“Enduring, modern and classic” is how mid-century modern furniture designer Mel Smilow used to describe his chairs, benches, coffee tables and other pieces, which were not only functional and durable but were designed to become timeless heirlooms for American families.
Smilow was born in the Bronx, New York, and, in 1939, attended Pratt Institute, where he studied to become a commercial artist. However, his father’s death forced him to discontinue his schooling and, at the age of 17, he took over his father’s role as a wholesale furniture salesman.
Following his stint in the army during World War II, Smilow partnered with colleague Morton Thielle in 1949 to form the furniture manufacturer and retailer Smilow-Thielle. Although they had planned to sell quality furniture made by American manufacturers, Smilow was unsatisfied with their designs and became Smilow-Thielle’s chief designer.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Smilow used a variety of American hardwoods such as walnut, beech and oak for his benches, lounge chairs, sofas, table lamps, coffee tables, and other furnishings. One of his more popular designs was the Floating Platform bed — John Lennon and Yoko Ono owned one.
Although Smilow intended his designs to be comfortable and affordable for the “average American family,” his work was defined by the clean lines, delicate construction and symmetry often seen in Scandinavian modernist or Japanese furniture, and it drew attention and acclaim from designers and critics.
For instance, Buckminster Fuller placed Smilow’s rocking chairs in the geodesic dome he designed as the U.S. pavilion for Expo 1967, in Montreal, and Pratt Institute featured his ottoman as part of an exhibition of “well-designed furniture for under $25.” The New York Times, the New Yorker magazine and William Hennessey’s book Modern Furnishings for the Home also featured Smilow’s furniture.
Smilow-Thielle operated retail locations in the New York metro area as well as in Washington, D.C., with the firm’s flagship store occupying prime real estate on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan for several decades. Smilow’s designs have been likened to those of Jens Risom and Børge Mogensen and certainly wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Herman Miller showroom in the postwar era, but they have distinctive joinery details and a quiet strength that make them unique.
In 1969, Smilow and Thielle ended their partnership, with Smilow retaining sole company ownership. In 1981, Smilow retired and closed the business, turning his attention toward sculpting, painting and printmaking.
Although he died in 2002, Smilow’s legacy of furniture-making has lived on. His daughter, Judy, formed Smilow Design in 2013, which carries on her father’s tradition of creating “enduring, modern and classic” designs. Following Judy’s death of ALS in 2018, the company has been run by her husband, Steven Schoenfelder and her two children, who are still managing the brand today.
On 1stDibs, find a range of vintage Mel Smilow seating, tables and lighting.
$3,840 / item
Woven Rush-Backed Dining Armchair by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2018, the woven rush-backed dining armchair is classically midcentury. This colle...
Rush, Walnut
$5,770 / item
Woven Rush Lounge Chair by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2013, the Woven Rush Lounge Chair is class...
Rush, Walnut
$3,110 / item
Woven Rush Dining Armchair by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2013, the woven rush dining armchairis classically midcentury. This collection’s ...
Rush, Walnut
Woven Leather Backed Counter Stool in Oak and Caramel Leather by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2016, the Woven Leather Backed Counter stool...
Leather, Oak
Upholstered Dining Armchair by Mel Smilow in Dark Brown Boucle
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2017, the upholstered dining armchair with a boucle and leather upholstery is a sister chair...
Leather, Bouclé, Walnut
Rare Armchair in Oak & Rush by Mel Smilow for Smilow-Thielle, USA, c. 1950s
By Mel Smilow, Smilow-Thielle
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a rare, early Mel Smilow "Thrush" chair. Designed and crafted in the mid-1950's this icon of this American mid-century modern movement is in 100% original, vintage condit...
Oak
Woven Leather Backed Counter Stool in Walnut and Tan Leather by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2016, the woven leather backed counter stool...
Leather, Walnut
Woven Leather Backed Bar Stool in Oak and Caramel Leather by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2016, the Woven Leather Backed Counter stool...
Leather, Oak
Woven Leather Backed Bar Stool in Walnut and Tan Leather by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2016, the Woven Leather Backed Counter stool...
Leather, Walnut
$2,500
Mel Smilow Armchair
By Mel Smilow
Located in Highland, IN
The subtle, almost austere design of Mel Smilow's lounge chair positions it somewhere between a Scandinavian and French aesthetic. The walnut frame supports a seat and back of woven ...
Rush, Walnut
$2,054 / item
H 29.14 in W 22.45 in D 22.45 in
Accent Dining Chair Gropius CS1 by NOOM in Boucle, White
By NOOM, Kateryna Sokolova
Located in Paris, FR
AWARD-WINNING CONTEMPORARY DESIGN The Gropius Dining Chair CS1 by NOOM, designed by Kateryna Sokolova, is an award-winning contemporary dining chair recognized at Interior Design’s ...
Wool, Bouclé, Cotton, Velvet, Faux Fur, Ash
Woven Rush-Backed Dining Side Chair by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2018, the woven rush dining side chair is classically midcentury. This collection...
Rush, Walnut
60" Woven Rush Bench in Walnut by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Available in 44" or 60". RLB 60 measures 60"w 18"d 17"h RLB 44 measured 44"w 18"d 17"h Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956, the Woven Rush Benches...
Rush, Walnut
$325
H 38.75 in W 18 in D 18.25 in
Single Quaker Style Ladder Back Dining Chair with Rush Seat and Bible Shelf
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Single Quaker style ladder back dining chair with rush seat and Bible shelf. One left from group of many. In original condition, with visible patina and heavy wear, including some br...
Rush, Wood
$2,285 / set
H 31.89 in W 19.69 in D 19.3 in
Vico Magistretti / Charlotte Perriand Style Rush Dining Room Chairs 70s White
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
These chairs are often attributed to Vico Magistretti, produced by Cassina (attr.). Made in Italy, dating from the ‘70s. Made of solid wood, painted white and have a rush seat. Fit...
Rush, Wood
Six Painted Oak and Rush Dining Chairs, circa 1940s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Set of six unusual oak dining chairs, with a geometric patterned design carved on the wood, and a criss-cross motif on the backs, flanked on either side by rush detailing. The front ...
Rush, Oak
$14,000
H 28 in W 94.5 in D 33 in
Mid-Century Modern Walnut "Rail Back" Sofa By Mel Smilow For Smilow-Thiell
By Mel Smilow
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is a highly prized, American Mid-Century Modern "Rail Back" sofa (Model WFS 488) designed by Mel Smilow for Smilow-Thielle, circa the 1950s. Mel Smilow was celebrated for creat...
Upholstery, Walnut
Mel Smilow Walnut Lounge Rush Seat Arm Chair Circa 1950s
By Mel Smilow
Located in Peabody, MA
An original lounge chair in walnut with woven papercord seat and back, designed and produced in limited quantities by Mel Smilow in the 1950s.
Papercord, Walnut
Woven Rush Walnut Bar Stool by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2013, the Woven Rush Bar Stool is classically midcentury. This collection’s handw...
Rush, Walnut
$3,850 / set
H 34.26 in W 17.33 in D 20.87 in
Guillerme & Chambron Set of Four Dining Chairs in Oak with Rush Seats
By Guillerme et Chambron
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison, set of four dining chairs, oak, rush, France, 1960s. Set of four dining chairs in solid oak by Guillerme and Chambron. These chairs show a mo...
Oak, Straw
High Fan Back Woven Wicker Chair by Ficks Reed
By John Wisner, Ficks Reed
Located in New York, NY
Stylish woven stick wicker and bamboo fan back chair with exaggerated high back. Asian influenced design, Mid-Century Asia Modern Papasan, Peacoc...
Bamboo, Willow
Francis Jourdain Lounge Chairs in Woven Rush and Wood
By Francis Jourdain
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Francis Jourdain, pair of armchairs, rush, stained beech, France, 1925 Designed by the French painter and cabinetmaker Francis Jourdain (1876–1958), these elegant chairs possess a s...
Beech, Rush
$2,240Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 33 in W 24 in D 20 in
Set of 6 Mid Century Dining Armchairs by Richard McCarthy
By Richard McCarthy
Located in New York, NY
Set of six matching arm dining height chairs designed by Richard McCarthy. Unusually clean, ready to use, hard to find sets of six. Mid-Century Modern design while incorporating rust...
Iron
Pair of Lounge Chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of chairs in Jacaranda and upholstered in black faux leather, made in Brazil, circa 1950 by Joaquim Tenreiro. A total of four chairs are available.
Faux Leather, Jacaranda
$15,542 / set
H 32.29 in W 22.05 in D 20.87 in
Set of Six “Fumay” Dining Armchairs by Guillerme et Chambron, France, 1960s
By Guillerme et Chambron, Votre Maison
Located in ŁÓDŹ, PL
'Fumay' chairs designed in 1965 by the world-famous French duo, Robert Guillerme and Jacques Chambron. This solid oak “Fumay” dinning armchairs are considered as a reference among furniture from the 1950s to the 1970s. This dining armchairs perfectly explains why, through proportions, unique concepts and the quality of woodworking at the highest level, the French duo created timeless furniture. These chairs show beautiful lines, from Guillerme and Chambron's signature tapered legs to the armrests, which are carved from light oak with the utmost care. This armchair model is made with attention to detail and extremely comfortable. This version of the 'Fumay' model with armrests is distinguished by interesting curves and the highest craftmanship, characteristic of the Guillerme & Chambron duo. The genius of the project lies in the details and uniqueness of the structure, such as stretchers between the legs placed at different heights in the front and on the sides. The elegant look is complemented by upholstered seats made of a premium light linen and wool blend fabric, which perfectly matches the color of oiled oak. Condition: In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. The chairs are newly refinished and reupholstered in premium light fabric, a blend of wool and linen. At the customer's special request, AMS Gallery...
Fabric, Wood
Mel Smilow for Smilow Thielle Mid Century Walnut Case Lounge Chair
By Mel Smilow, Smilow-Thielle
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Mel Smilow for Smilow Thielle mid century walnut case lounge chair The lounge chair measures: 33 wide x 31 deep x 29 high, with a seat height of 17 inches and arm height of 23 inc...
Upholstery, Walnut
Set of Leather Strap Chairs by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic set of dining chairs with woven leather seat, designed by Mel Smilow for Smilow-Thiele. Sculpted walnut wood frames are gleaming and crafted with an eye to detail as seen in ...
Leather, Walnut
Midcentury Embroidered Walnut Side Chair by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow, Smilow-Thielle
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We offer free curbside viewing of this item to the five boroughs or by appointment in our studio in Industry City, Brooklyn. Handsome solid walnut frame with clean, classic Mid-Cent...
Walnut
Single Midcentury Chair with Rush Seating by Mel Smilo
By Mel Smilow
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage-modern low chair with rush seating, unique design by Mel Smilo. Please confirm item location NY or NJ with dealer.