When you think of designs from the 1950s, an image immediately comes to mind: you think of organic, asymmetrical shapes and vibrant colors, especially pastel tones. Metals like brass shine before the inner eye. And of course you think of wood, like teak, and plastic.
But what makes the 1950s so visually memorable? Here is a short introduction to the design era with a big impact.
The 1950s were above all an upswing. Things quickly went higher and higher, because after the war came the economic boom and with it the construction boom. Many people longed for something new, perhaps in order to forget the old, and that meant one thing was needed above all: rapid production. In order to meet the gigantic demand for furnishings and to ensure production as quickly as possible, practical, easy-to-implement designs were used. Designers in the 1950s were inspired by things like space travel, nuclear physics and science fiction. But influences from contemporary and African art can also be found in her designs.
Image 1: Things like science fiction, space travel and contemporary art served as inspiration for the designers of the 1950s
Living concepts were also completely rethought. Modular furniture in functional shapes was the new material of interior dreams. The design of the early 1950s was characterized by pointed and angular shapes, which over time were increasingly replaced by organic shapes and curves. Who among us doesn't immediately recognize a bar cart from the 1950s or the sideboards that are currently more in demand than fresh rolls on Sunday?
Image 2: Examples of a bar cart and a sideboard from the 1950s
The most important designers of the era include such illustrious names as Charles and Ray Eames, Florence Knoll, Eero Saardinen, Arne Jacobsen, Egon Eiermann and Gió Ponti.
Charles and Ray Eames were a married couple known for their innovative furniture and accessories. Among other things, they designed the legendary Eames Lounge Chair, which is still one of the most famous design pieces in the world today. Eero Saarinen designed the famous Tulip dining group in 1955 and Arne Jacobsen is still the symbolic figure of Danish design today. The 1950s gave us many of the most famous design icons of the 20th century.
Image 3 : The 1950s brought us iconic designs like this Eames Lounge Chair or the Tulip table and such famous designers as Arne Jacobsen and radical designs by Gió Ponti.
Mid-century furniture is simply a dream. The designs stand out without appearing overloaded. They impress with their simple elegance and are still surrounded by the touch of modernity today.
You too can get a piece of design history for your home.
Shop our three most beautiful pieces from the 1950s here:
Literature, photo credits & sources:
Charlotte & Peter Fiell (2015): 50s. Decorative Art, Cologne: Taschen Verlag
Eugen Gomringer, Oh yes - the fifties! in: The Fifties. Style contours of a decade, Museum Villa Stuck 1984
Cover image: License All rights reserved by Library Fashionista
Image 1: Columbia Publications / Milton Luros, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Manuelarosi, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Image 2: Tandlas
Image 3: rahims from Irvine, US, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; Helsingin kaupunginmuseo, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; Anonymous Unknown author / Helsingin Sanomat, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; The Institute for Iranian Contemporary Historical Studies (IICHS)موسسه مطالعات تاریخ معاصر ایران, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons