Edmond J. Spence Bookcases
1911-1986
Edmond J. Spence played an important role in promoting the tenets of Scandinavian modernism in the United States but his name remains conspicuously omitted from the history books. He was an American furniture designer who is known for having introduced the West to unfamiliar cultural tastes and translating their subtleties to appeal to mid-century-era consumers.
Spence honed his eye for good craftsmanship as a young man. His family owned a furniture manufacturing company based in Batavia, New York. While not much has been reported about his schooling, it was not long before he started designing his own nightstands, end tables, chairs and more — all of which exhibited the appealing traits associated with mid-century modern furniture. Spence experimented with form and ornament owing to inspiration he gathered from international influences.
During the 1950s, Spence drew on Asian and Swedish influences in developing ideas for his own style of modern furniture. He incorporated aspects of Mexican design to create the Continental-American collection. Manufactured in 1953 by Industria Mueblera, this collection of sculptural wooden furnishings with brass details epitomizes Spence’s ability to draw attention to the most integral parts of global design while adding his own modern spin. The designer’s Coronation Group — a series of dressers, cabinets and more in blonde woods that featured decorative birch veneers — was built by artisans in Sweden and imported for sale to postwar homeowners in the United States by Massachusetts furniture company Walpole.
Spence’s “Peineta” chair — a work of mahogany, plywood and woven palm that is demonstrative of Spanish Colonial influences and is part of the Continental-American line — has long been on display in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art while other works are held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. And if Spence hadn’t captured the hearts of Americans by way of Industria Mueblera showrooms and alluring ads in Interiors magazine, some of his furniture was used as set decoration for the widely loved sitcom I Love Lucy.
Find vintage Edmond J. Spence seating, storage and case pieces, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Edmond J. Spence
Edmund Spence Blonde Wood Swedish Modern Hanging Bookcase w/ Glass Sliding doors
By Heywood-Wakefield Co., Edmond J. Spence
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Swedish modern bookcase with glass sliding doors.
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Edmond Spence Drop Front Desk for Industria Mueblera S. A. Mexico, c. 1955
By Industria Mueblera Mexico, Edmond J. Spence
Located in Camden, ME
Edmond Spence drop front desk manufactured in Mexico by Industria Meublera S.A. in the late 1950s or early 1960s.
An interesting blend of design influences from Charlotte Perriand a...
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Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Edmond J. Spence Bookcases
Materials
Brass
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Edmond J. Spence bookcases for sale on 1stDibs.
Edmond J. Spence bookcases 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 Edmond J. Spence bookcases, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original bookcases by Edmond J. Spence were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider bookcases by Maitland Smith, Paul McCobb, and Design Institute America. Prices for Edmond J. Spence bookcases can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,800 and can go as high as $9,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,400.
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