Pair of Large Tessellated Penshell Tables by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of large scale tessellated penshell end tables signed with Karl Springer metal tags.
Category
1980s Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Shell
Karl Springer Tables
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.
to
11
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
143
150
73
25
5
150
15
121
1
48
53
8
65
60
44
35
31
122
86
31
3
3
150
150
150
152
1,513
879
666
595
Creator: Karl Springer
Signed Karl Springer Embossed Leather Side Table
By Karl Springer
Located in Dallas, TX
A signed Karl Springer side table in embossed snake skin textured leather dated 1990.
Category
1990s Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Leather
Karl Springer Python Skin Table
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This can be used as either a bench or a table. A classic Michael Frank 1940s design reimagined by Karl Springer, Label below
Category
Late 20th Century American Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Leather
Karl Springer Shagreen End Table With Drawer
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Karl Springer Shagreen Table with Drawer Shagreen covered surface Mahogany drawer interior Brass signature tag Original Heavy glass shelf Oversized
Category
1980s American Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Shagreen
Karl Springer Amoeba Table
$18,500
Karl Springer Amoeba Table
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Karl Springer Amoeba table. Bronze patinated brass and black glass top.
Category
1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Brass
Postmodern Karl Springer Style Sculptural Coffee Table
By Karl Springer
Located in Chicago, IL
Postmodern Karl Springer Style Faux Travertine Waterfall Coffee Table with Glass Top A sophisticated Postmodern coffee table in the style of Karl Springer, featuring a sculptural wa...
Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Travertine
Signed Karl Springer Ostrich Embossed Leather Nightstand - Side Table
By Karl Springer
Located in North Miami, FL
This iconic and rare waterfall design vintage side table by Karl Springer features a recessed drawer and 3/4 inch thick glass shelf (chip to glass on backside - not visible). Can be ...
Category
1980s American Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Leather, Glass
Mid-Century Ivory Color Console Table by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage-Modern ivory console table by Karl Springer. Long sculpted sturdy form, perfect for living room use. (Please confirm item location - NY or NJ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Acrylic
Karl Springer Python Coffee Table
$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
Karl Springer Python Coffee Table
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Rectangular coffee table covered in real brown python with polished steel banding on the legs.
Category
20th Century American Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Steel
Carved Horn Inlay Console / Sofa Table by Karl Springer, Ltd. USA, c. 1970
By Karl Springer
Located in Kansas City, MO
Karl Springer console / sofa / entry table. Sculptural form in tessellated horn inlay. Expertly restored and in very good to excellent condition. Sold with a digital certificate of a...
Category
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Horn, Wood
Patinated Karl Springer JMF Goatskin Console Table, Signed, 1970's
$7,200Sale Price|20% Off
Patinated Karl Springer JMF Goatskin Console Table, Signed, 1970's
By Karl Springer
Located in Culver City, CA
Available right now I have an incredible JMF Table by the legendary Karl Springer. A piece that oozes sophistication and charisma, perfect for that trendsett...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Goatskin
Karl Springer Black Glass & Brass Barrel End Table
$3,200Sale Price|30% Off
Karl Springer Black Glass & Brass Barrel End Table
By Karl Springer
Located in Astoria, NY
Karl Springer Beveled Black Glass Top and Gilt Brass Barrel End Table, unmarked. 17.25" H x 18" W x 14" D. Provenance: From a 500 Park Avenue Estate.
Category
20th Century American Modern Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Brass
Karl Springer Prototype Box Table with Tray Top in Grasscloth 1976-1978
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Box Table with removable tray top covered in grass cloth inside and out by Karl Springer, American 1976-8. This was made as a prototype by one of Karl Springer’s premier artisans. It...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Grasscloth, Wood
Karl Springer Goatskin Coffee Table
By Karl Springer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Karl Springer Lacquered Goatskin Parchment Coffee Table In Original Condition with some small imperfections as shown in photos 1970s
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Goatskin, Wood, Lacquer
Karl Springer "Bristol Side Table" in Black Cobra 1980s 'Signed'
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Artisan crafted "Bristol Side Table" in black cobra with drawer by Karl Springer, American 1980's (signed with metal label in drawer "Karl Springer"). This table is meticulously craf...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Animal Skin, Wood, Glass
Lacquered goatskin two drawer desk
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Lacquered goatskin two drawer desk by Karl Springer.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Goatskin
Karl Springer Brass and Onyx Top Side Table
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Rare oval onyx brass side table by Karl Springer. Heavy brass table with an onyx beveled insert top.
Category
1970s Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Onyx, Brass
Pair Rare Karl Springer Onyx Top and Brass End Tables
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Pair of rare oval onyx brass side tables by Karl Springer. Heavy brass tables with an onyx beveled insert top. One table is slightly taller and wider. Taller: 17.75H x 17.25W x 15D....
Category
1970s Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Onyx, Brass
Magnificent Karl Springer Waterfall Console Table in Gray Goatskin Mid-century
By Karl Springer
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Stunning waterfall coffee table with scrolled legs by Karl Springer in Gray Goatskin parchment finished high gloss. The detail pay to every aspect of this design is truly amazing, th...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Goatskin
Karl Springer Scroll Table in Embossed Lizard 1988 (Signed & Dated)
By Karl Springer
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautifully crafted embossed lizard leather scroll table by Karl Springer, 1988 (signed with label on bottom "Karl Springer 1988") Matching pair of chairs available separately.
Category
1980s Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Leather
Pair of lacquered Shagreen Side Tables by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of lacquered shagreen side tables by Karl Springer
Category
1980s American Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Parchment Paper
Karl Springer Shagreen Pedestal/Stand
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
A wonderfully crafted shagreen pedestal stand with a squared stepped base with four rolled Art Deco style arms finishing in a circular top covered in shagreen H: 43 inches: W: 15 inc...
Category
1990s American Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Shagreen Stingray
Karl Springer Snake-Textured Leather and Bronze Regency Modern Cocktail Table
$2,320Sale Price|20% Off
Karl Springer Snake-Textured Leather and Bronze Regency Modern Cocktail Table
By Karl Springer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Karl Springer Snake-textured leather (or leatherette) and bronze Regency modern cocktail table. This is an original Karl Springer piece and retains...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Leather, Glass
Karl Springer Freeform Coffee Table in Brass and Black Granite Top, 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Karl Springer for Karl Springer LTD exceptional free-form coffee table with polished brass base and black granite top, designed circa 1970. This iconic Springer low table design has ...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Granite, Brass
Glamorous Vintage Karl Springer Grasscloth Dining Table
By Karl Springer
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Fabulous vintage Karl Springer grasscloth dining table restored and refinished in a beautiful teal-black lacquer. Square top with bullnose edge a...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Metal
Karl Springer fortuni covered Rolling Two-Tier Table
By Karl Springer
Located in Westport, CT
Karl Springer signed and dated, muted green and black covered black Foo Dog printed animal two-tier table, with original brass casters.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Brass
Pair of Shagreen and Tessellated Side Tables by Karl Springer
By Karl Springer
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of Shagreen and Tessellated Side Tables by Karl Springer. Signed: Karl Springer
Category
1980s American Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Shagreen
Karl Springer American Mid-Century Lucite Square Top Table Lamp, 1950s
By Karl Springer
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century lucite square top table with a floor lamp center post (KARL SPRINGER)
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Lucite
Mid-Century Side Tables by Karl Springer, Ebonized Metal Frames, 1970s
By Karl Springer
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Mid-Century American Modern (1970s) square form end / side table frames comprised of 4 cylindrical ebonized metal legs with brass caps and anchored by 4 horizontal ebonized m...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Tables
Materials
Brass
Karl Springer Red And Black Custom Striped Table
Price Upon Request
Karl Springer Red And Black Custom Striped Table
By Karl Springer
Located in Westport, CT
Karl Springer Rare and unusual Custom red and black striped Table one of a kind,with original Label and customers name Circa 1960's (Karl Springer 1931...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Tables
Karl Springer tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Karl Springer tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Karl Springer tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 237 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 3 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original tables by Karl Springer were created in the modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider tables by Charles Hollis Jones, Vladimir Kagan, and Paul Evans. Prices for Karl Springer tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,450 and can go as high as $75,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $12,000.
Creators Similar to Karl Springer
More Karl Springer Furniture
Karl Springer Lighting
Karl Springer Seating
Karl Springer Mirrors
Karl Springer Decorative Objects
Karl Springer Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Karl Springer Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Karl Springer Table Lamps
Karl Springer Wall Mirrors
Karl Springer Floor Lamps
Karl Springer Ottomans and Poufs
Karl Springer Benches
Karl Springer Stools