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Tom Dixon Sculptures

British, b. 1959

Artistic, innovative and entrepreneurial, the self-taught creator Tom Dixon has been a contemporary design-world maverick for more than three decades. From his revolutionary art-meets-design projects of the 1980s and throughout his dynamic and influential career as a designer of furniture, housewares and interiors, the only consistent note has been change. Dixon’s chief fascination is exploring new materials and new ways of constructing things.

Dixon was restless even as a young man. He enjoyed ceramics and drawing in high school but later dropped out of the Chelsea School of Art in London. While repairing his motorcycle in 1983, Dixon learned how to weld and took to the craft. He began making what he has called semi-functional objects from scrap metal (sometime as performance art in a nightclub), then formed a furniture studio–cum–think tank called Creative Salvage. Amid the ritzy excess of the ’80s, Dixon — along with designers such as Tejo Remy and Ron Arad — forged a new, attention-getting aesthetic with furniture made from found materials.

In 1987, Dixon began working for the Italian furniture manufacturer Cappellini, which put his best-known design, the slender, sinuous S chair, into production, followed by such pieces as the Pylon chair (1992), a wire lattice that resembles electrical transmission towers. Starting in the 1990s, Dixon expanded his interests rapidly. He started a company to manufacture the stackable plastic Jack light; joined the housewares retailer Habitat as creative director; and breathed new life into Artek, the venerable Finnish maker that Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino helped cofound. Since 2002, Dixon has run his namesake company fabricating furnishings from novel materials like brass foil-clad wood and “vacuum-metalized” glass.

The hallmark of Dixon’s design is his captivation with the process of creating pieces such as chairs, tables and lighting fixtures. “A kind friend once described me as a ‘vertebrate designer,’” Dixon has said. “That means that I design from the bones outwards and am not really interested in surface.”

Classic Dixon pieces are those that exhibit the manner of their making — from his early work in welded scrap metal to the woven rattan seats and backs of his Fat chair for Cappellini. There are two ways to approach Dixon designs: as a collector, or as a decorator. The former will seek Dixon’s one-off and limited edition works and prototypes. These historical artifacts carry high prices that range from around $8,000 to $50,000 and above. Those more interested in a dynamic look will find that manufactured Dixon designs — such as his Jack lights or his Melt pendant — can be found for prices that range from about $300 to $1,000. Either way, as you will see on 1stDibs, the designs of Tom Dixon have a singular allure that makes them a noteworthy element in any room.

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Creator: Tom Dixon
Tom Dixon Wicker and Rattan Motorcycle Sculpture 1980’s
By Tom Dixon
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Very cool wicker and rattan motorcycle by Tom Dixon for a window display for Habitat in the UK from the 1980’s. This is an unusual example of this pi...
Category

1980s Unknown Vintage Tom Dixon Sculptures

Materials

Wicker, Rattan

Tom Dixon Life Size Harley Davidson Motorcycle, 1980's
By Tom Dixon
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Life size Harley Davidson rattan model of a motorcycle, attributed to Tom Dixon USA, Circa 1980s Hand-made sculpture of a motorcycle of woven rattan, willow, reed and wood. This...
Category

1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tom Dixon Sculptures

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

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Tom Dixon sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Tom Dixon sculptures are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Tom Dixon sculptures, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 3 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 2 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original sculptures by Tom Dixon were created in the mid-century modern style in south asia during the late 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sculptures by Aharon Bezalel, Hattakitkosol Somchai, and Shaun Kasperbauer. Prices for Tom Dixon sculptures can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $195 and can go as high as $17,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,435.
Questions About Tom Dixon Sculptures
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Tom Dixon originally created the S chair in the mid-1980s. The chair is characterized by its welded steel frame and woven rush upholstery. Shop a collection of Tom Dixon’s designs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

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