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John Dickinson Tables

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 Mid-Century Modern Style Sculpted Africa Side / End Table, Signed
By John Dickinson, Sutherland
Located in Stamford, CT
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 Tables

Materials

Plaster, Paint

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 Tables

Materials

Plaster

Original Production John Dickinson Galvanized Steel Drape End Table, Signed
By John Dickinson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exceptionally rare and high-sought after collectors item is the John Dickinson model #107 drape end table with trompe-l'œil fabric motif in galvanized steel and brass binding. This piece of functional fine art is suited for a design collector, art investor or an interior designer looking to impress a hard-to-please client who wants nothing but the best of the best. This iconic 1970s American design by John Dickinson was later produced by Sutherland, and even the Sutherland examples have great worth and collectibility. But nothing compares to the originals, like this one. An interior steel frame with adjustable feet gives this table ample sturdiness and is suited for regular every-day use - but can also be used as an impressive stand-alone sculpture. Original John Dickinson pieces are exceptionally hard to find. This example of the galvanized steel trompe l'oeil draped tablecloth table...
Category

1970s American Modern Vintage John Dickinson Tables

Materials

Brass, Steel

John Dickinson Mid-Century Modern Style Drape End Table, Galvanized Steel Signed
By John Dickinson, Sutherland
Located in Stamford, CT
John Dickinson Mid-Century Modern Style Drape End Table, Galvanized Steel Signed Priced well below site as well as market value is this fine work of this San Francisco-based designe...
Category

Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern John Dickinson Tables

Materials

Brass, Steel

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 Tables

Materials

Wood

Pair of Rare John Dickinson Stacked Books End Tables
By John Dickinson, Drexel
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of very rare John Dickinson bibliotheque end tables, a very limited edition design from Drexel's Et Cetera collection. Three large Shakespeare books make up the tabletop, with t...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Dickinson Tables

Materials

Metal

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 Tables

Materials

Brass

John Dickinson Two-Legged Zoomorphic Console Table, Prototype in Plaster
By John Dickinson, Sutherlands
Located in Dallas, TX
This is the Prototype of the Two-Legged Zoomorphic console table from the series eventually produced by David Sutherland. An extraordinary John Dickin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern John Dickinson Tables

Materials

Plaster

Iconic "Rope Table" in Plaster by John Dickinson 1980s
By John Dickinson
Located in New York, NY
Iconic "Rope Table", model # 111, in plaster by John Dickinson, American 1980. This piece is a rare masterwork by one of the best designers of the 20th century. Reference: John Dic...
Category

1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Dickinson Tables

Materials

Plaster

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H 13.78 in W 29.53 in D 29.53 in
Previously Available Items
John Dickinson Rare and Important "African" Plaster End Table
By John Dickinson
Located in Chicago, IL
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John Dickinson Two-Legged Zoomorphic Console Table, Prototype in Plaster
By John Dickinson, Sutherlands
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21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern John Dickinson Tables

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Vintage Signed John Dickinson Africa Table
By John Dickinson
Located in Dallas, TX
A vintage plaster 'Africa' table designed by John Dickinson. Beautiful patina to table with minimal wear. Signed to bottom of one foot "John Dickinson / San Francisco".
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1970s Vintage John Dickinson Tables

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Pair of Leather and Lacquered Side Tables by John Dickinson for Randolf & Hein
By Randolph & Hein, John Dickinson
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This pair of side tables were designed by John Dickinson and were put into production by San Francisco based furniture makers Randolf & Hein. Exhibiting all the hallmarks of Dickinso...
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1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Dickinson Tables

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Rare Plaster Etruscan Table by John Dickinson, United States, c. 1975
By John Dickinson
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Vintage Boho John Dickinson Draped Plaster Side Tables, a Pair
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John Dickinson Pair of Rare End Tables with Wood Motif 1970s, 'Signed'
By John Dickinson
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Authentic John Dickinson Original African Series Table, Model 103
By John Dickinson
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
From the imagination of John Dickinson (1919-1982), we offer this authentic, iconic occasional table fashioned of cast plaster over rebar. The primitive animal paw-legged piece is a ...
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Sculptural John Dickinson Footed Side End Coffee Tables, Plaster White Pair
By John Dickinson, Sutherland
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Pair of iconic John Dickinson footed end side tables. These early 2000s sculptural anthropomorphic tables are made of glass-fiber reinforced concrete in original plaster chalk white matte finish. These authentic statement pieces are artfully cast from John Dickinson original molds in materials designed to withstand the elements. Each piece features beautiful texture and unique etchings. For interiors and exteriors. Both pieces are marked to the underside of rectangular top with the John Dickinson signature stamp. Both sculpture and furniture, these modern and whimsical organic pieces can be placed together to form a unique coffee table grouping...
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21st Century and Contemporary Organic Modern John Dickinson Tables

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Concrete

John Dickinson African Leg Table
By John Dickinson
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John Dickinson African leg coffee table. Round table with 6 animal paw legs. Very heavy. Cast of glass fiber reinforced concrete. “John Dickenson...
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21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern John Dickinson Tables

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Concrete

  • John Dickinson African Leg Table
  • John Dickinson African Leg Table
  • John Dickinson African Leg Table
  • John Dickinson African Leg Table
H 19 in W 36 in D 36 in

John Dickinson tables for sale on 1stDibs.

John Dickinson tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of John Dickinson tables, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original tables 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 tables by Cedric Hartman, Kent Coffey, and Ward Bennett. Prices for John Dickinson tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £4,789 and can go as high as £69,845, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £10,776.

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