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John Keal Commodes and Chests of Drawers

At a time when many furniture makers were turning to cheaper materials for mass production, mid-century modern designer John Keal didn't shy away from utilizing quality woods in his work, like mahogany and walnut to create his coffee tables, cabinets and benches.

While little is known about Keal, he was part of a powerhouse group that collaborated with Los Angeles furniture manufacturer Brown-Saltman in the 1940s and ‘50s. Other designers who had partnered with the firm during the mid-20th century included Greta Magnusson Grossman, Paul Frankl, Paul Laszlo, and Gilbert Rohde, a New York City-born designer who would help legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer Herman Miller avert financial disaster during the Great Depression.

Brown-Saltman was established in 1923 and initially specialized in reproductions of furniture in period styles. When cofounder David Saltman met Frankl, the firm had discontinued its Early California collection and was producing modern furniture. 

The Austrian-born Frankl was already a big name in decorating in California in the late 1930s — his clients were Hollywood movie stars who were drawn to pieces such as his Art Deco-style Skyscraper series and other biomorphically shaped designs that showed the influence of Chinese and Japanese forms (Brown-Saltman’s offerings were frequently demonstrative of Asian influences). Frankl had become interested in producing inexpensive furniture for middle-class consumers, and his 1940s-era collaboration with Brown-Saltman was a success — print advertisements touted his name as well as the fact that these furnishings, which drew on the clean lines of chrome-framed Bauhaus pieces but instead integrated organic materials, were intended for modern homes. 

Keal’s work also fit snugly into what we now call California modernism, which derived from the Bauhaus and International Style movements, and revolutionized the way we build homes today, not only in the Golden State but across the globe. Keal created sleek end tables in walnut and topped with enameled copper and upholstered low-profile dining chairs framed in bleached mahogany for Brown-Saltman as well as other West Coast mid-century brands such as Glenn of California and Modeline. 

Find vintage John Keal seating, storage pieces and tables on 1stDibs.

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Creator: John Keal
John Keal for Brown Saltman Highboy Dresser
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
John Keal for Brown Saltman Mid-Century Modern mahogany highboy dresser with four drawers and maker's mark.   
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern John Keal Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

John Keal for Brown Saltman Highboy Dresser
John Keal for Brown Saltman Highboy Dresser

John Keal for Brown Saltman Highboy Dresser

Rare John Keal Buffet or Credenza for Brown Saltman
By John Keal
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This Mid-Century Modern buffet or credenza by John Keal for Brown Saltman features three storage drawers and a cabinet behind a pair of double doors. The unit rests on a sculptured l...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Keal Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Rare John Keal Buffet or Credenza for Brown Saltman
Rare John Keal Buffet or Credenza for Brown Saltman

Rare John Keal Buffet or Credenza for Brown Saltman

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John Keal commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs.

John Keal commodes and chests of drawers 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 Keal commodes and chests of drawers, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original commodes and chests of drawers by John Keal were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider commodes and chests of drawers by Mengel Furniture Co., Leslie Diamond, and Raymond Loewy. Prices for John Keal commodes and chests of drawers can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,737 and can go as high as $2,795, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,766.

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