The Berlin-born, New York–based designer Karl Springer brought a chic, high-fashion sensibility to his coffee tables, mirrors, Lucite lamps and other furnishings. During his heyday in the 1970s, Springer’s work was a favorite of the glamour set, who enjoyed the novelty of pieces finished in rich and striking materials that ranged from exotic hides and skins to lacquer and chromed metal.
In a sense, Springer was a pre-postmodernist. Much as the dull, safe, corporate sameness of late 20th-century modernism prompted Ettore Sottsass, Michael Graves and others to explore new and provocative structures and materials in design and architecture, so, too, was Springer driven to enliven his creations with fresh and alluring energy and sleekness.
Springer came to New York in the late 1950s and found work arranging window displays at the department store Lord & Taylor. He had studied bookbinding in Germany, and, using his meticulous skills, he began crafting desk accessories wrapped in leather as a sideline. These pieces were sold in luxury stores like Bergdorf Goodman and drew a sophisticated clientele that included the Duchess of Windsor.
By 1965, Springer had established his own Manhattan atelier. It was Pierre Scapula, decorator to Jackie and Aristotle Onassis, who spotted Springer's disco-era Onassis chairs — which didn't yet have a name — first commissioned for a private residence in Acapulco, on the floor of the designer’s East 61st Street showroom. Jackie ordered barstools for the couple’s yacht, the Christina O, and dining chairs for their house on the Greek mainland.
At the time of his death, Springer had showrooms as far afield as Los Angeles, Tokyo and Munich.
The chairs, tables, credenzas and other furniture forms Springer created are generally simple, but substantial, and often have robust, rounded lines. The appeal of his work lies in Springer's insistence on exacting construction and, above all, his eye for unusual materials and finishes.
Springer employed Lucite, brass, and gunmetal along with chromed and polished steel, and revived exquisite finishes rarely seen since the days of Art Deco masters such as Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann and Jean-Michel Frank: shagreen (a type of sharkskin), python, goatskin, bone, horn, and lacquered parchment, as well as fabrics that include batik prints. Made of such materials, Springer’s work is by its very nature flamboyant and eye-catching: a suite of pieces will astonish, and an artfully placed side table in exotic hide will add a surprising spark.
Find a collection of vintage Karl Springer furniture today on 1stDibs.
Pair of Mid-Century Modernist Floor Lamps in Chrome & Brass by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
This elegant pair of floor lamps by renowned designer Karl Springer exemplifies the refined craftsmanship and luxurious aesthetic of Mid-Century Modernist design, with a focus on the...
Brass, Chrome
Pair of Lucite and Chrome Floor Lamps by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of beautiful Lucite and chrome floor lamps designed and manufactured by Karl Springer in the early 1970s for a private home in NY. The lamps came from the original owners and a...
Chrome
$11,000 / set
Pair of Sandblasted Lucite Torchere by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning pair of monumental torchiere floor lamps. These oversized lamps were designed by Karl Springer for Karl Springer Ltd, circa 1970s for bespoken spacious interior as statement lighting. Will look amazing in a large living room or dinging room...
Brass
Tall Helix Floor Lamp by Karl Springer, Frosted Lucite, Mid-Century
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A tall vintage Mid-Century Modern American stacked helix spiral staircase floor lamp made of hand crafted clear frosted lucite glass with a new white shade. Designed and produced by ...
Glass, Lucite
Karl Springer for Seguso Murano Glass Torchère Floor Lamp
By Karl Springer, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Karl Springer for Seguso Murano Glass Torchère Floor Lamp
Murano Glass
Karl Springer Bronze Floor Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A bronze floor lamp from Karl springer Original surface Copy of a Giacometti design, Very Heavy.
Bronze
Murano Glass Torchère Floor Lamp by Karl Springer for Seguso
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A glamorous Murano scavo glass torchère floor lamp designed by Karl Springer in the 1980s for Seguso Italy. The lamp is signed by Karl Springer. The lamp takes a regular Edison ligh...
Murano Glass
Karl Springer "Bullet Up Light" in Polished Chrome 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
"Bullet Up Light" in polished chrome with honeycomb diffuser by Karl Springer, American 1970's. This is a meticulously crafted accent light.
Metal, Chrome
Documented Mid-Century Modern Hand-Blown Scavo Glass Torchiere by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
This documented Mid-Century Modernist torchiere, designed by the renowned Karl Springer in America circa 1980, and hand-blown in Murano Italy by Seguso Vetri d'Arte, is a remarkable ...
Glass
Karl Springer JMF Floor Lamp in Lacquered Goatskin
By Karl Springer
Located in Miami, FL
An elegant, organic floor lamp by American designer Karl Springer. It features his signature lacquered goatskin finish with brass accents, giving it a sculptural presence and a dist...
Brass
Karl Springer Seguso Scavo Torchere Floor Lamp, In-Line Dimmer Switch, 1980s
By Karl Springer, Seguso
Located in Miami, FL
Karl Springer Seguso Scavo Torchere Floor Lamp, In-Line Dimmer Switch, c. 1980s Offered for sale is a 1980s Scavo glass torchère floor lamp by Karl Springer. The shade, post, a...
Murano Glass
Monumental Chrome, Brass and Lucite Torchiere Floor Lamp by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental chrome, brass and lucite Torchiere floor lamp by Karl Springer. Karl Springer (1931–1991) was a famed America designer known for blending Art Deco influences with modern,...
Brass, Chrome
Karl Springer Rare "Sculpture Reading Lamp" in Gunmetal and Brass 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Iconic "Sculpture Reading Lamp" in polished gunmetal and brass with reading light on top and two additional lights at bottom with thick solid lucite covers by Karl Springer, American...
Metal, Brass
$5,500 / set
Karl Springer Lucite and Steel Floor Lamps
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Karl Springer Lucite and Stainless Steel Floor Lamps A Classic understated design Original adjustable Stem lamp Standard Replaced with a Harp
Lucite
Matching Pair of Karl Springer Modern Chrome & Lucite Torchiere Floor Lamps
By Karl Springer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A matching pair of Torchieres by Karl Springer circa 1980s. These feature mirror polished chrome with thick acrylic accents. Base diameter is 11.5 inches. Top shade Diameter is 16 in...
Chrome
Karl Springer Lucite Floor Lamp, Brass Base, Modern Design, USA, 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Lucite column floor lamp with a square brass base and double pull chain sockets, designed by Karl Springer. Rewired for use in the USA. Shade not included.
Brass
$4,720Sale Price|20% Off
Karl Springer Mid-Century Modern Brass, Gunmetal & Lucite Floor Lamp America
By Karl Springer
Located in Miami, FL
6 feet tall amazing and rare floor lamp by Karl Springer made in American in the 1970s. The Bronze Finish gunmetal stem is covered in Lucite with Brass De...
Brass, Steel
Karl Springer Scavo Glass Floor Lamp, Seguso, 1980
By Karl Springer
Located in Chicago, IL
Karl Springer Scavo glass floor lamp, Seguso 1980. Murano Scavo glass torchere floor lamp designed by Karl Springer for Seguso, Italy, circa ...
Glass
Karl Springer "Bullet Up Light" in Gold-Tinted Brass 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
"Bullet Up Light" in gold-tinted brass with honeycomb diffuser by Karl Springer, American 1980's. This accent light is a chic additional to any room. ...
Metal, Brass
Gunmetal and Chrome Floor Lamp by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A glamorous 1970s gunmetal and chrome floor lamp by American renowned designer Karl Springer. The lamp has been newly rewired and has a new chocolate brown faux lizard shade. Overal...
Metal, Chrome
Karl Springer Lucite Floor Lamp, 1970
By Karl Springer
Located in Chicago, IL
Karl Springer Lucite floor lamp, circa 1970. Chrome base.
Lucite
Karl Springer Deep Green Snakeskin and Brass Floorlamp, 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Are you or are you feeling like a rockstar? This is the perfect floor lamp for your space. This is one iconic floor lamp covered in green snakeskin with solid brass base and hardware...
Brass
Mid-Century Modernist Articulating Brass Reading Floor Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition Dimensions: 35” -54.50"H x 23.50”W x 9.50”D This Mid-Century Modern articulating brass floor lamp offers timeless style with a functional silho...
Brass
Karl Springer "Bullet Up Light" in Polished Chrome 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
"Bullet Up Light" in polished chrome with honeycomb diffuser by Karl Springer, American 1970's. This is a meticulously crafted accent light.
Metal, Chrome
Pair of Lucite & Chrome Table Lamps by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Glamorous pair of clear lucite and chrome table lamp by renowned designer Karl Springer. Newly rewired and new shades. Wired for US and take two 75w Max regular editions light bulb...
Chrome
Lucite and Chrome Table Lamp by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1980s glamorous clear Lucite and polish chrome table lamp by renowned American designer Karl Springer. Newly rewired and new oatmeal linen shade. The acrylic shows some crazing from ...
Lucite
$4,250
H 68.5 in Dm 14.25 in
Fredrick Ramond Uplighter Lucite Brass Tall Floor Lamp Mid-Century Modern 1986
By Fredrick Ramond, Karl Springer
Located in Miami, FL
This elegant and classy floor lamp is made of brass and clear Lucite. The uplighter shade, foot and side of the pole are made of brass whereas the pole itself made of Lucite. Lovely...
Brass
Karl Springer Lucite and Chrome Table Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in Wayne, NJ
A stunning conversation table lamp designed by Karl Springer. It features a solid clear oval lucite block base. Rounded edges with a cutout to run the cord through. Double sockets...
Lucite
Karl Springer Three-Column Polished Brass Postmodern Floor Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
An exceptional expression of 1970s luxury, this floor lamp by Karl Springer features a distinctive architectural silhouette composed of three slender square-column standards. Execute...
Brass
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Chrome Sputnik Floor Lamps
Located in North Bergen, NJ
Pair of Mid-Century Modern chrome Sputnik floor lamps. Having adjustable arms with both ends having multi colored glass shades. With chrome round base.
Seguso Vetri d'Arte Coloniale Floor Lamp Taupe Murano Glass
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Pierpaolo Seguso
Located in Murano, Venice, IT
Coloniale Murano glass floor lamp by Seguso Vetri d'Arte. Handmade, blown Murano glass in an elegant, refined shape inspired by midcentury designs, capturing the essence of Seguso. T...
Blown Glass
Lucite Floor Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Lucite and lacqured base decorative floor lamp. No shade.
Murano Glass Floor Lamp By Seguso
By Seguso
Located in Houston, TX
Murano Glass Floor Lamp By Seguso. This Murano floor lamp by Seguso was executed in an unusual glass that has an interior etched look. We have never seen this type of Murano glass pr...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Karl Springer Lucite Floor Lamp, Brass Base, Modern Design, USA, 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Lucite column floor lamp with a square brass base and double pull chain sockets, designed by Karl Springer. Rewired for use in the USA. Shade not included.
Brass
Karl Springer American Mid-Century Ostrich Wrapped Column Floor Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century Ostrich Wrapped SquareColumn Floor Lamp resting on a square brass base (KARL SPRINGER)
Brass
Karl Springer "Spun Shaped Torchere", 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Astoria, NY
Karl Springer "Spun Shaped Torchere", 1980s, gunmetal tone and gold-tone brass. 72.5" H x 18.5" Diameter. Provenance: From a New York City Collection.
Brass
Sold
H 63 in W 23.25 in D 23.25 in
Pair of Karl Springer Penshell Jmf Floor Lamps With Original Penshell Shades
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Karl Springer floor lamps that twist from the base after Jean-Michel Frank from the 1980s. Tessellated penshell on twist columns and shades. Brass base and fittings. Adjustab...
Brass
Karl Springer Rare "Sculpture Reading Lamp" 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare "Sculpture Reading Lamp" in brushed stainless steel with two additional lights in feet, all lights with thick solid lucite covers, by Karl Springer, American 1980s. These floor...
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 61 in W 9 in D 9 in
Karl Springer Exquisite Pair of Floor Lamps in Black Lacquer and Brass 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Exceptional pair of floor lamps in high gloss black lacquer with polished brass inlays, base and hardware and original parchment shades by Karl Springer, American 1980's. These lamps...
Brass
Sold
H 60 in W 23 in D 23 in
Mid-Century Modernist J.M.F. Floor Lamp in Tessellated Penshell by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
This materially stunning and unique floor lamp originates from the United States circa 1980. Features a minimal square polished brass base from which a gorgeous geometric triangular body of the floor lamp rises with a half twist, fitted with the original shade fabricated with the same stunning tessellated Penshell...
Shell
Karl Springer Postmodern Lucite Torchiere Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in Astoria, NY
Karl Springer (German/American, 1931-1991) Postmodern torchiere lamp in opaque sandblasted lucite with brass elements, circa 1970s. Dealer: ...
Brass
Karl Springer Rare Lucite "Cabuchon Floor Lamp" 1982
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare Lucite “Cabuchon Floor Lamp" with embedded cord, polished solid stainless steel cap and chrome hardware by Karl Springer, American 1982. Karl Springer did stunning solid Lucite...
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 71.5 in Dm 22.5 in
Pair of Lucite & Gunmetal Torchieres w/ Brass Fittings, Signed Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
This monumental pair of Torchieres are the work of Karl Springer, an American designer who studied sculpture at Syracuse University before moving to New York and becoming a mainstay ...
Brass
Sold
H 61 in W 7 in D 7 in
Karl Springer "J.M.F. Floor Lamp" in Tessellated Travertine and Brass 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
"J.M.F. Floor Lamp" in tessellated travertine with polished brass base and fittings by Karl Springer, American 1980s. This lamp is meticulously crafted in beautiful materials. The br...
Travertine, Brass
Karl Springer Pair of Exceptional Chrome and Brass Swing-Arm Floor Lamps 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of meticulously crafted swing-arm floor lamps in polished chrome and brass by Karl Springer, American 1980's. The quality of construction of these lamps is superb. These have be...
Metal, Brass, Chrome
Pair of Leather and Brass Floor Lamps by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A spectacular pair of 1980’s polish brass and leather J.M.F. floor lamps by renowned American designer Karl Springer. The lamps are constructed of solid brass and wood that’s covered...
Brass