Pierre Vandel Etagere

A Pierre Vandel coffee table is a striking statement piece. High-contrast and unmistakably stylish, Vandel’s tables are sophisticated and opulent, with the visual power that Hollywood Regency and mid-century modern furnishings bring to a modern space.

Vandel was born in 1939 in Roubaix, France. He graduated around 1957 with a focus on industrial assembly and design and became part of the research teams at Ponts et Chaussées and Arts et Métiers, two respected engineering and research schools in Paris. Before entering the world of furniture, Vandel worked on projects that satisfied his curiosity and drive for experimentation, including a vertical aquarium and hi-fi systems.

Vandel’s breakthrough in furniture came a few years later. In 1969, the Marais International company bought 5,000 units of Vandel’s side tables and offered a meeting with French fashion and furniture designer Pierre Cardin. Becoming a friend and advisor, Cardin offered his support and connected Vandel to an affluent market that swooned over his glamorous designs.

Vandel’s glass coffee tables — often accented with brass frames or lacquered wood — remain among his most in-demand work. His Vertèbre chair from 1972 is one of his more elusive designs. With only 800 ever produced, half with armrests and half without, this lounge chair is coveted not only for its rarity but also for its unique spine-like frame.

Vandel’s furniture continues to be recognized for its imaginative forms and is prized by collectors as a piece of design history.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Pierre Vandel tables, seating, storage pieces and more.

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.