In its striking curtain wall of glass and modernist steel columns, Gordon Bunshaft’s International-style design for the Lever House — cocreated with Natalie de Blois — garnered widespread acclaim. The Pritzker Prize-winner was a legendary American architect, and his influence can be found today in city skylines all over the world.
Bunshaft studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before undertaking fellowships in Europe and North Africa. In 1937, he joined New York City architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill where he worked until his retirement in 1979.
Bunshaft shared the same interest in modernist furniture as Florence Knoll, an architect and furniture designer who had a subtle but profound influence on the course of mid-century American modernism and who helped make Knoll Inc. a leading firm in its field. Bunshaft recommended that Knoll be placed in charge of interiors when, while at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, he designed the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company’s headquarters in the mid-1950s.
Bunshaft’s projects drew heavily on the pioneering architectural work of Le Corbusier as well as Mies van der Rohe, an iconic furniture designer and fellow proponent of modernist architecture.
Celebrated architectural marvels created by Bunshaft include the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library for Yale University and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Research Building for the University of Texas. Completed in 1974, Bunshaft designed the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and finished the National Commercial Bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1983. The National Commercial Bank was his last project.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Gordon Bunshaft case pieces and other furniture.
1960s Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen of SOM Stainless Steel and Leather Bench
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a rare stainless steel and leather bench designed in the 1960s by Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). The design features a stainless ste...
Steel
1960s Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for SOM Ottoman / Bench 30x42x17
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an ottoman, originally designed by Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). This particular example was produced in the 1960s. Skidmore, Owin...
Steel
1960s Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen of SOM Three Seat Sofa in White Fabric
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a three-seat sofa designed by Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is a hugely important architectural firm...
Steel
1960s Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for Thonet Tuxedo Two Seat Loveseat Sofa
By Davis Allen, Thonet, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an armless two-seater tuxedo settee / sofa, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft of SOM Architects. This example appears to be a Thonet production, one of the manufact...
Steel
1960s Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft of SOM Club Lounge Chair in Stainless
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Tuxedo Club Chair, designed by Davis Allen under the leadership of Gordon Bunshaft within SOM. The detailing is typical of Davis Allen's w...
Steel
1960s Arne Vodder 3-Seat Sofa for France & Søn, Denmark
By Arne Vodder, France & Søn
Located in Praha, CZ
- Newly re-upholstered original springs pillows - The wooden parts have been refurbished.
Fabric, Wood
20th Century , Brown Atlantis Three seats Sofa, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
Atlantis sofa from the 1960s, produced in Czech Republic - at the moment they are unique. Due to their dimensions, they perfectly blend in even in small...
Fabric
Brutalist Lounge Chair in Solid Oak and Velvet 1960s
Located in Meer, VAN
Brutalist Lounge Chair in Solid Oak and Velvet 1960s An astonishing lounge chair from the late 1960s in solid oak with magnificent floral velvet upholstery. Please note: we do have ...
Velvet, Oak
Vintage 1960s Danish Rosewood & Mohair Velvet Ottomans
Located in London, England
Spottrup Mobler - Upholstered Stools, c1960 A pair of classic stools produced by Spottrup Mobler in The frames are made from exquisite rosewood that has been refinished by our team ...
Rosewood
$3,624 / set
H 29.53 in W 65.36 in D 32.29 in
Crimson Alcantara Two-Seater Sofas by Piero Ranzani for Elam, 1960s, Set of 2
By Elam, Figli di Amadeo Cassina, Piero Ranzani
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This pair of 2-seat sofa was designed and produced in Italy at the end of the 1960s. They have been originally upholstered with Alcantara synthetic fabric in a precious crimson color...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
1960s Danish Three-Seat Sofa in Cognac Leather and Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Three-seat sofa, leather, wood, Denmark, ca. 1960. This modest and comfortable three-seat sofa exhibits characteristics reminiscent of Borge Mogensen's design. The vibrant aestheti...
Leather, Wood
1960s Organic Bench
Located in New York, NY
1960s organic bench. Solid walnut bench with dovetails. Can also be used as a coffee table.
Walnut
$2,050Sale Price / set|26% Off
H 32 in W 36 in D 35 in
'Mr Chair' and Ottoman by George Mulhauser for Plycraft, 1960s
By Plycraft, George Mulhauser
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An iconic Mid-Century Modern 'Mr. Chair' and ottoman, designed by George Mulhauser for Plycraft in the 1960s. A timeless example of American Modernist design, this sculptural lounge ...
Plywood, Faux Leather
Karl Springer Stainless Steel and Leather Bench, 1980
By Karl Springer
Located in Chicago, IL
Karl Springer Stainless Steel and Leather Bench, 1980’s. Newly upholstered in green leather. Measures 20” tall 48” long 20” deep
Stainless Steel
Pair Of 1960s Ottomans On Casters
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Pair of 1960s ottomans on casters.
Wood
$1,748
H 33.86 in W 29.14 in D 30.71 in
Midcentury brutalist embassy lounge or easy low club chair, 1960s
Located in Zaandam, NL
Lovely proportioned club or lounge chair in wood with reupholstered leather. According to the seller it originated form the Czech Republic and was supposedly designed for an embassy ...
Leather, Wood
Nicos Zographos Stainless Steel Bench
By Nicos Zographos
Located in San Francisco, CA
Nicos Zographos design stainless steel and leather upholstered bench. Classic modern design lines made with a high quality solid stainless steel frame in very good restored conditio...
Stainless Steel