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.
California Modern Slatted Bench / Coffee Table by John Keal
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
California Modern Slatted Bench / Coffee Table by John Keal
Fabric, Foam, Wood, Walnut
Mid Century Modern Expandable Slatted Coffee Table/Bench by John Keal
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful and versatile expandable mid century minimalist walnut slat bench designed by John Keal for Brown Saltman, circa 1960. This California modern piece features an expandable s...
Walnut
Black and White Checker Coffee Table w/ Storage in Walnut by John Keal 1950s
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Troy, MI
Geometric coffee table designed by John Keal for Brown Saltman USA circa 1950's Walnut base with two extending sides slanted for book display Black and white checkerboard surface in...
Laminate, Walnut
John Keal Slatted Bench for Brown Saltman
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Low profile bench by John Keal for Brown Saltman, circa 1950s, USA. The bench features mahogany wood slats and tapered dowel legs. Perfect as a low profile coffee table, entryway ben...
Mahogany
John Keal Expanding Coffee Table by Brown Saltman
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This expanding coffee table by John Keal is both handsome and versatile. When closed the rectilinear top sits on a pair of cube bases for a sim...
Formica, Walnut
John Keal Walnut Coffee Table with Three Folding Side Tables
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Chicago, IL
Rare coffee table with internal folding snack tables by John Keal for Brown Saltman. Bleached walnut wood square top coffee table with three intern...
Laminate, Walnut
Group of Three Side Tables or Coffee Table by John Keal for Brown Saltman
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Group of three hexagonal side tables or coffee table by John Keal for Brown Saltman. Carved walnut bases with reverse painted art glass. Two brownish tops and one more goldish top (s...
Art Glass, Walnut
Brown and Saltman Set of Three End Side Tables in Dark Oiled Walnut Art Tile Top
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Set of 3 Brown and Saltman end coffee side occasional tables stands in dark oiled walnut with art tile top.
Art Glass, Walnut
Expanding Coffee Table in Walnut & Formica by John Keal for Brown Saltman, 1960s
By John Keal
Located in Deland, FL
An exquisite design by John Keal for Brown Saltman. The expanding table design allows for additional surface use and storage. This design element is great for when you have drinks or...
Walnut
Mid Century Modern Extendable Coffee Table by John Keal for Brown Saltman
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Southampton, NY
Mid Century Modern Extendable Coffee Table by John Keal for Brown Saltman. Sleek Original Mid-Century Modern Walnut Veneer Coffee Table with Two 12” Square Walnut Plinth Bases. The T...
Laminate, Formica
John Keal for Brown Saltman Mid-Century American Wooden Expandable Coffee Table
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-Century American wooden coffee table with a smooth veneer in rectangular expandable form revealing a black formica topped center, sitting on two square block supports. (JOHN KEAL...
Wood
John Keal for Brown Saltman Set of Three Walnut and Burl Cocktail Tables, 1970s
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of three hexagonal shape side tables design by John Keal for Brown Saltman in the 1970’s. Constructed of walnut with a burl wood circle on the top. In beautiful vintage conditi...
Wood
H 15 in W 18 in D 18 in
John Keal for Brown Saltman Constellation End Tables
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of walnut with enamel copper tile tables titled ‘Constellation’ produced by high-end Californian furniture manufacturer, Brown Saltman. These two solid walnut wood tables each fe...
Ceramic, Walnut
H 16.54 in W 52.37 in D 17.72 in
Civil Bench 057 by Pierre Jeanneret for Cassina, Mid-Century Modern
By Pierre Jeanneret, Cassina
Located in Berlin, DE
Civil bench 057 by Pierre Jeanneret for Cassina. Prices vary dependent on the chosen material. Available in teak, oak or black stained oak. Assembly, con...
Rattan, Wood, Oak, Teak
H 14.25 in W 60 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Slatted Bench or Coffee Table, 1960s, Refinished
By George Nelson, Maruni, Herman Miller
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautifully refinished Mid-Century Modern slatted wood bench in richly toned walnut, offering the perfect combination of clean architectural lines and functional versatility. Craft...
Wood
H 19 in W 25 in D 16 in
John Keal Nesting Tables for Brown Saltman manner of Robsjohn Gibbings
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Chicago, IL
John Keal nesting tables for Brown Saltman. Manner of Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb
Wood
H 17.5 in W 28 in D 20 in
Newly Refinished - Mid-Century Modern Side Table by John Keal for Brown Saltman
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
With over 15 years of experience, our workshop has followed a careful process of restoration, showcasing our passion and creativity for vintage designs that can seamlessly be incorpo...
Mahogany
H 14.5 in W 60 in D 18.5 in
MCM Platform Slat Bench or Coffee Table by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in San Diego, CA
A true one-of-a-kind design! MCM platform slat bench or coffee table by George Nelson for Herman Miller, circa 2000s. The bench is in good condition with some knicks and dings due to...
Maple
H 16 in W 48 in D 18 in
Mid Century Slat Bench Coffee Table Made in Yugoslavia C 1950s
By George Nelson
Located in New York, NY
Iconic slat bench coffee table, bench made in Yugoslavia, after George Nelson, circa 1950/1960's. Constructed of solid wood, in very good, original, clean and ready to use condition,...
Wood
H 17 in W 48 in D 17 in
Mel Smilow Slatted Solid Walnut Mid-Century Modern Bench on Tapered Dowel Legs
By Mel Smilow
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mel Smilow Slatted solid walnut Mid-Century Modern bench on tapered dowel legs.
Walnut
H 14 in W 56.5 in D 18.5 in
Six Foot George Nelson Classic Slat Bench 1950's Original Signed!
By George Nelson
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A classic, original 1950's vintage George Nelson for Herman Miller slat bench. Natural finish with warm patina and ebonized legs. This is a hard to find original, retaining its foil...
Maple
H 14.97 in W 51.19 in D 31.5 in
French Slatted Wood Coffee Table / Bench 1960's
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A large French slatted wood coffee table, also suitable as a bench, produced in the 1960s. The design is defined by a wide, horizontal top composed of evenly spaced wooden slats set ...
Metal
H 11.75 in W 56 in D 18 in
Expandable Slat Bench by John Keal
By John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Midcentury Brown Saltman expandable slat bench designed by John Keal. This bench has two ends that pull-out extending to almost 94” long creating a versatile solid oak walnut stained...
Oak
H 27.25 in Dm 54 in
John Keal Sculpted Walnut Dining Table for Brown Saltman c.1960
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT This original John Keal designed dining table for Brown Saltman is a prime example of California Modernism, noted for its sculpted walnut tabletop and functional design suitab...
Walnut
H 16.5 in W 72 in D 24 in
6ft John Keal Brown Saltman Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table w Smoked Glass Top
By John Keal
Located in Las Vegas, NV
John Keal for Brown Saltman Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table with Smoked Glass Top Designed by John Keal for Brown Saltman, this long mid-century modern coffee table is a prime examp...
Glass, Walnut
H 9.25 in W 60 in D 15.75 in
John Keal for Brown Saltman Two-Tone Slat Bench
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Low profile bench by John Keal for Brown Saltman, circa 1950s, USA. The bench features a mix of mahogany and beech wood that offers texture and depth with varying wood tones. Perfect...
Mahogany, Beech
H 14.75 in W 54 in D 20 in
John Keal Coffee Table with Glass Top for Brown Saltman
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rectangular coffee table by John Keal for Brown Saltman, c.1950s, USA. The table features a mix of textured glass and mahogany. The mahogany side of the table slides open to reveal h...
Glass, Mahogany
H 14.5 in W 65.75 in D 29 in
John Keal for Brown Saltman Mahogany Biomorphic Outrigger Coffee Table, ca 1950s
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Cathedral City, CA
John Keal for Brown Saltman Mahogany Biomorphic Outrigger Coffee Table, ca 1950s Large and unique biomorphic coffee table designed by John Keal for B...
Wood, Mahogany
H 17 in W 35 in D 35 in
John Keal For Brown-Saltman Square Walnut And Laminate Checkered Coffee Table
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous, mid-century modern, square walnut coffee table by John Keal for Brown Saltman features a top of checkered black and white laminate inlays with alternating walnut panels. T...
Laminate, Walnut
H 14.5 in W 42 in D 42 in
Expertly Restored - John Keal Mahogany Round Coffee Table for Brown Saltman
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...
Walnut
H 16 in W 60 in D 30 in
John Keal Expanding Coffee Table for Brown Saltman, 1970
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage expandable walnut coffee table. Designed by John Keal for Brown Saltman. Original black poufs included for seating. Signed with the original tags on the poufs. Killer design where coffee table literally expands so that walnut reveals a black formica center when pulled apart for extra surface space. Very good vintage condition for the table. Minor wear consistent with age. Some small areas of wear on the poufs where black vinyl has minor tears. Price is for coffee table and four poufs. Coffee table is 60 inches and expands to 75 inches. We currently have this paired with Milo Baughman ChromeChairs, a Stunning Burl Wood Armoire and Warren Bacon Bar Stools.
Walnut
H 16.5 in W 60 in D 24 in
John Keal for Brown Saltman Walnut and Smoke Glass Coffee Table
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful and elegant one drawer coffee table designed by John Keal for Brown Saltman. Crafted out of walnut the piece has a smoked glass top. The dimensions are 60x24 inches and ...
Walnut
H 16.5 in W 60 in D 24 in
Newly Refinished- Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table by John Keal for Brown Saltman
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Expertly Refinished, New Smoke Glass Top With over 15 years of experience, our workshop has followed a careful process of restoration, showcasing our passion and creativity for vint...
Smoked Glass, Walnut
H 12 in W 55.5 in D 18 in
Mid Century Modern Expandable Slatted Coffee Table/Bench by John Keal
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful and versatile expandable mid century minimalist walnut slat bench designed by John Keal for Brown Saltman, circa 1960. This California modern piece features an expandable sliding top with eight support legs. Perfect to use as a living room coffee table, entryway or bedroom seating bench. Size: 55.5" expands to 98" long, 18"W x 12"H. John Keal: 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...
Walnut
H 14 in W 66 in D 24 in
John Keal for Brown-Saltman Expanding Coffee Table
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Fulton, CA
A Mid-Century Modern expanding coffee table designed by John Keal for Brown Saltman of California. Table adjusts between 66 inches to 95 inches...
Walnut
H 15 in W 66 in D 24 in
John Keal Mid-Century Modern Walnut Expanding Coffee Table by Brown Saltman
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in St. Louis, MO
John Keal for Brown Saltman Mid-Century Modern rectangular walnut expanding cocktail table, with vinyl laminate center on block pedestals expands from 66" to 95" long. Top to be refi...
Walnut