Karl Springer Furniture
American, German, 1931-1991
The Berlin-born, New York–based designer Karl Springer brought a chic, high-fashion sensibility to his coffee tables, mirrors, Lucite lamps and other furnishings. During his heyday in the 1970s, Springer’s work was a favorite of the glamour set, who enjoyed the novelty of pieces finished in rich and striking materials that ranged from exotic hides and skins to lacquer and chromed metal.
In a sense, Springer was a pre-postmodernist. Much as the dull, safe, corporate sameness of late 20th-century modernism prompted Ettore Sottsass, Michael Graves and others to explore new and provocative structures and materials in design and architecture, so, too, was Springer driven to enliven his creations with fresh and alluring energy and sleekness.
Springer came to New York in the late 1950s and found work arranging window displays at the department store Lord & Taylor. He had studied bookbinding in Germany, and, using his meticulous skills, he began crafting desk accessories wrapped in leather as a sideline. These pieces were sold in luxury stores like Bergdorf Goodman and drew a sophisticated clientele that included the Duchess of Windsor.
By 1965, Springer had established his own Manhattan atelier. It was Pierre Scapula, decorator to Jackie and Aristotle Onassis, who spotted Springer's disco-era Onassis chairs — which didn't yet have a name — first commissioned for a private residence in Acapulco, on the floor of the designer’s East 61st Street showroom. Jackie ordered barstools for the couple’s yacht, the Christina O, and dining chairs for their house on the Greek mainland.
At the time of his death, Springer had showrooms as far afield as Los Angeles, Tokyo and Munich.
The chairs, tables, credenzas and other furniture forms Springer created are generally simple, but substantial, and often have robust, rounded lines. The appeal of his work lies in Springer's insistence on exacting construction and, above all, his eye for unusual materials and finishes.
Springer employed Lucite, brass, and gunmetal along with chromed and polished steel, and revived exquisite finishes rarely seen since the days of Art Deco masters such as Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann and Jean-Michel Frank: shagreen (a type of sharkskin), python, goatskin, bone, horn, and lacquered parchment, as well as fabrics that include batik prints. Made of such materials, Springer’s work is by its very nature flamboyant and eye-catching: a suite of pieces will astonish, and an artfully placed side table in exotic hide will add a surprising spark.
Find a collection of vintage Karl Springer furniture today on 1stDibs.
Color: Black
Creator: Karl Springer
Black Faux Shagreen Square Coffee / Cocktail Table (manner of Karl Springer)
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
American Mid-Century black faux shagreen wrapped coffee table with a square profile and rounded corners on an inset platform base. (manner of Karl Springer)
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Wood, Shagreen
Karl Springer American Mid-Century Blue Velvet and Steel Souffle Ottoman
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
American mid-century 'Souffle' ottoman with blue velvet upholstery with a square gilt steel base. (Karl Springer)
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Upholstery
Karl Springer Pair of "JMF Barstools" in Black Lizard Leather 1986 'Signed'
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Pair of “JMF Barstools” in black embossed lizard leather with brass footrests by Karl Springer, American 1986 (signed and dated on bottom “Karl Springer 1986”). The embossed leather is very luxurious and these are fine examples of Springer’s superb craftsmanship.
Reference:
Karl Springer Red Binder Catalog published in the 1980’s, section titled “seating”, on page 21...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Brass
Karl Springer "Bristol Side Table" in Black Cobra 1980s 'Signed'
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Artisan crafted "Bristol Side Table" in black cobra with drawer by Karl Springer, American 1980's (signed with metal label in drawer "Karl Springer"). This table is meticulously craf...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Animal Skin, Wood, Glass
Female Torso in Cast Stone Karl Springer Ltd
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This cast stone female torso was purchased in 1983 from the Karl Springer showroom in 1983. We have the original receipt for the purchase which where the torso was displayed in Honol...
Category
1980s American Classical Roman Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Cast Stone
Karl Springer Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exuberant example of Karl Springers' lighting
Category
1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Brass
Karl Springer Stunning Mirror in Python and Black Lizard, 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully crafted mirror with frame in black lizard with interior and exterior edges wrapped in python with beveled mirror by Karl Springer, American 1980's. This mirror exemplifie...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Lizard, Python, Wood
Karl Springer Pair of End Tables in Black Lacquer with Bone Inlays, 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Pair of exceptional hexagonal side tables in black lacquer with bone inlays on the top, sides and bottom by Karl Springer, American 1970's. These end tables showcase the meticulous c...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Wood, Bone, Lacquer
Karl Springer Tray Top End Tables
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Stunning 1980's tray top two tier end tables with a single drawer by Karl Springer, well made with beautiful craftsmanship, in vintage original condition with minor wear and patina d...
Category
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Parchment Paper
Karl Springer Elegant Black Scavo Glass Torchere, 1980s 'Signed'
By Karl Springer, Seguso
Located in New York, NY
Glass Torchere in hand blown black glass with scavo finish by Seguso (Murano Italy) for Karl Springer, American, 1980's (retains original Seguso paper label). These art pieces were h...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Karl Springer Table Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Table lamp designed by Karl Springer.
These beautiful oval table lamps are typical for the Karl Springer Design
and has dark black color with blue stripes inlay.
Category
20th Century North American Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Lacquer
Karl Springer Custom Dining Table
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Karl Springer round custom dining table.
Polished Stainless Steel with a Oxblood Red Glasurite Top.
Glasurite is a Stone compound developed by Ka...
Category
1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Stainless Steel
Roberto Estevez Monumental Stylized Torso in Glazierite 1980s
By Karl Springer, Roberto Estevez 1
Located in New York, NY
Large stylized torso in glazierite by Roberto Estevez for Karl Springer, American 1980's. Glazierite was a resin composite created by Karl Springer’s artisans. This model was also ca...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Resin
Karl Springer "Marmol Style Mirror" in Black Leather and Bronze 1980s 'Signed'
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Large "Marmol Style Mirror" with frame covered in black leather with bronze accents by Karl Springer, American 1980's (Karl Springer label on back). This mirror is beautifully made a...
Category
1980s North American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Karl Springer "J.M.F. Floor Lamp" in Gunmetal Glazierite, 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
"J.M.F. Floor Lamp" in gunmetal glazierite with polished brass base and hardware and parchment shade by Karl Springer, American, 1970s. Glazierite was a type of resin that the crafts...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Brass
Glamorous Vintage Karl Springer Grasscloth Dining Table
By Karl Springer
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Fabulous vintage Karl Springer grasscloth dining table restored and refinished in a beautiful teal-black lacquer. Square top with bullnose edge a...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Metal
Karl Springer Large "Molding Mirror" Covered in Black Cobra, 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Large "Molding Mirror" in black cobra by Karl Springer, American, 1970's. Mirror is beveled. This piece is meticulously crafted in the finest materials.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Wood, Glass, Animal Skin
Gun Metal and Polished Brass Fire Place Mantel by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Montreal, QC
Gun metal and polished brass fire place mantel by Karl Springer.
Interior dimensions: H:39 L:46.5 in.
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Metal
Karl Springer Rare Pair of Large Waterfall Side Tables in Black Lizard Leather
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Karl Springer rare pair of large waterfall side or end tables covered in black lizard embossed leather with brass drawers and original thick glass shelves below. These exquisite pair of side tables are the larger scaled model...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Brass
Karl Springer Molding Mirror Covered in Black Cobra 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
"Molding Mirror" in black cobra by Karl Springer, American 1970's. This mirror is meticulously crafted.
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Glass, Python, Wood
Modern Sculptural Bench Clad in Scored Brown Leather by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Toledo, OH
Mid-Century Modern sculptural bench clad in brown scored leather by Karl Springer. Very good condition. Dimensions: 18" depth x 44" W x 22" H, seat height 16.5".
Category
20th Century American Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Leather
Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Stacked Disc Lucite Table Lamp, 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Impressive midcentury Lucite stacked disk table lamp by Karl Springer, 1970s
Shade not included.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Lucite
Karl Springer Telephone Table Snakeskin and Brass, 1990
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Postmodern 'telephone' side or end table by designer Karl Springer, 1990. Table is covered in a beautiful authentic snakeskin in a medium brown and supported by small bra...
Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Brass
Complimentary Pair Karl Springer Lucite and Gun Metal Torchiere Floor Lamps
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gunmetal mirror finish shade and base with clear Lucite stem set in bronze cuffs, circa 1970s, American. These are from two different production runs, ...
Category
1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Lucite
Karl Springer Clear and Marbleized Brown Bubble Lamps
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
A wonderful rare pair of Karl Springer clear and cased brown Lucite bubble lamps. A central stem in chrome hold two-light sockets.
Category
1970s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Acrylic
Karl Springer Python Snakeskin Coffee Table
By Karl Springer
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Coffee table by Karl Springer wrapped in python snake skin. Hand-signed to underside [Karl Springer 1987].
Category
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Leather
Karl Springer Lucite Floor Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Lucite column floor lamp with a square brass base and double pull chain sockets, designed by Karl Springer. Rewired for use in the USA. Shade not included.
Category
20th Century American Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Brass
Gunmetal and Chrome Floor Lamp by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A glamorous 1970s gunmetal and chrome floor lamp by American renowned designer Karl Springer. The lamp has been newly rewired and has a new chocolate brown faux lizard shade.
Overal...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Pair of Brass and Gunmetal Table Lamps by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A rare pair of gunmetal and brass table lamps design by Karl Pringer in the 1980s. It’s rare to find this as lamps, they are usually candlesticks. They have been newly rewired with n...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Brass, Steel
Karl Springer Gunmetal Wall Scones
By Karl Springer
Located in Munich, Bavaria
These unique pair of 'Spun Shaped Wall Scones´ were designed by Karl Springer. The wall scones are made of Gunmetal and are placed on detailed Lucite backs which are made of satinate...
Category
1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Metal
Adrian Purcell Wall Sconces Sconces
By Karl Springer
Located in New Haven, CT
This Classic pair of Art Deco gunmetal wall sconce's was designed for "Purcell" by Karl Springer. This form comes in a few color and material variations.
The gunmetal and clear Glass...
Category
20th Century American Art Deco Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Glass
Karl Springer Gunmetal, Brass Coffee Table
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional, iconic Parsons style coffee table in heavy gunmetal with a smoked glass inset top and brass pinstripe inlay. Pictured in the Karl Springer catalog. In overall great cond...
Category
20th Century American Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair of Etruscan Wall Sconces Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of wall Etruscan sconces designed and manufactured by Karl Springer, circa 1970s. Made of chromed steel with opaque Lucite. Great proportion with modern materials and silhouet...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Pair of Sconces in Patinated Bronze and Lucite by Karl Springer 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Pair of patinated bronze sconces with illuminating sand-blasted Lucite inserts by Karl Springer, American, 1980s. This is the large version of these sconces. These sconces give off a lot of up light since each has 2 bulbs. They are stunning Springer sconces.
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Large-Scale Leather and Brass Ottoman by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A large-scale leather and heavy brass ottoman designed by Karl Springer.
Newly reupholster in a distressed gray leather.
The round heavy brass bottom has hidden wheels, making movi...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of "Spun Shaped Wall Sconces" by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Pair of "Spun Shaped Wall Sconces" in gunmetal with Lucite backs and inserts by Karl Springer, American 1980s. Lucite illuminates when lights are on (see photo).
Total of three ar...
Category
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Metal
Karl Springer Chinese Leather Coffee Table
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Karl Springer Chinese Scroll Table
Signed and date on leather label
1 available 6500.00
Category
20th Century American Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Leather
Karl Springer Stunning "Dome Top Mirror" in Black Shagreen 1980s 'Signed'
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Large and exceptional “Dome Top Mirror” with frame in black shagreen and beveled mirror by Karl Springer, American 1980's (metal label on back reads "K...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Animal Skin, Wood, Mirror
Karl Springer “Tortoise Shell” Sculptural Desk/Table Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a sculptural wide heavy lamp shaped as a rectangular block in the lower part and as a ninety degree angle semi-tunnel in the upper part. Both parts are joined by a solid rect...
Category
20th Century American Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Tortoise Shell
Karl Springer Monumental Artisan Ceramic Urn 1981 'Signed'
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Large hand-thrown ceramic urn, undulating form with horizontal channeled top, by ceramicist Plotsky for Karl Springer, American 1981 (signed and dated "Karl Springer 81" on the botto...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Chic Pair of Original Karl Springer JMF Chairs in Goatskin
By Karl Springer
Located in Jesteburg, DE
An original design by Karl Springer for Tura, this freeform chair exemplifies the modernist contemporary style of this designer with a sleek silhouette...
Category
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Goatskin
Royal Palm Lacquered Goatskin Credenza, USA
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Available exclusively at Todd Merrill Studio, the Karl Springer LTD Royal Palm cabinet features a grid inlay of lacquered goatskin, available in a variety o...
Category
2010s American Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Goatskin
Karl Springer "Bullet" Up Light in Gunmetal, 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
"Bullet" up light in gunmetal by Karl Springer, American, 1970s. This comes with the original honeycomb diffuser. This up light is beautifully made.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Materials
Metal
Karl Springer furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Karl Springer furniture 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 Karl Springer furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 596 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 7 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Karl Springer were created in the modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Charles Hollis Jones, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, and Widdicomb Furniture Co.. Prices for Karl Springer furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $428 and can go as high as $75,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $8,500.
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