Ello Beds and Bed Frames
In its sleek credenzas, chic mirrored cabinets and sculptural dining tables, vintage Ello furniture encapsulates the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood Regency style.
Ello founder Lothar H. Molton (1926-2012) took his family and fled Nazi-occupied Germany and established his furniture company in Chicago, Illinois, in 1956 as a garage operation. In 1968, the company moved to the renowned furniture town of Rockford, where many of the country's most well-known producers once set up manufacturing operations. Over the next four decades, Ello enjoyed great success as a producer of furniture and an importer, growing into a 150,000-square-foot warehouse and a 200,000-square-foot manufacturing plant.
Though more often featuring an integration of flashy brass accents and materials such as travertine versus the dark woods and clean lines associated with mid-century modern design, Ello furniture was known in its heyday for being as practical as it was stylish. The company's motto was "Contemporary Furniture of Distinction," and their designs were highly functional with just the right amount of flair for the modern home.
In 1976, the Fort Lauderdale News and Sun-Sentinel described an Ello modular wall unit as "a rare combination of function plus spectacular glamour." Ello also collaborated with well-known designers of the era, like O.B. Solie. During the 1970s, Solie worked with mirrored glass, bronze, oak and more to design a range of tallboys, chests, sideboards and other pieces that boasted gilt brass escutcheons and brushed chrome drawer pulls.
In its prime, Ello held annual inventory clearance sales that attracted hundreds of customers. People lined up around the warehouse, sometimes camping out days in advance. Sales started to become more frequent, and in 2010, Ello closed its doors. In 2011, they auctioned off the rest of their merchandise.
Today vintage Ello furniture continues to enjoy popularity for its bold but practical designs.
On 1stDibs, find Ello case pieces, tables and bedroom furniture.
1970s American Space Age Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Stainless Steel
1980s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
1980s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese French Provincial Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
Late 20th Century North American Renaissance Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Mahogany
2010s American Modern Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Hardwood, Walnut
20th Century Canadian Scandinavian Modern Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Teak
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary American Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Ash
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Rosewood, Mahogany
2010s Asian Minimalist Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Bamboo
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Upholstery, Wood
2010s Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Modern Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Chrome
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Aluminum, Chrome
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Steel
1980s American Modern Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Mirror
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
1970s American Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Glass, Mirror
1970s Modern Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Chrome
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Metal
1970s American Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ello Beds and Bed Frames
Chrome