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)
Double Sided Mahogany & Rattan Bookshelf 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 a highly functional modern design inspired by Mexican vernacular styles and materials. Designed for Domus Mexico...
Mahogany, Rattan
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
$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
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
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
$31,075
H 76.78 in W 43.31 in D 21.66 in
Mid-Century Modern Style Saqris Cabinet, Black and Brass, Handmade by Greenapple
By Greenapple, Rute Martins
Located in Lisboa, PT
Mid-Century Modern Saqris Cabinet, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Saqris cabinet draws inspiration from the cultural heritage of Portug...
Onyx, Quartz, Travertine, Marble, Brass, Stainless Steel
$9,750
H 30.63 in W 89.75 in D 19.63 in
Mid-Century Modern French 1960s Long, Low Cabinet, Ameublement NF
By N.F. Ameublement
Located in New York City, NY
French four door long and low sideboard / buffet featuring dark brown ebonized accents, side brass ltop trim and parquetry detail on all door frames ending with inlaid scroll detail. The whole rests on toupie feet in brass and wood displaying an overall exquisite cubist, Stark and simple design. The interiors of the compartments are refinished in beautiful ribbon stripe mahogany with the original high gloss lacquer finish. The left side has shelves and the right a frieze of four drawers along side a spacious compartment. Label by Ameublement NF...
Palisander
$57,522 / 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
Tambour Door Credenza by Dyrlund
By Dyrlund
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Long mid-century credenza made by Dyrlund of Denmark in the 1960s. Features tambour doors which recede behind the cabinet revealing both open cabinet storage and five drawers. Master...
Teak
$7,650
H 88 in W 74 in D 17 in
Exceptional Custom Mahogany Breakfront Server Cabinet by Joseph Gerte, Boston
By Joseph Gerte
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional custom two part mahogany breakfront server cabinet or bookcase by Joseph Gerte of Boston, MA, its upper case featuring a cres...
Glass, Mahogany, Satinwood
1950 Credenza by Paul Laszlo
By Paul Laszlo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very nice and iconic credenza by Paul Laszlo, it is his signature piece with these special handles, it is made of maple wood, the color and the patina is much nicer in person, it i...
Maple, Wood
$10,400 / item
H 86 in W 67 in D 18.25 in
Mahogany Georgian Style Four Door Bookcase China Cabinet by Leighton Hall
By Leighton Hall Furniture
Located in Suwanee, GA
This a traditional mahogany breakfront bookcase or china cabinet with four doors by Leighton Hall. It features four bottom doors with swirly crotch mahogany fields and straight grain mahogany borders. The top four doors feature grills with individually paned glass. The drawers are masterfully dovetailed and the drawer boxes are made of oak. The hardware is solid brass. The cabinet has dimmable lighting and mortised door locks. Each section has multiple adjustable 3/8 in. glass shelves. It has a hand rubbed satin finish. This cabinet is an excellent compliment to our custom mahogany dining tables...
Mahogany
Dos Gallos Custom Large Oak Wood Cabinet or Wardrobe
By Dos Gallos Studio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Custom Trastero cabinet in oakwood with heavy distress. Available in a variety of finishes. Custom sizes. Interior can be set up as a wardrobe or with shelves. As shown in open grain...
Oak
$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
Ico Parisi Mid-Century Modern Jatoba Wood Credenza
By Ico Parisi
Located in Weesp, NL
Mid-Century Modern Jatoba wood Ico Parisi cabinet A spectacular bespoke trumeau designed by Ico Parisi and very likely produced by Ariberto Colombo, by special order only. Very few p...
Brass
Sold
H 38.25 in W 60 in D 18 in
Woven Rattan Credenza by Michael van Beuren, Mid-Century Design Mexico
By 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 credenza with a p...
Rattan, Pine
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 Michael van Beuren, Domus
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 Michael van Beuren, Domus
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