Michael van Beuren was born in New York and studied architecture at the Bauhaus under Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Josef Albers until its closure in 1933. He moved to Acapulco at the end of 1936, where he oversaw the design of the interiors of the bungalows at the renowned Flamingo Hotel in 1937, and quickly became a formative member of the Mexican Modernism movement.
By 1938, van Beuren began focusing on furniture design, working with a fellow Bauhaus colleague, Klaus Grabe, to create modern and affordable pieces. Inspired by the local culture and craftsmanship, the duo applied Bauhaus design principles to popular Mexican mainstays, such as woven reclining chaises and wooden dining chairs.
The approach was a success — Grabe, Morley Webb and van Beuren were named among the winners of a 1941 competition organized by the Museum of Modern Art that focused on designer teams from the United States and Latin America called “Organic Design in Home Furnishings.” This award catapulted them to wide renown.
In the following years, van Beuren founded his furniture label Domus, which became synonymous with well-crafted, modernist design that garnered fans both in Mexico and America. Along with his own designs, Domus also produced work by Clara Porset, a friend and contemporary of van Beuren’s. However, by 1951, the company’s move toward more mass manufacturing meant that van Beuren’s earlier designs were no longer being produced.
Find vintage Michael van Beuren furniture on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by 7710 Gallery)
Mid-Century Modern Petite Disc Cabinet by Michael van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, we offer this Mid-Century Modern petite disc cabinet by Michael Van Beuren, made in mahogany plywood and brass details, includes VB original l...
Mahogany
Original Domus Credenza by Michael van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare original Domus Credenza by Michael Van Beuren in pine wood and with the characteristic Van Beuren green color, designed by the American Bauhaus designer, Michael V...
Pine
Original Domus Credenza by Michael van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare original Domus Credenza by Michael Van Beuren in pine wood and with the characteristic Van Beuren color, designed by the American Bauhaus designer, Michael Van Beu...
Pine
$4,500Sale Price|25% Off
Original Domus Credenza by Michael Van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare original Domus Credenza by Michael Van Beuren in pine wood and with the characteristic green Van Beuren color, designed by the American Bauhaus designer, Michael V...
Pine
Original Wardrobe by Michael van Beuren "Domus Line"
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare and Original Wardrobe designed by Michael Van Beuren for the "Domus" line, circa 1950, recently restored professionally.
Pine
Modernist Cabinet by M. Van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mérida, Yucatan
Modernist cabinet by M. Van Beuren. This piece features a top drawer and a drop-down door, with multiple operating possibilities. Created in the early 1970s, this collection was name...
Oak, Cedar
Mid-Century Modern Early Knoll Walnut 2-Door Credenza
By Florence Knoll
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Diminutive credenza from the early 1950s. Walnut top is new veneer replacing worn Formica. Leather pulls a signature Florence Knoll design mark. Two sliding doors open to reveal two ...
Steel
Art Deco Burr Walnut Double Wardrobe Made in England
Located in Pulborough, GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this Art Deco burr walnut double wardrobe. A very lovely solid and well-made wardrobe, there is damage on side of...
Walnut
$2,895
H 32 in W 47.75 in D 18 in
Expertly Restored-Californian Modernist Tambour-Door Walnut Credenza by Barzilay
By Barzilay
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Californian Modernist tambour-door walnut credenza by Barzilay captures the warmth and refined simplicity of West Coast mid-century design. The tambour-style sliding doors revea...
Wood, Walnut
$57,826 / item
H 77.17 in W 67.33 in D 21.26 in
Bongo Marble Wardrobe, Closet, Manual Doors, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple, Rute Martins
Located in Lisboa, PT
Bongó Closet, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Bongó marble wardrobe is a reinterpretation of the original Bongó bar cabinet...
Onyx, Marble, Brass, Stainless Steel
Jens Risom Mid-Century Modern Walnut Cabinet Credenza
By Jens Risom
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Two-door Mid-Century Modern cabinet by Jens Risom. Classic style of Risom where case appears to be floating on base. Nickeled hardware, finished back, Divided in centre with two adju...
Chrome
$9,500
H 25.5 in W 75 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Modern Florence Knoll Green Verde Marble Top Credenza or Cabinet
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sleek modern classic cabinet designed by Florence Knoll and produced by Knoll. It features a dark mahogany case, stainless steel legs and a rare gree...
Marble, Stainless Steel
Guillerme & Chambron Wardrobe in Solid Oak
By Guillerme et Chambron
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme & Chambron for Votre Maison, armoire or wardrobe, oak, brass, France, 1960s This charming wardrobe is a good example of excellent woodworking by virtue of the graphical de...
Brass
Van Keppel for Brown Saltman Mid Century Credenza
By Brown Saltman
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Van Keppel for Brown Saltman Mid Century Credenza This credenza measures: 60 wide x 19 deep x 35.75 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restored vintage ...
Wood
Mid-Century Burl Cabinet
By Milo Baughman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern cabinet with brilliant burl wood doors. Brown lacquer frame with polished chrome accents. Please confirm location.
Burl, Lacquer
$4,200
H 40 in W 52 in D 15.5 in
Mid Century Danish Modern Large Scale Cabinet, Chest or Credenza in Teak
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A stunning Scandinavian cabinet from the 1960's. This sleek piece features gorgeous book-matched teak wood, large door and six drawers with tons of interior storage space. Nice shall...
Teak
$5,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 71 in W 54 in D 20 in
Rare Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin Burl Chrome Armoire Wardrobe Mid-Century
By Milo Baughman
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Rare Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin burl and chrome armoire/wardrobe. This piece is very rare and hard to find, this is the 1st time we have ever had one. It is in wonderful vintage...
Chrome
Brasilia Walnut Credenza by Broyhill
By Broyhill Brasilia
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very well-crafted Brasilia Mid Century modern walnut credenza with three drawers to one end and to the other two doors with storage and a fixed shelve. The lower leg area has an op...
Walnut
Custom Mahogany Japanese Console
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This piece was a custom vintage piece was commissioned and designed in Japan. The piece is comprised of mahogany and sits low to the ground with three storage shelves and three drawe...
Mahogany
Original Domus Drawer by Michael Van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare original Domus drawer by Michael Van Beuren in pine wood. Designed by the American Bauhaus designer, Michael Van Beuren in Mexico, circ...
Pine
Original Domus Drawer by Michael Van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare original Domus drawer by Michael Van Beuren in pine wood. Designed by the American Bauhaus designer, Michael Van Beuren in Mexico, circ...
Pine
Sold
H 29.5 in W 84 in D 20.5 in
Handwoven Palm and Wood 4-Door Credenza by Michael van Beuren from LUTECA
By Michael van Beuren, Luteca Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed in Mexico in circa 1945 by Michael van Beuren, an American designer trained at Germany's famous Bauhaus school, who was devoted to combining the sophistication of Europe's '...
Wood, Oak
Michael van Beuren Mexican Embassy Cabinet
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Dronten, NL
An important solid mahogany cupboard with doors on either side, 3 drawers at the centre and a display with sliding glass doors on top. The doors and sidewalls frame a beautiful baske...
Rattan, Mahogany
Original Domus Drawer by Michael Van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare an early original Domus drawer designed by Michael Van Beuren in pine wood with the characteristic green Van Beuren color, designed by ...
Pine
Important Michael van Beuren Mexican Embassy Sideboard
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Dronten, NL
A unique solid mahogany sideboard with doors on either side and 3 drawers at the centre. The doors frame a beautiful basket weave of rattan cord. Provenance: The office of the...
Rattan, Mahogany
Original Domus Drawer by Michael Van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare original Domus drawer by Michael Van Beuren in pine wood and with the characteristic terracota Van Beuren color, designed by the Americ...
Pine
Woven Rattan Credenza by Michael van Beuren for Domus Mexico
By Domus, Michael van Beuren
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bauhaus-trained, Mexico city-based Michael van Beuren created highly functional modern design inspired by Mexican vernacular styles and materials. This example is a small credenza wi...
Mahogany, Rattan
Original Domus Drawer by Michael Van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare Original Domus Drawer by Michael Van Beuren in pine wood and with the characteristic green Van Beuren color, designed by the American B...
Pine
Michael Van Beuren Bar Set for Domus
By Domus, Michael van Beuren
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Professionally restored bar set consisting of 2 stools and a bar, made of pine in the late 1940s. Size: Bar 42 x 17.5 x 42 in 107 x 44.5 x 107 cm Stoo...
Pine
Original Michael Van Beuren Credenza by Domus
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Designed by the American Bauhaus designer, Michael van Beuren in Mexico, this handmade, solid pine wood credenza was recently restored circa 1940. About Michael van Beuren: Michae...
Pine