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.
$14,400Sale Price|20% Off
Dan Johnson Dining Table and or Desk
By Dan Johnson
Located in Chicago, IL
Dan Johnson dining table and or Desk for Arch Industries Inc. Designed 1958, manufactured by Dan Johnson Studio, Rome Italy. Travertine Marble Top wit...
Travertine, Bronze, Wrought Iron
$6,500
H 27.5 in W 78 in D 47.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Oval Dining Table or Desk by Florence Knoll in Carrara Marble
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An elegant executive table designed by Florence Knoll and produced by Knoll. It features a beautiful polished white & gray Carrara marble top and a chrome-plated star base. This ...
Marble, Chrome
Lacquered Desk or Dining Table by Jacques Jarrige
By Jacques Jarrige
Located in New York, NY
Luca is an elegant and sculptural piece by Jacques Jarrige that functions equally well as a refined desk or a small dining table. Hand-carved and finished in lustrous lacquer, the pi...
Scrap Wood
$4,019Sale Price|40% Off
H 29.14 in W 78.75 in D 39.38 in
Amazing Italian Desk or Dining Table by Guglielmo Ulrich
By Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Munich, DE
Wonderful organic shaped walnut base and silvered glass top. I was not able to get a good picture of the top.
Walnut
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Rattan Desk or Table
Located in Sheffield, MA
Mid-century 1950's French bamboo desk or dining table. Wicker, rattan, faux bamboo.
Rattan
70's Tobacco Leaf Dining Table or Desk
By Aldo Tura, Milo Baughman
Located in Miami, FL
Textural, organic, and terribly chic. This 70's dining table or desk is sheathed in tobacco leaves and given a acrylic finish to complement its sleek simplicity.
Acrylic, Wood
$15,975
H 30.32 in W 98.43 in D 42.52 in
Large Spanish Dining or Desk Table with Carved Legs and Iron Stretcher
Located in Miami, FL
Spanish refectory desk table with solomonic legs and iron stretcher Original perfect condition Top table in perfect shape. Very heavy piece Between legs 81.10 in
Iron
$4,194
H 31.5 in W 72.45 in D 32.68 in
Vivai del Sud Large Desk or Dining Table in Bamboo, Rattan, Wicker, Italy 1970s
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Roma, IT
Spectacular large desk or dining table in bamboo, rattan, and hand-woven wicker. This charming and unique organic table was designed by Vivai del Sud and produced in Italy during the...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan, Wood
$3,850
H 29.88 in W 103.75 in D 42.25 in
Live Edge French Burl Elm Slab Dining Table, Desk or Work Table
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
This thick 2” slab of 40 year old French Burled Elm was found in the backyard of a famous French furniture maker, who unfortunately closed his doors after 60 years in business. The beauty of the slab speaks for itself, for I cannot think of any words that could accurately describe what Mother Nature created. Whether you use it for a desk, like I have for many years, or a dining table, or ever a kitchen island work table...
Elm, Burl
Italian Chrome X-Base Trestle Dining Table or Writing Desk
By Pace Collection
Located in Danville, CA
Rarely seen X-base trestle style dining table base that can be used as either a dining table or writing desk. The base will easily support a glass or stone top as large as 48 x 108 x...
Stone, Chrome
$18,000
H 30.5 in W 84 in D 30 in
Dos Gallos Studio Custom Walnut Desk or Dining Table with Wishbone Stretcher
By Dos Gallos Studio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is our custom wishbone winery table that can be made in any size and with any finish, in a range of colors and distresses. This particular table was going to be used as a desk s...
Walnut
1970s Italian Drop Leaf Dining Table or Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian drop leaf dining table or desk, Italy, circa 1970s. Interesting drop leaf joinery on either side. This would be the perfect size for an NYC apartment...
Metal, Chrome
$13,039 / item
H 28.75 in W 92.52 in D 61.82 in
Charlotte Perriand Ventaglio Sculptural Desk or Dining Table for Cassina, new
By Charlotte Perriand, Cassina
Located in Berlin, DE
Price is dependent on the chosen material. Available in black stained oak or natural oak. A multifunctional table with a revolutionary design, whose shape and use are uniquely differ...
Wood
Dan Johnson, "Gazelle" Table or Desk, Carved Walnut, Italy, c. 1955
By Dan Johnson
Located in High Point, NC
A carved walnut and glass "Gazelle" table or desk designed by the American designer Dan Johnson and produced in Italy, c. 1955.
Glass, Walnut
Dan Johnson Dining Table
By Dan Johnson
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Drop-leaf dining table by Dan Johnson for Hayden Hall Furniture, circa 1947. A beautiful example of California modern design. This piece has been professio...
Mahogany
Dan Johnson Gazelle Desk or Dining Table
By Dan Johnson
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Extremely rare and beautiful Dan Johnson "Gazelle" desk or dining table in Italian walnut. The gazelle series were hand made in Italy and became too costly to produce leaving only a ...
Glass, Walnut