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John Van Koert

Canadian, American, 1912-1998

John Van Koert was integral to the rise in popularity of Scandinavian modern furniture during the mid-20th century all over the United States. The Canadian-born designer’s spare walnut coffee tables and elegant armchairs, for example — particularly those that he created for North Carolina’s Drexel Furniture — reflected the influence of the era’s alluring Danish design and were prominently featured in the modern interiors of postwar American homes.

Originally from Manitoba, Van Koert moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to attend the University of Wisconsin. There he studied sculpture and trained in metalwork. Van Koert later taught design in the school’s art department. After World War II, Van Koert settled in New York City. He created jewelry for Harry Winston before shifting his focus to flatware and furniture design. 

Van Koert found quick success with his flatware designs for Towle Silversmiths. His Contour set was part of the “Knife, Fork and Spoon” exhibition organized by the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis in the early 1950s. In 1954, he served as design director for the “Design in Scandinavia” exhibition, which toured Canada as well as the United States and featured hundreds of designs created in Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden by the likes of Kaj Franck, Ilmari Tapiovaara, Finn Juhl and others.

Van Koert kept busy over the years. Drexel embraced the clean lines of mid-century modernism during the postwar era with the Declaration collection designed by Stewart MacDougall and Kipp Stewart that featured elegant credenzas and more made in walnut, and the Profile, Casa Del Sol and Projection collections designed with sculptural shapes by Van Koert.

In the early 1960s, Van Koert created a contemporary line for Richardson-Nemschoff, a furniture manufacturer based in the designer’s former stomping grounds of Wisconsin. During the early 1970s, he partnered with Sarreid Ltd., a brand that got its start sourcing materials from Spain and Italy and bringing the exceptional talents of European wood carvers, sculptors and painters to the forefront of American home decor.

On 1stDibs, find vintage John Van Koert seating, tables and storage pieces.

John Van Koert for Drexel Vintage Sideboard
By Drexel, John Van Koert
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed by John van Koert for Drexel Furniture, this sideboard showcases a fine Danish Modernist design that is sure to neatly assimilate into mid-century modern living arrangements...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern John Van Koert

Materials

Wood

John Van Koert Designed 'Counterpoint' for Drexel
By John Van Koert, Drexel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Great mid-century design by John Van Koert with luxurious mahogany, blended with wild-grained cherry wood. Inset hardware, rounded lines and tapered legs. Six drawers and center cabi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern John Van Koert

Materials

Wood, Cherry

John Van Koert for Drexel "Casa Del Sol" Bench Coffee Table
By John Van Koert
Located in New York, NY
Drexel produced, John Van Koert designed Casa Del Sol bench coffee table. The top has been painted "antiqued silver" - you can leave it like this if it wo...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Van Koert

Materials

Metal

Drexel “Casa Del Sol” Table Bench by John Van Koert Vintage, 1950s
By John Van Koert, Drexel
Located in San Diego, CA
Designed by John Van Koert for his Casa del Sol Collection and produced by Drexel Furniture in the 1950s. This "Table/Bench" as it is referred to on the makers mark, could be used eq...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Van Koert

Materials

Metal

Eye Shaped Cymbal Coffee Cocktail Table by John Van Koert
By John Van Koert
Located in New York, NY
Eye shaped formica top with medallion center motif, on decorative aluminum base. The top has damage at both pointed ends, and there is wear to the finish on the metal base. Not in p...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Van Koert

Materials

Aluminum

Casa Del Sol Coffee Table by John Van Koert for Drexel Ebonized Mid Century
By John Van Koert
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Coffee table designed by John Van Koert for the "Casa Del Sol" collection by Drexel. Beautifully ebonized this table has cast copper toned metal t...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern John Van Koert

Materials

Aluminum

John Van Koert for Drexel “Profile” Freestanding Pyramidal Bookcase in Espresso
By Edward Wormley, John Van Koert
Located in St. Louis, MO
John Van Koert for Drexel “Profile” collection, freestanding pyramid or floating bookcase, refinished in dark espresso on silver elm. Unmarked, three...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Van Koert

Materials

Elm

John Van Koert "Casa Del Sol" Parquetry Walnut End Table with Opening Top
By John Van Koert
Located in Chicago, IL
John Van Koert for Drexel side table or petite coffee table with walnut block parquetry top that flips up to reveal a storage area for remotes, magazines etc. Limed and bleached maho...
Category

1950s American Vintage John Van Koert

Materials

Mahogany, Walnut

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John Van Koert furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

John Van Koert 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 Van Koert furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by John Van Koert 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 Raymond Loewy, Kittinger, and Heritage-Henredon. Prices for John Van Koert furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $675 and can go as high as $19,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,500.

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