Karl Springer Furniture
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.
1990s Post-Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Glass, Laminate
20th Century American Karl Springer Furniture
Shagreen
1980s Post-Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Lacquer
20th Century American Karl Springer Furniture
Goatskin
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Karl Springer Furniture
Travertine
Late 20th Century American Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Goatskin, Wood
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Chrome
1970s American Post-Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Grasscloth, Lacquer
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Ostrich Leather, Silk, Wood
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Animal Skin
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Wood, Lacquer, Lizard
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Leather, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Leather, Wood
2010s Art Deco Karl Springer Furniture
Bone
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Metal
Late 20th Century Philippine Post-Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Marble, Travertine
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Goatskin
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Grasscloth, Wood
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Marble
1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Chrome
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Lacquer
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Grasscloth, Wood
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Brass, Nickel
1980s Philippine Hollywood Regency Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary English Organic Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Karl Springer Furniture
Paint
1970s Unknown Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass, Steel
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Linen, Paint
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Wood
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Wood, Cork
1980s Colombian Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Upholstery, Wood, Lacquer
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Chrome
1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Lucite
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Karl Springer Furniture
Upholstery
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Metal
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Rattan, Glass, Wood
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Linen, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Resin
1980s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Wood
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Wood
1980s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass, Nickel
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Metal
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Brass, Chrome
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
1980s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Glass, Lucite
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Nickel
1970s North American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Goatskin
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Metal
1980s Philippine Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Stone, Brass