George Nelson, Edward Wormley, Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Charles Eames and Jens Risom as featured on Playboy Magazine, July 1961

We love their designs and a half a century later we still surround ourselves with the beautiful objects they created. Who were these mid-century men of steel, and wood and fibreglass? A quick peek below at just a handful of these great names of modern interior design;

George Nelson –

designed for Herman Miller in the 1950's. Well known designs include his angular benches, the stylised Marshmallow sofa and Coconut chair as well as his clocks.

Eero Saarinen –

futuristic concepts. Hugely influential architect also. Best known for his organic style Tulip range and the beautiful Womb Chair and ottoman.

Harry Bertoia –

very sculptural and loved to work with metal. The Wire Chair is one of his best known creations.

The Eames, Ray & Charles –

simply still the giants of design, from dining, to lounge to graphic design to film.

Jens Risom –

worked with Knoll in 1940's and one of the first Danish designers to introduce Scandinavian design into the North American market.

These are only a few of the great designers of that era. Nowadays, we happily mix and match these well-loved mid-century classics with the new and others from the Baumhaus and Modernist movements.

Mostly, they all live happily and in harmony with one another when well chosen and placed in the right setting. So here's to the real Mad Men – Makers, Architects and Designers of the modern era.