Merton Gershun Furniture
American, 1909-1989
In as early as the 1920s, American furniture designer Merton Gershun created popular bedroom suites and more for the likes of Shelbyville, Indiana’s Albert Distinctive Modern Furniture Company. Later, he partnered with Dillingham Manufacturing, which had offices in Wisconsin and Mississippi and collaborated with the likes of Arthur Umanoff and Pierre Cardin. The world’s growing population of mid-century modern furniture devotees, however, know Gershun as having been American of Martinsville’s most prolific designer. Vintage Merton Gershun dressers, side tables, bed frames and other pieces are widely collected today.
Founded in the early 1900s by former tobacco producers, American of Martinsville eventually became one of the best known furniture manufacturers in the United States. Besides quality manufacturing, American of Martinsville is additionally recognized for having incorporated the day's trends in its designs. Inspired by designers like George Nakashima and Paul Laszlo, the brand was also known for innovations with wood.
Working with walnut and ebonized mahogany — and integrating decorative flourishes such as brass drawer pulls into his dressers and cane door fronts on his cabinets — Gershun designed numerous furniture lines for the company, including Dilettante, Fortissimo and others. The designer’s Dania collection, with its sleek walnut credenzas fitted with stylish brass accents and large drawers, has enjoyed popularity all over the world.
Gershun was passionate about bringing stylish pieces to American families but was also focused on affordability. His Harlequin line for American of Martinsville — the print ads for which read “SCULPTURED” and “BUDGET-PRICED” in bolded all-caps text — included bedroom and dining room furnishings in solid walnut. For Dillingham, Gershun designed the similarly well-received Esprit and Samara lines as well as other collections.
Gershun was particularly interested in creating furniture for small spaces and for postwar homeowners on a modest budget. He was a big proponent of incorporating international influences into his designs — he drew inspiration from Asia and created chinoiserie-style dressers in bleached walnut supported by ebonized wood bases. To Gershun, modern design was more than clean lines and sharp angles: it was about utility as well as beauty.
Find vintage Merton Gershun case pieces, tables, bedroom furniture and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Merton Gershun
Dealer: Mid Century Jewell's
Pair of Merton L. Gershun for Dillingham "Esprit" MCM Walnut Nightstands
By Merton Gershun
Located in Las Vegas, NV
We are very pleased to offer a pair of mid-century nightstands by Merton Gershun for Dillingham as part of the "Esprit" collection, circa the 1960s. A cabinet door opens to reveal a...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Merton Gershun Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Merton Gershon for American of Martinsville Dania Display Cabinet China Hutch
By Merton Gershun
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This is a very rare piece from American of Martinsville's Danish-inspired 'Dania' Collection designed by Merton Gershon c. 1961. A warm walnut veneers tall hutch...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Merton Gershun Furniture
Materials
Brass
Merton Gershun Mid Century Modern American of Martinsville Dainia Walnut Highboy
By Merton Gershun
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This professionally restored tall dresser, from American of Martinsville's "Dania" line, was designed by Merton Gershun. It features three lower drawers with louvered fronts, three s...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Merton Gershun Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Midcentury American of Martinsville Dania Walnut Desk Chair by Merton Gershun
By Merton Gershun
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Mid-Century Modern American of Martinsville Dania Desk Chair by Merton Gershun
A Sculpted Walnut Desk chair by American of Martinsville designed ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Merton Gershun Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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Merton L. Gershun Walnut Writing Desk for American of Martinsville
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MCM Drexel WINDWOOD Nightstands
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Previously Available Items
Pair of Merton Gershun for Dillingham Esprit Mid Century Danish Modern Mirrors
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Mint Condition Merton Gershun Dillingham Midcentury Credenza, Sideboard Buffet
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H 30 in W 52 in D 18.5 in
Merton Gershun Mid-Century Modern Desk for American of Martinsville Dania
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Designed by Merton Gershun for Dillingham Esprit Mid Century Display Cabinet
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Merton Gershun for Dillingham Mid-Century Modern Walnut Sideboard Credenza
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Merton Gershun American Martinsville Dania Mid Century Bench with Display Case
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Merton Gershun for American Of Martinsville Dania mid century bench with display case
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H 51 in W 55 in D 19 in
Mid-Century Modern Merton Gershun for American of Martinsville Credenza
By Merton Gershun
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Mid-century Merton Gershun for American of Martinsville credenza / buffet. Gorgeous piece that includes cabinet doors on the left and right sides that includes the original brass har...
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Mid Century American of Martinsville Gershun Long Bench & Lighted Bar Cabinet
By Merton Gershun
Located in Las Vegas, NV
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H 43 in W 72 in L 43 in
Mid-Century Modern American of Martinsville Dania Desk & Chair by Merton Gershun
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Located in Las Vegas, NV
A sculpted walnut desk by American of Martinsville designed by Merton Gershun, United States, c. 1950s. This desk is apart of American of Martinsville's "Dania" collection. This piece is crafted of solid walnut and is accompanied by a veneered top and drawer faces. This piece shows hearty construction, just as you'd expect from anything by American Of martinsville. This piece shows fantastic period elements including exoskeleton legs, a floating drawer chassis, and an asymmetric boomerang top. The desk shows a finished back, which is ideal for an open floor plan. The double stacked drawers open and close as they should and show the American of Martinsville mark.
Measures: Desk 47...
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1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Merton Gershun Furniture
Materials
Walnut
H 29.5 in W 29.5 in D 47 in
MCM Mid Century Modern Merton Gershun American of Martinsville Coffee Table
By Merton Gershun
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Beautiful professionally refinished Mid-Century Modern coffee table by Merton Gershun for American of Martinsville. This solid walnut table features 4 point star...
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H 15.5 in W 60 in D 17 in
Merton Gershun furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Merton Gershun furniture 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 Merton Gershun furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Merton Gershun were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Kent-Coffey, Conant Ball, and Broyhill. Prices for Merton Gershun furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $400 and can go as high as $6,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,400.
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