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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 legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.

As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.

Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.

As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.

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Style: Mid-Century Modern
4 Vintage Gold Georges Briard "Seascape" Double Old Fashioned Glasses
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of four double old fashioned glasses designed by Georges Briard with 22 karat gold and blue and white enamel seashells on clear glass....
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

4 Mid-Century Modern "Fishing Lure" Double Old Fashioned Glasses Marked "Meth"
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of four mid-century modern double old fashioned glasses with fishing lures in colored enamels and 22 karat gold with raised textured designs on clear glass with white frosted int...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Meriden for International Sterling Silver Cocktail Shaker in Mid-Century Modern
Located in New York, NY
Meriden for International Sterling, silver plated cocktail shaker in Mid-Century Modern style in an elegant, geometric design. It measures 13 1/4'' in height with the lid (11 3/4'' w...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver, Silver Plate

Vintage Imperial Glass Ice Bowl and 6 Rocks Glasses in the "Shoji" Pattern
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of six rocks glass and ice bowl by Imperial Glass Company in the "Shoji" pattern with a molded raised trellis pattern covered in 22k gold between a band at the top and bottom of ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

American Sterling Silver Cocktail Shaker - Ensko of New York - Circa 1960
Located in London, London
Made circa 1960 by Ensko of New York, this very stylish, Sterling Silver Cocktail Shaker, is of tapering shape, with a pouring spout and removable lid. The cocktail shaker is engrav...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Sterling Silver

Fred Press Atomic Highball Glasses with Two-Tone Gold and Frosted White Columns
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of 6 mis-century modern highball glasses designed by Fred Press in the Atomic style with two-tone pinwheel pattern dots at the top of white frosted vertical columns with two-tone...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Silver Dolphin Bottle Opener Midcentury Mad Barware
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Silver Plate Dolphin Bottle Opener Midcentury Mad Barware 2 h x 6.5 long x 2.38 w Original vintage condition unrestored Refer to images.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Modern Vintage Barware Decanter Carafe Four Glass Set
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Modern Smoke Decanter and Four Glass Set Glass 4.5 h x 1.75 Decanter 10 h x 3.25 Preowned original vintage condition See images shown
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Art Glass

1970s Mid-Century Modern Fake Tortoise Lucite Tray in the manner of Dior Home
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A fake tortoise lucite rectangular bar tray designed and manufactured in Italy in the Seventies, brass accents are in original patina, lucite it's in very good condition as visible o...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Lucite

Green French Luminarc Cordial Glassware, Set of 5, 1970s, France
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A set of eight French cordial glasses with transparent bodies and green glass stems. Created in France in the 1970s by Luminarc. Dimensions: 6.5" Tall 2.75" Diameter
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Green Glass Decanter, Empoli, Italy
Located in Chappaqua, NY
Mid-Century Green Glass Decanter, Empoli, Italy. Tall, tapered glass decanter. Hand-blown glass in the distinctive green color used by Empoli.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Midcentury Scandinavian Danish Modern Condiments Dish
Located in New York, NY
A wood and glass condiments dish with knob lid, Midcentury Danish Modern or Scandinavia Modern design period, circa mid-20th century, Denmark. Condiments glass dish is a light smoked...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass, Wood

Mid-century Vintage Italian Alpaca Pineapple Ice Bucket, circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-century vintage pineapple ice bucket by unknown artist, circa 1960. Manufactured in Italy, circa 1960. Made of Alpaca. In original condition with minor wear consistent of age ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Alpaca

Midcentury Scandinavian Danish Modern Serving Dish
Located in New York, NY
A wood and glass serving dish with three compartments, Midcentury Danish Modern or Scandinavia Modern design period, circa mid-20th century, Denmark. Piece has a wood base with three...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass, Wood

Set of 12 Mid-Century Modern Crystal Wine Glasses - Val Saint Lambert
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A great set of 12 mid century modern crystal glasses. The glasses are not signed, most likely made by the Belgian brand Val Saint Lambert, based on the quality, colour and carvings....
Category

1950s Belgian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Crystal

Vintage Lucite World Globe Ice Bucket by Alessandro Albrizzi 1970s Italy
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful lucite ice bucket cube depicting the world captured in a sculpture that resembles an ice cube. The effect displays a frosted world map of continents and orbiting moon. This...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Lucite

Four Georges Briard Rocks Glasses with Polychrome Enamel Nautical Flags
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of 4 Georges Briard "Nautical Flag" decorated rocks glasses. Each with ships signal flags in red, yellow, blue and white enamel.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

1960s Vintage Teak Brass Ice Bucket Modernist Design Mexico
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Vintage Teak Wood Brass Ice Bucket Modernist Design Mexico 9.5 h x 7.5 diameter tongs 6.63 long x 1.13 d x 2.25 w Preowned original vintage condition, wear is present. Aluminum...
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Vintage Italian Brass Tray With Mirrored Glass
Located in London, London
Tray Brass frame Rope twist  Mirrored  Late 20th Century Italy
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Nut Teak Bowls
Located in Munich, DE
Original 1950s bowl element made of solid teak wood and and two solid brass handles on the sides. This fantastic piece was designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s, and handcrafted in hi...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Carl Aubock Rare Barware Decanter
Located in Chicago, IL
Carl Auböck Rare Barewear Decanter, cork top, mahogany wood with leather embossed clock face image. Werkstätte Carl Auböck Austria, c. 1950 glass, embossed leather with gilding, cork...
Category

1950s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass, Mahogany, Cork

Paolo Tilche for Guzzini Iconic Ice Bucket, Italy 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
Round ice bucket designed by Paolo Tilche for Guzzini in the 1970s. Plastic and metal.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Continental Sterling Silver Topped Cut Crystal Shaker
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous hefty cocktail shaker created from a heavy piece of hand-blown crystal beautifully deep cut in a simple and elegant design. The underside reveals the polished pontil mark...
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Crystal, Silver

Squared Ice Bucket in Tortoise Shell Effect Lucite and Chrome, Italy, 1970s
Located in Naples, IT
Cubic ice bucket in tortoiseshell-effect acrylic with chrome edges in the Christian Dior style. Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Chrome

American Art Deco Chrome "Penguin" Ice Bucket by West Bend Manufacturing
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful Art Deco chrome "Penguin" ice bucket by West Bend Manufacturing, circa 1940s. The design features three bakelite handles and an embossed penguin design on the perimeter of the bucket. The piece is in very great vintage condition; it measures 10.5"W x 8.5"D x 8" H. Marked "West Bend" with the company logo...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Chrome

1960s Black & Gold Coin Small Cocktail Glasses by Cera, Set of 6
By Cera
Located in Stamford, CT
Set of 6 1960s small cocktail glasses by Cera. Clear glass with overall applied black and gold coin motif.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Mid-Century Modern Piero Fornasetti Coaster Set, American Antiques
Located in Downingtown, PA
Piero Fornasetti Coaster Set, "American Antiques", A set of Eight, With Original Gold Box, Circa 1960 The ceramic set of Piero Fornasetti ceramic coasters are decorated with a rare pattern called American Antiques. Each piece shows a different item of America, numbered on the reverse 1-8. They come with their original gold box. The subjects are described as follows- Civil War Drum About 1860, 1890 Fire Helmet, Fireman's Ax, Fire Trumpet...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Ceramic

Italian Mid-Century Crystal Liquor / Desert Goblets Set of 8
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Usually we don’t know much about bar where we purchased from a Palm Springs area, a state, but this rare set of eight pieces bar where Crystal had a story from the heir of the estate...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

World Globe Ice Bucket Acrylic Cube by Alessandro Albrizzi, Italy, 1960's
Located in London, GB
Lucite cube bar ware depicting the world captured in a cube of acrylic that resembles an ice cube. Frosted world map of continents and orbiting moon. Suspended world globe ice bucket...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Acrylic

Libbey Frosted Cocktail / Collins Glasses With Carousel Animals- Set of 8
Located in Ross, CA
Vintage set of blown glass Libbey glasses, each in a different color and with a different carousel animal. The animals are depicted in enamels on a fros...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Blown Glass

Large Carl Aubock Brass Key Corkscrew Bottle Opener Paperweight, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful sculptural Mid-Century cork screw bottle opener in the shape of a big key. This is a rare and not common model, designed by Carl Aubock, executed b...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Vintage 1960s Holmegaard Kluk-Kluk Glass Decanter by Jacob Bang and Original Box
Located in East Quogue, NY
Elegant vintage mid-century Holmegaard Kluk Kluk smoke color glass decanter with stopper and original manufacturer's label by Jacob E. Bang, a tru...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Mid Century Decanter Set
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid Century Decanter Set consisting of a decanter and 6 small roll poly glasses.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Blown Glass

Faux Bamboo Nutcracker
Located in New York, NY
Faux bamboo nutcracker. Italian midcentury gilt metal and steel nutcracker with sculptural gold rubbed modeled bamboo handles; very nice heavy sculptural feel in the hands, and hands...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Steel

Brass Fish Butler Cork Srew Bottle Wine opener, France 1960's
Located in Den Haag, NL
Brass Fish Butler Cork Srew Bottle Wine opener, France 1960's
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass, Metal

Agricultural Theme Bar Set in Brass, 1960s, Set of 3
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Midcentury bar-set with the following accessories: a rock hammer Corkscrew, a spade shaped bottle opener and a horse head ashtray. All of them made from solid brass. Scandinavian mad...
Category

1960s European Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Modern Crystal Decanter - Boda Afors - Bertil Vallien
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful mid century modern crystal decanter, made by the Swedish brand Kosta Boda. This piece was designed by Bertil Vallien, a Swedish ar...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Crystal

Christofle Silver Plated Shaker France 1950
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Christofle Silver Plated Shaker France 1960 Beautiful and authentic cocktail shaker, an unusual model due to its design. The comfortable size may require a strainer for certain type...
Category

1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Gucci, Italy - Whimsical Hare Bottle Opener c.1970
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous and highly collectable bottle opener by the iconic Italian designer, Gucci. Made from silver plate, this example is in the form of a Ha...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Valenti Silvered Nautical Rope Ice Bucket Wine Cooler 1970s
Located in Munich, DE
A stylish silver plated ice bucket of cylindrical design in the form of coiled rope with matching lid, by Spanish maker Valenti; circa 1975. The inside liner is insulated to help kee...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Silver Plate

Seldom seen Jens Quistgaard Dansk tall JHQ ice bucket
Located in Ferndale, MI
Large and rare tall ice bucket with fitted lid designed by Jens Quistgaard for the Dansk rare woods line. Introduced in 1961, the Rare Woods line was the finest designs and exotic wo...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Wood

Brass and Stainless Steel Bottle Opener by Henning Koppel for George Jensen
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish Mid Century Modern Bottle Opener in Classic Scandinavian Design by Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen Design
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

1970s Mid-Century Modern Brass and Glass Rectangular Italian Serving Tray
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A rectangular fake bamboo brass and glass serving tray designed and manufactured in Italy in the Seventies, it's in good conditions overall. This Italian Serving Tray is a stylish an...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Vintage Cut to Clear Cranberry Highball Glasses in Original Box Set of 6 - Italy
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
An incredible set of six cut-to-clear tall cranberry highball or tea glasses made in Italy. This set is one of our favorite finds of the year. The glasses come in their original box which is wrapped in a stunning mid-century modern multicolor paper. (It's giving major vintage Missoni or Lilly Pulitzer vibes.) Six wells draped in silk hold each glass individually. Each glass is in the shape of a tall highball glass or ice tea glass...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Danish Teak Coasters, Denmark, 1960's
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Danish Teak Coasters, Denmark, 1960's.
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Plastic, Teak

Textured Glass Coupes - Set of 4
Located in Vallejo, CA
A set of 4 mid century glass coupes. Each has an elegant shape with a beautiful icey texture to the glass. Perfect for champagne or cocktails.
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Italian Florentine Gold Gilt Ivory Vintage Wood Round Tray
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Round Painted and Wood Florentine Tray, 1960’s Italy Stunning early Florentine Tray from the 1960’s. These highly collectable pieces are both form an...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Wood

Set of 6 Carlo Moretti / Empoli Cased Glass Plum Wine Glasses
Located in Chicago, IL
Set of 6 Carlo Moretti / Empoli Cased Glass Plum (Purple) Wine Glasses
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Art Glass

Midcentury Baccarat Cut Crystal and Silver Ice Bucket, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Baccarat Crystal and Sterling Silver Ice Bucket with single handle, France, 1950s This ice bucket is comprised by a cut crystal container with sterling silver striped handle. This se...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Crystal, Silver

Art Deco 1930s Czech Geometric Glass Decanter Set
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Art Deco 1930s Czech Geometric Glass Decanter Set Very stylish and appealing Art Deco decanter set which comes with 3 matching glasses, and decanter, the whole being heavily enameled...
Category

1930s Austrian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Art Glass, Cut Glass

Set of Eight Vintage Enamelware High Ball Glasses
Located in San Diego, CA
Great set of eight vintage enamelware high ball glasses, circa 1950s. These glasses are very difficult to find in a set and are in very good condit...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Enamel

French Wicker Rattan Cane Wine Bottle Holder Caddy Mid Century 1960s
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Vintage French rattan wine bottle holder, circa 1960s.
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Wicker, Cane, Rattan

Vintage Georges Briard Red 'Icicle' Design Rocks Glasses in Herringbone Pattern
Located in Nantucket, MA
Set of 4 Georges Briard rocks glasses in a variant of his 'Icicle' pattern with red lines in raised textured frosty enamel arranged in a herringbo...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Hand Painted Solid Brass Bottle Opener, Israel 1960's
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Hand Painted Solid Brass Bottle Opener, Israel 1960's
Category

1960s Israeli Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

Set of Six Billiard / Pool Balls Roly Poly Cocktail Glasses by Cera
By Cera
Located in San Diego, CA
Great set of six billiard / pool balls roll poly cocktail glasses by Cera, circa 1970s. Each glass resembles a billiard ball with a number and colorful stripe. These glasses are very...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Glass

Aldo Tura, Brass and red Parchment cooler / Ice bucket, Italy 1960s
Located in Firenze, IT
Aldo Tura, Brass and dark red parchment cooler / Icebucket Italy 1960s h 24 cm - diam. 20 cm Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Tortoiseshell Lucite and Brass Serving Tray by Guzzini, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Mid-Century round tray in tortoiseshell effect lucite and brass. This fantastic serving piece was produced in Italy during the 1970s by Guzzini with the clear influence of ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Metal, Brass

Vintage Blue Glass Art Egg Domed Decanter, 1950's
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Blue Glass Art Hinged Egg Domed Liquor Decanter Striking cobolt blue decanter with shot glasses. A great statement piece to elevate your ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Brass

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.

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