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Raymond Loewy

For those in the know, French-born American industrial designer Raymond Loewy is the “father of streamlining.” He is widely recognized as a pioneer of industrial design consulting — a creative powerhouse who took aim at cluttered designs and simplified them. Loewy left his mark on everything from toothbrushes to trashcans to spacecraft interiors. He designed cars, worked in illustration, and crafted comely dressers and other furniture.

Loewy was born in Paris, France. At age 15, he designed a model airplane that was powered by rubber bands. It won the James Gordon Bennett Cup of 1908. Loewy patented the model kit for this plane by the following year and saw brisk sales. With his savings, Loewy was able to study at the University of Paris and then at Ecole de Lanneau, where he earned an engineering degree in 1918.

Loewy moved to New York City in 1919 and found work as a window designer for the department stores Macy's, Wanamaker's and Saks and as a fashion illustrator for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Loewy’s big break in industrial design came in 1929 when he altered the Gestetner duplicating machine — removing jutting parts and encasing the moving works in an understated cover. It caused a sensation within the industry — and companies began to call on him.

Loewy designed packaging for Coca-Cola and revised the look of Lucky cigarettes. The “Loewy Look,” which referred to the designer’s efforts to strip a product of any unnecessary detail and streamline its appearance, began to characterize hundreds of products.

Loewy found clients in a dizzying number of companies. He did everything from retooling logos to redesigning products. His 1934 Sears Coldspot refrigerator was a sleek innovation that broke sales records. His Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive resembled a speeding bullet and was the darling of the 1939 World’s Fair. Loewy even reworked shapes for snacks at Nabisco. By the time World War II gathered steam, Raymond Loewy Associates — the industrial design firm he founded — had been operating in a number of American cities. When Time magazine featured him on the cover in October 1949 — Loewy was not shy about publicity — his profile soared.

Loewy worked with Studebaker for decades. The success of their 1953 Starliner coupe was due to his revolutionary design, while their 1963 futuristic, fiberglass-bodied Avanti, which came with advanced safety features and materialized at a time when the company was experiencing financial hardship, was his crowning achievement for the maker.

Returning to his roots in aviation, Loewy worked for NASA from 1967 to 1973 on the interior design of the Skylab space station. He was also involved in the interior designs of the Concorde supersonic jet and Air Force One. Loewy delighted in creating furniture and collaborated with manufacturers such as Mengel Furniture, Rosenthal and Doubinsky Frères. In the 1970s, Loewy and his wife shuttered their businesses and retired in France.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Raymond Loewy cabinets, serveware, seating and more.

Average Sold Price
$3,495
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Industrial Midcentury Desk by Raymond Loewy for Brunswick
By Brunswick Co., Raymond Loewy
Located in San Diego, CA
Fantastic industrial midcentury desk by renowned French designer Raymond Loewy for Brunswick of Chicago, circa 1950s. The desk features an exposed metal frame, a unique peg board...
Category

20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Raymond Loewy

Materials

Chrome

Mid Century Raymond Loewy Dresser Chest
By Mengel Furniture Co., Raymond Loewy
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid-century dresser chest designed by Raymond Loewy for Mengel Furniture Co. in ebonized solid oak. This piece features four wide drawers with cast aluminum pulls.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Raymond Loewy

Materials

Aluminum

  • Mid Century Raymond Loewy Dresser Chest
  • Mid Century Raymond Loewy Dresser Chest
  • Mid Century Raymond Loewy Dresser Chest
  • Mid Century Raymond Loewy Dresser Chest
H 31.75 in W 34 in D 19.25 in
Raymond Loewy for Rosenthal Porcelain China Service for 12
By Raymond Loewy, Rosenthal
Located in Palm Springs, CA
German porcelain china dinnerware service for 12 by renowned American designer Raymond Loewy. The set consists of 12 dinner plate, 12 Salad plate, 12 Desert plate, 12 Cup and saucer...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Raymond Loewy

Materials

Porcelain

Light Walnut Bed Frame by Raymond Loewy
By Raymond Loewy
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful vintage bed frame by Raymond Loewy, in a rich light walnut. Perfect for adding elegant and timeless Mid-Century Modern style to any be...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Raymond Loewy

Materials

Walnut

  • Light Walnut Bed Frame by Raymond Loewy
  • Light Walnut Bed Frame by Raymond Loewy
  • Light Walnut Bed Frame by Raymond Loewy
  • Light Walnut Bed Frame by Raymond Loewy
H 30 in W 56.5 in D 79.5 in
Vintage mcm highboy dresser by Mengel furniture
By Raymond Loewy
Located in Sayreville, NJ
Rare highboy cabinet by Mengel furniture Designed by Raymond Loewy circa 1950 Gorgeous piece with loads of storage. Three large drawers, drop down cabinet , and storage space up t...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Raymond Loewy

Materials

Metal

Raymond Loewy for Hill Rom pair of chairs
By The Hill-Rom Company, Raymond Loewy
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
Offering a nice pair of chairs designed by Raymond Loewy for Hill Rom. These 1950's waiting room chairs are made with walnut and steel painted white. A great pair of chairs to go aro...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Raymond Loewy

Materials

Steel

DF2000 Cabinet/Credenza by Raymond Loewy for Doubinsky Freres
By Raymond Loewy, Doubinsky Freres
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1960s. Made in France. Rare piece of design history with ABS plastics doors and drawers. Cabinet was modified to have casters on base. Could be wall mounted.
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Raymond Loewy

Materials

Plastic

Raymond Loewy, Stool, Oak, Fabric, USA, 1950s
By Raymond Loewy, Mengel Furniture Co.
Located in High Point, NC
A cerused oak and beige velvet stool designed by Raymond Loewy and produced by Mengel Furniture Co, US, c. 1950s.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Raymond Loewy

Materials

Fabric, Oak

  • Raymond Loewy, Stool, Oak, Fabric, USA, 1950s
  • Raymond Loewy, Stool, Oak, Fabric, USA, 1950s
  • Raymond Loewy, Stool, Oak, Fabric, USA, 1950s
  • Raymond Loewy, Stool, Oak, Fabric, USA, 1950s
H 14.5 in W 22.75 in D 16.75 in
Browse all Furniture from Raymond Loewy
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Raymond Loewy furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Raymond Loewy 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 Raymond Loewy furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Raymond Loewy 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 Kittinger, John Van Koert, and Jack Cartwright. Prices for Raymond Loewy furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £86 and can go as high as £14,049, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £1,996.
Questions About Raymond Loewy
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Raymond Loewy is known as the father of industrial design. While he has designed razors, railroad terminals and more, Loewy is well known for notable logos such as the Lucky Strike cigarette packet and Coke bottle.

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