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.
Mid-Century Modern Brass Serving Trays by Tommi Parzinger, USA, 1960s
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Pair of elegant solid brass oblong serving/bread trays with brass bar and engraved feet. Stamped
Brass
Set of Parzinger Design for Silversmiths Mueck Cary Serveware c. 1950/60's
By Mueck-Cary, Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Group of silver plate serving pieces designed by Tommi Parzinger for Meuck - Cary circa 1950/60's. This lot includes a coffee pot, sugar bowl, creamer, and a fondue dish. All pieces ...
Silver Plate
Rare Tommi Parzinger Brass Nut Bowl, Serving Piece
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Rarely seen exquisite solid brass serving piece, nut bowl with splayed engraved feet. Signed
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Mid Century Chaffing Serving Dish for Dorlyn Silversmiths
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A complete Parzinger serving dish or chaffing dish set including bottom tray, stand, burner, pot with lid and wood handles and the Pyrex glass insert. A ...
Metal
$4,175 / set
Silver Plated Pieces by Tommi Parzinger
By Dorlyn Silversmiths, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Two beautiful pieces featuring classic Parzinger details in lovely silver plate made by Dorlyn Silversmiths. They can be purchased individually. Dimensions given below are for the fl...
Brass Taza by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths
By Tommi Parzinger, Dorlyn Silversmiths
Located in Hanover, MA
Gorgeous taza/candy dish in solid brass designed by Tommi Parzinger and produced by Dorlyn Silversmiths circa 1952. Marked underneath "made by Dorlyn-Silversmiths" with a reversed P and R cipher for Tommi Parzinger (1903-1981) and Otto Rasmussen...
Brass
3 Piece Brass Coffee Service by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn
By Dorlyn Silversmiths, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Danville, CA
Brass Coffee Service by Tommi Parziger for Dorlyn Brass. The set consists of a tall lidded carafe, creamer, and lidded sugar bowl. The set has been professionally polished and lacq...
Brass
Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths Large Footed Bowl
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Hanover, MA
Jumbo sized tri-footed solid brass finial handled bowl designed by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths. Officially listed in the catalog as No. 42 Fruit Bowl
Brass
Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths Candelabrum & Pair Serving Trays
By Tommi Parzinger, Dorlyn Silversmiths
Located in Hanover, MA
A three piece serving centerpiece grouping from among the least commonly seen items from the 1950's brass ware collection designed by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths, consisting of an exceptionally large candelabrum for five tapers with two tiers of round bon bon trays, and a matching pair of two-tier serving trays...
Brass
Danish Vintage Teak Serving Trays 1960s Set of 4
By Silva, Wiggers
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish vintage teak serving trays 1960s set of 4. Danish Mid-Century Modern teak trays. This set consists of: A large oval tray by Silva, ...
Glass, Teak
19th Century English Silver Plate Samovar / Tea Urn
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Mid 19th century English silver plated samovar / tea or coffee urn with Ram detail side handles and finial lid on square footed base . The samova...
Silver Plate, Copper
$895
H 10.5 in Dm 9.5 in
Tommi Parzinger Style Silver Plate Serving Tier Piece Mid-Century Modern Barware
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in North Miami, FL
This chic newly polished vintage Mid-Century Modern silver plate two-tiered serving piece has the wonderful look and style of Tommi Parzinger with...
Silver Plate
Triple Shell Serving Piece in Vintage Brass
Located in Paris, FR
Serving piece triple shell all in brass in vintage brass finish. With black granite base. Also available in nickel finish.
Granite, Brass, Nickel
Large Late 19th Century Blue Willow Serving Platter Staffordshire
By J.H. Warranted Staffordshire 1
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and in excellent condition. No cracks or chips, a few scratches on the underside but nothing deep or threatening the integrity. Great blue and very functional as it's a deep...
Clay, Porcelain
Vintage Handpainted Fish Tray, Whimsical Antique Serveware, 1970
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Vintage Handpainted whimsical fish tray.
Plywood
Palms Center Table Serving Piece
Located in Paris, FR
Serving piece palms center table with 2 plates and base in enameled porcelain. With solid bronze structure and details in vintage finish. Elegant piece.
Bronze
Vintage Taverneau by Arthur Umanoff Serving Tray 1960s
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Offered is a 1960s Taverneau wood oblong tray platter designed by Arthur Umanoff for Raymor via his studio, Pantalcraft, made in Haiti. From his biography "All of Umanoff’s designs ...
Rattan, Wood
$495 / set
H 0.99 in Dm 1.97 in
Set of 4 Carl Aubock 1950s Brass Egg Cups Holders for Illums Bolighus, Denmark
By Illums Bolighus, Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Malmö, SE
Set of 4 beautiful midcentury Brass Egg Cups with amazing original patina. Designed by Carl Auböck, Austria in the 1950s. Sold at 'Illums Bolighus' in Copenhagen, Denmark. Great o...
Brass
Mid-Century Italian Serving Tray Made by MB
By MB Italy
Located in Waddinxveen, ZH
Stylish serving tray made in Italy by MB, aluminium and formica. The sides have been metal worked and decorated. The formica tray has a gorgeous "faux" rosewood effect. On the bott...
Aluminum
Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Tray in Hardwood, Jean Gillon, 1960s
By Jean Gillon
Located in New York, NY
Handcrafted in Brazil in the 1960s, this elongated serving tray reflects the disciplined minimalism that characterized the country’s modern design movement during its period of inter...
Hardwood
Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths Brass Samovar Coffee Hot Water Urn
By Tommi Parzinger, Dorlyn Silversmiths
Located in Hanover, MA
Tommi Parzinger designed for Dorlyn Silversmiths extra large coffee or hot water samovar urn with two faucets, round bunson warming stand and large round brass tray. Two ebonized woo...
Brass
Brass Chafing Dish Set by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths
By Tommi Parzinger, Dorlyn Silversmiths
Located in Hanover, MA
Tommi Parzinger designed set of three lidded solid brass chafing dishes (including Pyrex glass inner bowls) on food warmer stands with handled vessels for fuel oil and cotton wick together with snuffer. Bakelite handles on lids. All standing in a solid walnut tray with distinctive brass handles. Marked under each bowl: "made by Dorlyn-Silversmiths" with a reversed P and R cipher for Tommi Parzinger (1903-1981) and Otto Rasmussen...
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Coffee Urn Samovar for Dorlyn Silversmiths
By Tommi Parzinger, Dorlyn Silversmiths
Located in San Mateo, CA
Coffee or hot water urn designed by Tommi Parzinger and made by Dorlyn Silversmiths. This consists of the urn and stand with a burner and snuffer. This has the original finish. There...
Brass
Pair of Tommi Parzinger Brass Dorlyn Silversmiths Chafing Dishes
By Tommi Parzinger, Dorlyn Silversmiths
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths brass lacquered heated base chafing dishes.
Brass
Tommi Parzinger for Doryn Compote
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Norwalk, CT
Fabricated by Doryn Silversmiths, NYC from Tommi Parzinger design, a fine example of Parzinger serveware. A small compote, newly polished and lacquered. ...
Brass
Set of Three Graduated Serving Trays in Brass by Tommi Parzinger
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A set of three graduated trays in lacquered brass by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Silversmiths with signature concentric rings motif to each foot. All original condition with normal...
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Modernist Polished Brass Pedestal Bowl
By Dorlyn Silversmiths, Tommi Parzinger
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely and substantial polished brass Tommi Parzinger pedestal bowl was done by Dorlyn Silversmiths as hallmarked on the bottom of this bowl. The circle of lines on the perimet...
Brass
Pair of Brass Serving Pieces by Tommi Parzinger, Two Pieces
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Fantastic set of 2 Brass serving pieces, comprised of 1 compote and 1 covered candy dish designed by Tommi Parzinger. Compote measures 9" in diameter x 6.5" tall Covered dish mea...
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Brass Coffee Service
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional coffee service in polished brass by Tommi Parzinger comprised of a round tray, coffee pot with stand and warmer, creamer and sugar bowl.
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Brass Coffee Set
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional 4 piece brass coffee service by Tommi Parzinger. Depicted as originally designed.
Brass
Set of 3 Tommi Parzinger Serving Pieces
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional set of 3 polished brass serving dishes designed by Tommi Parzinger.
Brass
Double Chafing Dish Set in Brass by Tommi Parzinger
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Double Chafing Dish Set in Brass by Tommi Parzinger for Dorlyn Siversmiths, American 1950's (marked on bottom with Dorlyn insignia)