Poggi Pavia
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Iron
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Teak
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Wood, Teak
Vintage 1960s Italian Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs
Steel
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Dining Room Tables
Carrara Marble, Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tables
Wood, Walnut
Antique 1850s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Steel
Vintage 1950s Italian Other Armchairs
Steel
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Steel
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Teak
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Other Armchairs
Steel
Vintage 1950s Italian Other Armchairs
Steel
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Steel
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Aluminum, Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Rosewood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Wood, Rosewood
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather, Wood
Antique 1850s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Metal
Antique 1850s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Metal
Antique 1850s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Wood
Antique 1850s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Brass
Antique 1850s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tables
Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Wood, Walnut
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Wood, Hardwood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Mohair
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Leather, Fabric, Canvas, Rope, Walnut
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Dining Room Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Wood
People Also Browsed
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Iron
2010s Dutch Modern Side Tables
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary American Bohemian Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
2010s South African Minimalist Night Stands
Wood
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Oak
2010s Italian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Brass
2010s Table Lamps
Iron
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
2010s British Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
Brass, Bronze
2010s American Modern Cabinets
Brass
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Stools
Wood, Pine
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Console Tables
Wood
Poggi Pavia For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Poggi Pavia?
A Close Look at Mid-century Modern Furniture
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.