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.
Karl Springer for Seguso large bronze Art Deco frosted glass vase 1980
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Karl Springer
Located in Paris, IDF
This monumental Art Deco inspired vase in hand-blown frosted glass with scavo finish, is a design by Karl Springer, and was produced by Seguso in the early 1980s. The structure is ma...
Bronze
Karl Springer (German/American, 1931-1991), Large Scavo Glass Vessel. Signed.
By Karl Springer
Located in Chicago, IL
Large scavo, or acid washed, vase in Amethyst by Seguso, Murano Italy, for Karl Springer. Signed on the bottom.
Glass
Large Murano Green Glass Vase Designed by Karl Springer, Signed
By Karl Springer
Located in Doraville, GA
A beautiful, vintage, large green Murano glass vase designed by Karl Springer in the 1980's. "Karl Springer" is etched on the bottom of the vase. The vase stands approximately 21 1...
Murano Glass
$425
H 12.25 in Dm 2.25 in
1980s Italian Pale Lavender Scavo Art Glass Wheat Vase Vessel Mid-Century Modern
By Cenedese Scavo, ICET Murano
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage pale Lavender Scavo Glass Murano art glass bud vase, vessel, decanter Mid-Century Modern made in Italy in 1980. Stunner done and it looks great on Your favorite console table...
Art Glass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass
$1,832Sale Price|20% Off
H 12.21 in W 6.3 in D 3.15 in
Large Murano Sommerso Glass Vase, Green, Modern Design, Italy, 1960
By Seguso
Located in Milano, IT
Many are the different styles of glass that are created on the island of Murano. Blown, sculpted or molded glass is used to create any kind of object, ranging from bowls and vases to...
Murano Glass
$750
H 12.75 in W 12 in D 9 in
Italian Frosted & Infused Gold Scavo Glass Urn Vase, Vessel Handles Italy 1980
By Murano 5
Located in Miami, FL
Frosted & infused Gold Scavo glass Murano Art glass urn vase, vessel, decanter Mid-Century Modern made in Italy in 1980. Diameter of the opening is 9 i...
Murano Glass, Blown Glass
Tall Green Signed Fabiano Zanchi Murano Glass Vase
Located in Troy, MI
Found in Italy, this vibrant Murano glass vase dates from the late 1990s, early 2000s. Tall ovoid shape in various shades of green with clear and black accents. Vase has etched Fabia...
Murano Glass
$1,850
H 18.25 in W 7 in D 5 in
Large Murano Art Glass Vase in Green Pulegoso Glass with Ribbed Design Scalloped
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
Large Murano Art Glass Vase in green Pulegoso glass with ribbed design scalloped Top. The vase is very tall for the era and stands alone.
Blown Glass
$1,003
H 13.59 in Dm 7.09 in
White Scavo Murano Glass Amphora Vase by Seguso, Karl Springer attributed
By Karl Springer, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Glasgow, GB
A striking white amphora-form vase by Seguso Vetri d’Arte, produced in Italy during the 1980s and attributed to their bespoke collaborations for Karl Springer. Handblown in Murano, ...
Murano Glass
$3,800 / set
H 6.66 in Dm 2.96 in
Seguso Vetri d'Arte Ensemble of 'A Scavo' Murano Art Glass Vases and Vessels
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Vittorio Rigattieri
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Wonderful collection / ensemble of 'a Scavo' colored / coloured glass vases and vessels, some of which have been attributed to Vittorio Rigatierri for Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano, Ita...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$5,424
H 10.83 in W 11.62 in D 9.06 in
Seguso Mid-Century Modern Large Textured Italian Green Murano Glass Vase 1980s
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Absolutely stunning and rare Seguso large, heavy vintage Mid-Century Modern textured Italian glass vase by Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano, Italy, circa 1980s / early 1990s. Elegant in fo...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$5,424
H 10.83 in W 11.62 in D 9.06 in
Seguso Mid-Century Modern Large Textured Italian Green Murano Glass Vase 1980s
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Absolutely stunning and rare Seguso large, heavy vintage Mid-Century Modern textured Italian glass vase by Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano, Italy, circa 1980s / early 1990s. Elegant in fo...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Signed Giuliano Tosi Large Colorful Murano Glass Vase
By Maestro Giuliano Tosi
Located in Chicago, IL
Large and colorful hand blown Murano glass vase by Maestro Giuliano Tosi. Vibrant colors of blue, orange, green and red that blend with and overlap one another. Raised shapes and textures also add to the unique form of this vase by one of the art forms greatest designers. From Murano net: Master Giuliano Tosi, born in 1942, hails from a lineage steeped in glassmaking tradition dating back to 1483. His journey with glass began at the tender age of 12, under the tutelage of Master Albino Carrara. Recognizing Tosi's burgeoning mastery, Carrara gifted him his corteo, an essential glass-cutting tool...
Blown Glass
$4,600
H 3.25 in W 7 in D 7 in
Signed Karl Springer Square White Venetian Scavo Glass Catchall Bowl, 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Karl Springer square white Venetian glass bowl, catchall, candy dish, 1980s. Produced by Seguso and signed on the underside by Karl Springer. Features an acid-etched Scavo surface wi...
Murano Glass
$1,072
H 11.03 in Dm 10.24 in
VENINI vase Fazzoletto Green Murano Glass, Signed 2014, handmade in Italy
By Fulvio Bianconi, Venini
Located in Venezia, IT
Iconic Venini Fazzoletto vase, model 700.00, in Green opalino glass, Signed 2014 with box and paperwork. Hand-blown and finished by master glassmakers in Murano, with the characteri...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Karl Springer Large Hand Blown White Scavo Glass Vase, Italy c 1980s
By Karl Springer, Seguso
Located in Norwalk, CT
Large scale hand-blown vase designed by Karl Springer and custom crafted by Seguso in Italy in the 1980s. This example features applied decoration and a distinctive textured finish k...
Blown Glass
Karl Springer Large Hand Etched Artisan Glass Vase 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Large artisan glass vase with abstract etched design by artist Joseph Spohr for Karl Springer, American 1980's. Spohr was a master glass etcher, not only engraving glass but giving i...
Art Glass
Karl Springer Large Artisan Hand Etched Glass Vase 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Large artisan glass vase with abstract etched design by artist Joseph Spohr for Karl Springer, American 1980's. Spohr was a master glass etcher, not only engraving glass but giving i...
Art Glass
Karl Springer Large Hand Blown White Scavo Glass Vase, 1980s
By Karl Springer, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Large hand blown glass vase, white scavo glass with serpentine coil wrapping around and decorative elements on sides, by Seguso Vetri d’Arte (Murano Italy)...
Art Glass
Karl Springer Rare Pair of Large Hand Blown Glass Vases, 1980s
By Karl Springer, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of large hand-blown glass vases with serpentine coil overlay design in scavo finish by Seguso (Murano Italy) for Karl Springer, American 1980's. The scale of these vases is very impressive. Seguso Vetri d’Arte artisans made all of Springer’s hand-blown glass objects. Reference: Lobel Modern Archive contains several photos of the Karl Springer showroom in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s showing Karl Springer scavo...
Art Glass
Karl Springer Large Hand-Blown White Scavo Glass Vase 1980s 'Signed'
By Karl Springer, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Large hand blown glass vase, white scavo glass with coil around and decorative elements on sides, by Seguso (Murano Italy) for Karl Spring...
Murano Glass
Karl Springer Monumental Hand-Blown Scavo Glass Urn 1980s 'Signed'
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Monumental hand-blown Venetian Glass urn/vase, black with scavo (rough) finish, by Seguso (Murano, Italy) for Karl Springer, American 1980's (signed on bottom “KARL SPRINGER”). This ...
Murano Glass
Karl Springer Monumental Artisan Ceramic Urn 1981 'Signed'
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
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...
Ceramic
Karl Springer Scavo Glass Vase 1980's 'Signed'
By Karl Springer, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Large hand-blown glass vase, white with scavo (rough) finish, by Seguso (Murano Italy) for Karl Springer, American 1980's (signed on bottom “KARL SPRINGER”). This form is quite rare....
Murano Glass
Karl Springer Monumental Hand-Blown Scavo Glass Urn 1980s 'Signed'
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Large hand-blown glass urn / vase, white glass with scavo (rough) finish, by Seguso (Murano, Italy) for Karl Springer, American 1980's (signed on bottom “KARL SPRINGER”). Referenc...
Murano Glass
Karl Springer Large Hand-Blown Scavo Glass Vase, 1980s 'Signed'
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Large hand-blown glass vase, white with scavo (rough) finish, by Seguso (Murano Italy) for Karl Springer, American, 1980's (signed on bottom “KARL SPRINGER”). This form is quite rare...
Murano Glass
Karl Springer Pair of Monumental Hand Blown Scavo Glass Urns 1980s 'Signed'
By Seguso, Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of monumental hand blown glass urns or vases, black with scavo (rough) finish, by Seguso (Murano, Italy) for Karl Springer, American 1980s (s...
Murano Glass