Rarely have rectangular boxes looked as elegant as in the mid-century modern homes designed by Craig Ellwood Associates of Los Angeles.
Unabashedly influenced by the work of Bauhaus visionary Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Ellwood’s houses were long, low and strong boned, made of steel beams and expanses of glass. Dramatically sited on oceanfront properties or in eucalyptus groves, they gave the borrowed architectural formalism of European modernism a distinctly California flavor.
A local legend in his time, Ellwood is not as well known today as Richard Neutra, Charles and Ray Eames, Albert Frey or any number of postwar architects working in Southern California, although his office designed more than 100 buildings from the late 1940s through the mid-1970s. Several were Case Study Houses, part of an experimental building program sponsored by Arts + Architecture magazine that was intended to encourage the use of industrial materials and techniques for residential construction — a commonplace now but revolutionary then.
Born in Texas, Johnnie Burke (Ellwood’s given name) was a World War II army vet, a student of engineering at UCLA and a male model when he took a night class in construction cost estimating.
“The next thing he knows, he’s working on the Eames Case Study House and John Entenza’s house next door,” says Michael Boyd, referring to the editor and publisher of the influential Arts & Architecture magazine, who became a champion of Ellwood’s work. “That’s where he learned the grammar of form.”
Boyd, a designer and preeminent modernism-preservation specialist, edited Making L.A. Modern: Craig Ellwood (Rizzoli, 2018), which aimed to give Ellwood’s impressive body of work its due.
Burke soon reinvented himself as Craig Ellwood. Accolades rolled in for the designer even as he never earned a license to practice architecture. The fact that a self-taught practitioner was responsible for so many important postwar buildings didn’t sit well with the architectural establishment.
By the late 1960s, things had changed for Ellwood. Unable to get commissions and tossed out of his own firm by disgruntled partners who felt cheated of proper credit, he retired to a farmhouse in Tuscany, and, for the next two decades, turned out abstract geometric paintings in a vivid Op Art mode.
Find vintage Craig Ellwood furniture on 1stDibs.
George Nelson Thin Edge Rosewood Cabinet for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson, Craig Ellwood
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A cabinet from George Nelson’s Thin Edge collection for Herman Miller modified by architect Craig Ellwood for one of his homes. The design features a slender rosewood case with four ...
Aluminum
$13,499
Craig Ellwood Painting, 1979
By Craig Ellwood
Located in Oxnard, CA
Large Op Art painting by celebrated architect - Craig Ellwood. Acrylic on canvas, 60" x 60" with artist signature/date verso. Rich blue color with gradient brown geometric grid.
Canvas, Acrylic
American Landscape by Craig Pursley
Located in Lantau, HK
Craig Pursley. Autry's Home, American, born 1954. Oil on canvas. Dimensions 28.5 x 36 cm Original art work(s).
Paint
$3,500
H 29.5 in W 34 in D 18.5 in
Expertly Restored -George Nelson Multi-Color Lacquered Cabinet for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...
Steel
George Nelson Chest / Dresser Cabinet for Herman Miller # 4935
By George Nelson
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very well crafted dresser chest or cabinet standing on shorter legs in a dark ebony finish with side door having two adjustable shelves . The other side has five drawers , all with...
Stainless Steel
Mid Century Modern Abstract Painting by Flora Crockett (1892-1979)
By Flora Crockett
Located in Ventura, CA
Attributed to Flora Crockett (American, 1892-1979), Untitled Abstraction. Flora Crockett is a newly discovered American abstractionist whose career spanned the middle decades of th...
Canvas
On Hold|$2,999
H 30 in W 34 in D 18.5 in
Vintage Mid Century 4601 Cabinet by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Evelyn Ackerman, George Nelson
Located in Oxnard, CA
Here is a lovely model 4601 cabinet in walnut by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Part of the "Basic Cabinet Series", this piece features a simple two door design with adjustable in...
Walnut
George Nelson Herman Miller Thin Profile Cabinet
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Chicago, IL
George Nelson Herman Miller Thin Profile Cabinet. Uncommon little cabinet that does not take up much space. Please request additional photos and condition report. Appears that the ...
Wood
$7,500
H 33.5 in W 67.25 in D 19.25 in
George Nelson Thin Edge cabinet model 5723 for Herman Miller USA, 1952
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Skokie, IL
George Nelson Thin Edge cabinet model 5723 for Herman Miller USA, 1952. Classic. Materials: teak, aluminum Dimensions: 33 1/2" h x 67 1/4" w x 19 1/4" d
Aluminum, Steel
George Nelson Rosewood Thin Edge Dresser for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in San Francisco, CA
George Nelson design rosewood "Thin Edge" chest or dresser for Herman Miller, U.S.A. Exceptional rosewood grain patterns throughout the case and drawer fronts with new spinning top a...
Aluminum
$6,000
H 30.75 in W 33.5 in D 18.5 in
George Nelson Thin Edge Dresser in Rosewood & Porcelain by Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Stamford, CT
The great George Nelson left us with a massive portfolio of forward thinking design which Herman Miller has largely kept alive to this day. Nelson became design director for Herman M...
Aluminum
$12,000 / set
H 30.75 in W 33.75 in D 18.5 in
Pr. Mid Century George Nelson Herman Miller Rosewood Thin Edge Bachelors Chests
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite matched pair of George Nelson designed four drawer Thin Edge dressers, executed in Rosewood, for Herman Miller circa 1950's. These chests are in very good, original, clean...
Aluminum
$6,500
H 41 in W 40 in D 19.25 in
George Nelson Thin Edge cabinet model 5240 for Herman Miller USA, 1952
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Skokie, IL
George Nelson Thin Edge cabinet model for Herman Miller USA, 1952 Materials: teak, aluminum Dimensions: 41" h x 40" w x 19 1/2" d
Aluminum, Steel
George Nelson Thin Edge Secretary Desk Cabinet for Herman Miller
By George Nelson
Located in Lake Worth, FL
1950s original Thin Edge secretary desk cabinet designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. This early version features the rare black enamel stainless large pulls and tapered wood feet. Cabinet on the right includes an adjustable shelf and 2 drawers. Pull down desk is covered with black leather and features 5 drawers on the left side with original small white porcelain George Nelson drawer pulls...
Walnut
Craig Ellwood Homage to Albers as a Diptych
By Craig Ellwood
Located in Chicago, IL
Craig Ellwood Homage to Albers presented as a Diptych 48" wide and 24" high Elwood Mid-Century Modern Architect / Artist Painting one: Craig Ellwood Painting Titled for Josef - Black...
Masonite, Plywood
Craig Ellwood Painting Titled for Josef - Black #1
By Craig Ellwood
Located in Chicago, IL
Craig Ellwood Painting Titled for Josef - Black #1 1979-80 Painted Masonite and plywood Elwood Mid-Century Modern Architect / Artist Signed, titled, dated and numbered to verso ‘C.El...
Masonite, Plywood
Craig Ellwood Painting Titled "For Josef - Silver #1"
By Craig Ellwood
Located in Chicago, IL
Craig Ellwood Painting Titled "For Josef - Silver #1" 1979-80 Painted Masonite and Plywood Elwood Mid-Century Modern Architect / Artist Signed, titled, dated and numbered to verso '7...
Masonite, Plywood
Craig Ellwood Painting
By Craig Ellwood
Located in Chicago, IL
Craig Ellwood (b.1922-d.1992) was an American modernist architect and artist. Self taught, Ellwood was influenced by Bauhaus master Josef Albers, who he met in the 1950's at Yale Uni...
Canvas, Paint
Op Art Screen Print Craig Ellwood
By Craig Ellwood
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1922-1992, Craig Ellwood was an influential Los Angeles based architect. His building designs were the quintessential post and beam structures that were part of the California modern...
Paper