Rare Robsjohn-Gibbings Chaise for Baker
View Similar Items
Rare Robsjohn-Gibbings Chaise for Baker
About the Item
- Creator:T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings (Designer),Baker Furniture Company (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 42 in (106.68 cm)Width: 61 in (154.94 cm)Depth: 21 in (53.34 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:Original walnut frame has great even color. Reupholstered in Kravet olive green silk velvet.
- Seller Location:Brooklyn, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU80021211466
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
British-born designer, interior decorator and author T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings was one of the great American tastemakers in the middle decades of the 20th century. Much like Edward Wormley, Robsjohn-Gibbings was a design classicist by education and inclination, but he would come to create some of the most gracious and livable modern furnishings of the era.
Robsjohn-Gibbings studied architecture at the University of London, then held various jobs that included designing décors for passenger liners and working as the art director of a film studio. In the early 1930s, while employed by the upper-crust interior designer Charles J. Duveen, Robsjohn-Gibbings experienced an epiphany during a visit to the British Museum.
Examining the furniture depicted on ancient Greek ceramics — lithe stools and klismos chairs — he realized that he had found a design touchstone. By 1936, Robsjohn-Gibbings had moved to New York and set up a showroom on Madison Avenue for his modern reinterpretations of Classical Greek designs. Aided by contacts he’d developed while working with Duveen, he quickly established a clientele that included Elizabeth Arden, Doris Duke and Thelma Chrysler Foy.
Through his writings for magazines and books, Robsjohn-Gibbings earned a public following and was established as an urbane arbiter of taste. From 1943 to 1956, he produced an understated line of modernist furnishings for Widdicomb, which included one of the icons of the period: the tiered, biomorphic Mesa coffee table (1951). Robsjohn-Gibbings moved to Athens, Greece, in 1966, and created a new line of antiquity-inspired pieces for the firm Saridis. The series turned out to be his swan song.
Collectors’ interest in Robsjohn-Gibbings was reignited in the 1980s when the 200-plus pieces from his 1936–38 commission for the Bel-Air estate of Los Angeles socialite Hilda Boldt Weber — pared-down neoclassical pieces rendered in blond wood (with the occasional flourish) — came on the market. (Up until then, the collection had remained in the house, despite its having changed hands several times.)
But his work for Widdicomb remains his most widely known, appreciated for its elegance and generous proportions. Robsjohn-Gibbings despised the stern aesthetic associated with his Bauhaus contemporaries, and a keynote of his modernist pieces is that they have no sharp angles. His chair and sofa frames, table legs and even many cabinets feature softly contoured edges. In whatever style he designed, Robsjohn-Gibbings was guided by simplicity and timelessness. He wanted his furniture to be lived with happily.
Find antique T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings coffee tables, dining tables, credenzas and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Baker Furniture Company
Owing to the company’s collaborations with many leading designers and artists over time, vintage Baker furniture is consistently sought after today. The heritage brand’s chairs, dining tables, desks and other pieces are widely known to collectors and design enthusiasts for their fine craftsmanship and durability.
Within a few decades of its launch, Baker Furniture Company evolved into one of the largest and most important furniture manufacturers in the United States and became known for its high-quality production standards. Siebe Baker and business partner Henry Cook founded the original iteration of Baker Furniture Company in 1890 in Allegan, Michigan, after immigrating to the United States from the Netherlands. Allegan is a small town west of Grand Rapids, which, at that time was home to Widdicomb Furniture Co. and more and was known as America’s furniture capital. The company manufactured doors and interior moldings and introduced a combination desk and bookcase in 1893. In the early 1900s, Siebe became the sole owner of the business.
Among others, stage designer Joseph Urban and modernist designer Kem Weber contributed designs to Baker in the 1920s. In 1932, under the leadership of Siebe’s son, Hollis, who started at the company as a salesman but took the reins when his father passed in 1925, Baker Furniture introduced bedroom pieces and debuted its Manor House collection, which made reproductions of European furnishings available to the American market. (Hollis was an avid traveler and procured antiques overseas for the company to reproduce in the United States.) Soon, Baker Furniture Company moved to Holland, Michigan, and eventually opened showrooms in Grand Rapids and elsewhere.
Pioneering Scandinavian designer Finn Juhl created a Danish modern line for Baker in 1951, and the company produced his award-winning Chieftain chair for a short time. In the late 1950s, Baker introduced the Milling Road label to reach a younger audience with stylish but less costly furnishings like console tables, walnut dining chairs and more, and in 1961, British furniture designer T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings introduced a modern neoclassical line at Baker.
The 1960s and ’70s saw the introduction of historic reproduction furniture lines such as Woburn Abbey and the Historic Charleston collection, which remain very popular to this day. In 1990, Baker was licensed to produce a furniture line from Colonial Williamsburg. That same year, the Smithsonian Museum introduced Baker’s Chippendale chair into its permanent collection and the Grand Rapids Art Museum dedicated an exhibition to Baker’s 100th anniversary, a showcase that included 150 pieces of furniture Siebe Baker had collected as part of a larger assortment that had served as inspiration for his designs.
Today, vintage Baker furniture, such as its elegant mahogany nightstands and teak credenzas — particularly those crafted by Finn Juhl — sees high demand online and elsewhere. The company continues to produce contemporary collections with well-known designers such as Bill Sofield, Barbara Barry and Kara Mann and remains on par with some of the highest quality furniture in the industry.
Browse vintage Baker armchairs, sofas, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- Rare Custom Robsjohn-Gibbings WastebasketBy T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Brooklyn, NYWalnut wastepaper basket with two brass ring handles from a 1938 custom Manhattan NY interior by Robsjohn-Gibbings. This is part of a library suite we ac...Category
Vintage 1930s American Modern Home Accents
MaterialsWalnut
- Robsjohn-Gibbings Lamp for HansenBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Hansen Lighting Co.Located in Brooklyn, NYEarly, simple Machine Age design. Brushed nickel stem and base with rotating three-way switch. Stamped Hansen.Category
Vintage 1950s American Floor Lamps
- Rare T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Walnut Slat Back ChairBy T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Brooklyn, NYChic and rare armless lounge chair in mahogany with angled slat back designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Furniture (model #1712), introduced c. 1954. Frame refinished ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsMohair, Upholstery, Mahogany
- Robsjohn-Gibbings King Headboard for WiddicombBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in Brooklyn, NYBeautiful Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb king-sized bed headboard. Walnut and brass with raffia caning. Can easily fit any bed frame.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsBrass
- T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Chest of DrawersBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in Brooklyn, NYClassic T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb 6-drawer cabinet in beautiful original finish dark walnut, with brass legs, and raffia cane wrapped handles. Signed with cloth Widdicomb ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsCane, Walnut
- Robsjohn-Gibbings Chromed Tripod Table Lamp for HansenBy T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Brooklyn, NYEarly vintage example of this design Classic in chromed brass with original plexi shade and enameled reflector.Category
Vintage 1950s American Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- "Klini" Chaise by T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsBy Saridis, T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Palm Desert, CAThis is a beautiful and rare "Klini" ('couch') designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Saridis of Athens. In 1960 T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings re-created 22 models representing iconic Greek furniture from the 6th to the 4th centuries B.C. His work was put on exhibit in Athens in 1961, gaining worldwide recognition for its style and craftsmanship. Made of walnut, the back rest, the leather laced seat, and the legs resemble the Klismo chairs. This piece is in wonderful condition. The leather is still intact and one can tell upon inspection that previous owners have taken good care of it resulting in minimal wear over the years. Elevate your space with a rare and striking T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings original Klini! Excerpt from pg 115 of "Furniture of Classical Greece" By T.H. Robsjohn- Gibbings and Carlton W. Pullin on the Klini as seen on picture #14 in this listing: "Walnut couch with leather thongs seat, a re-creation of the Greek couch...Category
Vintage 1960s Greek Greco Roman Chaise Longues
MaterialsWalnut, Leather
- Early T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings 'Klini' Chaise for Saridis of AthensBy Saridis, T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Dronten, NLRare early T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Saridis of Athens, ‘Klini’ chaise lounge model nr. 11, in Greek walnut with leather thong, designed 1961. An ancient Greek inspired daybed by the British designer T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings. This chaise lounge was part of the 1961 collection he designed for Saridis of Athens, inspired by the drawings he saw on ancient Greek vases. The chaise lounge features a graceful curving back and sable curved legs. The woven seat is made of leather straps which are tight around the walnut frame. The design beholds Robsjohn-Gibbings’ philosophy of furniture design that is independent of time. The stone red wool cushion was added by the owner to protect this precious piece. This is the only Klini chaise on the market labeled with the early steel manufacturer’s plaque underneath and a documented history. Provenance: the Royal Dutch Shell building designed by architect Charles Pfister. Excellent all original condition! Excerpt from pg 115 of "Furniture of Classical Greece" By T.H. Robsjohn- Gibbings and Carlton W. Pullin on the Klini chaise: "Walnut couch with leather thongs seat, a re-creation of the Greek couch...Category
Vintage 1960s Greek Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
- Chaise Lounge T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings for WiddicombLocated in Los Angeles, CAW71 D24 H34 SW57 SD23 SH19 Rare vintage chaise in fully restored conditon. Item has a walnut finished frame with new foam and new fabric. Item has no areas of visble wear. Chaise is...Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsVelvet, Walnut
- T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Saridis Klismos ‘Klini’ Chaise Lounge Model nr. 11By Saridis, T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in St. Louis, MORare T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Saridis of Athens, ‘Klini’ chaise lounge model nr. 11, Greek walnut, leather thong, fabric, designed 1961. An ancient G...Category
Vintage 1960s Greek Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsLeather, Walnut
- American Chaise Lounge in Orange Fabric T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsBy T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Milano, ITElegant chaise lounge from the 1960s by the great American designer T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings . The chaise lounge is the perfect piece of furniture in the Classic American style, where ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- TH Robsjohn-Gibbings Walnut Daybed for Widdicomb, USA 1960sBy T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in New York, NYA TH Robsjohn-Gibbings daybed from his collaboration with John Widdicomb in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This line was a modern take on many classic designs...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
MaterialsWalnut