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Mel Smilow Tables

American, 1922-2002

“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.

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Creator: Mel Smilow
Early Production Mel Smilow Slatted Walnut Coffee Table
By Mel Smilow
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For your consideration is this 1950's early production slatted walnut coffee table by Mel Smilow. This fine example is all original and features solid walnut construction; clean midc...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mel Smilow Tables

Materials

Walnut

Mel Smilow Slatted Solid Walnut Mid-Century Modern Bench on Tapered Dowel Legs
By Mel Smilow
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mel Smilow Slatted solid walnut Mid-Century Modern bench on tapered dowel legs.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

Materials

Walnut

60" Slatted Walnut Bench or Coffee Table 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 60" slatted bench or coffee table is a prime example of handcrafted woo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

Materials

Walnut

Pedestal Extension Table in Walnut by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced in 2014, this solid walnut extension dining table with pedestal base is beautifully versatile. The simplicity of...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

Materials

Walnut

Walnut Slatted Tea Cart by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1950 and reintroduced in 2022, the Slatted Tea Cart is a two-level rolling cart built with our signature walnut slats and fine joinery details. T...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

Materials

Brass

Mel Smilow Stacking End Tables in Solid Walnut
By Mel Smilow
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic modernist simplicity and elegance in this pair of solid wooden side tables. Designed by Mel Smilow and executed in American Walnut. Butcher blocks style tops without chunky s...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

Materials

Walnut

Mel Smilow Slat Bench/End Table in Walnut
By Mel Smilow
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful Mel Smilow walnut slat bench. Elegant silhouette with simple lines and just the right proportions. Also could be used as a coffee table. Top and sides have been sanded and ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

Materials

Walnut

Pair Square Mel Smilow Slatted Solid Walnut Modern Benches Side Tables MINT!
By Adrian Pearsall, Mel Smilow
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of Mel Smilow Solid Walnut Tapered Dowel Legs Square Slatted Solid Walnut Modern Benches Side Tables MINT!
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

Materials

Walnut

Woven Rush Ottoman 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 Ottoman is classically mid...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

Materials

Walnut, Rush

Walnut Slatted Stacking Tables 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 slatted stacking tables in a set of three is a prime example of handcra...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

Materials

Walnut

Walnut Oval Cocktail Table by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1960 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 2013, the oval cocktail table is classically midcentury. The surface’s oval shape...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

Materials

Walnut

Trio of Mid-Century Modern Stacking Tables by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow, Smilow-Thielle
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trio of petite, Mid-Century Modern, walnut block, tapered leg, stacking tables by Mel Smilow for Smilow-Thielle can be stacked together, used as occasional side tables or continuousl...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

Materials

Walnut

Mel Smilow Slat Walnut Side Tables
By Mel Smilow
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Mel Smilow slat walnut side tables.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

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Midcentury White Plastic and Metal Chrome Italian Bar Cart Oval, 1950s
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Mid-Century Slat Bench
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Previously Available Items
MCM Solid Walnut Dining Table and chairs by Mel Smilow circa 1950
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Mel Smilow for Smilow-Thielle Solid walnut dining table and six chairs. Gorgeous mid century modern oval table with two leaves and six freshly upholstered in green velvet dining chairs...
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Mid-Century Modern Wide Slat Mahogany Coffee Table By Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern, low, slat mahogany coffee table by American designer Mel Smilow features the rare, double depth, table top dimension of 60 x 30 inches. The fine mahogany slats fit seamlessly into the frame with beautiful joinery details visible on each side. The top rests on tapered dowel legs and stands 14 inches tall. This uncommon mahogany Smilow coffee table is double the size of the 5 ft bench...
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Mel Smiley Large Vintage Expanding Table
By Mel Smilow, Smilow-Thielle
Located in Kalamazoo, MI
This is a very rare extra large (60") diameter expanding dining table by Mel Smilow for Smilow-Thielle circa 1952. Featuring a distinctive solid walnut butcher block top on a dynamic...
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Mel Smilow - Mid Century Modern Night Stands in Walnut - Fully Restored
By Jens Risom, Smilow-Thielle, Knoll, Mel Smilow
Located in Decatur, GA
Scarce pair of over-sized nightstands or end tables by Mel Smilow for Smilow-Thiel furniture, 1950s. Fully restored featuring stunning American black walnut grain. One large drawer i...
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Mel Smilow Walnut Slat Tables, A Set of Three
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A fine set of three Mel Smilow (1922-2002) designed solid walnut slat tables. Wonderful oiled walnut featuring that signature splined corners, cross cut color contrast sides and remo...
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Mel Smilow Mid Century Slat Bench Coffee Table in Walnut c 1950's
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Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Mid Century in solid walnut slat bench, coffee table by Mel Smilow. The bench exhibits fine craftsmanship, expected from this master woodworker. This example is in very...
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Mid-Century Modern Slatted Cocktail Table by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous walnut slatted bench or cocktail table with finger joint construction. Delicate walnut slats framed with dovetail joints. In excellent vintage condition with minimal wear. W...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mel Smilow Tables

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Mel Smilow Woven Leather Strap Dining Chairs
By Mel Smilow
Located in Atlanta, GA
Mid-Century Modern woven leather strap dining chairs, designed by Mel Smilow, circa 1960s. The price noted is for the set of two arm chairs...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mel Smilow Tables

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Mel Smilow for Smilow-Thielle Slat Walnut Coffee Table
By Mel Smilow, Smilow-Thielle
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern, slat walnut coffee table bench with elegant dovetail details and tapered legs designed by Mel Smilow for Smilow-Thielle.
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Mel Smilow Tables

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Walnut

Midcentury Mel Smilow Slat Wood Coffee Table
By Mel Smilow
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
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Original Trio Mel Smilow Slat Stacking Tables, 1950's
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Mel Smilow Walnut Slat Bench or Coffee Table
By Mel Smilow
Located in Atlanta, GA
Midcentury walnut slat bench or coffee table, designed by Mel Smilow, American, circa 1950s. It has Smilow's signature joinery at the corners of the bench. It is a versatile size and...
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Metal

Mel Smilow tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Mel Smilow tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Mel Smilow tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 11 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 6 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original tables by Mel Smilow were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider tables by Conant Ball, Merton Gershun , and Selig. Prices for Mel Smilow tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $799 and can go as high as $13,700, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,800.

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