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.
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
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
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
$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
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
$3,964Sale 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
70's Tobacco Leaf Dining Table or Desk
By Milo Baughman, Aldo Tura
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
$24,780
H 32.29 in W 98.43 in D 45.28 in
Unique Red Lacquer and Brass Maison Jansen Dining Table or Desk, 1970s
By Maison Jansen
Located in Paris, IDF
A rare piece from Maison Jansen, this large dining table was a commission by a private client. With its impeccable design, perfect proportions, and high-end materials like mother of ...
Brass
$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
Early Vintage Florence Knoll Dining Table or Desk
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Early vintage Florence Knoll dining table. Model 301 Literature: Knoll Furniture 1938-1960, Rouland and Rouland, pg 105 Comes with 1 (18") leaf. Measures: 60" wide without le...
Wood
$12,862 / 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 Cassina, Charlotte Perriand
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
$4,700
H 28.5 in Dm 39 in
Mid Century Modern Knoll Tulip Dining/Conference Table or Desk in White Marble
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Saarinen for Knoll Tulip Table designed for the work space having a center hole to run computer and telephone wires. It features beautiful calacatta marbl...
Marble, Aluminum
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