Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

The San Francisco area woodworker Arthur Espenet Carpenter was one of the most celebrated figures in the postwar American Studio Furniture movement. Like George Nakashima, Sam Maloof, Wendell Castle and other craftsmen of the era, Carpenter built furniture both as a means of creative expression and for the simple personal fulfillment of making a thing well. The excellence of their work stood in high relief against the mass-produced goods made of synthetic materials that became prevalent in the mid-20th century. Born in New York City during the Jazz Age, Carpenter earned a degree in economics from Dartmouth College and initially intended to become an accountant, like his father. But after serving four years in the United States Navy in the Pacific during World War II, Carpenter had a change of heart about entering the business world. Back in New York, he became an Asian-arts dealer but finally found a true sense of direction when visiting the “Good Design” shows held in that era at the Museum of Modern Art. Carpenter was particularly taken with the hand-turned wooden bowls by James Prestini and decided he wanted to make objects himself. To get far from New York, he drove to San Francisco at age 28, bought a lathe and, with the help of a G.I. Bill small-business stipend, opened a woodworking shop in the Mission District. Carpenter started out making bowls, sold through local high-end retailers such as Geary’s. His skills improved, and within a few years Carpenter had moved to the coastal town of Bolinas, California, where he built furniture on commission. His national reputation was sealed when in 1972 — somewhat to Carpenter’s own surprise — his designs were shown by the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in the exhibition “Woodworks,” alongside those of Nakashima, Maloof, Castle and the Philadelphia-area craftsman Wharton Esherick. Carpenter defined a new design aesthetic now known as the “California roundover” — a style characterized by flowing lines and gently-contoured edges that make wood feel almost supple to the touch. The graceful and comfortable Wishbone chair, so named for the tapered supports that form its legs, is Carpenter’s signature design. The chairs, typically made of black walnut, are usually priced in the range of $20,000 a piece. Because of its simplicity and economy of materials, Carpenter’s furniture works well in any informal, unfussy decor — though it is particularly striking in a modern environment. As you will see on these pages, the work of Arthur Espenet Carpenter is both friendly and exquisite. The quality of its craftsmanship is impeccable, and it exudes the gentle warmth of the lovingly handmade object.

Creator: Arthur Espenet Carpenter

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Three-Legged Occasional Table

$18,000

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Three-Legged Occasional Table

By Arthur Espenet Carpenter

Located in Chicago, IL

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Three-Legged Occasional Table in solid birch trapezoidal top with turned oak legs that pierce the top and are exposed as a design detail. Signed on underside...

Category

1970s American American Craftsman Vintage Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Burl

3 Legged Round Side Table, Pizza Saver

$1,000 / item

H 17 in W 17 in D 17 in

3 Legged Round Side Table, Pizza Saver

By Louis Lim

Located in New York, NY

Pizza table Measures: 17"diameter x 17" height White lacquered plywood and maple side tables, inspired by pizza savers. The offset leg design allow thi...

Category

2010s American Other Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Plywood

Pierre Chapo T23 Three Legged Side Table in Elm, Chapo Création, France, 2025

$4,309 / item

H 13 in W 25.6 in D 25.99 in

Pierre Chapo T23 Three Legged Side Table in Elm, Chapo Création, France, 2025

By Pierre Chapo, Chapo Creation

Located in The Hague, NL

This striking low side table is the model T23 designed by Pierre Chapo in 1960. The table is made of solid elm wood with a beautiful grain. The iconic design is composed of a triangu...

Category

2010s French Modern Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Wood, Elm

Vaughn Occasional Tables

$1,950 / item

H 16 in W 12 in D 12 in

Vaughn Occasional Tables

Located in Houston, TX

Hand applied lacquer paired with richly stained walnut. Color options: Emerald, Aubergine, Ocean (or send your custom choice) Other options: Choose between either mostly ...

Category

2010s American Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Walnut, Lacquer

Vaughn Occasional Tables

$1,950 / item

H 16 in W 12 in D 12 in

Vaughn Occasional Tables

Located in Houston, TX

Hand applied lacquer paired with richly stained walnut. Color options: Emerald, Aubergine, Ocean (or send your custom choice) Other options: Choose between either mostly lacquer...

Category

2010s American Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Walnut, Lacquer

Vaughn Occasional Tables

$1,950 / item

H 16 in W 12 in D 12 in

Vaughn Occasional Tables

Located in Houston, TX

Hand applied lacquer paired with richly stained walnut. Color options: Emerald, Aubergine, Ocean (or send your custom choice) Other options: Choose between either mostly lacquer...

Category

2010s American Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Walnut, Lacquer

Vintage Marble Top Three Legged Side Table With Wood Base

$3,840

H 28.5 in W 28 in D 28 in

Vintage Marble Top Three Legged Side Table With Wood Base

Located in Locust Valley, NY

A gorgeous vintage side table with removable marble top with Serge Roche inspired carved detail.

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Marble

Italian Three Legged Occasional Table

$2,900

H 23 in Dm 25.5 in

Italian Three Legged Occasional Table

Located in Hanover, MA

Charming Italian occasional tripod table from 1960 composed of three brass tapering legs around a triangular center with colorful ename...

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Brass, Metal

Frits Henningsen Three Legged Side Table in Mahogany, Denmark, 1940s

$4,658

H 20.67 in Dm 18.51 in

Frits Henningsen Three Legged Side Table in Mahogany, Denmark, 1940s

By Frits Henningsen

Located in The Hague, NL

This rare side table was designed by Frits Henningsen and produced in Denmark in the 1940s. The table is stamped with the model number 1570 on the underside of the top. Executed in ...

Category

1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Italian Three-Legged Corner Table with Faux Marble Painted Top, Mid-20th Century

$1,680

H 33.75 in W 27 in D 19 in

Italian Three-Legged Corner Table with Faux Marble Painted Top, Mid-20th Century

Located in Atlanta, GA

An Italian corner table with faux marble painted top from the mid-20th century. This vintage table from Italy has a primarily triangular-shaped body, with top which bows outwards at front. The triangular shape makes it easily used within a corner space. The apron has nicely carved details and vertical rinceaux accents above each leg. The table is raised upon three squared and tapering legs. This Italian mid-century corner table...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Wood

19th Century French Three Legged Bronze Side Table

$1,601

H 44.5 in Dm 35 in

19th Century French Three Legged Bronze Side Table

Located in Delft, NL

19th Century French three legged bronze side table 19th Century French small three legged bronze side table. The legs with scrolled leaf motif and at the top in the middle a rose...

Category

19th Century French Antique Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Bronze

Moorish Occasional Table

$1,223

H 27 in Dm 24.5 in

Moorish Occasional Table

Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Moorish carved and mother of pearl inlay occasional table, 1890. Dimensions 27 inches (69 cms) high 24.5 inches (62 cms) diameter.

Category

19th Century Moorish Antique Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Teak

Three Drawer Campaign Style Three-Drawer Chest Occasional Cabinet Stand Table

$3,400

H 25 in W 24 in D 26 in

Three Drawer Campaign Style Three-Drawer Chest Occasional Cabinet Stand Table

By Heritage Furniture

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Very nice three-drawer Campaign style leather top chest with two folding brass carry handles.

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Leather

Previously Available Items

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Walnut Table with Drawer

Sold

H 21.5 in W 30 in D 23 in

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Walnut Table with Drawer

By Arthur Espenet Carpenter

Located in San Mateo, CA

Side table in walnut by Arthur Espenet Carpenter, (1920-2006). This table has a single drawer below the top. The solid walnut sides and top are joined with dovetail joints. The runne...

Category

1970s American Vintage Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Walnut

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Table

Sold

H 17.5 in W 28 in D 29 in

Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Table

By Arthur Espenet Carpenter

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A modernist side table in oak burl by Arthur Espenet Carpenter III.

Category

20th Century American Arthur Espenet Carpenter Side Tables

Materials

Oak

Arthur Espenet Carpenter side tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Arthur Espenet Carpenter side tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Arthur Espenet Carpenter side tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Prices for Arthur Espenet Carpenter side tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,500 and can go as high as $18,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $10,750.

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