New York furniture manufacturer M. Singer & Sons is well known to collectors of dazzling mid-century modern design — the company played an integral role in introducing Italian furniture masters to the American marketplace and introduced striking dining room tables, lounge chairs and dressers that were created in rich woods and met the day’s growing demand for sleek and simple furnishings.
While M. Singer & Sons had been offering upholstered furniture out of its storefront in downtown Manhattan in as early as 1923, it is today widely recognized for the alluring tables, seating and other designs of the postwar era.
M. Singer & Sons rose to prominence in the 1950s. A boom in prosperity followed World War II, and new homeowners all over the United States were seeking modern furniture to move into their living rooms and dining rooms. This yielded a heyday of innovation, and the likes of Herman Miller, Knoll and other furniture manufacturers of the era endeavored to position themselves as leaders in the space. M. Singer & Sons was no different, and the company’s success over the subsequent decade can be credited to Joe Singer, who was then steering the ship.
Singer saw how important it was to offer furnishings in a style that broke from the bulky and overly ornamental pieces that characterized interiors in the previous century — M. Singer & Sons would need to manufacture streamlined storage cabinets, low-profile coffee tables and practical but comfortable seating that didn’t occupy lots of real estate.
It was thanks to his quest for modernist furniture that Singer discovered legendary polymath Gio Ponti, arguably the most influential figure in 20th-century Italian modernism.
Singer reached out to Ponti and offered a partnership for M. Singer & Sons to bring the Milanese designer’s work to America. He created elegant armchairs, sideboards set on tapered legs and more for the company. At the same time, Singer struck up a collaboration with Bertha Schaefer, an acclaimed Mississippi-born interior decorator and the owner of an important Manhattan art gallery at the time Schaefer, an enthusiast of Bauhaus design, would go on to create sculptural walnut desks, angular seating framed in mahogany and other pieces for the brand. With conceptual input from Ponti, she developed a furniture line called Modern by Singer.
The new collection — which merged the alluring forms and materials associated with Italian modernism and quality American manufacturing — was an instant success for M. Singer & Sons. Smooth lines, exceptional hardwoods and luxurious finishes lent the line a high-end feel and spurred demand.
A Schaefer-designed nesting table from the Modern by Singer line was included in 1952’s “Good Design” exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, which featured work from the likes of George Nelson, Paul McCobb, Jens Risom and others.
M. Singer & Sons introduced Ponti to an American audience, and he, in turn, introduced the company chairman to Italian designers like Ico Parisi and Carlo Mollino. These relationships also developed into successful collaborations that helped cement M. Singer & Sons' presence and prominence in modern American furniture.
Today, M. Singer & Sons’ designs by Schaefer and its stable of Italian designers are coveted and collected all over the world.
Find vintage M. Singer & Sons furniture on 1stDibs.
Gio Ponti for M. Singer & Sons Walnut Coffee Table with Travertine Top
By Gio Ponti, M. Singer & Sons
Located in West Chester, PA
Mid-Century Modern coffee table with a travertine top on a sculptural solid walnut base. Top measures 60” x 15 7/16” x 3/4”. Designed by Gio Ponti for M. Singer & Sons circa 1950s un...
Travertine
Gio Ponti Singer & Sons Model 2134 Walnut & Brass Flip Top Dining Console Table
By M. Singer & Sons, Gio Ponti
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by Italian architect Gio Ponti, this table embodies the very soul of Italian Mid-Century Modern. Italian descends from many important historical movements, such as the rich ...
Brass
Ico Parisi for Singer and Sons Mid Century Walnut and Brass Console Table
By M. Singer & Sons, Ico Parisi
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Ico Parisi for Singer and Sons Mid Century Walnut and Brass Console Table This console table measures: 71 wide x 19.75 deep x 29.25 inches high Restored - Mint Condition! Ready to ...
Brass
Gio Ponti for Singer & Son Teak and Brass Flip Top Expanding Game Dining Table
By Gio Ponti, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Gio Ponti for Singer & Son Mid Century Teak and Brass Flip Top Expanding Game Dining Table This game table measures: 30 wide x 30 deep x 29.5 inches high, with a chair clearance of ...
Brass
Gio Ponti Travertine Coffee Table
By Gio Ponti, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Highland, IN
Sublime mid-century Italian design at its best, this coffee table by Gio Ponti by Singer & Son features a stunning piece of travertine marble suppo...
Travertine
Rare Gio Ponto for Singer & Sons Two-Tiered Side Table w/ Drawer in Mahogany
By Gio Ponti, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Made over 70 years ago in Italy, this side table was designed by Italian architect Gio Ponto for limited production by Singer and Sons. Like most of Ponti's designs, this model has v...
Mahogany
Elegant 2-Tier Side Table Wit Italian Travertine by M. Singer & Sons, 1950s
By M. Singer & Sons, Bertha Schaefer
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Fabulous two-tier boat tail shaped side or end tables designed by M. Singer and Sons produced in the 1950s. Very sculptural walnut frames with "floating" Italian travertine tops. Jus...
Travertine
Documented Gio Ponti for M. Singer & Son's Bi-Level Cocktail Table
By M. Singer & Sons, Bertha Schaefer
Located in Hanover, MA
Model 2146 two-tier coffee table in solid walnut with inset white Micarta top designed by Gio Ponti for M. Singer & Sons, produced in Italy by Giordano Chiesa. Documented by Gio Pon...
Laminate, Walnut
Italian Modern Dining Table by Bertha Schaefer for Singer and Sons
By Bertha Schaefer, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian modern dining table, designed by Bertha Schaefer for Singer and Sons, Italy, circa 1950s. This table is currently being refinished ...
Metal
Italian Modern Dining Table by Bertha Schaefer for Singer and Sons
By Bertha Schaefer, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian modern dining table, designed by Bertha Schaefer for Singer and Sons, Italy, circa 1950s. Schaefer was one of the leading female designers of the era, and designed this line ...
Walnut
1950s Bertha Schaefer Walnut Dining Set w/ Table & 5 Chairs
By Bertha Schaefer, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a handsome oiled-walnut dining set designed by Bertha Schaefer for M. Singer & Sons in 1952 and produced in Italy for the Singer Modern collection. The set includes a large o...
Steel
Walnut Nesting or Serving Tables by Bertha Schaefer for Singer & Sons, 1950s
By Bertha Schaefer, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Walnut Nesting or Serving Tables by Bertha Schaefer for Singer & Sons, 1950s An iconic creation from the mid-century modern era, this exceptional set of nesting or serving tables wa...
Walnut
Bertha Schaefer, Coffee Table, Walnut, Singer & Sons, USA, 1950s
By M. Singer & Sons, Bertha Schaefer
Located in High Point, NC
A walnut coffee table designed by Bertha Schaefer and produced by Singer & Sons, USA, 1950s.
Walnut
Bertha Schaefer for Singer & Sons Sculpted Travertine, Walnut End Tables - Pair
By Bertha Schaefer, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Bertha Schaefer for Singer & Sons Mid Century Sculpted Travertine and Walnut End Tables - Pair Each side table measures: 23 wide x 24 deep x 22.5 inches high All pieces of furnitur...
Travertine
Bertha Schaefer (Attr) for Singer & Sons Flip Top Game Dining Table
By Bertha Schaefer, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A fine Italian walnut flip top dining table with aluminum inlays manufactured by Singer and Sons. The design aims attributed to Bertha Sc...
Aluminum
1950s Gio Ponti Glass Coffee Table Model 1101 Singer and Sons Italy
By Gio Ponti, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A glass and cream lacquered walnut coffee table designed by Gio Ponti, Model 1101, for Singer and Sons, imported from Italy c. 1950s. This piece retains its original thin glass top w...
Brass
Early Bar Cabinet Designed by Doro Cundo for Singer & Sons, Italy, 1952
By M. Singer & Sons, Doro Cundo
Located in Buffalo, NY
Early production circular table in wonderful bookmatched walnut with central mechanism which elevates a bar cabinet, Italy, dated 1952. Designed by Doro Cundo and edited by Singer & ...
Plastic, Walnut
1950s Walnut Nesting or Serving Tables by Bertha Schaefer for Singer & Sons
By Bertha Schaefer, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a handsome Oiled-Walnut Nesting Side Table Set, designed by Bertha Schaefer for M. Singer & Sons in 1952 and crafted in Italy for the Singer Modern collection. The set includ...
Steel
M. Singer & Sons Triangle Corner Sofa Table
By M. Singer & Sons
Located in Hanover, MA
M. Singer & Sons triangle corner sofa table in walnut with label underside. Likely made for use with their sectional sofas by Gio Ponti and Bertha Schaefer. Total height 27 inches....
Walnut
Ico Parisi for Singer & Sons Coffee Table Italian Mid Century Modern 61x27x16
By M. Singer & Sons, Ico Parisi
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant Italian Walnut and Brass Coffee Table, designed by Ico Parisi for Singer & Sons, Italy, circa 1960s. Clean lined design with storage shelf and drawer underneath. Singer & Son...
Brass
Bertha Schaefer for M. Singer & Sons Walnut Serving Tables
By Bertha Schaefer, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Hanover, MA
Award winning set of nesting serving tables designed by Bertha Schaefer for M. Singer & Sons in 1952 and produced in Italy for the Singer Modern collection. These were exhibited in ...
Walnut
Pair of Bertha Schaefer Walnut Travertine Top Step Side End Tables Stands MINT!
By Baker Furniture Company, Gio Ponti, M. Singer & Sons, Bertha Schaefer, Edmond J. Spence
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of Bertha Schaefer Walnut Travertine Top Step Side End Tables Stands MINT!
Marble
Mid Century Modern Nesting Tables by Bertha Schaefer for Singer and Sons.
By Bertha Schaefer, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Mid Century Modern Nesting Tables by Bertha Schaefer for Singer and Sons. Circa 1950s Feature a set of 4 round folding tables that slide underneath a rectangular side table w...
Walnut
Bertha Schaefer for Singer and Sons Italian Walnut Asymmetrical Desk
By Bertha Schaefer, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Diminutive midcentury angled student desk in Italian walnut designed by Bertha Schaefer for M. Singer & Sons (Model 2162 - USA, ca. 1955). Often co-attributed to Gio Ponti, who also...
Metal
Harvey Probber Walnut Flip Top Table
By Harvey Probber
Located in Astoria, NY
Harvey Probber Walnut Flip-Top Table, upon ebonized supports. Extended: 27.75" H x 66" W x 40.25" D. Provenance: From a New York City Area Collection.
Walnut
$10,586 / item
H 29.14 in W 59.45 in D 15.75 in
Ico Parisi Console Table by Cassina, Mid-Century Modern, Italy
By Ico Parisi, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table designed by Ico Parisi in 1947, relaunched in 2020. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. The idea for this console table, designed by Ico Parisi in 1947 for a private client, ...
Brass
Mid Century Gio Ponti Domus Nova Coffee Table Italy 1950
By Gio Ponti
Located in Bernville, PA
Iconic coffee table by one of the most important Italian architects of all times, Gio Ponti. A solid caramel walnut table crafted by Domus Nova. It has that classy Gio Ponti shape wi...
Glass, Walnut
Regency Style Banded Mahogany Two-Tier Side Table
Located in Germantown, MD
A Vintage Regency style two-tier side table with clean lines, features fluted legs, brass details on the feet (ferrules), a banded and veneer finished top. Measures 28" in width, 24...
Brass
Italian Walnut Game Table, Louis XV Style, Flip Top, 1960s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Louis XV style Italian walnut game table with flip top and side pull out extensions. One side of top is plain and the other side is inlaid chess board.
Walnut
$5,681Sale Price|20% Off
H 20.08 in Dm 31.89 in
Gio Ponti Coffee Table by ISA Bergamo, Oak & Crystal, 1957
By ISA Bergamo, Gio Ponti
Located in The Hague, NL
Stylish and rare coffee table designed by the Italian Designer Gio Ponti, for ISA, Bergarmo. Gio Ponti designed this particular coffee table for his friend and editor Aldo Garzanti ...
Glass, Oak
Early 19th Century Flip-Top Game Table with Inlaid Chessboard
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Early 19th Century Flip-Top Game Table with Inlaid Chessboard Refined early 19th-century game table, designed for chess and card games, exemplifying the understated elegance and fin...
Cherry, Maple, Walnut
$1,040Sale Price|20% Off
H 36 in W 31 in D 19 in
Vintage American Sheraton Painted Grain Serpentine Flip Top Console Game Table
Located in Dayton, OH
Circa 1940s painted grain game / card / parlor desk table featuring American Federal / Hepplewhite styling with serpentine bow front, large drawer with brass rosette hardware, and sq...
Hardwood
$7,895
H 14.75 in W 48 in D 17.5 in
Expertly Restored - Gio Ponti Sculpted Walnut & Travertine Coffee Table
By Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...
Travertine
ICO PARISI Console in legno di faggio e marmo - ITALIA 1950
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milano, IT
ICO PARISICONSOLE ANNI 50 - elegante console originale anni 50 , per la linea e la raffinatezza del suo disegno e materiali possiamo attribuirla al architetto ICO PARISI. Questa bel...
Marble, Brass
$4,142
H 22.05 in W 22.45 in D 13.78 in
1940s Cantù Nightstand Table Gio Ponti attributable in Walnut, Maple Crystal Top
By Gio Ponti
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Fabulous midcentury La Permanente Mobili Cantù Table nightstand, Gio Ponti attributable, in blond walnut, light maple, with ribalta, inlaid with maple. ...
Crystal
Mersman Two Tier Single Drawer Mahogany Side Table
By Mersman
Located in Germantown, MD
1960s Mersman mahogany two tier side table. with a single drawer. Table Measures 14.5"W x 23.5"D x 24"H. Table is in Excellent Condition.
Hardwood, Mahogany
Ico Parisi Attributed End Tables for Singer & Sons, 1950s
By M. Singer & Sons, Ico Parisi
Located in Coronado, CA
A wonderful and highly sculpted pair of end tables attributed to Ico Parisi for Singer & Sons, made sometime in the 1950s. The tables are constructed of European walnut, and show...
Walnut
Sold
H 15 in W 40 in D 38.5 in
Bertha Schaefer for Singer & Sons Walnut & Travertine Marble Living Table Set
By Bertha Schaefer, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by Bertha Schaefer, these tables were made by Singer & Sons, renowned for their cooperation with design and architecture icons like Gio Ponti and Ico Parisi. This table set ...
Travertine
Bertha Schaefer Coffee Table
By M. Singer & Sons, Bertha Schaefer
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Artist/Designer; Manufacturer: Bertha Schaefer (American, 1895-1971); Singer & Sons (USA) Marking(s); notes: marking(s) Materials: wood, marble Dimensions (H, W, D): 15"h, 40"w, 35.5...
Travertine
Gio Ponti Tiered Walnut Side Table For Singer & Sons
By Gio Ponti, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This fantiastic, mid-century modern two-tier end / side table was designed in the 1950s for Singer & Sons by the extremely popular Italian designer Gio Ponti. The solid walnut frame ...
Walnut
Sold
H 29.53 in W 64.38 in D 18.9 in
Gio Ponti, Walnut Flip-Top Console/Dining Table, model 2134, Singer &Sons, 1950s
By Gio Ponti, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Gio Ponti (Italian 1891-1979) Walnut Flip Top Console/Dining Table Model 2134 for Singer & Sons, 1950s The brass hinged top above a shaped frieze, raised on tapering legs joined by a...
Brass
Sold
H 25.99 in W 23.63 in D 18.12 in
Ico Parisi for M. Singer & Sons, Sculptural Walnut Side Table with Drawer, 1950s
By Ico Parisi, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Ico Parisi, Small Sculptural Side Table or Desk, fitted one drawer, in Italian walnut, 66cm high, 60cm wide, 46cm Made in Italy circa 1950 and retailed in USA by M. Singer & Sons. ...
Walnut
Gio Ponti Ocassional Tables for Singer & Sons Model 2136
By Gio Ponti, M. Singer & Sons
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of Gio Ponti design ocassional tables for Singer & Sons, Model 2136. Rare pair of elegant tables by the master of Italian design Gio Ponti. Executed in figured walnut with two t...
Walnut
Rare Mid-Century Luisa and Ico Parisi Coffee Table
By Ico Parisi, M. Singer & Sons, Gio Ponti, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Rare coffee table (no. 2185) imported by M. Singer and Sons. Beautiful welded brass and Italian Walnut details. One of the most influential Mid-Century Italian designers. Architect...
Brass
Gio Ponti for Singer Dining Table in Walnut With Brass Sabots Circa 1950s
By Gio Ponti, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Peabody, MA
A walnut dining table with brass sabots, designed by Gio Ponti and produced by M. Singer & Sons, ca. 1950s. Measures 40” in diameter, p...
Brass
Sold
H 16.125 in W 61 in D 27 in
Ico Parisi for Singer & Sons Walnut and Brass Rectangular Slat Coffee Table
By Ico Parisi, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Troy, MI
A rare coffee table designed by Luigi and Ico Parisi for M Singer & Sons Model 2185 circa 1960s Walnut surface with single side drawer and lower slat shelf Brass frame legs and fitt...
Brass
Sold
H 29 in W 40 in D 40 in
Gio Ponti for Singer & Sons #2135 Extendable Dining Table, c 1950, Refinished
By Gio Ponti, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This restored Model 2135 extendable dining table with four leaves by Gio Ponti for Singer & Sons features gorgeously veined Italian Walnut with sculpted legs to Gio Ponti's signature...
Brass
Bertha Schaefer for Singer & Sons Travertine Side Table
By Bertha Schaefer, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Palm Springs, CA
An elegant travertine and walnut side table designed by Bertha Schaefer for Singer and Sons. Purchased out of a nice Palm Springs Estate along with a matching round coffee table avai...
Travertine