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 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
Vintage Elizabeth Arden Signs in Wood and Painted Aluminum
Located in Milano, IT
Rare advertising sign of Elizabeth Arden, an entrepreneur who founded, in that name, her cosmetics company, dating from the 1950s, taken from the Lake...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Aluminum
Hand-Carved Rustic Wooden Mask with Soft Expression
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rustic; folk art; mask; Axel Vervoordt
This Rustic looking mask has a soft and elegant expression, closed eyes, and a finely carved mustache.
The encrusted patina inside and out ...
Category
Early 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Pr. Vintage Hand Carved Miniature Hand Chairs after Pedro Friedeberg
Located in New York, NY
Pair of miniature vintage carved wood hand child's chairs, or objet d'art after the iconic Pedro Friedeberg hand chair. Possibly originally designed as bookends, these interesting pi...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage Framed Signed Art
Located in Seattle, WA
Vintage framed signed art
Dimensions. 72 W ; 36 1/4 H ; 3 D.
Category
1970s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Glass
Victorian Era Wooden Bead Centerpiece Bowl Czechoslovakian Art Craft Studio
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Mesmerizing design, great table prop or functional decor, signed to bottom, Made in Czechoslovakia. Measures: Bowl only diameter 10.25 x height 3.25 in.
Category
1910s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Patrick Danion, Painting, Acrylic on Paper, France, 1989
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Patrick Danion,
Painting, Acrylic on Paper,
Signed on the bottom right corner,
France, 1989.
Measures: Width 134 cm, Height 122 cm.
Category
1980s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Acrylic, Paint
Antique Carved Oak Tripod Tri legged Plant Stand
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Antique Carved Oak Tripod Tri legged Plant Stand
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Oak
Mid-Century Rope Lamp Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet
Located in Austin, TX
Mid century rope lamp by Audoux Minet.
Measures: Height / 15.3 inches.
Included shade diameter 6.5 inches.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Rope
Set of 6 Traditional Antique Button Soccer Game Figures, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of six table button soccer game players. Traditional figures used to play this classic button Spanish game.
The players are build buy attaching a printed photography or drawing...
Category
1950s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paper
Doyle Lane Mid-Century Modern Rare Colored Glass Ceramic Pottery Square Form
By Doyle Lane
Located in Studio City, CA
A rare, beautifully designed glass or ceramic form by famed midcentury American artist or potter Doyle Lane. Lane was a glaze specialist much like Glen Lukens and Otto Natzler. His colorful glazes would melt, bubble and crack over his pieces creating a very tactile look and feel. His work ranged from beaded necklaces and pendants to small, delicate vases or weed pots to ceramic sculptures, clay paintings, and large scale wall mosaics (including his most well-known work - an 18-foot mosaic or mural known as the orange wall which was commissioned by architect Welton Becket...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Hans Coper Small Pot
By Hans Coper
Located in Atlanta, GA
Hans Coper, small pot.
-Stoneware, black glaze
-Circa 1958
-Impressed with artist's seal
Literature:
Tony Birks, Hans Coper, Yeovil, 2013, p. 99 for a...
Category
1950s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Brown Stoneware Ceramic Vase by Alain Girel La Borne 1970 Mid Century Design
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Alain Girel
Brown stoneware ceramic vase by the french artist
Original good condition
XXth century pottery ceramic vase
Signed under the base
Measures: Height : 20 cm ...
Category
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
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
Set of Two Antique Traditional Spanish Rag Doll, circa 1920
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique early 20th century hand painted rag doll of two women dressed with traditional costumes.
Manufactured circa 1920 in Spain.
In original condition, with minor wear consi...
Category
1920s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Fabric
Vintage Solo Margarine Enamel Mid-Century Sign
Located in Norwich, GB
A wonderful bright vintage enamel sign advertising Solo margarine. Belgian - Circa 1940's.
The sign is in very good condition for its age, ther...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Enamel
Mid-Century Modern Italian Folding Four-Panel Decorated Screen by Enzo Strada
By Enzo Strada
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian folding four-panel screen with bucolic transfer painting. 1960s
Each panel measures cm.53 x 3 x H 148.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Gouache Contemporary Portrait Painting of a Woman Helen Wagner Malta 1930s
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
An early contemporary still-life Gouache portrait painting of a woman. On paper, this piece depicts a seated woman reclining in a pigmented blue chair. Her hair is short and dark and she wears a red dress. This sketch was created by Helen Wagner Malta and is signed at the bottom right in black ink "Helen Wagner" before her marriage. Her later works are signed "Helen Wagner Malta".
Helen Wagner Malta was born in 1912 and worked in New York City in the 1930s teaching at the Harlem Art...
Category
1930s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint, Paper
Midcentury Abstract Art Acrylic Oil On Canvas Painting Artwork 1960s 1970s
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
A striking, energetic piece of original abstract artwork dating from the 1960s/70s. Acrylic and oil have been used to create bold lines and brushwork on the canvas giving the piece a...
Category
1960s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic, Paint
Hervé Rousseau Brown and Red Brutalist Stoneware Ceramic Vase La Borne, 1990
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Hervé Rousseau
Original and Brutalist ceramic vase
Brown stoneware firing kiln effects and red ceramic glaze color
XXth century french artist
...
Category
Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Big Spanish 'Hachero' Traditional Ancient Stained Wood Candleholder, circa 1930
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Spanish 'Hachero' traditional ancient stained wood candleholder.
By unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1930.
In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and u...
Category
1930s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Modern Oval White Plastic Mirror by Carrara & Matta, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Oval mirror in white plastic by Carrara & Matta, 1980s
Medium size oval mirror in white plastic frame. Manufactured by Carrara & Matta.
1980s
Good conditions
Measures in cm 5...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Mirror, Plastic
Set of Two Antique Traditional Spanish Rag Doll, circa 1920
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique early 20th century pair of hand painted rag dolls of two women.
Manufactured circa 1920 in Spain.
In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, p...
Category
1920s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Fabric
Eric James Mellon Hand-Crafted Studio Pottery Head Sculpture Dated 1963
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare and unusual studio pottery head sculpted by renowned ceramic artist Eric James Mellon (British, 1925-2014) and dated 1963. Trained at the Central S...
Category
1960s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Antique Traditional Spanish Rag Doll, circa 1920
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique early 20th century hand painted rag doll of a woman dressed with traditional costume.
Manufactured circa 1920 in Spain.
In original condition, ...
Category
1920s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Fabric
Vallauris Midcentury Ceramic Pottery Tray Dish in the Manner of Picasso, 1954
By Vallauris
Located in Studio City, CA
An exquisitely made, wonderfully decorated, large, unique ceramic tray made in Vallauris, France during the peak of Vallauris studio ceramics. During this time (1954), many famous artist including Picasso, Marc Chagall, Roger Capron, Charles Voltz...
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Laura Andreson Signed Large Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Pottery Low Bowl, 1954
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderfully made and glazed large low bowl by renowned American potter Laura Andreson. Gorgeous in its Mid-Century Modern design and glowing pale colo...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Emil Milan 1981 Cherry Wood Triple Bird Sculpture Thompson PA Studio Craft
By Emil Milan
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Rare form. Nice example of Emil Milan's sculpture work. Signed, Date with Location.
Category
1980s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Cherry
Vintage Japanese 3 Tea Cups from Mid-Century Studio Pottery
Located in Norton, MA
Vintage Japanese 3 tea cups from mid-century studio pottery.
In good original new condition and just found in the warehouse, never used before.
Category
1950s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Large Mashiko Cup Japanese Mid-Century Studio Pottery
Located in Norton, MA
A Japanese Mashiko Cup studio pottery with stylized designs in the brown glazed body in the manner of cloud-water flowing pattern and dating from arou...
Category
1950s Japanese Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Mid-Century Cork & Rope Mirror Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet
Located in Austin, TX
Cork & Rope Mirror Audoux Minet circa 1950.
Measure: Total height with the rope / 20.5 inches.
Diameter of the mirror / 10 inches.
Category
1950s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Cork, Rope, Mirror
Albert Chubac, Gouache on paper, France, circa 1970
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Albert Chubac,
Gouache on paper,
France, circa 1970.
Measures: 50 x 65 cm.
Category
1970s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Czeslaw Budny Signed Modern Abstract Constructivist Marble Sculpture Base
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This contemporary abstract marble sculpture is by Czeslaw Budny, a Polish-Canadian artist in the constructivist style circa 2021. This unique sculpture i...
Category
2010s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Marble
Pair of Japanese Mid-Century Studio Pottery Tea Cups
Located in Norton, MA
In good original new condition and just found in the warehouse, never used before.
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Czeslaw Budny Modern Abstract Constructivist Marble Sculpture Stone Base Signed
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This contemporary abstract marble sculpture is by Czeslaw Budny, a Polish-Canadian artist in the constructivist style circa 2022. This unique sculpture i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stone, Marble
Ceramic Vase from the 1950s by the French Ceramist Edouard Cazaux F296
Located in Lyon, FR
Ceramic vase from the 1950s by the French ceramist Edouard Cazaux. Very nice drawings of the artist of women and goats all around the vase that create an impression of movement, enam...
Category
1950s French 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 stunning wood.
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Pair of Rope Ship Wheel Sconce Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet
Located in Austin, TX
Original pair of rope ship wheel sconces Audoux Minet, circa 1960.
Nautical.
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Rope
"Lincoln Bank" Still Toy Savings Bank, American, circa 1950
Located in Incline Village, NV
This seldom seen bank is technically a mechanical bank but basically it is a still bank with a slight mechanical function, that being; once it is full of coins, it opens up automatic...
Category
1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Tin
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
Alexandre Noll 1930s Turned Wood Bowl
Located in New York, NY
An original 1930s turned wood sculptural wood bowl by famed French craftsman, Alexandre Noll. Signed
Category
1930s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
Large Bertoia Studios 32-Rod 'Sounding Chess / B-2466' Copper & Brass Sculpture
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Bertoia Studios 32-Rod 'Sounding Chess / B-2466' copper & brass sculpture. A lyrical and musical sound sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed by Val, the artist and son of the original designer, Harry Bertoia. Hand made at the original Bertoia...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Brass, Copper, Silver
Brown Stoneware Ceramic Pitcher by Benoist Favre La Borne 1970 Design
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Benoist Favre
Realised circa 1970 in la Borne
Original brown ceramic pitcher
Handmade production
Original perfect condition
Signed at the ...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Italian Large Majolica Terracotta Sculpture with Lustre by Adolfo Merlone, 1950s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Majolica terracotta sculpture decorated with lustre glazes in shades of red, blue and yellow depicting a knight in seventeenth-century clothing and a lady; prepared to be used also a...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Maiolica, Terracotta
Mid-Century Modern Faux Bamboo Magazine Rack, Powder Coated Bright Chartreuse
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Faux Bamboo Magazine Rack
Powder Coated Bright Chartreuse.
Category
1970s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Jeanne Pierlot De Monvel White and Red 1950 Ceramic Pitcher Vase Ratilly
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Jeanne de Monvel - Jeanne Pierlot
Original 1950 ceramic pitcher by Jeanne de Monvel wife of Norbert Pierlot
White and red ceramic glaze color
Signed under the base
Circa ...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Raul Coronel Signed Mid-Century Modern Large Heavy Ceramic Pottery Bowl, 1960s
By Raul Coronel
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderfully made and colored heavy bowl by Mexican born ceramic master Raul Coronel who played an important role in the American (he became a naturalized ...
Category
1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Earthenware
David Leach Vertical Line Design Large Studio Pottery Vase
By David Leach
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine and unusual large studio pottery vase of tapering waisted form with contrasting vertical stripes on dark brown ground by David Leach (1911-2005) and probably made in the early...
Category
1960s English Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Elizabeth Arden Vintage Wooden Signs
Located in Milano, IT
Rare advertising sign of Elizabeth Arden, an entrepreneur who founded, in that name, her cosmetics company, dating from the 1950s, taken from the Lake...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Aluminum
Original Portrait Painting of a Pin-up Woman in Pink, Signed
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Portrait painting of a pinup woman in full makeup in pink. This striking piece depicts a woman with big blonde hair curled and pinned to the side. She wears blue eye makeup, a bright lip and blush, and a beauty mark. Her pink sleeveless dress...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Masonite, Paint
Royal Copenhagen Danish Stamped Signed Porcelain Fighting Polar Bears Model 2317
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderfully designed and colored figurine of two playful fighting/wresting polar bears by Danish Royal Copenhagen.
Stamped, numbered (2317), and signed ("OP") on the base.
W...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Porcelain
Chessboard in White and Colored Marble Italian Design 1970s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Chessboard in white and colored marble Italian Design 1970s.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Carrara Marble
Spanish 'Hachero' Traditional Ancient Light Wood Candleholder, circa 1930
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Spanish 'Hachero' traditional ancient light wood candleholder.
By unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1930.
In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use...
Category
1930s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Traditional Spanish Rag Doll, circa 1920
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique early 20th century hand painte Spanish rag doll with traditional costume.
Manufactured circa 1920 in Spain.
In original condition, wit...
Category
1920s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Fabric
Antique Traditional Spanish Maid Rag Doll, circa 1920
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique early 20th century hand painted traditional Spanish rag doll dressed with traditional maid costume.
Manufactured circa 1920 in Spain.
In or...
Category
1920s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Fabric
Set of 8 Traditional Antique Button Soccer Game Figures, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of eight table button soccer game players. Traditional figures used to play this classic button Spanish game.
Manufactured in Spain, circa 1950.
In original condition, wit...
Category
1950s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paper
Audoux Minet 2-Light Handwoven French Rope Chandelier Nautical Anchor Design
Located in Miami, FL
Audoux Minet 2-light French Rope chandelier in a classic Nautical Anchor Design.
Original wiring and takes 2 Torpedo E 14 Light Bulbs with max. 60 watts.
Comes with the white Clip on Shades...
Category
1960s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Set of Two Antique Traditional Spanish Rag Doll, circa 1920
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique early 20th century pair of hand painted rag dolls of two riflemen.
Manufactured circa 1920 in Spain.
In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use...
Category
1920s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Fabric
Huge Terrace Garden Sculpture by Master Designer Eva Fritz-Lindner
Located in South Burlington, VT
A one-of-a-kind round monumental Terrace stone -Terrassenstein- garden sculpture created, hand made, and hand-painted by master designer Eva Fritz-Lindner (1933-2017)
Handcrafted an...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
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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