Silas Seandel creates captivating works in metal that range from sculptural tables in sumptuous living rooms to abstract sculptures that adorn the walls of hotel lobbies and museums. His brutalist and modernist pieces have a sensuous appeal. Working primarily with two methods — welded sheet metal and metal casting — his one-of-a-kind copper, bronze, brass and steel pieces evoke flowing movement.

Born in New York City in 1937, Seandel enjoyed working with his hands at a young age, often modeling with clay and creating kinetic mobiles. He was particularly drawn to the work of Alexander Calder. He graduated in 1959 from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics. He then enrolled in business school and studied law.

While exploring the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, he wandered into its “Sculptors of the 1950s” exhibit, which included works by Richard Stankiewicz, John Chamberlain and Jason Seley. Their metal art subsequently inspired a shift in his career. Seandel taught himself to weld from a how-to book and opened his first studio in 1963.

To support his income, he worked in the furniture department at B. Altman & Co. He would talk about metal sculpting with the designers who frequented the floor. One who was refurbishing the dining room of a country club commissioned Seandel to create a wall sculpture that resulted in acclaim for the artist. Since that first commission, he has worked almost exclusively with engineers, interior designers and architects.

Seandel witnessed the September 11, 2001, attacks from his New York City studio; what he saw influenced many of his works. In 2012, the designer’s studio was damaged in the storm surge of Hurricane Sandy. Water is now a recurring theme in his pieces.

On 1stDibs, find Silas Seandel’s tables, wall decorations, decorative objects and more.

Finding the Right night-stands for You

Nightstands are traditionally designed with functionality in mind. Prior to the advent of indoor plumbing, early nightstands contained a porcelain chamber pot in a cabinet that provided a convenient and private alternative to visiting the outhouse. Today, antique, new and vintage nightstands — which are pieces of bedroom furniture that are often called bedside tables — are typically low-profile tables that are positioned alongside one’s bed or elsewhere in a bedroom.

A nightstand is mainly used to store or support objects that may be needed at night, such as a phone, a book or a small carafe of water. But this table can easily be personalized. "I’ve got a huge vintage lamp, and when I’m lucky, I’ll have fresh flowers in a bud vase," Chicago interior designer Summer Thornton tells 1stDibs about styling a nightstand.

Whether you take a minimalist approach to bedside table decor or prefer to top it with stacks of books and other essentials that you'd like to have at arm's length — this furniture can also change the look and feel of a bedroom, rendering any interior more comfortable and cozy.

Practicality plays a prominent role in perfecting your bedside space, but the decision to furnish your bedroom with a cherrywood mid-century modern nightstand or an antique mahogany piece can have an impact on how you start your day.

Take the first step in setting the perfect tone of your morning — browse the wide selection of Art Deco nightstands, burl-wood nightstands, oak nightstands and other antique and vintage nightstands on 1stDibs now.