Emeco Tables
American
While they’re best known for their revolutionary Navy chair, iconic American furniture company Emeco makes a whole range of seating and other furniture — not just seaworthy chairs. The development of each product is guided by an eco-friendly ethos and pragmatic approach to design.
Emeco began to take shape during the 1940s, when the U.S. Navy needed a lightweight, fireproof chair that could withstand a torpedo blast and hold up to use by “big, burly sailors,” says Gregg Buchbinder, Emeco’s chief executive.
With experts from the Aluminum Company of America, an engineer named Wilton C. Dinges (1916–74) delivered, and the Emeco 1006 — that is, the Navy chair — an aluminum classic, was born. In order to demonstrate the chair’s sturdiness, Dinges threw it from the eighth floor of a hotel in Chicago, and when it landed, the chair bounced in lieu of breaking or bending.
The engineer secured a contract to manufacture the Navy chair beginning in 1944 at the Electrical Machine and Equipment Company (Emeco), which he’d founded a few years earlier in Hanover, Pennsylvania. In the ensuing decades, the factory’s craftsmen would stamp out by hand hundreds of thousands of Navy chairs for battleships, aircraft carriers and submarines — a process that requires more than 70 steps.
Today, the impossibly durable Navy chair, which is recyclable and made of at least 80 percent recycled aluminum, inspires knockoffs left and right and can be found in a variety of public settings, from upscale restaurants to hotels and offices. But it took time to get here.
In 1979, Gregg’s father, Jay Buchbinder, a businessman whose Long Beach, California, furniture company manufactured seating for fast food restaurants, purchased Emeco. The company hit a rough patch in the 1990s. When Gregg acquired Emeco from Jay in 1998, he took the $2 million in debt that came along with it. Fortuitously, Gregg learned that the Navy chair had taken on a new nonmilitary identity around the same time and that it was increasingly seen as sleek and retro in addition to being great submarine seating. Orders for the Navy chair were coming in from design luminaries like Ettore Sottsass, Giorgio Armani and a daring young French designer named Philippe Starck, who purchased a large number of 1006s for Ian Schrager’s Paramount hotel in New York City.
Gregg seized on Emeco’s newfound popularity, initiating a partnership with Starck, who would design the company’s Hudson Collection, a line planned for Manhattan’s Hudson Hotel that saw the Navy chair take on the form of a barstool and other pieces. He also partnered with Frank Gehry, whose Superlight chair for Emeco can be hoisted off the ground with one hand. Collaborations with Jasper Morrison, Jean Nouvel and others followed, and today, Emeco continues to build durable seating furniture from a range of recycled materials with a variety of designers.
Find authentic Emeco chairs, stools, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Color: Brown
Creator: Emeco
Emeco Su Medium Round Cafe Table with Oak Frame & Accoya Wood Top by Nendo
By Nendo, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
With the invisible values of design, engineering and strength, the SU collection of stools and tables is inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of su, meaning plain or unadorned. SU come...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Emeco Tables
Materials
Oak
Emeco Su Small Square Cafe Table with Oak Frame & Accoya Wood Top by Nendo
By Nendo, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
With the invisible values of design, engineering and strength, the SU collection of stools and tables is inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of su, meaning plain or unadorned. SU come...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Emeco Tables
Materials
Oak
Emeco Su Small Round Cafe Table with Oak Frame & Accoya Wood Top by Nendo
By Nendo, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
With the invisible values of design, engineering and strength, the SU collection of stools and tables is inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of su, meaning plain or unadorned. SU come...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Emeco Tables
Materials
Oak
Emeco Su Square Low Table with Oak Frame & Accoya Wood Top by Nendo
By Nendo, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
With the invisible values of design, engineering and strength, the SU collection of stools and tables is inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of su, meaning plain or unadorned. SU comes in a range of sustainable finishes, discovered through our ongoing exploration of eco-conscious materials. SU tables...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Emeco Tables
Materials
Oak
Emeco Su Round Low Table with Oak Frame & Accoya Wood Top by Nendo
By Nendo, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
With the invisible values of design, engineering and strength, the SU collection of stools and tables is inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of su, meaning plain or unadorned. SU comes in a range of sustainable finishes, discovered through our ongoing exploration of eco-conscious materials. SU tables...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Emeco Tables
Materials
Oak
Emeco Su Large Square Cafe Table with Oak Frame & Accoya Wood Top by Nendo
By Nendo, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
With the invisible values of design, engineering and strength, the SU collection of stools and tables is inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of su, meaning plain or unadorned. SU come...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Emeco Tables
Materials
Oak
Emeco Su Large Round Cafe Table with Oak Frame & Accoya Wood Top by Nendo
By Nendo, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
With the invisible values of design, engineering and strength, the SU collection of stools and tables is inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of su, meaning plain or unadorned. SU comes in a range of sustainable finishes, discovered through our ongoing exploration of eco-conscious materials. SU tables...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Emeco Tables
Materials
Oak
Emeco Su Medium Square Cafe Table with Oak Frame & Accoya Wood Top by Nendo
By Nendo, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
With the invisible values of design, engineering and strength, the SU collection of stools and tables is inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of su, meaning plain or unadorned. SU come...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Emeco Tables
Materials
Oak
Emeco Run Small Side Table in Dark Powder-Coat & Walnut by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Large Side Table in Black Powder-Coat & Ash by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Large Side Table in Aluminum and Ash by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Small High Table in Aluminum and Ash by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Small Side Table in Clear Anodized Aluminum by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Medium Table in Aluminum and Ash by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Large Table in Aluminum and Ash by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Small High Table in Dark Powder-Coat & Walnut by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Large Side Table in Clear Anodized Aluminum by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Extra Large Table in Clear Anodized & Ash by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Small Table in Aluminum and Ash by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Small Side Table in Aluminum & Walnut by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Large Table in Aluminum and Walnut by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Small Table in Aluminum and Walnut by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Small High Table in Clear Anodized Aluminum by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Medium High Table in Aluminum and Ash by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Medium High Table in Aluminum and Walnut by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Large High Table in Aluminum & Walnut by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Small Side Table in Aluminum and Ash by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Large Table in Aluminum and Aluminum by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Medium Table in Clear Anodized Aluminum by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Extra Large Table in Aluminum and Walnut by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Large High Table in Dark Powder-Coat & Walnut by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Medium High Table in Dark Aluminum and Walnut by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Small High Table in Aluminum and Walnut by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run XL High Table in Clear Anodized & Walnut by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Large High Table in Clear Anodized Aluminum by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Medium High Table in Clear Anodized Aluminum by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run XL High Table in Clear Anodized Aluminum by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Small Table in Clear Anodized Aluminum by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Medium Table in Aluminum and Walnut by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Large Side Table in Dark Powder-Coat & Walnut by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Large Side Table in Aluminum & Walnut by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Extra Large Table in Aluminum and Ash by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Small Side Table in Black Powder-Coat and Ash, Sam Hecht and Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Extra Large Table in Clear Anodized Aluminum by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco Run Large High Table in Aluminum and Ash by Sam Hecht & Kim Colin
By Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Emeco
Located in Hanover, PA
Run is a collection of tables, benches and shelves by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, designers of the simple and no-nonsense. Run effortlessly finds balance in both indoor and outdoor land...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Emeco Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Emeco tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Emeco tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Emeco tables, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original tables by Emeco were created in the modern style in united states during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider tables by Sam Hecht + Kim Colin, Nendo, and John Eric Byers. Prices for Emeco tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,160 and can go as high as $5,355, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,143.