Dan Johnson
While most postwar furniture designers were looking to the future, Dan Johnson found inspiration in the past. The mid-century modern maverick is remembered for his beautiful armchairs, lounge chairs and dining tables with designs that are reminiscent of ancient Rome.
The American furniture designer began his career in the late 1940s by creating solid wood pieces like desks and dining chairs for California furniture manufacturer Hayden Hall. By the early 1950s, he was designing chairs and tables for American furniture importer and producer Selig. In 1955, Johnson moved to Rome on an apartment design commission. While there, he launched Dan Johnson Studio with the goal of bringing a modern approach to the Roman furniture of antiquity.
The pieces from this era of Johnson’s career are characterized by their sculptural metal designs. His most famous work was the elegant Gazelle line, sold in America by Selig. It features dining tables, coffee tables and multiple chair designs that involve a green “Pompeian Verde” patina, metal framing and traditional caning techniques. Due to a high manufacturing cost, the production line was limited and is highly exclusive today.
Another popular design by Johnson for Selig in the 1950s was the Viscount chair. More typical of the mid-century style, it was made with a wood frame, polished brass accents and orange leather upholstery. In the 1960s, Johnson designed a similar aluminum chair for American furniture manufacturer and distributor Shelby Williams, this one with blue upholstery.
Johnson died in 1978. The Gazelle armchair is in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum and Denver Art Museum, and a prototype of the Gazelle lounge chair is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Interior designers regularly use Johnson’s furniture for upscale outdoor spaces in California and New York.
On 1stDibs, find Dan Johnson seating, tables, desks and more.
| Average Sold Price |
| $7,171 |
| Styles |
| Materials |
| Related Creators |
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dan Johnson
Aluminum
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dan Johnson
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dan Johnson
Iron
20th Century American Dan Johnson
Metal
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dan Johnson
Mahogany
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Dan Johnson
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dan Johnson
Bronze
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dan Johnson
Iron
Dan Johnson Sale Prices
| Sold Date | Sold Price | Category | Material | Creation Year | |||||||||||
|
| $7,171 |
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months |
| $1,012-$16,500 |
| Sold price range of items in the past 12 months |