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Rohde boldly informed De Pree that the brand’s furniture had become outdated, which was part of the reason the company was in financial jeopardy.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.
$7,800 / set
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
Brass
Art Deco Art Moderne Streamline Gilbert Rohde Herman Miller Vanity c 1930's
By Herman Miller, Gilbert Rohde
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,...
Glass, Birdseye Maple, Walnut
Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller Amorphous Kidney Paldao Desk..Art Deco/Modernist
By Herman Miller, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Buffalo, NY
Important American desk manufactured by Herman Miller, a kidney shaped desk designed by Gilbert Rohde circa 1941 for his Paldao line. This desk pack everything you need. Exotic pal...
Brass
1940s Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller Paldao Collection Modern Design Game Table
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A modern “Paldao” Game Table designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, 1940s. Burl wood in contrasting colors and tapered wooden legs wrapped in muted green leatherette adorned wi...
Wood
$2,160Sale Price|40% Off
Geometric Art Deco Coffee Table by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman
By Brown Saltman, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Van Nuys, CA
The Art Deco Streamline mahogany coffee/cocktail table by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman. The table showcases a striking round half-moon silhouette on a square geometric base bringi...
Mahogany
Gilbert Rohde, Rare Paldao End Tables, Walnut, USA, 1940s
By Herman Miller, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Stamford, CT
Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller, Rare "Paldao" End or Side Tables, Walnut, USA, 1940s Rare pair of end tables, side tables, or bedside tables from the "Paldao" collection designed by G...
Walnut
Art Deco Era Chrome Nesting Tables Gilbert Rohde design for Troy Sunshade Co.
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Seldom seen set manufactured by Troy Sunshade Co. designed by Gilbert Rohde. Chromed steel tube with laminate wood tops. Smaller table has protruding feet to keep it in place betwe...
Steel
$1,440Sale Price|40% Off
Blond Geometric Art Deco Side Table by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Blond, two-tier Art Deco Pearwood side table designed by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman Furniture company. This fantastic side profile with a great geometric round cantilevered stac...
Pearwood
$3,300Sale Price / set|40% Off
Blond Geometric Art Deco Side & Coffee Table by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman
By Brown Saltman, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Blond, two-tier Art Deco Pearwood side table and Coffee Table, both designed by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman Furniture company. This fantastic set has a profile with a great geome...
Pearwood
Side Table Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman
By Gilbert Rohde, Brown Saltman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gilbert Rohde Side Table for Brown Saltman 1940s made of birch wood. Geometric round cantilevered table and curio display for small decorative items.
Birch
Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller Art Deco Mahogany Nightstands, Newly Refinished
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Art Deco or Mid-Century Modern mahogany nightstands By Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller USA, 1930s Measures: 18"W x 12"D x 25.5"H. Newly refinished. Ver...
Mahogany
Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller Stacking Tables in Burl Acacia
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Bernville, PA
Professionally restored Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller stacking tables in Burl Acacia. Rare set of 3 stacking tables from the Paldao Group for Her...
Paldao
Art Deco Handrubbed Burled Walnut Nightstand by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in New York, NY
This elegant and understated nightstand was realized by Gilbert Rohde, one of the most celebrated and influential designers of the 20th century in the United States- in 1936. Handcra...
Walnut
Gilbert Rohde Mid-Century American Paldao Collection Dressing Table
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-Century American dressing table featuring 4 hinged compartments on the frame's top which is conjoined with a book-matched paldao wood colum...
Brass
$2,800Sale Price|41% Off
Vanity by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A sculptural vanity by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller. Floating top with leatherette covered 'wings'. Angled base cabinets contain three drawers with original padded leatherette cov...
Faux Leather, Mahogany
Gilbert Rohde by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, 1933
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.
Steel
Stunning Gilbert Rohde Art Deco Rosewood Dressing Table, Poof and Mirror
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning and quite rare Gilbert Rohde Art Deco rosewood dressing table, pouf and mirror, purchased recently from an amazing estate, folks originally purchased new from Herman Miller ...
Nickel
Nightstand by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Modern nightstand by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller circa 1930s. Featuring a recessed top, two shelves, and a black drawer. Fully ma...
Walnut
Art Deco Leather Faux Shagreen Night Stands By Gilbert Rohde
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of customized, art deco nightstands or end tables designed by Gilbert Rohde feature rounded edges typical of his streamlined American moderne designs. These satinwood nighstands...
Leather, Satinwood
Pair of Nightstands by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Made of original vinyl and mahogany. Tagged. This is a very rare example from Gilbert Rohde who saved the Herman Miller furniture company with his idea to make furniture for the mode...
Faux Leather, Mahogany
Gilbert Rohde Art Deco Rolling Chrome Bar Cart for Troy Sunshade, circa 1933
By Gilbert Rohde, Troy Sunshade Company
Located in Camden, ME
Rolling chrome bar cart designed by Gilbert Rohde for Troy Sunshade, circa 1933. An example can be found in Steve Kenyon's archive of Gilbert Rohde's ow...
Stainless Steel, Nickel
Two Paldao Line Art Deco End Tables by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, C 1940
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
A pair of Art Deco end tables or nightstands by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, circa 1940. Made from striking cross-banded Paldao wood on ebonised legs, each table has two discr...
Paldao
Art Deco Extendable Paldao Series Walnut & Leather Dining Table by Gilbert Rohde
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in New York, NY
A rare and striking Art Deco "Paldao Series" dining table designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, featuring walnut construction with inlaid curvilinear detailing and a leather-c...
Leather, Walnut
$4,920Sale Price / set|40% Off
Two-Tone Art Deco Side & Coffee Tables Pair by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman
By Brown Saltman, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Two-tone, two-tier Art Deco Pearwood side table pair and coffee table, both designed by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman Furniture company. This fantastic set has a profile with a gre...
Pearwood
$3,900Sale Price / set|40% Off
2-Tone Geometric Art Deco Side & Coffee Table by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman
By Brown Saltman, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Two-tone, two-tier Art Deco Pearwood side table and coffee table, both designed by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman Furniture company. This fantastic set has a profile with a great ge...
Pearwood
$2,970Sale Price / set|40% Off
Two-Tone Geometric Art Deco Side Table by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman, Pair
By Brown Saltman, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Pair of Two-tone, two-tier Art Deco Pearwood side tables designed by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman Furniture company. This fantastic side profile with a great geometric round canti...
Pearwood
$1,560Sale Price / item|40% Off
Two-Tone Geometric Art Deco Side Table by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman
By Brown Saltman, Gilbert Rohde
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Two-tone, two-tier Art Deco Pearwood side table designed by Gilbert Rohde for Brown Saltman Furniture company. This fantastic side profile with a great geometric round cantilevered s...
Wood
Set of 2 Art Deco Three-Tiered Tables, Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller, USA, 1930's
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing an ultra-rare set of three-tiered end tables designed by the influential Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller. Designed and crafted in the late 1930s this set represents the z...
Glass, Walnut
Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller Art Deco Vanity or Desk, 1930s
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Art Deco or Mid-Century Modern vanity or desk By Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller USA, 1930s Mahogany, with black leatherette drawer fronts and black lacquered...
Faux Leather, Mahogany, Lacquer
Gilbert Rohde Art Deco Dining Table for the Herman Miller Paldao Series
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in Dallas, TX
Uncommonly seen 1940s dining / entry table designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller. The table has a beautiful marquetry design inlaid into the top and is accompanied by one leaf....
Faux Leather, Mahogany
Paldao End Table by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Gilbert Rohde
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...
Paldao, Burl
Unusual 1930s "wave glass" Two-Tier Table by Gilbert Rhode for Herman Miller
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual 1930s "wave glass" two-tier table by Gilbert Rhode for Herman Miller. Stunning modernist. Art Deco design, retains original black lacquer finish, minor paint loss and scratch...
Cut Glass, Wood