Ello Smoked Mirror

In its sleek credenzas, chic mirrored cabinets and sculptural dining tables, vintage Ello furniture encapsulates the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood Regency style.

Ello founder Lothar H. Molton (1926-2012) took his family and fled Nazi-occupied Germany and established his furniture company in Chicago, Illinois, in 1956 as a garage operation. In 1968, the company moved to the renowned furniture town of Rockford, where many of the country's most well-known producers once set up manufacturing operations. Over the next four decades, Ello enjoyed great success as a producer of furniture and an importer, growing into a 150,000-square-foot warehouse and a 200,000-square-foot manufacturing plant.

Though more often featuring an integration of flashy brass accents and materials such as travertine versus the dark woods and clean lines associated with mid-century modern design, Ello furniture was known in its heyday for being as practical as it was stylish. The company's motto was "Contemporary Furniture of Distinction," and their designs were highly functional with just the right amount of flair for the modern home.

In 1976, the Fort Lauderdale News and Sun-Sentinel described an Ello modular wall unit as "a rare combination of function plus spectacular glamour." Ello also collaborated with well-known designers of the era, like O.B. Solie. During the 1970s, Solie worked with mirrored glass, bronze, oak and more to design a range of tallboys, chests, sideboards and other pieces that boasted gilt brass escutcheons and brushed chrome drawer pulls.

In its prime, Ello held annual inventory clearance sales that attracted hundreds of customers. People lined up around the warehouse, sometimes camping out days in advance. Sales started to become more frequent, and in 2010, Ello closed its doors. In 2011, they auctioned off the rest of their merchandise.

Today vintage Ello furniture continues to enjoy popularity for its bold but practical designs.

On 1stDibs, find Ello case pieces, tables and bedroom furniture.

Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items. 

In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior. 

Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time. 

Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room. 

In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.

A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.

Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.