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.
Pair of Karl Springer Chrome and Original Purple String Shade Ball Lamps, 1980s
By Leviton, Karl Springer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This stunning and very rare pair of iconic midcentury "Ball" lamps was designed in the 1980s by illustrious American designer Karl Springer. This pair features two hemispheres of pol...
Brass, Chrome
Karl Springer Rare and Monumental Shagreen Pair of Table Lamps
By Karl Springer
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of exquisite lamps by Karl Springer. The large spheres are solid wood meticulously covered in shagreen, the Pyramid shades are also wood covered in shagreen. Reportedly just a...
Shagreen
Karl Springer Lucite Table Lamps
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of Karl Springer Lucite table Lamps Polished Brass Lamp Hardware and fittings New Replaced shades If you want the shades,they will ha...
Lucite
Mid-Century Modernist Tessellated Shagreen Geometric Table Lamp by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
This remarkably scaled and materially stunning Mid-Century Modernist Large Geometric Table Lamp in Tessellated Shagreen is by the esteemed artist and designer Karl Springer and origi...
Shagreen
Karl Springer Embossed Leather Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Karl Springer Embossed Leather Lamp White Finished Ostrich Skin Pattern doesn't include lampshade Original Lamp Fittings
Leather
$6,300
Karl Springer Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exuberant example of Karl Springers' lighting
Brass
Pair of Lucite & Chrome Table Lamps by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Glamorous pair of clear lucite and chrome table lamp by renowned designer Karl Springer. Newly rewired and new shades. Wired for US and take two 75w Max regular editions light bulb...
Chrome
Signed Karl Springer Table Lamp with a Sandblasted Glass Base, 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Vienna, AT
An impressive and rare table lamp by Karl Springer in the 1970s. Has a beautiful sandblasted glass base. In excellent condition, has a refurbished lampshade. Signed on bottom.
Glass
$9,500 / set
Karl Springer Chromed Metal Orb Lamps
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of Karl Springer Lamps Original surface,Lamp Mounts and Finials Oversized Please ignore reflections in chrome finish from photographer
Chrome
$6,850Sale Price|27% Off
Karl Spinger 'Sculpture' Brass Table Lamp, c 1980, Signed
By Karl Springer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegantly crafted, this rare 'Sculpture' table lamp by Karl Springer embodies the essence of his meticulous artistry. This example is fashioned from hefty brass, crafted in the 1980s...
Brass
Lucite and Chrome Table Lamp by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1980s glamorous clear Lucite and polish chrome table lamp by renowned American designer Karl Springer. Newly rewired and new oatmeal linen shade. The acrylic shows some crazing from ...
Lucite
Pair Lucite Acrylic Lamps by Karl Springer for Hansen
By Hansen Lighting Co., Karl Springer
Located in Fraser, MI
Pair Lucite and Chrome Lamps signed Hansen New York. Designed by Karl Springer. Lucite and Chrome construction.
Chrome
Karl Springer Rare Pair of "Venetian Glass Table Top Torcheres" 1980s
By Karl Springer, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare pair of large illuminating hand-blown “Venetian Glass Table Top Torcheres” with scavo finish and uplights inside by Seguso Vetri d'Arte (Murano) for Karl Springer, American 1980...
Metal
1980s Karl Springer “Sculpture” Chrome Desk Lamps (set)
By Karl Springer
Located in Miami, FL
A rare matched pair of chrome “Sculpture” desk lamps designed by Karl Springer. Finished in polished chrome, the lamps feature a minimalist architectural silhouette that reflects Sp...
Chrome
$6,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
Magnificent Pair Karl Springer Marbleized Blue Lacquer Lucite Table Lamps, 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Magnificent and rare pair of Karl Springer marbleized blue lacquer and Lucite bubble table lamps, USA, 1970s. Retains Springer's original marbleiz...
Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp by Karl Springer, Frosted Lucite, 1950s
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 on...
Acrylic, Glass
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Karl Springer Lucite and Chrome Table Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in Wayne, NJ
A stunning conversation table lamp designed by Karl Springer. It features a solid clear oval lucite block base. Rounded edges with a cutout to run the cord through. Double sockets...
Lucite
Mid Century Modern Stacked Lucite Disc Table Lamp, Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
This striking table lamp features a sculptural, architectural base composed of alternating stacked acrylic discs. The transparent discs are arranged along a central chrome rod, creat...
Lucite
Pair of Karl Springer Modern Citron Goatskin Sphere Table Lamps
By Karl Springer
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Modern sphere citron goatskin table lamps. (KARL SPRINGER LTD) (PRICED AS PAIR) (NOTE: lamp shades can be purhased separately) Condition: Good; Wear consistent with age and use
Metal
Pair of Lucite and Brass Greek Column Table Lamps by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Glamorous pair of 1980s clear lucite and polished brass “Greek Column Table Lamps” by Karl Springer. Constructed of solid acrylic and polish brass. Newly rewired and new shades....
Brass
Pair of Vintage Acrylic and Brass Table Lamps by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in London, GB
An extremely stylish and highly sought after pair of vintage acrylic and brass table lamps by Karl Springer. They were made in USA, they date from around the 1970’s. They are of out...
Brass
White Acrylic and Chrome Table Lamp by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1980s White acrylic and polish chrome table lamp by Karl Springer. Newly rewired and new shade. It takes two 75w max Edison light bulbs.
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...
Brass, Steel
Sculptural Karl Springer Polished Chrome Desk Lamp, 1980
By Karl Springer
Located in Chicago, IL
Sculptural Karl Springer Polished Chrome Desk Lamp, 1980.
Chrome
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.
Acrylic
Pair Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp with String Shade by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Toledo, OH
A fantastic pair table lamps by Karl Springer. These great lamps feature three round plaster compressed spheres separated by two Lucite spacers. They have a two light cluster socket ...
Lucite
$1,120Sale Price|30% Off
Vintage Solid Lucite Karl Springer Greek Column Table Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in Doraville, GA
A solid lucite Greek column table lamp with chrome hardware designed by Karl Springer, probably from the mid 1980's. As with all of Karl Springer designs, the lamp has top quality co...
Lucite
Stunning Lucite Table Lamp in the Manner of Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Highland, IN
This spectacular table lamp has an oval base of three inch thick Lucite, the finest quality brass hardware, a perfectly matched shade of silky string and matching Lucite finial. The ...
Brass
Karl Springer Style Lucite Lamp
By Karl Springer
Located in Miami, FL
Superb and impressive large Karl Springer style Lucite table lamp Heavy and massive Without finial and harp: 27" H.
Lucite
Rare Postmodern Helix Glass Table Lamp in the Manner of Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful rare and elegant glass staircase , helix table lamp in green glass with lucite base and chrome fittings in perfect working condition. no chips or cracks.
Chrome
Pair of Monumental 1950s Asian Figure Lamps
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A pair of large scale plaster lamps with antiqued silver finish in the form of a Asian figure / Kwan Yin. Great sculptural quality to the piece. 38'' to top of socket, 34.5'' to top...
Plaster
Pair of Lucite & Chrome Table Lamps by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Glamorous pair of clear lucite and chrome table lamp by renowned designer Karl Springer. Newly rewired and new shades. Wired for US and take two 75w Max regular editions light bulb...
Chrome
Lucite and Chrome Table Lamp by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1980s glamorous clear Lucite and polish chrome table lamp by renowned American designer Karl Springer. Newly rewired and new oatmeal linen shade. The acrylic shows some crazing from ...
Lucite
$395Sale Price / set|78% Off
H 25.5 in W 8 in D 8 in
Mid-Century Tessellated Table Lamps, Karl Springer Style-A Pair
By Karl Springer
Located in Trenton, NJ
This impressive pair of tall vintage modern table lamps features a mixed material construction using clear lucite and lacquered tessellated b...
Bone, Lucite, Lacquer
Signed Karl Springer Table Lamp with a Sandblasted Glass Base, 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Vienna, AT
An impressive and rare table lamp by Karl Springer in the 1970s. Has a beautiful sandblasted glass base. In excellent condition, has a refurbished lampshade. Signed on bottom.
Glass
Mid Century Modern Stacked Lucite Disc Table Lamp, Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
This striking table lamp features a sculptural, architectural base composed of alternating stacked acrylic discs. The transparent discs are arranged along a central chrome rod, creat...
Lucite
$1,850 / set
H 27.25 in Dm 17 in
Chunky Lucite Lamps attributed to Karl Springer Mid Century Modern Glamour
By Karl Springer
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Chunky Lucite Lamps, attributed to Karl Springer, unsigned, American, circa 1960s. They have been rewired and are ready to use. Lamp shades are not included.
Metal, Chrome
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 38 in W 8 in D 8 in
Karl Springer Style Triangular Stacked Lucite Lamps, Mid-Century Modern
By Karl Springer
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Wonderful Large scale Karl Springer style triangular stacked lucite lamp.
Metal
Pair Lucite Acrylic Lamps by Karl Springer for Hansen
By Hansen Lighting Co., Karl Springer
Located in Fraser, MI
Pair Lucite and Chrome Lamps signed Hansen New York. Designed by Karl Springer. Lucite and Chrome construction.
Chrome
Karl Springer Brass Sphere Table Lamps
By Karl Springer
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of brass lamps by Karl Springer. Contemporary shades.
Brass
Sold
H 33 in W 16 in D 8 in
Pair of Large Lucite Lamps and Original Polished Steel Shades by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Stunning pair of 1980's large solid clear acrylic oval block lamps on polished chrome bases and chrome fittings. The detailing on the lamps is wonderful and they the have the origina...
Chrome
Custom Karl Springer Shagreen Lighthouse Lamp, USA c 1980
By Karl Springer
Located in Norwalk, CT
An unusual custom lamp from Karl Springer featuring the "Lighthouse" lamp base combined with the "Mushroom" lamp shade. The result is a unique and pleasing design. The base is covere...
Brass
Pair Karl Springer Stacked Lucite Lamps, 1960
By Karl Springer
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair Karl Springer Stacked Lucite Table Lamps, 1960 Shades included. Shades are string shades there is no lining in them since they are made of string. Lamps measure 12.5" tall to...
Lucite
Pair of Karl Springer Acrylic Table Lamps with Stainless Steel Shades
By Karl Springer
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of signed Karl Springer acrylic table lamps with original polished stainless steel shades.
Acrylic
Pair of Karl Springer Modern Pearl Grey Goatskin Sphere Table Lamps
By Karl Springer
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Modern sphere pearl grey goatskin table lamps. (KARL SPRINGER LTD) (PRICED AS PAIR) (NOTE: lamp shades can be purhased separately) Condition: Good; Wear consistent with age ...
Metal
Karl Springer Rare and Iconic "Pagoda Lamp" in Python and Bronze 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Stunning and rare "Pagoda Lamp" in brown and black python with bronze base, trim, shade interior and lighting assembly by Karl Springer, American 1970's. Because the inside of the s...
Bronze
Karl Springer Table Lamp With Solid Lucite Discs 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Table lamp with solid lucite discs and polished chrome hardware by Karl Springer, American 1970's. The stacked lucite disks are very chic. Newly rewired with new sockets and cord. ...
Chrome
Karl Springer Rare "Mushroom Table Lamp" in Polished Brass 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare "Mushroom Table Lamp" in polished brass with 3 bulbs by Karl Springer, American 1970's. The shade was hand-spun by metal artisans. An iconic Karl Springer design. Brass has b...
Brass
Sold
H 30.5 in W 10 in D 4 in
Karl Springer Superb Pair of "Oval Lucite Table Lamps" with Bronze Shades 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of exceptional solid "Oval Lucite Table Lamps" with satin bronze trim, hardware and seamlessly welded shades with embedded invisible cords by Karl Springer, American 1980s. The...
Bronze
Karl Springer Rare "Mushroom Table Lamp" in Gunmetal and Brass 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare "Mushroom Table Lamp" in gunmetal with polished brass dome shade with 3 bulbs by Karl Springer, American 1970's. The shade was hand-spun by ...
Metal, Brass
Karl Springer Rare Pair of "Lighthouse Lamps" in Shagreen and Brass 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of rare "Lighthouse Table Lamps" clad in gray shagreen with polished brass bases and shades by Karl Springer, American 1980's. The color and texture of the shagreen is exquisite...
Brass