Karl Springer Tables
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.
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Leather
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Slate, Bronze
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Metal
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Goatskin, Wood, Parchment Paper
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Raffia, Glass, Wood
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Leather, Wood, Lacquer
Late 20th Century American Karl Springer Tables
Shagreen, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Leather, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Fabric, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Goatskin
1980s Philippine Hollywood Regency Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Shell
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Metal
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Goatskin, Leather, Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Karl Springer Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Karl Springer Tables
Metal
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Animal Skin
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Paint
Late 20th Century American Modern Karl Springer Tables
Glass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Goatskin
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Lucite
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Goatskin, Leather, Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Metal
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Animal Skin
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Metal
1980s American Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Wood
1980s American Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Brass, Stainless Steel
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Goatskin, Wood
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Steel
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Goatskin, Leather, Bakelite, Wood
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Glass, Acrylic, Lucite
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Parchment Paper
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Goatskin, Plywood, Lacquer
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Brass
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Brass, Bronze
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Wood, Lacquer, Lizard
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Grasscloth, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Grasscloth, Wood
1980s Philippine Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Stone, Brass
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Rattan, Glass, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Leather, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Leather, Wood
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Goatskin, Wood, Lacquer
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Granite, Bronze
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Brass, Chrome
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Steel
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Leather, Glass, Wood
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Stainless Steel
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Brass
Late 20th Century Philippine Karl Springer Tables
Stone, Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Copper
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Shagreen
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Python
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Brass