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Parzinger Originals Credenzas

American

When in the 1930s Tommi Parzinger won a trip to the United States through a poster design competition for a German steamship company, it led to him to become one of the country’s most influential mid-century modern furniture designers with his company, Parzinger Originals

Born in 1903 in Munich, Germany, into an artistic family, Parzinger studied ceramics, painting and design at the Kunstgewerbeschule. In 1932, he entered and won a poster design contest for the Norddeutscher Lloyd steamship company. The grand prize was a voyage to the United States. By the time Parzinger returned to Germany, unrest leading to World War II was emerging, and he was pressured to join the Nazi party. Parzinger fled back to the United States and settled in New York City, where he pursued a career in interior design.

His first job in the country was with Manhattan trendsetter Rena Rosenthal, who employed him to design household silverware for her famed Madison Avenue store. Later, he became the lead designer for the Charak Furniture Company. In the 1940s, with the help of business and life partner Donald Cameron, Parzinger opened his showroom, Parzinger Originals, on East 57th Street in Manhattan.

Throughout his career, Parzinger produced up to 30 pieces a year for his namesake company. They included refined, elegant and meticulously designed end tables, side tables, consoles, floor lamps, table lamps, seating and mirrors. His signature creations were commodes and credenzas featuring beautifully ornamented hardware and lacquer finishes. His clients included Marilyn Monroe, Billy Baldwin and some of New York’s wealthiest families, like the DuPonts and Rockefellers.

Parzinger also collaborated with other furniture companies, including Salterini, Hofstatter, Lightolier, Reed & Barton and Dorlyn. In the last 15 years of his life, he shifted his focus from furniture to Expressionist painting.

When Parzinger died in 1981, Parzinger Originals was left to Donald Cameron, who fought to protect Parzinger’s design legacy from copycats and reproductions. Nevertheless, Parzinger Originals soon closed. 

In recent years, Parzinger Originals furniture has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity among interior designers and collectors of mid-century modern and modern furniture. Pieces from Parzinger Originals are in the collections of the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

On 1stDibs, discover a range of Parzinger Originals case pieces and storage cabinets, tables, lighting and more.

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Creator: Parzinger Originals
Tommi Parzinger Brass Stud, Shell Pink Lacquer Credenza, Signed
By Parzinger Originals, Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite custom Botticelli Shell Pink hand gloss lacquered credenza featuring brass studs and signature Parzinger brass door knocker pull rings. The cabinet has adjustable shelves in each compartment and a divided felt lined drawer...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Tommi Parzinger Originals 4-Drawer Lacquered Console Credenza
By Parzinger Originals, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Miami, FL
Tommi Parzinger Originals 4-Drawer Lacquered Console Credenza Offered for sale is an original white lacquered four-drawer console credenda from Tommi Parzinger. This piece is part ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Metal

Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals Studded Cabinet
By Parzinger Originals, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals lacquered in Robins Egg blue exterior and a white interior. Cabinet on a lacquered black base. Four doors w...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Related Items
Tommi Parzinger Originals Brass Studded & Blue Lacquered Two Drawer Chest
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Buffalo, NY
Tommy Parzinger for Parzinger Originals blue lacquered two drawer cabinet. Some call this a dresser but scale suggests nightstand or bedside chest. Solid brass round domed studs ev...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern Display Cabinet, c 1955, Signed
By Tommi Parzinger, Charak Furniture Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare collectors item, this fully restored Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern (c. 1955) display cabiinet / vitrine, features beautiful french polish with Parzinger's signature statement door handles. Signed with Charak Modern label on the backside of the upper cabinet. This refined and sophisticated Parzinger credenza with glass display hutch is perfect for those high-end luxury pads looking for an incredible and collectible statement piece, which Parzinger was known to create. The gorgeous color is close to the Hermès orange, but perhaps a little bit deeper and bolder - perhaps somewhere between Hermès orange and blood orange. Beauty in every detail, from the cross-cut glass panes, to the upper flared embellishments and the signature Parzinger door handles. Let's not skip one more aspect of this table that is equally important - the collectors appeal. Furniture by Tommi Parzinger is one of the most sought-after and cherished items of sophisticated collectors. This isn't for your typical Eames and George Nelson collector, it is much more for a refined collector, perhaps a connoisseur of fine rarities. The quality of the materials and craftsmanship and design details are something to be admired. Parzinger and Charak Modern designed and crafted some of the highest quality furniture of the early and mid 20th Century. That was at a time when US manufacturing was at its best. And now in this day and age of cheap products not meant to last - this table is your daily reminder that 'they don't make them like they used to.' We restored this incredible sideboard display cabinet with hand-applying a new French Polish lacquer. French Polish is the most laborious and expensive finish because it requires many repetitive coats and each one hand polished to a fine glass-like finish, and while it is very expensive, it is worth it for rare and valuable pieces like this Tommi Parzinger vitrine. The results are nothing short of spectacular - such a smooth, clear and deep finish - it looks almost like a sheet of glass (much more incredible in-person than you can see (or touch / feel) in the photos). And besides how incredible it looks - it will also protect your investment for the decades ahead. This Parzinger cabinet is an ideal example for the most discriminating interior designer client or collector. This french polish cabinet...
Category

1950s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Stunning Petite Parzinger Style Studded Console Credenza Mid-Century Modern
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Stunning petite Parzinger style console credenza with newly hand painted finish. We love the peacock blue color against the wonderful patterned studded door fronts.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Sheet Metal

Tommi Parzinger Style Studded Front 3 Door Credenza on Bench
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Great Scale 48" Long Tommi Parzinger Inspired Credenza/ Buffet. Cabinet and Bench have been refinished. Bench done in a dark finish with upper cabinet in a honey color. Original A...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Tommi Parzinger Chests for Charak Modern- A Pair
By Tommi Parzinger, Charak Furniture Company
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An elegant and rare pair of chests/ commodes designed by Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern. Each chest features two large drawers and two half drawers, finished in an elegant mahogan...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Mahogany

Tommi Parzinger Originals Brass Studded & White Lacquered Two Drawer Chest
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Hanover, MA
Tommy Parzinger for Parzinger Originals white lacquered two drawer cabinet. Some call this a dresser but scale suggests nightstand or bedside chest. Solid brass round domed studs ev...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Tommi Parzinger Small Chest for Parzinger Originals
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Dallas, TX
A small chest / nightstand designed by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals. Original blue lacquer with pull out file drawer on casters.
Category

1950s Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Lacquer

Parzinger Originals Stainless & White Lacquer Wall Mounted Console
By Tommi Parzinger, Parzinger Originals
Located in Hanover, MA
Tommi Parzinger designed custom seven foot long wall mounted floating console sideboard fitted with with two drawers. Wood case and supporting brackets finished in white lacquer and...
Category

1960s North American Hollywood Regency Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Stainless Steel

Monumental Ivory Lacquered and Aged Brass Credenza Style of Tommi Parzinger
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Culver City, CA
This piece is absolutely stunning. A monumentally large credenza in the style of Tommi Parzinger, this credenza features a scalloped ivory lacquered body with solid brass Italian mod...
Category

Early 2000s Hollywood Regency Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Tommi Parzinger Poppy Lacquer Credenza
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Iconic mid-century sideboard in a stunning Poppy lacquer, accented with aged brass studs and pulls. Cabinet has 2 compartments each housing adjustable shelves and drawers. A true col...
Category

20th Century American Hollywood Regency Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Tommi Parzinger for Charak Midcentury Bar Cabinet, Pair
By Charak Furniture Company, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Countryside, IL
Tommi Parzinger for Charak midcentury Bar Cabinet - Pair Each bar cabinet measures: 34.25 wide x 18.25 deep x 42.25 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we ca...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Metal, Brass

Original Tommi Parzinger Sculpted Front Chest of Drawers 'Signed'
By Tommi Parzinger, Parzinger Originals
Located in East Hampton, NY
This is an original condition, beautifully preserved 6-drawer chest by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals in a high lacquer mahogany, all original brass pulls. The front is a se...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Previously Available Items
Tommi Parzinger 6-Door Credenza in Walnut with Iconic Brass Hardware 1960s
By Parzinger Originals, Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Impressive and exceptional 6 door credenza in walnut, sculpted doors with iconic etched brass hardware, by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals, Ame...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Tommi Parzinger 2 Door Lacquered and Bronze Studded Cabinet 1960s 'Signed'
By Parzinger Originals, Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Iconic 2 door cabinet in red lacquer with bronze studs and etched brass hardware with mahogany base and inset milk glass top by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals, American, 196...
Category

1960s American Modern Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Tommi Parzinger 4 Door Credenza with Exquisite Hardware 1960s
By Parzinger Originals, Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Stunning 4 Door credenza in beached ash burl with chrome base and exquisite chrome hardware by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals, American 1960's. The combination of materials ...
Category

1960s American Modern Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Chrome

Tommi Parzinger 4 Door Pale Blue Credenza With Nickel Hardware 1960s (signed)
By Parzinger Originals, Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Elegant 4 door credenza, lacquered pale blue on ebonized block legs with polished nickel pulls, by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals, American 1960's (signed “Parzinger Origina...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Parzinger Originals Credenzas

Materials

Nickel

Parzinger Originals credenzas for sale on 1stDibs.

Parzinger Originals credenzas 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 Parzinger Originals credenzas, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original credenzas by Parzinger Originals were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider credenzas by Dunbar, Widdicomb Furniture Co., and Edward Wormley. Prices for Parzinger Originals credenzas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $12,500 and can go as high as $26,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $19,250.

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