3-Holes File Rack, Pierre Jeanneret, Chandigarh, 1960s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
Pierre Jeanneret reflects the architect’s rational yet sculptural design language. Characterized by its
Vintage 1960s Indian Shelves
Teak
3-Holes File Rack, Pierre Jeanneret, Chandigarh, 1960s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
Pierre Jeanneret reflects the architect’s rational yet sculptural design language. Characterized by its
Teak
6 holes file rack by Pierre Jeanneret, India, 1960s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
A file rack designed by Pierre Jeanneret. The composition is defined by its clean geometry and
Wood
File Rack PJ-050202 by Pierre Jeanneret, India, 1950s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Antwerp, BE
File Rack; Pierre Jeanneret; Le Corbusier; Low Cupboard; PJ-050202; Chandigarh; 1957; 1958; 1950s
Wood
File Rack PJ-050205 by Pierre Jeanneret, India, 1950s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Antwerp, BE
File Rack; Pierre Jeanneret; Le Corbusier; Low Cupboard; D.I.H. 074; PJ-050205; Chandigarh; 1957
Wood
$27,500 / set
H 30 in W 48 in D 13 in
Pierre Jeanneret, 6-Hole File Racks or Bookcases, Teak, Chandigarh, 1960s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Stamford, CT
Pierre Jeanneret, French Mid-Century Modern, Teak, Pair of 6 Hole File Racks, Chandigarh, India c
Teak
$14,636
H 29.93 in W 47.84 in D 13 in
Authentic Pierre Jeanneret 6-hole File Rack PJ-R-27-A, Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An authentic double-sided low cupboard, also known as the “File Rack,” designed by Pierre Jeanneret
Teak
$13,300
H 29.93 in W 35.83 in D 12.8 in
Pierre Jeanneret Pj-R-27-B File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
modern design artefacts by Pierre Jeanneret, Jean Prouvé, Le Corbusier, and Charlotte Perriand. Artefacts
Teak
$14,934
H 29.93 in W 48.04 in D 12.6 in
Authentic Pierre Jeanneret 6-hole File Rack, PJ-R-27-A, Chandigarh, 1950s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Chandigarh, India, this piece embodies Pierre Jeanneret’s union of utility, craftsmanship, and understated
Teak
$24,200
H 33.08 in W 65.75 in D 10.63 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-16-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
. Their angle and position show that Pierre Jeanneret, together with Jean Prouvé and Le Corbusier, had a
Teak
$14,934
H 29.93 in W 48.04 in D 12.6 in
Authentic Pierre Jeanneret 6-hole File Rack, PJ-R-27-A, Chandigarh, 1950s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Pierre Jeanneret's work in Chandigarh during the 1950s represents a seminal moment in design
Teak
$15,200
H 29.93 in W 47.84 in D 12.6 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-27-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern, Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
! Galerie’s selection is mainly focused on rare French mid-century modern design artefacts by Pierre Jeanneret
Teak
$45,450
H 72.45 in W 49.22 in D 26.78 in
Pierre Jeanneret High File Rack PJ-R-04-A / Authentic Mid-Century Modern
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
position show that Pierre Jeanneret, together with Jean Prouvé and Le Corbusier, had a structural, not
Teak
Pierre Jeanneret File Rack
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in BREST, FR
Pierre Jeanneret double side file rack, library use for the administration buildings in Chandigarh
Wood, Teak
Pierre Jeanneret “File Rack”, PJ-R-27-A
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Paris, FR
Pierre Jeanneret, (1896-1967), Pierre Jeanneret a “File Rack”, PJ-R-27-A Structured with
Teak
Unavailable
H 27.96 in W 36.23 in D 14.57 in
Low double sided storage unit a.k.a. «File rack», 1957-58 by Pierre Jeanneret
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Paris, FR
Low double sided storage unit a.k.a. «File rack», 1957-58 Teak 71 x 92 x 37 cm Chandigarh
Teak
Pierre Jeanneret File Rack
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pierre Jeanneret Pigeonhole desk.
Rosewood
Pierre Jeanneret File Rack Unit with Rare Stencil Marks
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Soho, London, GB
Pierre Jeanneret file rack unit from the Administrative Buildings of Chandigarh. This piece
Teak
Pierre Jeanneret , 6Hole File Rack for Chandigarh, Teak , 1960s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Tokyo, Tokyo
A 6Hole File Rack for Chandigarh,India. designed by Pierre Jeanneret. Since it was actually used
Teak
Pierre Jeanneret Teak 5 Space File Rack with Markings
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in San Francisco, CA
This file rack with beautiful markings “D.I.H.071” by Pierre Jeanneret features an asymmetrical
Teak
Pierre Jeanneret Rosewood 6 Space File Rack with Markings
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in San Francisco, CA
This file rack with beautiful markings “Pb.(U)Lib-065” by Pierre Jeanneret features a symmetrical
Rosewood
Sold
H 28.15 in W 14.77 in D 48.23 in
Pierre Jeanneret Low Cupboard "File Rack" Indian Rosewood, Chandigarh, 1957
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
Double sided low cupboard known as "File Rack" in solid sissoo (Indian rosewood). Six compartments
Rosewood
Sold
H 27.96 in W 36.23 in D 14.57 in
Pierre Jeanneret, “File Rack” Double Sided Storage Unit, circa 1957-1958
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in London, Charterhouse Square
Pierre Jeanneret, “File Rack” Double sided storage unit, circa 1957-1958. Intended for: Secretariat
Teak
Sold
H 29.93 in W 35.83 in D 12.8 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-27-B File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
“Certificate of Authenticity”. About us: We are located in Switzerland, the origin of Pierre Jeanneret and
Teak
Sold
H 29.93 in W 48.04 in D 12.8 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-27-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
The file rack created by Pierre Jeanneret serves as a sophisticated addition to every living space
Teak
Sold
H 33.08 in W 65.75 in D 10.63 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-16-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
. Their angle and position show that Pierre Jeanneret, together with Jean Prouvé and Le Corbusier, had a
Teak
Sold
H 27.8 in W 47.8 in D 14.2 in
Pierre Jeanneret File Rack '1955' with Original Stencil Marks D.I.H.2
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in New York, NY
This original 1957 "File Rack" by famed designer Pierre Jeanneret features a low double-sided
Rosewood
Sold
H 29.93 in W 48.04 in D 12.6 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-27-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
The file rack created by Pierre Jeanneret serves as a sophisticated addition to every living space
Teak
Sold
H 29.93 in W 35.83 in D 12.6 in
Pierre Jeanneret, File Rack, Authentic PJ-R-27-B Teak 5-Hole Rack
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Hasselt, VLI
"file rack” by Pierre Jeanneret, usually made in solid sisso (Indian rosewood) or teak, was created for
Teak
Sold
H 29.93 in W 48.04 in D 12.8 in
Pierre Jeanneret, File Rack PJ-R-27-A, circa 1956, Mid-Century Modern, Marks
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Hasselt, VLI
"file rack” by Pierre Jeanneret, usually made in solid sisso (Indian rosewood) or teak, was created for
Teak
Pierre Jeanneret File Rack Unit with Stencil Marks
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Soho, London, GB
Pierre Jeanneret file rack unit from the Administrative Buildings of Chandigarh. This piece
Teak
Sold
H 26.38 in W 48.04 in D 14.77 in
Pierre Jeanneret File Rack in Teak Produced for Chandigarh, India 1950s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare file rack in solid teak designed by Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier for their Chandigarh
Teak
Sold
H 27.96 in W 36.23 in D 14.77 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-27-B File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
“Certificate of Authenticity”. About us: We are located in Switzerland, the origin of Pierre Jeanneret and
Wood
Sold
H 27.96 in W 48.04 in D 14.97 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-27-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
The file rack created by Pierre Jeanneret serves as a sophisticated addition to every living space
Cedar
Sold
H 33.08 in W 65.75 in D 10.63 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-16-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
The very rare file rack created by Pierre Jeanneret serves as a sophisticated addition to every
Teak
Sold
H 29.93 in W 48.04 in D 12.6 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-27-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
The file rack created by Pierre Jeanneret serves as a sophisticated addition to every living space
Teak
Sold
H 29.93 in W 48.04 in D 12.8 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-27-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
The file rack created by Pierre Jeanneret serves as a sophisticated addition to every living space
Teak
Sold
H 33.08 in W 65.75 in D 11.23 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-16-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
The very rare file rack created by Pierre Jeanneret serves as a sophisticated addition to every
Teak
Sold
H 27.96 in W 48.04 in D 14.57 in
Pierre Jeanneret File Rack Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh PJ-R-27-A
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
The file rack created by Pierre Jeanneret serves as a sophisticated addition to every living space
Teak
Sold
H 30.12 in W 48.23 in D 13 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-27-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
The file rack created by Pierre Jeanneret serves as a sophisticated addition to every living space
Teak
Sold
H 33.08 in W 66.15 in D 11.23 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-16-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
The very rare file rack created by Pierre Jeanneret serves as a sophisticated addition to every
Teak
Sold
H 29.93 in W 48.04 in D 13 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-27-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
The file rack created by Pierre Jeanneret serves as a sophisticated addition to every living space
Teak
Sold
H 29.93 in W 47.84 in D 12.6 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-27-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern, Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
rare French mid-century modern design artefacts by Pierre Jeanneret, Jean Prouvé, Le Corbusier, and
Teak
Sold
H 29.93 in W 48.04 in D 12.6 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-27-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
French mid-century modern design artefacts by Pierre Jeanneret, Jean Prouvé, Le Corbusier, and Charlotte
Teak
Sold
H 32.09 in W 46.07 in D 14.38 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-R-05-A File Rack / Authentic Mid-Century Modern Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Zürich, CH
with the warmth of the solid teak wood make it of one of Pierre Jeanneret's iconic piece of furniture
Teak
Sold
H 30.32 in W 48.04 in D 13 in
A Pair of Pierre Jeanneret '1896-1967' 'PJ-R-27-A' File Racks, India, 1950s
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Hønefoss, 30
Pierre Jeanneret (1896-1967) Two 'PJ-R-27-A' file racks Painted marks Model created c. 1957
Teak
Pierre Jeanneret File Rack from Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pierre Jeanneret file rack with six holes from the Administrative Buildings, Chandigarh, circa 1957.
Teak
Pierre Jeanneret File Rack from Chandigarh
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pierre Jeanneret file rack with five holes from the Administrative Buildings, Chandigarh, circa
Teak
File Rack by Pierre Jeanneret
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in lyon, FR
Rack file of Pierre Jeanneret. Solid sisso. Very good condition. Restoration of the wood. Circa
Wood
Pair of Pierre Jeanneret Five Hole File Racks, c 1950
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in New York, NY
Rare pair of Pierre Jeanneret five hole file racks c 1950 with exceptional patina and markings
Teak
Crackle Textured Handmade Ceramic Mushroom Lamp, Blue
By Ethan Streicher, Streicher Goods
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Every mushroom lamp is hand-made and hand-painted by Ethan Streicher, the founder and designer behind the Streicher Goods brand in Brooklyn, NY. The lamp's silhouette is simple and c...
Brass
$2,860 / item
H 29.93 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Ethnic Straw Armchair by +55design Brazilian Design with Indigenous Craft
By Neca Abrantes
Located in Jardim America, SP
This rotating armchair by Neca Abrantes is a striking fusion of contemporary Brazilian design and indigenous handcrafted traditions. Known for her deep passion for native craftsmansh...
Straw
$5,575 / item
H 31.5 in W 26 in D 37.5 in
Tropical Hardwood and Rattan, Butaque Chair, Outdoor Use, Licensed Reedition
By Clara Porset, Luteca Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cuban-born Clara Porset was a pioneer for modern design in Mexico. Having studied architecture in New York and then Paris, she finally settled in Mexico devoting her life to champion...
Rattan, Hardwood
$4,749 / set
H 43.31 in W 13.78 in D 15.75 in
Set of Three Sculptural solid Oak Bar Stools with Merino Wool seats France 1960s
By Rudolf Steiner, Guillerme et Chambron, Pierre Chapo, Henning Kjærnulf
Located in Den Haag, NL
Set of Three Sculptural solid Oak bar stools with Merino Wool seats france 1960’s
Wool, Oak
Set of 8 Fine French 1930s Armchairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
A set of eight fine French Art Deco solid cherry wood bridge armchairs with bronze sabots. Price is for a set of 8 chairs only (not 12 as mentioned in "Sold As")
Bronze
$2,991Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 31.5 in Dm 27.56 in
Rigadin Chandelier 5 Arms encased Ivory Murano Glass Edgar by Multiforme
By Multiforme
Located in Trebaseleghe, IT
Edgar chandelier, 5 lights, Ivory encased rigadin Murano glass by Multiforme Edgar Murano glass chandelier is one of those chandeliers in our collections that stands out thanks to it...
Blown Glass
$716 / item
H 4.73 in W 10.63 in D 11.82 in
Pair of Beige Modern Italian Wall Lights "Maxina" Vintage Design Moderne
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Pair of modern Italian sconces "Maxina" in beige half moon shape made by our Italian craftsman in the style of Stilnovo's work. Wall plate and arm in solid brass, lampshade adjustabl...
Brass, Metal
Ensamble Pouf in Escondido Laredo 35
By Caterina Moretti
Located in Zapopan, Jalisco
The word "ensamble" means a set and comes from the French "ensemble," referring to one with another, together. From their own individuality, Peca (Guadalajara, 2007) and Studio84 (M...
Wood, Upholstery
$1,985 / item
H 12.9 in Dm 7 in
Ilmari Tapiovaara 'Maija' Table Lamp in Brass and White for Santa & Cole
By Ilmari Tapiovaara, Santa & Cole
Located in Glendale, CA
Ilmari Tapiovaara 'Maija' table lamp in brass and white for Santa & Cole Founded in 1985 in Barcelona, Santa & Cole produces iconic pieces by such luminaries as llmari Tapiovaara, M...
Metal, Brass
Sculptural Scandinavian Modern Chair in Wood Denmark - 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Sculptural Scandinavian Modern Chair in Wood, Denmark - 1960s.
Wood
White Limestone Sink Basin
Located in Cranbrook, Kent
This timeless beautiful Italian classical sink is cut from one single block of white Crema Luna Limestone, the design sprung from Greek and Roman times, it carries superb artistic me...
Marble, Limestone
Gino Sarfatti Model No. 2065 Ceiling Light for Astep
By Astep, Gino Sarfatti, Flos
Located in Glendale, CA
Gino Sarfatti model no. 2065 ceiling lamp for Astep. Designed in 1950, this is an authorized re-edition by Alessandro Sarfatti, grandson of Gino Sarfatti, who applies his grandfathe...
Aluminum
'Magazine Rack' by Joseph Ellwood for Six Dots Design
Located in London, GB
Joseph Ellwood is a British designer and maker, he has been named one of 10 'Future Icons' in design by Wallpaper* magazine, collaborated with the luxury brand Rimowa and embarked on...
Aluminum
Pair of Compas Wood Counter Stools, Italy
By Jean Prouvé, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of compas counter stools or high chairs, wood and rope. In the mood of Pierre Jeanneret, Chandigarh, Le Corbusier, Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Gio Ponti, Osvaldo Borsani.
Wood, Rope
Brass Shelf
Located in Firenze, FI
This beautifully crafted brass shelf is available in two stunning finishes: natural brass or dark burnish brass. The sleek and simple design makes it a versatile addition to any room...
Brass
S 20 Leather Ottoman by Pierre Chapo
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
S 20 leather ottoman/stool by Pierre Chapo. Made in France circa 1967. Provenance: Maison Gauthier by Jean Prouvé. Saint Dié 1962 Via Atelier Chapo Créations : Same manufacture a...
Leather, Elm
If his famed cousin and longtime colleague Charles-Édouard Jeanneret — better known as Le Corbusier — was the visionary, then Pierre Jeanneret was the member of the architecture and design team who got things done. In recent years, Jeanneret has emerged from Le Corbusier’s shadow, as collectors have discovered his simple and striking chairs, benches, coffee tables and other furniture creations.
Jeanneret studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Geneva and after he graduated in 1921 he became a partner in Le Corbusier’s office in Paris. The pair collaborated on numerous residential projects, most notably the Villa Savoye, the iconic modernist house in suburban Paris completed in 1931.
Jeanneret also worked with the great Charlotte Perriand on the Grand Modele line of tubular metal furnishings that was a sensation at the annual Salon d’Automne design expo in 1929. A rift developed between Jeanneret and his cousin during World War II, as the former joined the French resistance, while Le Corbusier cooperated with the occupying authorities in Vichy. The two did not work together again until 1950, when Le Corbusier persuaded Jeanneret to help execute the master plan for the new city of Chandigarh in Punjab, India. Jeanneret lived and worked there until the final years of his life.
A hallmark of Jeanneret’s furniture designs is his great sensitivity to materials. In contrast to the tubular-steel chairs produced by Marcel Breuer and other members of the Bauhaus, the chromed metal pieces designed by Jeanneret and Perriand — including such as the now-classic LC4 chaise longue and the Grand Confort lounge chair — have a sensuous, relaxed and welcoming look. Conversely, while Jeanneret uses essentially geometric forms for his wooden seating pieces, they exude warmth by nature of the material.
One of Jeanneret’s first manufactured designs in wood is the Model 92 Scissors chair, licensed by Hans and Florence Knoll when they were touring postwar France. But Jeanneret’s finest work in furniture was done in Chandigarh, and these are the pieces that have earned him recent renown.
Crafted of teak, the Chandigarh designs range from low-slung lounge chairs and armchairs with cane seats to desks and tables, most with Jeanneret’s signature drafting compass-shaped legs. Many such pieces on the market today are refurbished, having been found by dealers languishing in scrapyards in India in the late 1990s. Chandigarh is now taking better care of its modernist heritage, making available Jeanneret works all the rarer.
Find authentic vintage Pierre Jeanneret chairs, case pieces, tables and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.
Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.
Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by celebrated manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.
Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
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.