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Karl Springer Furniture

American, German, 1931-1991

The Berlin-born, New York–based designer Karl Springer brought a chic, high-fashion sensibility to 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, he had established his own Manhattan atelier, and at his death he 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. He 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.

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Creator: Karl Springer
Dealer: Modest Designs
Karl Springer Lucite Table Lamp with Original Polished Steel Shade
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare solid clear acrylic oval block lamp with the original mirror-polished steel shade. Cord is embedded in the lucite block, which supports a double cluster socket and adjustable ri...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Steel

Pair Karl Springer Lucite Table Lamps with Original Polished Steel Shades
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare pair of large solid clear acrylic oval block lamps with the original mirror-polished steel shades and diffusers. Cords are embedded in the lucite blocks, which support a double ...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Steel

Nickel and Lucite Lamp By Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Thick lucite stem with incised center channel on each side sites in chromed base with chrome accents. Highest quality construction.
Category

1980s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Lucite

Karl Springer Lucite and Brass Floor Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tall incised Lucite column on heavy brass base with brass cap and double socket cluster.
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage 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 run...
Category

1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Lucite

Related Items
Karl Springer Elegant Pair of "Greek Column Table Lamps" in Solid Lucite, 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Pair of "Greek Column Table Lamps" in solid lucite with brass hardware by Karl Springer, American 1980s. The cords are embedded into the sides of the lamps so they are invisible when...
Category

1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Brass

Karl Springer Rare and Exceptional Gold Leaf and Lucite Torchere, 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
One of a kind torchere with lacquered antiqued gold leaf and solid lucite accents and base by Karl Springer, American 1980s. This is a very luxurious design with gold leaf and the mi...
Category

1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Metal, Gold Leaf

Karl Springer "Greek Column Table Lamp" in Solid Lucite, 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
"Greek Column Table Lamp" in solid lucite with brass hardware by Karl Springer, American 1980's. The cord is embedded into the side of the lamp, so it is invisible when looking from ...
Category

1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Brass

Karl Springer Deep Green Snakeskin and Brass Floorlamp, 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Are you or are you feeling like a rockstar? This is the perfect floor lamp for your space. This is one iconic floor lamp covered in green snakeskin with solid brass base and hardware...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Brass

20th Century American Tall Frosted Lucite Helix Floor Lamp by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A tall vintage Mid-Century Modern American stacked helix spiral staircase floor lamp made of hand crafted clear frosted lucite glass with a new white shade. Designed and produced by ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Glass, Lucite

20th Century German Desk Lamp, Clear Frosted Lucite Table Lamp by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century modern German frosted acrylic Lucite table lamp with a white shade. The clear desk light was designed by Karl Springer, featuring a...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Glass, Acrylic

Karl Springer Bronze Floor Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A bronze floor lamp from Karl springer Original surface Copy of a Giacometti design, Very Heavy.
Category

1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Bronze

  • Karl Springer Bronze Floor Lamp
  • Karl Springer Bronze Floor Lamp
  • Karl Springer Bronze Floor Lamp
  • Karl Springer Bronze Floor Lamp
H 65.00 in. Dm 9.50 in.
Karl Springer Style Modernist Stacked Lucite Table Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in Jacksonville, FL
1970s lucite table lamp features modern, hollywood regency styling with individual stacked squares of lucite and a lucite base. Stands 22" tall to top of socket. Good vintage conditi...
Category

1970s Hollywood Regency Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Metal

L. Bonan Italy Karl Springer era stacked lucite and nickel cylinder table lamp
Located in Ferndale, MI
Lamp shade not included . Heavy and substantial stacked 8" diameter lucite discs alternate with nickel chrome bands . The light playing on the chrome and acrylic makes this a true jewel of a table lamp . Label reads L. Bonan Designer Noel Italy...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Nickel

Karl Springer Style Round Stacked Lucite Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Karl Springer style round stacked Lucite lamp with double light socket. Measures: 31.5 height (top of finial) x 10 in diameter (at its widest). Base 8 in diameter. Shade not included.
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Lucite

Postmodern Pink and Lucite Dimmable Floor Lamp Torchiere
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Amazing postmodern Italian dimmable torch lamp. Features a pink body with stacked lucite and gold trimming.  
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Plastic, Lucite

1980, Art Deco Column Floor Lamps in the Style of Karl Springer, Pair
By Karl Springer
Located in Staten Island, NY
Rare set of Art Deco wall column floor lamps covered with goatskin lacquer, in the style of Karl Springer. The lamps are very heavy, solid pieces perfect for any rooms. On the botto...
Category

1980s North American Art Deco Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

Previously Available Items
Karl Springer Brass and Gunmetal Coffee Table, Signed
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Two-tier cocktail table in dark mirror polished steel with brass accents, and original bronze glass. Classic Springer design with the expected high quality construction. Stamped sign...
Category

1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of Liquid Lucite Column Table Lamps by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Two large Lucite column table lamps composed of three stacked rectangular blocks with nickel fittings and original parchment shades, circa 1970s.
Category

1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Lucite

Pair of Oak Onassis Chairs by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original oxblood red mahogany stained chairs with complimentary red and green silk fabric seats. Wonderful mix of color and form.
Category

1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

  • Pair of Oak Onassis Chairs by Karl Springer
  • Pair of Oak Onassis Chairs by Karl Springer
  • Pair of Oak Onassis Chairs by Karl Springer
  • Pair of Oak Onassis Chairs by Karl Springer
H 29.5 in. W 26.5 in. D 20 in.
Karl Springer Lucite Table Lamp--Signed
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Large stacked acrylic cubes with chromed hardware and double cluster socket. Great original condition. Signed on base.
Category

1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

Karl Springer Leather and Brass Desk
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Great early example of Springer's luxurious modernism. Simple brass frame with camel leather top and drawers. Two drawers and leveling feet.
Category

1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture

  • Karl Springer Leather and Brass Desk
  • Karl Springer Leather and Brass Desk
  • Karl Springer Leather and Brass Desk
  • Karl Springer Leather and Brass Desk
H 29.5 in. W 50 in. D 26 in.

Karl Springer furniture for sale on 1stDibs

Karl Springer furniture is available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive objects are frequently made of metal and designed with extraordinary care. There are many options in our Karl Springer collection of furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular.. We have 476 vintage editions of these items in stock, while there are also 10 modern editions to choose from. Many original furniture by Karl Springer were created in North America during the 20th century in the modern style. Many customers also consider furniture by Mastercraft, Charles Hollis Jones and Paul Evans if you are looking for additional options. Prices for Karl Springer furniture can vary depending on size, time period and other attributes. Price for these items starts at US$795 and tops out at US$120,000, while pieces like these can sell for US$7,500 on average.

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