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John Dickinson Furniture

American, 1920-1982

Playful, sculptural, unexpected: Illustrious designer and decorator John Dickinson created interiors, lighting fixtures, seating and other furnishings that were wholly peculiar and unlike anything seen before. The Berkeley, California, native mined design movements of bygone eras for elements he would later integrate into what would become his signature anthropomorphic work.

Dickinson was inspired by Art Deco designers such as Jean-Michel Frank, who similarly drew on the past for his extravagant pieces, and found appeal in the claw-foot tables and seating that Georgian-era furniture makers produced.

Although Dickinson attended the Parsons School of Design in New York, he returned to the West Coast following graduation. He worked for decorating firms and furniture stores, and, in 1956, he set up his own practice in San Francisco, where he reinterpreted heritage in his sculptural lamps, stools and chairs with legs that terminate in hooves or resemble bones and tree branches.

Dickinson’s spare but sophisticated furniture is often associated with a “golden age” of San Francisco decorating that includes the work of designers Charles Pfister and Michael Taylor. Wider recognition over the years owes to collectors’ interest and exhibits such as “Fantasy and Function: The Furniture of John Dickinson,” which opened at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2003.

Despite his irreverent approach, Dickinson’s pieces were luxury items. He crafted lamps of unpolished brass and tables in chalky white plaster with a resin coating. His most iconic works are his Etruscan tables with legs resembling hooved animal feet and his Three-Legged African table, which was inspired by an artifact he discovered in an import shop. Dickinson took on only handpicked, young, well-to-do clients who were willing to give him free rein to experiment with these unusual forms and industrial materials. Leading department stores like Lord & Taylor, however, were also among his clientele. In 1977, Dickinson was commissioned to design a furniture collection for Macy’s. It featured white lacquered bookcases that drew on urban architecture and table lamps with bodies that mimicked animal bones.

Owing to his untimely death, and the fact that he worked in plaster, a highly breakable material, few of Dickinson’s original pieces exist to this day. Their scarcity renders every remaining Dickinson design a valuable heirloom guaranteed to make a statement in any room.

Find vintage John Dickinson furniture on 1stDibs.

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Creator: John Dickinson
John Dickinson for Randolph and Hein Attributed Console Table
John Dickinson for Randolph and Hein Attributed Console Table

John Dickinson for Randolph and Hein Attributed Console Table

By Randolph & Hein, John Dickinson

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Fantastic 20th century lacquered side or console table attributed to John Dickinson for the illustrious design firm Randolph and Hein, San Francisco, California. The rare table featu...

Category

20th Century American Modern John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Wood

John Dickinson ‘Twig’ King Size Four Poster Bed
John Dickinson ‘Twig’ King Size Four Poster Bed

John Dickinson ‘Twig’ King Size Four Poster Bed

By John Dickinson

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

John Dickinson ‘Twig’ King Size Four Poster Bed John Dickinson (1919–1982) USA, circa 1970’s Two King Beds available A masterwork by John Dickinson (1919–1982), The 'Twig' four post...

Category

20th Century American Modern John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Plaster, Wood, Paint

John Dickinson White plaster Etruscan  table for Sutherland .two available
John Dickinson White plaster Etruscan  table for Sutherland .two available

John Dickinson White plaster Etruscan table for Sutherland .two available

By John Dickinson

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Fantastic Tuscan table designed by John Dickinson…Cast in plaster/concrete… … Manufactured by Sutherland with signatures to the bottoms… 21 1/2“ x 20 1/4...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Post-Modern John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Plaster, Paint

Rare "Et Cetera" Faux Book Coffee Table, John Dickinson, Drexel, USA, c. 1960s
Rare "Et Cetera" Faux Book Coffee Table, John Dickinson, Drexel, USA, c. 1960s

Rare "Et Cetera" Faux Book Coffee Table, John Dickinson, Drexel, USA, c. 1960s

By John Dickinson

Located in Deland, FL

Introducing a very rare coffee / end table designed by John Dickinson for Drexel and produced between 1961-1962 as part of a very limited edition design from Drexel's 'Et Cetera' col...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Oak

John Dickinson Mid-Century Modern Style Sculpted Africa Side / End Table, Signed
John Dickinson Mid-Century Modern Style Sculpted Africa Side / End Table, Signed

John Dickinson Mid-Century Modern Style Sculpted Africa Side / End Table, Signed

By John Dickinson, Sutherland

Located in Manhasset, NY

John Dickinson Mid-Century Modern Style Sculpted Africa Side / End Table, Signed A painted plaster occasional table signed John Dickinson for Sutherland. The conical top above three stylized large shaped legs inspired by African design. One leg with minor repair. Strong and sturdy. Licensed reproduction by Sutherland. John Dickinson (1920-1982) Model African side table Painted plaster Model originally created in the 1970s Bibliography: J. Lovine & T. Merrill, "Modern Americana...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Plaster, Paint

John Dickinson Lacquered Y Table, ca 1970s
John Dickinson Lacquered Y Table, ca 1970s

John Dickinson Lacquered Y Table, ca 1970s

By John Dickinson

Located in Cathedral City, CA

John Dickinson Lacquered Y Table, ca 1970s This is a rare Y-table (model 118) in lacquered resin, designed by John Dickinson. This is a special table and would fit in a variety of d...

Category

1970s American Organic Modern Vintage John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Resin, Lacquer

John Dickinson Twig Table, model 109
John Dickinson Twig Table, model 109

John Dickinson Twig Table, model 109

By John Dickinson

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A John Dickinson Twig Table, Model 109 Plaster Construction

Category

1970s American Vintage John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Plaster

Signed John Dickinson 1970s White Plaster Low Side Table with Hoofed Feet
Signed John Dickinson 1970s White Plaster Low Side Table with Hoofed Feet

Signed John Dickinson 1970s White Plaster Low Side Table with Hoofed Feet

By John Dickinson

Located in Atlanta, GA

A signed John Dickinson plaster low side table from circa 1970 with white finish, X-Form base and hoof feet. This iconic John Dickinson plaster low side table, dating back to around ...

Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Plaster

John Dickinson Prototype African Table from the Firehouse, San Francisco
John Dickinson Prototype African Table from the Firehouse, San Francisco

John Dickinson Prototype African Table from the Firehouse, San Francisco

By John Dickinson

Located in Chicago, IL

John Dickinson Prototype African table from the Firehouse, SanFrancisco; Painted wood. This unique table anchored the seating area in the Firehouse where Dickinson would entertain h...

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Wood

1970s John Dickinson Twig Coffee Table
1970s John Dickinson Twig Coffee Table

1970s John Dickinson Twig Coffee Table

By John Dickinson

Located in New York, NY

Rare, "Twig" coffee table, painted plaster over rebar by John Dickinson.

Category

1970s Modern Vintage John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Steel

John Dickinson “Draped Table” for Sutherland, 1970s
John Dickinson “Draped Table” for Sutherland, 1970s

John Dickinson “Draped Table” for Sutherland, 1970s

By Sutherland, John Dickinson

Located in Renens, CH

This sculptural table by John Dickinson is crafted from galvanized steel, meticulously formed to resemble flowing draped fabric. Brass trim...

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Brass, Steel

John Dickinson Hand Carved Maple Burl Wood Sculptural Bowl, 1997
John Dickinson Hand Carved Maple Burl Wood Sculptural Bowl, 1997

John Dickinson Hand Carved Maple Burl Wood Sculptural Bowl, 1997

By John Dickinson

Located in Atlanta, GA

A fantastic live edge organic sculpture constructed from a solid piece of maple burl wood. Modern style with a heavy weight, spikes to side and recessed bowl to center. Signed to bottom 1997. Biography: John Dickinson was born and raised in Delaware. During and immediately after high school, John worked with contractors as a framer building houses in the Wilmington area. From 1978 to 1982, John served the country in the US Coast Guard. In 1985, after earning a BA in geography with a minor in photography at the University of Delaware...

Category

20th Century American John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Maple

Signed John Dickinson Table
Signed John Dickinson Table

Signed John Dickinson Table

By John Dickinson

Located in Nashville, TN

Galvanized metal table in the stye of a draped table with brass trim.

Category

1960s American Vintage John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Brass

John Dickinson Unique Director's Chair from the Firehouse, San Francisco 1975c.
John Dickinson Unique Director's Chair from the Firehouse, San Francisco 1975c.

John Dickinson Unique Director's Chair from the Firehouse, San Francisco 1975c.

By John Dickinson

Located in Chicago, IL

John Dickinson Unique Director's Chair from the Firehouse, San Francisco 1975c. This distinctive Director's Chair by John Dickinson showcases the artist's unique approach to design....

Category

1970s Post-Modern Vintage John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Steel

John Dickinson Monumental Cabinet for the Historic Firehouse, San Francisco 1970
John Dickinson Monumental Cabinet for the Historic Firehouse, San Francisco 1970

John Dickinson Monumental Cabinet for the Historic Firehouse, San Francisco 1970

By John Dickinson

Located in Chicago, IL

John Dickinson Monumental cabinet for the Historic Firehouse, San Francisco 1970: The cabinet is made of oak and glass and comprised of two units; the top unit features two glass doo...

Category

1970s American Vintage John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Glass, Oak

John Dickinson Sculpture
John Dickinson Sculpture

John Dickinson Sculpture

By John Dickinson

Located in Chicago, IL

Driftwood sculpture selected by John Dickinson for the Historic Firehouse, San Francisco. Placed in John's bedroom on the same cases shown, (also available) Custom brass display mount...

Category

1970s American American Craftsman Vintage John Dickinson Furniture

Materials

Brass

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Previously Available Items
John Dickinson Crate Tables from the Firehouse, San Francisco, 1970
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John Dickinson Crate Tables from the Firehouse, San Francisco, 1970

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Located in Dallas, TX

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Located in West Palm Beach, FL

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Vintage Plaster John Dickinson Draped Knot Floor Lamp

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Located in West Palm Beach, FL

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John Dickinson furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

John Dickinson 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 John Dickinson furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by John Dickinson were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Harrison Van Horn, Robert Josten, and Tropi-cal. Prices for John Dickinson furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,440 and can go as high as $87,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $14,700.

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