups have a base in round shape of colorless glass with a golden ring, which then merges into a bulbous shape that has a rubin...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Glass

Carl Aubock II Walnut Knife Holder with 6 Amboss Knives, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
Lovely set of six beautiful midcentury fruit knives and a holder / stand, made of walnut and cork. Designed by Carl Aubock II and manufactured by Carl Auböck workshop in midcentury, ...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Stainless Steel

Midcentury Original Auböck Bottle Opener in Shape of a Post Horn
Located in Vienna, AT
For sale is a beautiful bottle opener in the shape of a post horn. Both were crafted from brass and designed by the renowned workshops of Carl Auböck in Aust...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Brass

Bamboo Napkin Holder, circa 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Bamboo napkin holder, circa 1950s Original condition.
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Bamboo

David Gill For Bennington Potters Mr Salt And Mrs Pepper Shakers
Located in Doraville, GA
Mr Salt and Mrs Pepper designed by David Gil for Bennington Potters. The shakers are vintage and probably date from the 1950's. Including the cork, the shakers stand 6 inches tall an...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Pottery

Modernist Painted and Signed Cup and Saucer, circa 1960
Located in Bishop s Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual and interesting modernist hand-painted pottery cup and saucer, the latter painted with a Primitive black outlined deer decorated in brightly coloured glazes on a speckled ...
Category

1960s Scandinavian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Pottery

Mathieu Matégot Mid-Century Modern Red Enameled Metal Plate, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Enameled metal plate designed by Mathieu Matégot. Manufactured by Artimeta (Holland), circa 1950. Lacquered perforated metal, seem to be repainted many years ago. In good original c...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Metal

Vintage Antonio Pineda Sterling Silver Salt Pepper Shakers Mid-Century Modern
Located in North Miami, FL
This fabulous and elegant small pair of hallmarked modernist vintage sterling silver salt and pepper shakers are by the noted and one of the most collectable of Mexican silversmith...
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Mid-century Modern tableware for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern tableware 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 tableware created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern tableware made in a specific country, there are Europe, Austria, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original tableware, popular names associated with this style include Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Amboss Austria, International Silver, and Jens Quistgaard. 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 tableware differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $50 and tops out at $32,500 while the average work can sell for $652.

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