Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
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
- Emerged during the mid-20th century
- Informed by European modernism, Bauhaus, International style, Scandinavian modernism and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture
- A heyday of innovation in postwar America
- Experimentation with new ideas, new materials and new forms flourished in Scandinavia, Italy, the former Czechoslovakia and elsewhere in Europe
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
- Simplicity, organic forms, clean lines
- A blend of neutral and bold Pop art colors
- Use of natural and man-made materials — alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak; steel, fiberglass and molded plywood
- Light-filled spaces with colorful upholstery
- Glass walls and an emphasis on the outdoors
- Promotion of functionality
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Eero Saarinen
- Milo Baughman
- Florence Knoll
- Harry Bertoia
- Isamu Noguchi
- George Nelson
- Danish modernists Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen, whose emphasis on natural materials and craftsmanship influenced American designers and vice versa
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
- Eames lounge chair
- Nelson daybed
- Florence Knoll sofa
- Egg chair
- Womb chair
- Noguchi coffee table
- Barcelona chair
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
Modernist Abstract Table Sculpture by Don Frost, after Noguchi
By Frost
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large modernist abstract table sculpture by Don Frost, one of his earlier works. Most likely a study, maquette for an eventual larger sculptur...
Category
1970s Canadian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Rope, Plaster
Modern Creative Kokeshi Doll by Hideo Ishihara, Japan
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Rare Modern creative Kokeshi doll by Hideo Ishihara, Japan
This rare whimsical sosaku kokeshi was created and signed by the award winning master, Hid...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Rupert Deese Signed Mid-Century Modern California Studio Pottery Floral Bowl
Located in Studio City, CA
A gorgeous floral or leaf pattern decorated bowl by California master ceramist Rupert Deese who worked closely with pottery legend Harrison Mcintosh.
Signed with Deese's cipher/ stamp and sticker on the base.
Would be a great addition to any Mid-Century Modern ceramics and pottery collection or a very eye-catching stand-alone accent piece in about any setting.
Deese's work can be found in numerous collections and museums including:
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston
Everson Museum, Syracuse, New York
Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle
Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, California
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles
Maloof Foundation, Alta Loma, California
Millard Sheets Collection, Gualala, California
Mingei International Museum, San Diego
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Logan, Utah
Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Richard
Alice Petterson Museum, Claremont, California
Roger Corsaw...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Double sided porcelain subway/ bus sign "LADIES REST ROOM"
Located in Buffalo, NY
Double sided porcelain subway/ bus sign "LADIES REST ROOM".. Great old sign..Nice original condition, minor staining to one side,(see photo)
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Porcelain
"Generale" Pendant by Enrico Baj, 1940s Limited Edition
By Enrico Baj 1
Located in Stockholm, SE
The Generale pendant by Enrico Baj is a rare and compelling example of the artist’s work translated into a wearable object. Produced in a limited and signed edition, the pendant belo...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Jean Da Milano, Composition, Oil on Paper, 1974, France
Located in Nice, Cote d
Azur
Jean Da Milano (1928-2017), Abstract composition,
Oil on paper,
Signed lower left,
N°859-74, n° 492,
1974, France.
Measures : Height 65,5 cm, Width 50 cm.
Jean Da Milano is an abstract painter from Nice who was cradled by the rich breeding ground of the School of Nice and its artists.
Active from the 1960s to the 2008s, his works were forgotten and rediscovered by the HARTER Gallery, which today highlights his touch.
According to Agnès Roux, Honorary Secretary for Culture, “Jean Da Milano is one of those modest painters who knew how to develop abstract painting alongside his contemporaries. In an infinite world, the kinetic object on an astral background gradually transforms into a pictorial relief, where the painting falsely becomes painting and invisibly paper. The humility of its formats does not give the work the fullness it deserves. But the almighty gaze of the spectator engenders the feelings and sensations of a cosmogonic painting steeped in universality ".
We indeed observe in his work an evolution which begins with an almost cosmic painting in the 70s, then what we could qualify as “implosions” in the 80s and finally, a real research on paper and pictorial relief. in the 2000s.
According to Georges Braque "Everyone is a creator, the viewer is himself a creator, it is the way of seeing that gives life to the object. "
Personal exhibitions:
- 1992: Golden Gallery Nice
- 1988: Acropolis Nice
- 1982: Municipal Gallery Renoir Nice
- 1977: Municipal Museum Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Collective exhibitions:
- 1992: Golden Gallery
- 1991: Golden Gallery
- 1990: Golden Gallery - Art Jonction
- 1989: Nice university center
- 1987: Acropolis
- 1985: Chapel of Mercy Vallauris
- 1984: CIAC Paris and Chapelle des Pénitents in Péone
- 1983: Art Expo Dallas Texas and Art Expo New York
- 1980: Galerie Waterlot Nice
- 1971: Necrolium Nice
- 1970: Maison de la Culture Magnan Nice and Musée de la Salle Marine Nice
- 1969: Galerie Le Nombre d´Or Nice
- 1968: Musée de la Salle Marine Nice and Galerie Salmon Nice
- 1966: Paul Langevin Biot school group
- 1965: Chapelle St Esprit...
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Mid Century Large Studio Pottery Vase, USA 1960s
Located in La Teste-de-Buch, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Large studio glazed earthenware vase.
Quality american mid century modern work.
Outstanding glaze.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Phillips 66 Cast Aluminum Gas Sign
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
1940's Cast Aluminum Phillips 66 Gas Station Sign. This amazing piece of history is made up of individual letters that can be hung by each letter or can we attached to a support on the back as we did in the photos. Letters were professionally restored. This is a gas sign...
Category
1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Aluminum
Large Illuminated Advertisement for HB cigarettes, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
Large wall advertisment light
Good original condition with signs of use
The top part is missing some plastic
Category
1970s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Antique Butter Grinder In Oak
Steel From 1860s
Located in Lejre, DK
Antique butter grinder from the 1860s. Made of oak with steel details. Height 100 cm, diameter 25 cm. Possibly used as an umbrella holder.
— Origin: Europe (presumably Denmark)
— Pe...
Category
1860s Danish Antique Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Steel
Italian Midcentury Ceramic Modernist Collectors Vase by Art Rumi Orobico, 1950s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Gorgeous and rare, unique ceramic vase hand painted and signed with G.R. by artist from Italian ceramic studio Orobico Arte Artigianato (ART RUMI) in the 1950s.
The vase is made of ...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Modernist Stabile Sculpture by Graham Sears
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist stabile sculpture by Graham Sears.
Category
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Trio of Traditional Kokeshi Dolls by Masahiro Satomi (1948-1994), Japan
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Trio of Traditional Kokeshi Dolls by Masahiro Satomi (1948-1994), Japan
Three traditional kokeshi dolls created and signed by Masahiro Satomi (1948-1994). They measure 14.5, 12 and 10.5 inches high. In good condition, with some shellac loss on head and body of large doll...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage Mid Century Modern Brutalist Gilt Metal Horse
Chariot Wall Art
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Mid Century Modern Gilt Metal Brutalist Horse & Chariot Wall Art by Hillside Original. Item features a wood frame, formica /laminate backing,...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Italian Monovolumen Student Art Work
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1980s wood truck by student at the woodworking class in the early eighties in Italy.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
$570 Sale Price
40% Off
Witco Tiki Mid Century Wood Carved Fireplace Tool Set with Brutalist Accent
Located in Chattanooga, TN
An exceptionally rare Witco fireplace tool set, circa 1960s–1970s, hand-carved in solid swamp cedar and paired with Brutalist metal panels and original wrought-iron tools. This drama...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
$971 Sale Price
25% Off
Oli Painting Made On Canvas With Gilded Frame From 1940s
Located in Lejre, DK
Oil painting framed in a gilded wooden frame with a motif of a little girl holding a bunch of grapes. Painted in warm colors. Signed.
Measurements: L:51.5cm W:41.5cm
Category
1940s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Folky Mid-Century "Automium" Model Lamp
Located in New York, NY
This interesting lamp was home made by a person who visited the 1958 Worlds fair in Brussels. After being so impressed by the signature structure "The Automium" (see tear sheet attac...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Hand-Painted Terracotta Desert Landscape Pot Marked "Mexico"
Located in Seattle, WA
This vintage hand-painted terracotta pot features a vibrant desert landscape rendered in rich, earthy tones. The scene includes stylized cacti, soaring birds, and a glowing sun or m...
Category
1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Large Vintage Cow Bone Throne Armchair, Germany, circa 1930
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A great piece of fantasy furniture - a throne chair made of original bones from the female cattle (Bos taurus). All parts are made of real cattle bones sticked together with iron rod...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Bone
Mid-Century Remote Control Model Airplane
Located in Queens, NY
American (1950s) hand made model airplane with working engine and remote control.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paper
Mid Century Modern Abstract Carved Stone Outsider Art by Louise Abrams, c1970
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Carved stone by abstract outsider artist Louise Abrams.
This particular piece is from the artists personal collection of her own art.
Sits on a black lam...
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Alabaster
Vintage Anatomical Pull Down Chart
Osteology, GH Michel Company
By G.H. Michel Company
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage Anatomical Pull Down Chart 'OSTEOLOGY ,GH Michel Company,Black background,amazing color contrast.Beautifully screened printed,linen backed.S...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Linen, Paper
Tall Hollywood Regency Pastel Pink Ceramic Seahorse Vase by Gonder Pottery
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Tall Hollywood Regency style pink imperial line vase in the shape of a seahorse. This eye catching vessel is tall in form, and features a figural statue of a seahorse with shell crow...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Space Age Inflatable Table Top Globe w/ Metal Stand, CS
Hammond
C, US, 1950s
Located in Deland, FL
Attention collectors! Introducing a nearly 75 year old table top globe in 100% original, vintage condition. Featuring a space-age metal stand with geometric feet this globe shows the...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Signed Modern Abstract Constructivist Styled Wooden Oak Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This contemporary abstract wooden sculpture was done by Czeslaw Budny a Polish-Canadian artist in the constructivist style circa 2023. This sculpture was made entirely of up-cycled, ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Oak
$796 Sale Price
20% Off
Wooden Mortar and Pestle with Nail Studs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wooden mortar and pestal with nail studs - an attractive piece, used as a prop in the television show MAD MEN. A lovely decorative piece or use it to crus...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Aldo Londi Koala Bear Savings Box for Bitossi, Italy 1960s
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Aldo Londi Koala Bear Savings Box for Bitossi, Italy 1960s
A beautiful Aldo Londi designed Koala bear in the shape of a savings box.
The Koala is made of heavy ceramics - pottery,...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Albert Chubac, Painting, France, circa 1960
Located in Nice, Cote d
Azur
Albert Chubac (1925-2008),
Acrylic painting on cardboard,
Stamped,
France, circa 1960.
Measures: Height 100 cm, width 140 cm.
Albert Chubac was born in Geneva in 1920. After studying decorative art, then at the Beaux-Arts in Geneva, he obtained grants to travel to Italy, Algeria, Spain, Egypt and Greece, stages which will mark his work.
He settled in 1964 on the Côte d ‘Azur in Aspremont in a very Spartan house, attracted by the light, the sun and the colors of nature.
The year 1967 is the year of the establishment of the School of Nice. He will work and exhibit alongside Aman, César, Tinguely, Gilli, Ben, Rayse, etc ...
In 1990, it was the consecration with the opening of MAMAC in Nice. Albert Chubac then becomes accessible to the general public.
He will use solid primary colors, will develop modifiable structures and then develop the collages in three dimensions.
Gradually, he broke away from his classical training and figuration to move towards abstraction through the encounters and influences of contemporary artists.
Always in search of simplicity, He will radically limit the plastic means with a reduced palette, geometric shapes and simple gestures to concentrate on minimum conditions of possibility.
His work, which lies between constructivism and geometric abstraction, is playful and imbued with the artist's joie de vivre.
In 2004, following the major retrospective at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nice, he donated around one hundred works to the City of Nice.
Albert Chubac died in 2008 in Tourrette-Levens, near Aspremont.
Bibliography:
- Albert Chubac, MAMAC Nice, Cultures Nice Editions, 2004.
- Albert Chubac: exhibition, Nice, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, January 29 - May 16, 2004.
- Albert Chubac, Galerie Harter, 2013.
- Albert Chubac, a lifetime of artist, Patrick Boussu and Cynthia Lemesle, South Art éditions, 2021.
During the workshop auctions in Nice and Marseille, the Harter Gallery acquired the largest part of his work.
Personal exhibitions:
- 1950: Personal exhibition in Athens at the Zappéion museum.
- 1954: Exhibition at the Arman Gallery in Geneva.
- 1956: Exhibition at the Galerie Connaître in Geneva.
- 1957: Exhibition at the Galerie La Palette in Zurich.
- 1958: Exhibition at the Galerie L’Entracte in Lausanne.
- 1960: Exhibition at the World House Gallery in New York.
- 1967: Exhibition at the Galerie Loo in Geneva, at the Salon Comparaison in Paris, Aspects in Chexbres in Switzerland.
- 1968: “Paintings” exhibitions from March 30 to May 11 at the Galerie Alexandre de la Salle.
- 1970: Exhibition at the Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture de Magnan in Nice, at the Maison de la Culture Le Corbusier in Firminy entitled "Chubac recent works" and at the Galerie Royal Luxembourg in Nice.
- 1971: Exhibition at the Galerie Germain in Paris and at the Fernand Léger School in Malakoff.
- 1972: Exhibition on the village square of Aspremont, at the Galerie Royal Luxembourg in Nice.
- 1973: Exhibition at the Galerie Ferrero in Nice.
- 1974: Exhibition at Art-club in Antibes.
- 1975: Exhibition at the Galerie Jacques Boudin rue de Dijon in Nice.
- 1978: Exhibition at the Galerie Anne Roger in Nice.
- 1980: Exhibition at the Galerie de la Salle in Saint-Paul de Vence from August 8 to September 9.
- 1981: Exhibition at Lieu 5 in Nice from February 13 to March 20.
- 1983: Exhibition at the Galerie d'Art Contemporain in Nice, at Anne Roger.
- 1984: Exhibition "Lille Nice" at the Galerie GodArt in Lille from April 14 to May 17 and at the Galerie Luisella d´Alessandro in Turin.
- 1985: Exhibition in Thonon les Bains at the Galerie Galise.
- 1988: Exhibitions at Galerie Argéco in Nice and Galerie Triade in Barbizon
- 1989: Exhibitions at the Galerie de la Salle, at Lola Gassin's in Nice, in galleries in Nice
- 1990: he made four mobiles for the MAMAC in Nice, Exhibitions at the Galerie François Moulin in Lyon and Golden Gallery, ArtJunction in Nice.
- 1991: Exhibition at the Galerie de la Salle in Saint-Paul.
- 1992: Exhibitions at the Espace du consulat suisse in Nice, Besançon and opening of the Espace Chubac in Tourrette-Levens.
- 1993: Exhibition at the Maison Comoni in Revest-les-Eaux, at the Galerie François Moulin in Lyon.
- 1994: Exhibition at the Espace Caravadossi in Aspremont.
- 1996: Exhibition at the Espace Dellile in Nice.
- 1997: Exhibition at the Galerie de la Salle in Saint-Paul.
- 1998: Last personal exhibition at the Galerie de la Salle in Saint-Paul.
- 2000: Exhibition at Lympia college in Nice.
- 2001: Exhibition at the Espace Chubac in Tourette-Levens.
- 2002: Exhibition at the Galerie Scholtès in Nice and in Carcès in the Var entitled "Albert Chubac-Couleurs mobiles".
- 2004: Great Albert Chubac retrospective at MAMAC in Nice.
- 2011: Permanent exhibition at the Galerie Harter in Nice.
- 2012: Exhibition at the Olympia Show in London at the Christopher Jones Gallery and at the Serge Castella Interiors Gallery in Bascara, Spain.
- 2013: Exhibition at the Municipal Contemporary Art Gallery of Pochettes in Nice.
- 2019/2021: Exhibition of works belonging to the permanent collection of MAMAC in Nice and exhibition "Geometry according to Albert Chubac" at the Galerie Harter in Nice.
- 2021/2021: Permanent exhibition at Galerie Atelier 55...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Large Wall Sculpture by Curtis Jere Signed and Dated
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
A quite large and very cool piece of wall art by the famous American artists Curtis Jere. Signed and dated, and in very good original condition.
Category
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Brass, Steel
Cutter Sailing Lighthouse Spirit of Alfred Wallis
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Cutter in full sail with one man visible on board riding a wave past a lighthouse
Oil on cardboard
Characterful naive picture in the spirit of Alfred Wallis...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Other
Vintage Leather Mask
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Leather Mask
Italian, circa 1960, signed
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Leather
Oil Painting by Jørgen Sejersen, Danish Midcentury, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
Presenting an enchanting oil painting by the Danish artist Jørgen Sejersen, made in between 1960-1980s.
This particular artwork captures a peaceful scene, showcasing a young boy im...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Vintage Gold-Plated Christian Dior Necklace with Large Chains
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Vintage gold plated Christian Dior necklace with large chains.
Category
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Gold Plate
Scandinavian Set of Eight Sculpture Vases
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of eight sculpture vases. Each vase is hand colored shaped and sized. Vases can use for the flowers. We have 4 more vases like this.
Category
1860s Scandinavian Antique Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Signed Modern Abstract Constructivist Styled Wooden Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This contemporary abstract wooden sculpture was done by Czeslaw Budny a Polish-Canadian artist in the Constructivist style in circa 2010. This sculpture was made entirely of up-cycle...
Category
2010s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Signed Wooden Folk Art Figurine by S. Wodynski, Central Europe, ca. 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
This charming vintage wooden figurine, signed "S. Wodynski" on the underside, portrays a bearded man in a long coat and wide-brimmed hat, hold...
Category
1970s Polish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage Eagle Statue, Wood figure, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
Vintage wooden figurine
original condition
eagle statue
Category
1970s German Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
French Mid-Century Extra-Large Multicolor Square Crocheted Wall Art
Located in Markington, GB
French Mid-Century Extra-Large Multicolor Square Crocheted Wall Art — very good vintage Condition — 175 x 175 cm
Mid-20th Century Extra-Large Multi-C...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Marilyn Neuhart Alexander Girard Doll Textiles
Objects
Located in Atlanta, GA
Rare Hand Made Doll, by Marilyn Neuhart for Textiles & Objects, which was a "pop up shop" conceived by Alexander Girard and sponsored by Herman Miller in May of 1961. See the last tw...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wool, Linen, Silk
Large Modern Abstract Oil Painting "Morning Glory" by Peter Caruso, NYC Artist
By Marcelo Caruso
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large 60" x 48" modern abstract oil on canvas painting. "Morning Glory" by Peter Caruso, NYC Artist. Amazing use of color, texture, space, very cool 1970s vibe. Would enhance any mod...
Category
1880s American Antique Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Paint
Desk Top Puzzle in Plywood Box
Located in Ferndale, MI
Geometric pieces of wood fitted together inside of laminate or plywood box.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Maple, Plywood
$800 Sale Price
33% Off
Tall Red and Orange Marbled Swirl Clay Nemadji Indian Wedding Pottery Vase
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A midcentury-style touring pottery piece. It has a wide body and two spouts. It is created from Native Indian clay in a marbled black, red, and orange.
Bottom reads:
Nemadji Pottery...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Clay
Female Figure by Mari Simmulson for Upsala Ekeby circa 1960
Located in Chicago, IL
Mari Simmulson (1911-2000) for Upsala-Ekeby, Sweden. Large ceramic figure of a woman. Hand-decorated with white, black and cobalt blue (hands and face unglazed).
Model 9032M. Appro...
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Monumental Mid-Century Modern Wall Sculpture Attributed to John Reisetter
Located in Redding, CT
Monumental Mid-Century Modern Abstract Wall sculpture attributed to John Reisetter . Reisetter was one of the known sculptors who worked for The famous ...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Brass, Iron
Italian Hand Painted Ceramic Vase in Lustro Glaze by Riccardo Gatti Faenza 1950s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Beautiful unique ceramic vase made by Bottega Gatti in Faenza, most probably during the 1950s or earlier.
The vase is hand painted, hand carved and glaz...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
1969 G. Reynold’s Signed California Wood Sculpture
Located in Charleston, SC
This incredible wall hanging of the state of California is signed G. Reynolds and dated 1969. This piece is made of a single piece of absolutely st...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$1,664 Sale Price
36% Off
1950 Watch Repair Light Box Sign
Located in Surrey, BC
A vintage all original advertising light box sign depicting watch repairs in faded original glass.. a nice addition to sign collector or watch dealers ....
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
"at the Market, Congo, " Large Art Deco Master Painting by Charles Melikoff
Located in Antwerp, BE
Charles Melikoff is a Belgian Orientalist Impressionist & Modern painter.
In an era when fine art and natural history museums commissioned artists to...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Martini Rossi advertising sculpture or bust, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Cool advertising sculpture or bust for Martini & Rossi to display a bottle in shops.
Great to use in our bar or as a decorative piece in your ho...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Plaster
ramed and Glazed Watercolour of the Cutty Sark by G.S.Campbel
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Framed and Glazed Watercolour of the Cutty Sark by G.S.Campbel 1956 Whitstable
A lovely representation of a much loved Ship, set in an old deeply moulded decorative 4” wide gesso f...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint, Paper
Round Ceramic Brown Unusual Studio Pottery Vase, Signed
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Glazed in an almost metallic-looking paint, this petite round vase will be fabulous on a nightstand, bookshelf, or side table. Studio Pottery is a...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Paint
Monumental 7
x 8
Modern Abstract Oil Painting On Canvas by Simeon Gonzales
By Mario Gonzales
Located in Buffalo, NY
Simeon Gonzales is a contemporary abstract artist born in Cusco, Peru in 1973. His Inka heritage is very present in his works, which are a celebration of bright and strong colors. Go...
Category
1990s Peruvian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Paint
Large MCM Blue and Cream Ceramic Studio Pottery French Jardiniere Planter
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A large earthenware ceramic jardiniere or planter. This piece is decorated with a creamy white and blue design. Each side features an applied free-form handle. This would be great in...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Earthenware
Large Wacky Bull Bone Throne Chair, circa 1930
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Wacky Bull Bone Throne Chair, circa 1930
A great piece of fantasy furniture - a large throne chair made of original bones from the male cattle (Bos taurus). All parts are made...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Bone
Americana Studio Pottery Ceramic Bud Vase in White and Orange Brown, Signed
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A pretty one-of-a-kind Americana Revival petite ceramic hand-made studio pottery vase. Created from ceramic, this vase reminds of stoneware and is round in form. The top of the piece...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Paint
Jacques Lipchitz - Sacrifice of Isaac framed Lithograph - signed/numbered
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jacques Lipchitz (Lithuanian (1891–1973) known as the artist who brought Cubism to Sculpture.
He was also an accomplished painter and print-maker. This lithograph of the “Sacrifice ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint
$2,460 Sale Price
25% Off
Large Modernist Abstract Oil on Canvas painting "Night Vision" by Fritz Proctor
By Fritz Albert
Located in Buffalo, NY
Night vision
Fritz Proctor is an American painter from Niagara Falls, New York. Fritz acquired his BA in Studio Art from the University of Buffalo. Hi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Paint
Big Spanish
Hachero
Traditional Ancient Stained Wood Candleholder, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, ES
This antique Hachero candleholder is a traditional piece from Spain, crafted from stained wood and dating back to circa 1890. Despite its age, it is still in original condition, with...
Category
1940s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$2,076 Sale Price
30% Off
Iron and Art Glass Sculpture Larry Livolsi (1946-2015) Lorenz Studio
Located in Woodbury, CT
Glass and iron sculpture with removable blown glass art glass vase surrounded by hand wrought iron.
LARRY LIVOLSI (1946-2015) MID CENTURY SCULPTOR AND GLASS BLOWER OF LORENZ STUDIO,...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Mid-century Modern folk art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern folk art 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 folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern folk art 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 folk art, popular names associated with this style include Albert Chubac, Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet, La Borne Potters, and Beatrice Wood. 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 folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $41 and tops out at $64,764 while the average work can sell for $1,325.
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