Karl Springer Decorative Bowls
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.
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Creator: Karl Springer
Karl Springer Glass Bowl, Seguso, Signed
By Karl Springer, Seguso
Located in New York, NY
Karl Springer Glass Bowl, Seguso, Signed. Large, low, and heavy, artisan hand-blown clear glass bowl by Seguso for Karl Springer in the 1980's. Provenance: purchased directly from th...
Category
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Decorative Bowls
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Karl Springer Glass Bowl, Seguso, Signed
By Karl Springer, Seguso
Located in New York, NY
Karl Springer Glass Bowl, Seguso, Signed. Tall, chunky, and heavy artisan hand-blown clear glass bowl by Seguso for Karl Springer in the 1980's. Provenance: purchased directly from ...
Category
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Decorative Bowls
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOLLOWS; PLEASE READ THE BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY.
ABOUT OUR LISTINGS:
-Most vintage Murano glass is unsigned and unlabeled (see more about this topic below, under the "about vintage Murano glass" section). We identify items as best we can based on our research and experience, but without signature, identifying label, or other documentation, it is ultimately not possible to guarantee an item is from Murano or is by a specific Murano glass maestro. By purchasing from our shop, you are agreeing to accept this fact. If you are uncomfortable with this policy, we ask that you purchase only items that have their original label, artist signature, or other documentation.
-Measurements are approximate and generally represent the approximate widest/longest/highest areas of each item.
-Please be aware that the color on your monitor and/or in your environment may look somewhat different than in ours and that glass colors often look deeper on dark backgrounds than they do on light backgrounds.
-Please keep in mind that vintage glass usually will show evidence of previous ownership, such as scuffing, scratching, and/or other wear such as dulling or mars on base, etc.. Buyers of vintage glass are presumed to understand and accept such hints of previous ownership. We cannot realistically guarantee perfection since vintage glass has typically been used at some point in the past. We do however inspect for and describe flaws found.
ABOUT VINTAGE MURANO GLASS:
-"Murano" is not a brand. It is the name of the Italian island where the most celebrated master glassblowers create(d) their works.
-Vintage Murano glass items may be heavy or light, thick or thin, substantial or petite, etc. Thickness and thinness of glass will tend to vary on some items, especially sculptural items.
-Sometimes, small inclusions may be found in or on Murano glass, such as ash or tiny bubbles from the blowing process or tiny raised or pitted areas. These are not considered "damage" but naturally occurring. Nevertheless we point them out if found.
-While on occasion a vintage Murano glass item will bear the signature of its creator or have an original label affixed, this is relatively rare; most vintage Murano glass available to the general public is unsigned / unlabeled, especially in the more affordable price ranges.
-The bases of Murano glass items are often polished, but not always; the glassblower may have decided not to grind a pontil mark down or highly polish a base if there seemed a risk that doing so could cause damage to the item.
-A pontil mark on a Murano glass piece may be visible or not, and may be smooth, rough, raised, indented, or some combination of these. Some finer, more delicate Murano glass items may have a rough pontil mark that may also be either raised or indented, with the rest of the base not.
--However, an unpolished base that is also entirely, extremely foggy and rough (as if the entire bottom were grinded with very course sandpaper or metal) is generally considered indicative of a non-Murano work.
ABOUT THE TERMS WE USE:
"Suspected" means just that -- we suspect the item is by the named artist / from the named region due to its similarities to other items from that artist / region, and sometimes also by the lack of the item's characteristics appearing in other artists' works, but we are not certain.
"Assumed" or "likely" means we feel pretty confident it is by the named artist / from the named region but have not found sufficient documentation to confirm it, so while we believe it to be as stated, we are not absolutely certain.
"In the style of" means that based on characteristics, we believe it could be by the named artist / from the named region but we could not find sufficient enough evidence to feel comfortable declaring that definitively. In such cases the item could also be by another glassblower (from Murano or otherwise) who was inspired by the named artist.
It takes time and study to train the eye to recognize what is and is not Murano-made. While no one is perfect, we feel we're fairly good at it and will state, using terminology explained above for clarification, if we do not feel reasonably certain. However much knowledge may be accrued, no one dealer is likely to know absolutely everything. Since we do not offer returns, please message us with concerns or questions if you have any before purchasing an item. We'll be pleased to respond.
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Karl Springer decorative bowls for sale on 1stDibs.
Karl Springer decorative bowls are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of glass and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Karl Springer decorative bowls, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider decorative bowls by Tommaso Barbi, Barbini, and Astrolite. Prices for Karl Springer decorative bowls can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,250 and can go as high as $1,250, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,250.
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