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Gilbert Rohde Furniture

American, 1894-1944

Pioneering self-taught industrial designer, writer and teacher Gilbert Rohde helped define the earliest phase of modernism in the United States. He is one of the most influential figures of 20th-century design and is credited with helping legendary mid-century modern furniture manufacturer Herman Miller avert financial disaster during the Great Depression.

Born in New York City, Rohde studied painting at the Art Students League after high school. He found lucrative employment, first as a political cartoonist and then as a catalog illustrator for American department stores. He was particularly enthralled with drawing furnished interiors.

Rohde began to design furniture in his spare time. He traveled to the Bauhaus school in Germany and the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, and drew on the Art Deco movement and the work of designers such as Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann in his early pieces. Rohde opened his own studio in 1929 and secured private and commercial commissions. His clients would come to include formidable furniture makers Heywood-Wakefield and Troy Sunshade, and his innovative bentwood furnishings for them were practical and intended for the modern consumer.

In 1930, Rohde met Herman Miller founder D.J. De Pree in the company’s Michigan showroom during a business trip. By then, Rohde had a long list of prominent clients and his furniture had been exhibited in museums and galleries. Herman Miller was weathering a devastating slowdown in business, and the American furniture industry had generally been hit hard by the Great Depression.

Rohde boldly informed De Pree that the brand’s furniture had become outdated, which was part of the reason the company was in financial jeopardy. Homes had become smaller and could no longer accommodate the large Gothic– and Victorian–style furnishings and traditional reproductions of period bedroom suites that Herman Miller was offering at the time, Rohde explained.

Rohde secured a contract to design for the Michigan manufacturer. He championed the use of exotic woods and tubular steel, and created streamlined, unadorned bedroom furniture for Herman Miller — collections that included convenient vanities, which were unconventional pieces for De Pree’s company back then.

In 1933, Rohde oversaw the design of two bedrooms featuring sleek Herman Miller furniture — including innovative storage pieces he designed — as part of an International–style exhibit at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. The installation garnered acclaim for De Pree’s brand all over the world and afforded Rohde the opportunity to execute on his visionary ideas in front of a global audience. Rohde later designed lighting, seating and more for Herman Miller and was extensively involved in the company's marketing strategy and other areas of the business.

In 1942, Herman Miller, anticipating a postwar economic boom, began to produce office furniture for the first time, but its legacy is in the home. Working with legendary designers such as Ray and Charles Eames, Isamu Noguchi and Alexander Girard, the manufacturer fostered some of the boldest expressions of what we now call mid-century modern style.

Find vintage Gilbert Rohde coffee tables, lounge chairs, table lamps and other items on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Gilbert Rohde
Recognized Seller Listings
Gilbert Rohde, Armchairs, Cherry, Velvet, USA, 1940s
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of cherrywood and purple velvet armchairs designed by Gilbert Rohde and produced by Herman Miller, Zeeland, Michigan, 1940s.  Seat height 17.5”.
Category

1940s American Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Cherry, Velvet

Gilbert Rohde, Slipper Chair, Fabric, Wood, USA, 1940s
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in High Point, NC
A beige fabric and stained wood slipper chair designed by Gilbert rohde and produced by Haywood Wakefield, USA, 1940s. Seat height 16”.
Category

1940s American Scandinavian Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Gilbert Rohde, Rare Stool, Wood, Brown Leatherette, Herman Miller, 1940s
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in High Point, NC
A rare stool, designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, 1940s. In wood and brown leatherette/vinyl upholstery. Other designers of the period include Isamu Noguchi, Paul Frankl...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Faux Leather, Wood

Gilbert Rohde, Lounge Chair, Chrome Steel, Vinyl, Troy Sunshade Co., USA, 1940s
By Troy Sunshade Company, Gilbert Rohde
Located in High Point, NC
An adjustable, chrome steel and white vinyl lounge chair with ottoman, designed by Gilbert Rohde and produced by Troy Sunshade Company, Troy,...
Category

1940s American Machine Age Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Chrome

1930s Art Deco Mahogany Low Table by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A low table or bench with a rectangular mahogany top floating a bent chromed steel base with sled feet.
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Steel

Gilbert Rohde, Paldao Sideboard
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in San Francisco, CA
Gilbert Rohde sideboard from the “Paldao” series. Features a pedestal base, pull-out cutting surfaces and four cabinets with carved nobs. In...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Paldao

Paldao Occasional Table by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A Mid-Century Modern end table having a lower shelf and studded, tapering imitation leather-wrapped legs, the top surfaced with quadrants of bookmatched acacia burl. Designed by Gilb...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Burl, Paldao

Embossed Silk Sculptural Bench by Gilbert Rohde
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An unusual and expressive bench having a sculptural rounded form with patinated brass nailhead trim and a rich embossed silk fabric resting on squared mahogany feet.
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

Pair of Gilbert Rohde Matching Dressers
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A matching pair of Dresser's by Gilbert Rohde, using book matched brazilian rosewood veneer, model # 3770 Three huge drawers in each cabinet make this a very useful design.
Category

1940s American Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of Gilbert Rohde Nightstands #3770
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A practical pair of nightstands in brazilian rosewood, designed by Gilbert Rohde model # 3770
Category

1940s American Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Brass

Gilbert Rohde Elegant Set of 8 Newly Upholstered Dining Chairs, 1940s
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in New York, NY
Set of 8 elegant upholstered dining chairs model (2 arm chairs model No. 4196 and 6 side chairs model No. 4195), legs and arms in dark Pacific walnut with beautifully curved backs, ...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

Related Items
Spectacular Gilbert Rohde Loveseat for the Troy Sunshade Company C.1934-1937
By Troy Sunshade Company, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Bernville, PA
Rare Gilbert Rohde loveseat for the Troy Sunshade Company. The simple design was from the Troy Sunshade living room collection of Modern Interiors. B...
Category

1930s Art Deco Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

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Chrome

Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller Rosewood Vanity
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in New York, NY
Stunning 1940s Gilbert Rohde designed for Herman Miller Model number 3770 vanity, made of Brazilian rosewood with 3 drawers 3 small storage compartments and glass shelf.
Category

20th Century American Art Deco Gilbert Rohde Furniture

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Brass

Set of Six Vintage Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller Dining Chairs
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A set of six dining chairs, two arm chairs and four armless, in Mid-Century Modern design by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller. Walnut legs and shades of coral textured fabric. Some se...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Gilbert Rohde Furniture

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Fabric, Walnut

George Nelson Stool for Herman Miller, USA, 1960s
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Berlin, DE
George Nelson Stool for Herman Miller, USA - 1960s in all original condition with the rare brown base George Nelson (1908-1986) was an American industrial designer and architect who...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Metal

Art Deco Tables Gilbert Rohde Brown Saltman
By Gilbert Rohde, Brown Saltman
Located in Rochester, NY
Matching pair of American Art Deco side tables designed by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman in the original factory finished surface. Circa...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Wood

Eames Herman Miller Drafting Stool Vinyl and Fiberglass Seat Aluminum Base
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Eames designed drafting stools, manufactured by Herman Miller circa… The stools feature vibrant blue vinyl seats, light gray fiberglass shells, gr...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Art Deco Art Moderne Streamline Gilbert Rohde Herman Miller Vanity c 1930's
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in New York, NY
Iconic Art Deco, Art Moderne vanity designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, circa 1936. The vanity features a bank of three drawers, which supports a floating glass top surface,...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Glass, Birdseye Maple, Walnut

Charles Dudouyt design solid wood stool, France 1940s
By Charles Dudouyt
Located in leucate, FR
Post Art Deco stool, attributed to the French decorator Charles Dudouyt. French modern rustic. Curved and openwork seat to facilitate the passage of a hand. So-called “coil” feet, s...
Category

1940s French Rustic Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Wood

Charles Dudouyt design solid wood stool, France 1940s
Charles Dudouyt design solid wood stool, France 1940s
Free Shipping
H 17.72 in W 13.78 in D 13.78 in
Set of Six Resin String Chairs, Modernist Indoor / Outdoor by Troy Sunshade
By Troy Sunshade Company
Located in Buffalo, NY
Set of six resin string chairs, modernist indoor / outdoor by Troy Sunshade, classic modernist design. Extremely comfortable. Hand delivery available to New York City or anywhere enr...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Resin

Eames for Herman Miller Time Life Walnut Stool
By Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller time life stool, circa mid-1960s. This solid walnut example has incredible graining and has been newly detai...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Ray and Charles Eames Herman Miller Molded Shell Bar Stool Chair Red/Orange
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a 2020 production Herman Miller Eames molded side shell chair with bar stool base. This example has not been used in a home or office...
Category

2010s American Modern Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Metal

Gilbert Rohde for Troy Sunshade 3 Position Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Troy Sunshade Company, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Gilbert Rohde for Troy Sunshade Chrome and Leather 3 Position Lounge Chair. Rohde did some of his most amazing designs for Troy Sunshade. Designed in 1934 this early example, later m...
Category

1930s American Machine Age Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Previously Available Items
Rare Sofa Designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller in 1934.
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare black lacquered sofa designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, 1934. Fully restored and upholstered in Holly Hunt / Teddy / Warm Silver. Matching lounge chairs available se...
Category

1930s Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

Rare Pair of Lounge Chairs by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller in 1934.
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare pair of black lacquered lounge chairs designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, 1934. Fully restored and upholstered in Holly Hunt / Teddy / Warm Silver. Matching sofa avai...
Category

1930s Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

Pair of Lounge Chairs by Gilbert Rohde for Troy Sunshade Company
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare pair of lounge chairs designed by Gilbert Rohde for the Troy Sunshade Company, 1935. Reupholstered in green mohair.
Category

1930s Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Mohair

Paldao Coat Rack by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Dallas, TX
Paldao coat rack designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller.
Category

1940s Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Wood

Gilbert Rohde Pair of Lounge Chairs Herman Miller, 1940
By Herman Miller, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Hudson, NY
Two lounges design by Gilbert Rohde circa 1940 for Herman Miller new upholstery I sheep skin.
Category

1940s American Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Sheepskin

Gilbert Rohde Elegant 4 Door Credenza in Paldao, 1940s
By Herman Miller, Gilbert Rohde
Located in New York, NY
4 door credenza in exotic book-matched Paldao wood with 4 curved doors and incised bronze pulls by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, Collection: Paldao Group, American, 1940s. This cr...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Gilbert Rohde East Indian Laurel Table
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pre-war Herman Miler at its finest.
Category

1930s North American Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Wood

Paldao Coat Rack by Gilbert Rohde
By Herman Miller, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Paldao coat rack by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller. Original studded leather base with turned wooden column, circa 1941.
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Brass

Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller 'Paldao' Burl Dresser Cabinet, 1940s, Signed
By Herman Miller, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fully-restored Classic and collectible burl wood dresser cabinet by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller was part of his 1941 'Paldao' line of streamline modernist and modular furnit...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Paldao

1930s Art Deco Clock by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An electric chrome Art Deco clock with an ivory face and a red sweeping second hand.
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Gilbert Rode Paldao Group Lamp Table 1940 Herman Miller #4187
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in Hudson, NY
Rare table design by Gilbert Rohde from great Paldao Group series legs covered with original oil cloth with nail trim. Woods are Paldao edge and Acacia burl top on free form top. Des...
Category

1940s American Organic Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Gilbert Rohde Dining Chairs
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in New York, NY
Rare set of six dining chairs by Gilbert Rohde. Elegant chairs with tapering legs, upholstered seats and backs. Produced by Herman Miller, these chairs have great proportions. This s...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gilbert Rohde Furniture

Gilbert Rohde Dining Chairs
Gilbert Rohde Dining Chairs
H 30 in W 21.5 in D 22.5 in

Gilbert Rohde furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Gilbert Rohde furniture 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 Gilbert Rohde furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Gilbert Rohde were created in the Art Deco style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Norman Bel Geddes, Sally Sirkin Lewis, and Leo Jiranek. Prices for Gilbert Rohde furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $10 and can go as high as $55,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,200.

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