Mid-century modern interior decor design

 

 

Bitossi bull sculpture - lime green glaze

Bitossi ceramic bull sculpture

 

 

Phenomenon of Mid Century design

 

The development of Mid Century design was the result of a convergence of numerous artistic influences that began at the turn of the 2oth century. The shifting visual narrative included Brancusi’s brilliant streamlined sculptures, Alexander Archipenko’s constructivist forms and abstract sculptures from Henri Laurens, Jacques Lipchitz, and Osip Zadkine. All of these influential artists, who were working from Paris at this time, fed the evolving perception of how artistic forms could be presented and how realism could be re-interpreted. Picasso’s work with Braque on omni perspective cubist abstractions also contributed greatly to this perceptual re-adaption. Add to this the original surrealist works from Max Ernst, Paul Klee and Jean Arp and the refined designs of Bauhaus and Le Corbusier and you had a creative landscape that presented a plethora of possibilities. This heady mix of adventurist artistic styles paved the way and forced the hand of designers to be more daring. The ornate opulence of neo-classicism, rococo and other remnants of the renaissance was replaced with a re-modelled, simplified artistic reality that conveniently blended with the development of the industrial processes that allowed the evolution of mass production that was essential for the post war consumerism.

 

Fantoni red abstract vase with figure motif

Marcello Fantoni

Shapiro Auctions

 

Isamu Noguchi, Ray Eames, Gio Ponti, Guido Gambone and Carlo Mollino were some of the prominent designers that emerged from this era. Their designs featured clean lines that utilized the new production materials and were well conceived and highly innovative. The postwar gloom was lightened up with products featuring bold shapes and vivid colours to match the optimistic spirit of recovery and reconstruction. The modern look had a natural symbiosis with the contemporary architecture and decors that emerged in the 50’s and 60’s. Originally, the accepted design concept was for artistic products to be accessible to more people and to cater for smaller dwellings and to be lightweight and mobile, which translated well for the mobility of the emerging modern workforce. These timeless styles still look relevant today and is why the trend has endured. Many current contemporary designs can be associated with the innovations and aesthetics of this era. The inspiring bold designs of the Mid Century are a continual source of fascination and it’s easy to appreciate their desirability with collectors.

 

 

 

Brutalist ‘Argente’ wardrobe, 1968 – Paul Evans

Welded, painted, sculpted and polished aluminium, slate, painted wood, welded and patinated steel.

 

 

 

Italian-Vintage-yacht-motif-ceramic-set

Italian vintage ceramic set – red sail yacht motif

 

 

 

Mid-Century-Portofino-Abstract-Fisherman-Vase by Santi

Mid Century Portofino Abstract Fisherman Vase Signed Santi, Italy

 

 

mid-century-vase-jug

Mid century large vase with handle

 

 

 

Sakuhin A, Vintage Sculpture by Takiguchi Kazen

Sakuhin A, Ceramic Vintage Sculpture vessel by Takiguchi Kazen

 

 

 

Yellow, green and red vases - Porcelain Factory AS Ćmielów

Porcelain Factory AS Ćmielów

 

 

 

Bertil Vallien (Swedish, 1938), Glass Bowl with Sand Blasted Decoration

Bertil Vallien Glass Bowl with Sand Blasted Decoration

Swedish, 1938

 

Patchwork-sculpture-Paul-Evans metal abstract sculpture

Patchwork copper sculpture – Paul Evans

c,60’s

 

 

 

 

Harveys-on-Beverly-12.5inches-vintage-vase with face motif

Vintage 60’s vase

Harveys on Beverly -12.5 inches height

 

 

 

mid-century decor

Mid Century design

 

 

U-Keramik-vase,-1950s space age style

Sputnik space age U Keramik vase

1950’s

 

 

 

Vintage 60-70's Titano San Marino Vase Pitcher Italian Pottery Art Fat Lava

 Vintage Italian Titano San Marino Vase Pitcher

10 inch height – 60-70’s

 

 

 

 

Bitossi for Raymor Bull's Eye Vase vintage

Bitossi for Raymor Bull’s Eye Vase

 

Elspeth Cohen hand Painted Ceramic Vase for Lapid,

Elspeth Cohen hand Painted Ceramic Vase for Lapid

c1960

 

 

Anna-Maria-Consadori ARTE Antiquaraito DESIGN-Vicchi-vase

Anna Maria Consadori Arte Antiquariato Design Vicchi vase

 

 

 

Ceramic crow produced by the Ćmielów Porcelain Tableware Factory, 1961, collections of the National Museum in Warsaw

 

 

 

Bertil Vallien (Swedish), Kosta Boda, Janus glass sculpture

Bertil Vallien (Swedish), Kosta Boda, Janus sand blast glass sculpture

 

 

Bitossi vase, 'Rocchetto' line by Ettore Sottsass

Bitossi vase, ‘Rocchetto’ line by Ettore Sottsass

1956-59

 

 

Birthe Weggerby-abstract-plate turquoise and black

Birthe Weggerby

 

 

Lars Bergsten? – Mid Century Wall Plaque

 

 

 

Italy-San-Marino plate

Mid Century Italian San Marino plate

 

 

Bowl, designed by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden. with striped interior

Bowl, designed by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg

 

 

 

Bozo-puppet-marionet-Fish

Bozo puppet marionet Fish

 

 

Mid Century Carstens-Tönnieshof waisted vase

Carstens Tönnieshof waisted vase

 

 

Roger-capron_ceramic-fish sculpture

Roger Capron

 

 

 

Retro-futurist Bug Chair By Isak

 

 

 

Carstens-West-German-Pottery vase

Carstens West German Pottery vase

 

 

 

Chalvignac-Wall-Hanging-1960's-Canada

Chalvignac Wall Panel

1960’s Canada

 

 

Coffee service 'Prometheus'-(mold design Danuta Duszniak-1959)

Coffee service ‘Prometheus’– (mold design Danuta Duszniak, 1959)

 

 

 

Chase Modern Lounge Chairs by Engelbrechts---Crimson Plateau chair

Crimson Plateau chair  by Engelbrechts, designed by Erik Magnussen

2016

 

 

Danish Vase Zeuthen Keramik

Two Danish Vases by Zeuthen Keramik

 

 

Ceramic catproduced by the Ćmielów Porcelain Tableware Factory

Ceramic black cat produced by the Ćmielów Porcelain Tableware Factory

1958

 

 

 Porcelain bird figurine – Fabryka Porcelany AS Ćmielów

 

 

Easy chair PK-20 designed by Poul Kjaerholm

Easy chair PK-20 designed by Poul Kjaerholm

 

 

Edvin Öhrström Ariel Glass Vase,-circa 1958-glass vase with blue nude lady

Edvin Öhrström Ariel Nude Figure Glass Vase

circa 1958

 

 

 

Edwin and Mary Scheier

Large footed vessel incised and relief decorated with figures in blue, copper, and brown glazed and textured surfaces

13.5 inches height ca. 1972, Skinner

 

 

Ettore-Sottsass-ceramic-vessels in black and white

Ettore Sottsass ceramic vessels

 

 

 

Carstens red luxus range handled vase reptile design by Dieter Peter ca 1970

Carstens luxus range handled vase  reptile design by Dieter Peter

 ca 1970

 

 

 

Exercice-de-Style-Han-Meilin bronze horse sculpture

Exercice de Style – Han Meilin

 

 

brutalist mid century bronze sculpture

Brutalist mid century bronze sculpture

 

 

Fratelli Fanciullacci---italian-vintage-pitcher

Italian Mid Century pitcher – Fratelli Fanciullacci

 

 

Fratelli Fanciullacci cylindrical horse motif vase

Fratelli Fanciullacci

 

 

Gilbert Valentin abstract motif black vase

Gilbert Valentin

 

 

Fratelli-Fanciullacci-urn-

Lidded jar – Fratelli Fanciullacci

 

 

German Ahr-Keramik Venedig Venice 50s art pottery vase WGP mid-century ceramicDesignclassics24

 Ahr Keramik Venedig Venice 50s art pottery vase WGP mid-century ceramic

Designclassics

 

 

 

 

Alexandre Kostanda Vallauris vintage vase

Alexandre Kostanda, Vallauris

 

 

 

 

Guido-Gambone--ceramic bottle

Guido Gambone–bottle

 

 

 

Guido-Gambone-vintage-vase - tall

Tall, slender ceramic bottle – Guido Gambone

 

 

 

vintage ashtray Guido-Gambone-

Guido Gambone

 

 

 

Gunnar-Nylund,-Rörstrand black and white ceramic fish

Gunnar Nylund, Rörstrand

 

 

mid century ikebana ceramic vessels

Small ceramic planters collection

 

 

Italian-mid-century-ceramic leaf motif bottle

Italian mid-century ceramic bottle

 

 

 

Georges Jouve red glaze bottle

Georges Jouve red glaze bottle

 

 

 

Georges Jouve ceramic female figure

Georges Jouve. France

 

 

 

ES-Keramik-70s-West-German-lava glaze vessel

ES Keramik 70’s West German lava glaze vessel

 

 

 

Krösselbach-vase-(westgpottery)

Krösselbach ovoid vase

 

 

 

Lady with Flowers-André Minaux-1970

‘Lady with Flowers’ – André Minaux

1970

Analagous

 

 

Large Ceramic Lamp 'Sirène' by-Signed-French-Ceramist-Dalo

Large Ceramic Lamp ‘Sirène’  by French Ceramist Dalo

 

 

 

Sixties Italian vase

Vintage Italian vase

 

 

 

Michel-Anase bronze abstract insect sculpture

Michel Anasse bronze abstract insect sculpture

 

 

 

Marcello-fantoni wall plaque with horse riding warriors

Marcello Fantoni wall plaque

 

 

 

'The Warriors' ( Os Guerreiros ), known as Os Candangos by Bruno Giorgi

‘The Warriors’ ( Os Guerreiros ), known as Os Candangos by Bruno Giorgi

1959 – Square of the Three Powers, Brasilia

 

 

Pablo Picasso twin handles baluster vase

Pablo Picasso vase – Madoura

1953

 

 

 

Vintage 60-70' Scheurich-18 Lora Fat Lava Vase West German Pottery

Scheurich-18 Lora Fat Lava Vase West German Pottery

Vintage 60-70’s

 

 

Turquoise Peel chair from Varier Furniture

Scandinavian contemporary  ‘Peel’ chair and ottoman from Varier Furniture

 

 

Penguins,-project-porcelain--figurines in black and white

Penguins – Porcelany AS Ćmielów

 

 

 

Philippe-Laberterie-Abstrakte-Komposition painting

Philippe Laberterie

 

 

Pierre-Vandel,-1970 white leather contemporary chair

Pierre Vandel, 1970

 

 

Marcello-Fantoni ceramic vase

Marcello Fantoni

 

 

Pol-Chambost,-Sculpteur-vessel

Pol Chambost

 

 

 

Ruscha-vintage-plate with abstract motif

Rusch vintage mottled texture plate

 

 

Poul-Volthersu-orangr-segmented-seat

Poul Volther orange segmented seat and back take their inspiration from the phases of a solar eclipse.

Produced by Erik Jorgenen in Denmark

 

 

 

Sascha-Brastoff-Abstract-Series-bowl,-1950s

Sascha Brastoff Abstract Series tri  legged bowl,

1950’s

 

 

Rare Swedish Mid Century Mari Simmulson for Upsala-Ekeby Pottery Plaque

Swedish Mid Century Pottery Plaque by Mari Simmulson for Upsala-Ekeby

 

 

 

-mid-century-modern-ceramic-pottery---decor-milano---design-ferdinand-langenbacher

Mid-century modern ceramic vase – design Ferdinand Langenbacher

 

 

 

Stig-Lindberg-(Swedish-1916-1982),-Glaze-decorated-Stoneware

Stig Lindberg -Swedish Stoneware horse

 

 

 

Schiavon-italy-vintage-sculpture

Schiavon – Italian vintage sculpture

 

 

 

Stig-Lindberg incised vase

Stig Lindberg

 

 

Thierry Martenon-modernist-sculptures

Thierry Martenon

 

 

 

Vase-from-Accolay-france

Mid century Accolay vase

 

 

Vintage AK Alfred Klein Ceramic Vase German Pottery

Vintage AK (Alfred Klein) Ceramic Vase

Germany

 

 

 

Vintage-Bitossi-Italian-Art-Pottery-

Vintage Bitossi Italian Carved pottery Vase

 

 

 

vintage-Ikebana-planters collection

Vintage Ikebana planters

 

 

Vintage Mid Century Danish Modern Abstract Bronze Bird Duck Sculpture

Mid Century Danish Modern Abstract Bronze Bird Sculpture

 

 

Vintage studio Fischer biomorphic vase - with white spiral motifs on brown matt glaze

Vintage Studio Fischer biomorphic vase

 

 

 

Carstens-Tönnieshof-Fat-Lava-Vase red glaze

Carstens Tönnieshof Fat Lava Vase

 

 

 

 

Decor-Ghana---Designed-by-Heinz-Siery---1965

Heinz Siery—1965

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEXT POST  —  Africa Shona sculpture

 

5 Comments

  1. Emma Klee
    Posted June 5, 2017 at 11:56 am | Permalink

    A wonderful set of images! Thank you.

  2. robin grow
    Posted July 14, 2017 at 2:07 pm | Permalink

    Great stuff, Robbie. Love the MCM

  3. H. James Conklin
    Posted July 18, 2017 at 10:49 pm | Permalink

    REALY GREAT JOB LOVE IT ALL

  4. Ewa Mason
    Posted February 18, 2023 at 1:02 pm | Permalink

    Thank you for acknowledging
    Polish porcelain art Manufactura Cmielow in existance since 1790 certainly deserves all the honors

  5. Philip Colson
    Posted April 16, 2024 at 3:50 am | Permalink

    thank you

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