Wendell Castle was an American furniture maker celebrated for his experimental creations in wood and plastic. He was one of the first to create seating, lighting and tables that resemble sculpture, otherwise known as art furniture.
A founding father of the American Studio movement, Castle was known for his craftsmanship and broke new ground in the 1960s with the stack-laminate technique, which involves layering and then sanding thin sheets of wood. In the ’70s, he transitioned to using gel-coated plastic in bright colors.
Castle integrated both mediums in his designs from the 2000s, which, like his vintage pieces, are characterized by curved, biomorphic lines and whimsical undertones (his Molar chair emphasized playfulness and a venturesome sensibility). Ever the innovator, he integrated computers and robots in his later production process to come up with wildly imaginative forms. Castle was working on a new body of work when he passed away in 2018 at the age of 85.
Find a collection of original Wendell Castle furniture on 1stDibs.
Samba Cabinet by Wendell Castle, Late 20th Century, Signed with Impressed WC.
By Wendell Castle
Located in Kansas City, MO
Samba cabinet from the Wendell Castle Collection for Icon Design, late 20th century. Finished on all sides. Hand carved and stained ash with leather pulls. Signed with WC. The drawe...
Leather, Ash
Tall Cabinet in Carved Black and Blonde Wood by Wendell Castle
By Wendell Castle
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Wendell Castle Tall Cabinet, 1992 Carved black wood base, blonde wood doors 18 x 11 x60 in Wendell Castle received a B.F.A. from the University of Kansas in Industrial Design in 195...
Wood
Wendell Castle, Bird of Paradise
By Wendell Castle
Located in LAGUNA BEACH, CA
Wendell Castle's "Bird of Paradise," created in 1996, is a significant piece that falls within the realm of contemporary art and furniture design. Experience the artistic brilliance...
Wood, Birdseye Maple, Mahogany, Maple
Glass Linen Cabinet with Carved Wood
Located in Somis, CA
A beautiful 20th century solid wood custom linen press with glass door. The cabinet is constructed with three frame members, among them two are inset with choice elm woods that form the sides. The elm woods with grains of swirls and sweeps resemble the Chinese mountain and water scene. The unique front...
Wood
$12,500
H 102.5 in W 99.5 in D 20.25 in
Large French Carved and Painted Wood Display and Storage Cabinet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large French carved and painted wood display and storage cabinet from the mid-20th century. This vintage French buffet à deux-corps (whic...
Metal, Wire
20th Century Rustic Pine Cabinet
Located in Southampton, NY
20th Century Rustic Pine Cabinet A simply constructed pine cabinet with two doors and a central rail. A grey-ish painted wash gives creates a beautiful patina. Two porcelain knobs a...
Pine
$1,363Sale Price|20% Off
H 36 in W 26 in D 14 in
Pretty Black Chinoiserie Cupboard Decorated with Birds and Flowers
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Pretty Black Chinoiserie Cupboard Decorated with Birds and Flowers The cupboard is in black lacquer and has colourful applied and painted decoration of birds and chrysanthemums, it ...
Lacquer
20th Century Antique French Cabinet
Located in Fullerton, CA
Large vintage cabinet with drawers and cabinets. There are 18 small drawers on the top half of the piece and three cabinet at the bottom, one of which has 2 shelves inside. The patin...
Wood
1940's French Burl-wood Tall Bar Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Amazing 1940's exotic burl-wood with inlay detail tall French bar cabinet with key and single drawer, fully restored with some wear and patina due to age and use.
Brass
$11,000
H 58.86 in W 42.52 in D 12.6 in
Ernesto Valabrega for Vittorio Valabrega Tall Cabinet in Carved Solid Oak
By Vittorio Valabrega
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernesto Valabrega for Vittorio Valabrega, tall cabinet, oak, Italy, 1930s This exceptional cabinet, designed by Ernesto Valabrega for Vittorio Valabrega, is a distinguished example...
Oak
Large Art Deco Carved Wood Cabinet by Charles Dudouyt
By Charles Dudouyt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible large oak cabinet by Charles Dudouyt from France, 1930s. Beautiful carved wood with intricate detail on four front doors. Three compartments open to original adjustable sh...
Brass
$6,133
H 101.58 in W 51.19 in D 20.48 in
Breton Cabinet, Carved French Sideboard, Oak, Late 19th Century, circa 1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique carved Breton cabinet. A carved French sideboard crafted in oak in the late 19th century, circa 1880. An ornate example of French,...
Oak
Late 20th Century Oak Two-Drawer Letter Size Filing Cabinet with lock
Located in Germantown, MD
A Late 20th Century Oak Two-Drawer Letter Size Filing Cabinet with lock. Will hold legal size and letter size file folders. Come with two keys. Measures 16" w x 16"D x 27.5"H.
Oak, Wood
$94,875
H 180 in W 160 in D 50 in
Original 18th Century Monumental Cabinet on Stand / Italian Bargueno / European
Located in Miami, FL
Important monumental cabinet on stand. The case of the cabinet is walnut, veneered with rich rib boned ebony and luxuriously decorated with turtle ...
Walnut, Glass
$33,250Sale Price|30% Off
H 93 in W 66 in D 21 in
Rare Early 18th Century English Carved Oak Hugh Castle Cabinet Chest Bookcase
Located in Dayton, OH
A rare and impressive English Gothic Medieval style Cabinet, Circa 1714. Built during the reign of King George I in honor of Hugh Lupus the First Earl of Chester and his castle. Hu...
Glass, Oak
Wendell Castle Cloud Wall Shelf 1969
By Wendell Castle
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Extremely rare Wendell Castle wall mounted shelf. Approximately thirty or forty examples of the Cloud shelf were produced in 1969. This work has been authe...
Molar Group cloud shelf by Wendell Castle
By Wendell Castle
Located in New York, NY
"The Black Edition" Molar Group Cloud shelf in gel-coated fiberglass-reinforced plastic. Signed and numbered. Originally designed by Wendell Castle, 1969. ...