Flowing Rhythm | Red & Black

Flowing Rhythm has a film credit. Christian Flensted designed it in 1955, and it went on to appear on screen alongside Elizabeth Taylor, which tells you how quickly this became the picture of "modern" in the mid-century home. Curved fiberboard fins, red on one face and black on the other, hang in a cascade around a small ball; as they turn, the color flips from red to black and back, so the mobile seems to change its mind about what color it is.

At roughly 12 by 18 inches it has real presence without needing a large room. It's a natural fit for a living room with mid-century furniture, a home office, or an entry where it's the first thing a guest sees. If you want the same movement in a livelier palette, see the Rainbow & Black version.

Still handmade in Denmark by the Flensted family, more than seventy years on.

At a glance: Design: Christian Flensted, 1955 · Size: 11.8" H × 17.7" W (30 × 45 cm) · Materials: fiberboard, plastic, metal · Colorway: red one side, black the other · Handmade in Denmark · Ships from Princeton, NJ