Cause A Frockus

Mid-century Modern

May 19, 2014 | by Becky Oeltjenbruns

After the Second World War, countries were flooded with optimism and the creative powers used for war efforts soon spilled over into other fields. Materials, processes, geometries, and colors – all new things were explored and folded into the efficient mass production environment. People collectively wanted to move past the pain and anguish; the style known as mid-century modern was the vehicle. The post-war world fueled its rise on the heels of the youth culture. The younger generation brought JFK into power and this shift could be felt across the globe in style and substance. Join us as we learn more about this beloved genre.

What is mid-century modern?

Mid-century modern loosely encompasses the middle of the 20th century, more specifically the mid-1930s to mid-1960s. Much like the Art Deco movement before it, this style enveloped all areas of design: architecture, interiors, industrial, and graphic. Most experts see it as an aesthetic born out of Arts and Crafts with a Bauhaus influence.

Architecturally it expressed itself with gracious natural light, open floor plans, horizontal orientations, and clean lines. Harmonizing the outside world with the inside realm is something designers strive for to this day and it can trace its lineage to the mid-century modern architect. The Case Study homes explored these ideas, using materials from all over the world. Their unique designs and approaches had a lasting impact on the architectural scene.

Mid-century modern furniture

While architectural design was evolving in new ways, the interiors were changing in an exciting new manner as well. And perhaps this was happening the most in furniture. Many innovations took place, but Charles Eames’ experiments with plywood pioneered a whole new direction. In 1942 he developed a way of molding plywood in multiple directions and with the help of his wife, they modified the process to embrace all manner of designs.

But plywood wasn’t the only medium being advanced. With the war-time market still alive, aluminum was readily available for furniture designers. As a result, they were able to use more delicate and lighter metals to create streamlined pieces. Accompanying those updates, new upholstery techniques came about to make these new curved pieces comfortable. These very advances helped make the iconic Swan Chair come to life. Designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1957, the chair used fiberglass and polystyrene. Jacobsen created this chair as part of his grand commission for the SARS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. The chair was meant to look like a collection of swans gracing the lobby.

So far we’ve talked mainly about traditional materials, but there were new plastics debuting at a lightening pace. With the advent of injection molding, furniture became increasingly versatile and colorful. Embracing color aligned well with popular culture. However, it also brought about an attitude of “throw away” design. Because pieces could be so easily constructed with plastic, they were seen as temporary. (Although modern collectors have a completely different vantage on their long-term value!) Museum shows like the 1948 “International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture” fed into that mass production point of view.

But just because plastics were the new kid on the block, it doesn’t mean that the classics were abandoned. The warmth and simple elegance of wood was not lost in the mid-century shuffle. We can thank several designers for championing this aesthetic, but perhaps a certain European group carries the most influence. At the onset of the mid-century modern movement, the Scandinavians began perfecting a unique, curved aesthetic know referred to as “soft modernism.” Like the name suggests, it embraced the bold lines found in modernism but abandoned the coldness of other materials such as plastic or steel. Alvar Alto is one of the first designers to practice this technique. Even though the movement was born in Scandinavia, as you can imagine its look had far-reaching impacts.

To conclude, the mid-century modern movement aptly reflected the spirit of the times: streamlined sophistication, welcoming the future with new materials and approaches, and bringing together both sides of the human experience (the wild outdoors with the predictable indoors). This aesthetic is highly desired by collectors to this day and its importance is still seen in today’s modern furniture. If you want to know more, read all about the mid-century modern movement in detail in the amazing reference guide,
“20th Century Design: The Definitive Illustrated Sourcebook” by Judith Miller. A perfect addition for any vintage enthusiast’s library.

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Cause A Frockus would like to thank their tremendous resources: “20th Century Design: The Definitive Illustrated Sourcebook” by Judith Miller and the people who post their images without restriction.

For our readers: What do you love about mid-century modern and why?

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