Tommi Parzinger Furniture
German, 1903-1981
German furniture designer Tommi Parzinger brought high-style modernism to the forefront. Taking a vivid, stylized approach to mid-century furniture, many of his works feature boldly colored lacquers and offbeat finishes that make his pieces stand out among the works of his peers. Despite his uniquely progressive vision, Parzinger showed equal expertise in producing fine, traditional furnishings.
Born in Munich, Parzinger moved to New York City in 1932. He began his practice in the United States by designing for the Manhattan style trailblazer Rena Rosenthal. In 1939, he established his first company, which split its focus between handcrafted silver household items — such as tea sets and barware — and home furnishings, like dining tables and cabinets. In his first year in business, Parzinger exhibited several pieces of furniture at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.
A master craftsman, Parzinger sought out the most exceptional materials for his furniture, employing the finest woods — like mahogany and walnut — as well as including custom brass hardware and pewter inlays.
His silver works presented an elevated level of style and grace. A November 1939 article in LIFE magazine described Parzinger as “the most creative original designer of silverware in the United States.”
While he was still running his own business — creating 12 to 30 new designs each year — Charak Furniture Company appointed Parzinger as its head of modern furniture design. He modernized Charak’s design approach from a more traditional form to a mid-century modern style.
In the mid-1960s, Parzinger stopped designing furniture, turning his company over to his friend Donald Cameron. He shifted his attention to paintings, which he created until his death in 1981.
On 1stDibs, find a broad selection of vintage Tommi Panzinger tables, lighting, storage pieces and more.
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Creator: Tommi Parzinger
Tommi Parzinger Originals Coffee Table
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Tommi Parzinger Originals coffee table. The table has a black lacquered wood base, a glass top and stamped Parzinger Originals to the underside.
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern Bleached Mahogany Chest of Drawers
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Stamford, CT
Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern bleached mahogany chest of drawers with brass hardware. Circa 1945. Partial label inside top drawer.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Tommi Parzinger Brass Wall Light Fixture Sconce Candelabra 1950s Modern Regency
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tommi Parzinger 1950s Hollywood Regency custom signature brass candle-form wall light fixture / wall sconce. 5 candle lights" with original and truly exceptional shaped shade with ce...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Solid Brass Pitcher For Dorlyn Silversmiths
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Doraville, GA
DESCRIPTION
A lidded solid brass pitcher design by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths. The pitcher is embossed on the bottom “Made by Dorlyn - Silversmiths” with the Tommi Parzinger insignia. The pitcher stands approximately 10 7/8 inches tall and the base is 3 1/8 inches in diameter.
BIOGRAPHY OF DESIGNER
Tommi Anton Parzinger (1903–1981) was a German interior designer; a lighting, accessories and furniture designer and an artist. Born in Munich in 1903, Parzinger was raised in an artistic family, he studied at the Kunstgewebeschule, focusing his art studies on ceramic, glass, metal and wood crafts , as well as painting. Parzinger immigrated to New York City in 1932, his first job in America was as a designer for Rena Rosenthal, designing metalware and crystel to be sold at her trend setting Madison Avenue shop. During his tenure at Rena Rosenthal Parzinger began creating furniture and accessories to accompany his celebrated work in brass and crystal. His interest in these ancillary pieces grew steadily throughout the 1930’s and in 1938 he took a position designing furniture for Charak in Boston. In 1939 he opened Parzinger Originals, designing custom furnishings for clients and commissioned custom interiors. Parzinger's designs were labeled "high-style modernism", which represented a more idiosyncratic, rarefied midcentury design style. His cosmopolitan designs involved costly, craft-intensive materials and processes using brass accents and lacquer. As his business grew, Parzinger continued his work in graphic design, fashioning packaging, fabrics and wallpapers . He also continued to design furniture, lighting, and accessories for other companies, including Reed and Barton, Lightolier, Salterini Hofstatter, and Dorlyn. In the 1940’s Donald Cameron became his partner and expanded the company with locations at 32 East 57th Street, 601 Fifth Avenue, and 441 Madison Avenue. His designs were used by famous clients such as Billy Baldwin, Marilyn Monroe, members of the DuPont family...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Coffee Table in Walnut, Travertine, USA 1950
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Emeryville, CA
Tommi Parzinger (1903–1981) was a prominent designer and interior decorator known for his contributions to mid-20th century American design. Born in Munich, Germany, Parzinger began ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Marble
Set of Four Tommi Parzinger Dining Chairs
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in San Francisco, CA
Set of four elegant and timeless design X-back dining chairs by Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern.
Perfectly refinished solid mahogany frames with new upholstered seats.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Large Chandelier by Tommi Parzinger
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare and large design for Parzinger Originals. This model has eight leather wrapped candelabras and a larger down light with perforations in the central cone.
Category
1950s Vintage Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Pair of Tommi Parzinger Hollywood Regency Torchiers or Standing Lamps
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of Tommi Parzinger nickel-plated Hollywood regency style torchiers, rewired and lacquered.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Metal, Nickel
Tommi Parzinger Elegant 6 Arm Chandelier in Brass and Crystal 1950s
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully crafted 6 arm chandelier model no 1 in brass with suspended crystal beads by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals, American 1950's. This chandelier is the epidemy of e...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Tommi Parzinger Rams Head Console / Sofa Table
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Westport, CT
Tommi Parzinger ram's head console sofa table with draw, original dark mahogany finish, French polished lacquer. Parzinger original.
Category
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Tommi Parzinger Pair of Heirloom 700 Oneida Silver Plate Candelabra
By Tommi Parzinger, Oneida
Located in Chicago, IL
Silver plated example from the Heirloom 700 series produced by Oneida in 1955.
Heirloom 700" was the line produced by Oneida, which purchased the rights to produce Parzinger desig...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Pair of Solid Brass Candlesticks Designed by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Doraville, GA
An obscure design by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths. A pair of vintage solid brass candlesticks with removable bobeche's list...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Midcentury Tommi Parzinger Candelabras for Dorlyn Silversmiths
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
Born in Munich, Tommi Parzinger was a prominent European designer and artist. He received an education in design from the school of arts and crafts, Kunstgewerbeschule, and began his...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Brass
Vintage Tommi Parzinger Patchwork Occasional Table for Charak Modern
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Chicago, IL
Tommi Parzinger Patchwork Occasional Table for Charak Modern (SIGNED). Manner of Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Wear to the aged original finish.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Wood
Tommi Parzinger Floor Lamp Table by Parzinger Originals
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Chicago, IL
Tommi Parzinger floor lamp table by Parzinger Originals.
Signed on Bottom,
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Brass
Polished Brass and Glass Beaded Chandelier by Tommi Parzinger
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in North Miami, FL
A light both commanding and delicate! Solid brass and glass beaded six-light chandelier by Tommi Parzinger, circa 1955. Professionally polished and re-wired. Linen shades.
Category
1950s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Tommi Parzinger Rare Table and Four X Chairs
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Westport, CT
Tommi Parzinger card table or small dining table and four double X back chairs, rare dark mahogany Hollywood inlaid top.
Table size: 36 x 36 29" high.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tommi Parzinger Furniture
Tommi Parzinger furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Tommi Parzinger 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 Tommi Parzinger furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Tommi Parzinger 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 Widdicomb Furniture Co., Paul Frankl, and John Widdicomb. Prices for Tommi Parzinger furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $585 and can go as high as $45,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $6,800.
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Tommi Parzinger Dining Room Chairs
Tommi Parzinger Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Tommi Parzinger Credenzas
Tommi Parzinger Chandeliers and Pendants
Tommi Parzinger Dressers
Tommi Parzinger Bedroom Furniture
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