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.
1966 Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen Marble & Stainless Steel Side Table 19x19"
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Marble and Stainless Steel Side Table, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still is an important ...
Marble, Steel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for SOM Marble & Stainless Steel Side Table
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Marble and Stainless Steel Side Table, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still is an important ...
Marble, Steel
1960s Lehigh-Leopold Walnut Side/End Table w/ Legs Attributed to Gordon Bunshaft
By Gordon Bunshaft, Lehigh Leopold, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a square side table, featuring a chromed-steel frame with a walnut top, produced in the 1960s by the Lehigh-Leopold Corporation in the USA. It is believed to have been custom...
Steel, Chrome
1980s Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen Side/End Table in Solid Stainless and Marble
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Round Side Table, designed by Davis Allen under the leadership of Gordon Bunshaft within SOM for Treitel Gratz. This particular example dates back to the 1980s. This sophis...
Marble, Steel
C. 1985 Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen of SOM for Treitel Gratz Side/End Table
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a round side table, designed by Davis Allen under the leadership of Gordon Bunshaft within SOM for Treitel Gratz. This particular example dates back to circa 1985. This sophi...
Marble, Steel
1974 Davis Allen & Gordon Bunshaft of SOM Coffee Table Granite & Steel 4x Avail
By Gordon Bunshaft, Gerald R. Griffith, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a substantial Circular Coffee / End Table in Polished Steel and Black Granite, custom-designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft for use in the Sears Tower in 1973. At the t...
Granite, Steel
1969 Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen of SOM Side / End Table with Teak Top
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an NTA-200 Side / End Table, originally designed by Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). This particular example was produced in 1969. The...
Steel
1960s Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for SOM Teak Coffee Table 32x44x18
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a coffee table, originally designed by Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). This particular example was produced in the 1960s. Skidmore, ...
Steel
1960s Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen Marble & Wood Table or Large Desk 42x72"
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Large Marble and Steel Worktable or Executive Desk, custom-designed in the 1960s by Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for SOM. It features a thick rectangular black and white...
Marble, Steel, Enamel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for SOM Stainless Steel Side Table
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Marble and Stainless Steel Side Table, Model TA-72, designed and produced in 1966 by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill L...
Marble, Steel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen Marble & Stainless Side Table (3x)
By Davis Allen, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Marble and Stainless Steel Side Table, Model TA-47, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still is ...
Marble, Steel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen Marble & Stainless Side Table, TA-73 (2x)
By Davis Allen, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Marble and Stainless Steel Side Table, Model TA-73, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still is ...
Marble, Steel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen Marble & Stainless Coffee Table, TA-51
By Davis Allen, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Marble and Stainless Steel Coffee Table, Model TA-51, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still i...
Marble, Steel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen Green Marble & Stainless Steel Side Table
By Davis Allen, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Marble and Stainless Steel Side Table, Model TA-47, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still is an i...
Marble, Steel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for SOM Marble & Stainless Steel Side Table
By Davis Allen, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Marble and Stainless Steel Side Table, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still is an important ...
Marble, Steel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen for Marble & TA-39 Stainless Steel Side Table
By Davis Allen, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Marble and Stainless Steel Side Table, Model TA-39, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still is ...
Marble, Steel
1960s Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen of SOM Stainless Steel Dining Table
By Davis Allen, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a dining table, originally designed by Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). This particular example was produced in the 1960s and represen...
Marble, Steel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen for SOM Marble & Stainless Steel Side Table
By Davis Allen, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Marble and Stainless Steel Side Table, Model TA-47, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still is an i...
Marble, Steel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen Stainless Steel Side Table with Glass Top
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Glass and Stainless Steel Side Table, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still is an important archi...
Steel
1974 Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for SOM Steel and Glass Side Table
By Davis Allen, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a steel and glass side table, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still is an important architectur...
Steel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for SOM Stainless Steel Side Table
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Glass and Stainless Steel Side Table, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still is an important a...
Steel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen Brown Marble & Stainless Steel Side Table
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Marble and Stainless Steel Side Table, Model TA-46, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still is ...
Marble, Steel
1966 Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen Marble & Stainless Side / Coffee Table
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Marble and Stainless Steel Coffee Table, Model TA-51, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. was and still i...
Marble, Steel
1960s Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft Round Side Table Stainless w/ Marble Top
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Round Side Table, designed by Davis Allen under the leadership of Gordon Bunshaft within SOM. Its possible that Nicos Zographos played a role in the execution of this, thou...
Marble, Steel
1962 Davis Allen & Gordon Bunshaft 30 inch Coffee Table in Steel w/ Granite Top
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Square Coffee Table, Model TA-2, designed by Davis Allen under the leadership of Gordon Bunshaft within SOM. It's possible that Nicos Zographos played a role in the executi...
Granite, Steel
1965 Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for SOM TA-39 Marble and Steel Side Table
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a sophisticated marble and stainless steel side table, Model TA-39, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft of SOM. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is a hugely important archi...
Marble, Steel
1965 Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for SOM TA-39 Marble and Steel Side Table
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a sophisticated marble and stainless steel side table, Model TA-39, designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft of SOM. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is a hugely important archi...
Marble, Steel
1974 Davis Allen & Gordon Bunshaft of SOM Coffee Table Granite & Steel 4x Avail
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen, Gerald R. Griffith
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a substantial Square Coffee Table in Polished Steel and Black Granite, custom-designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft for SOM for use in the Sears Tower in 1973. SOM refe...
Granite, Steel
1965 Marble Coffee Table by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft for SOM Architects
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a custom-designed minimalist coffee table, featuring an impressive slab of fine Spanish Emperador Marble which is perched atop a welded and hand polished stainless-steel fram...
Marble, Stainless Steel, Steel
1970s Gordon Bunshaft & Davis Allen of SOM Bronze Coffee Table by Treitel Gratz
By Gordon Bunshaft, Davis Allen, Treitel Gratz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This table came from the private collection of Gratz Industries, known formerly as Treitel Gratz. The base is constructed from solid and tubular bronze, which was designed to accommo...
Marble, Bronze