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St. Charles Mid-Century Modern Steel Kitchen Cabinet, Drawer, Original, 1940s

About the Item

St. Charles Mid-Century Modern steel kitchen cabinet, drawer, original, 1940s. Measures: 12" W x 30" H x 25" D. Features original built-in pan & tray organizer system at base. See image 3 St. Charles was one of the earliest brands of steel cabinetry in the United States, dating back to 1935, when St. Charles bought Janes & Kirtland, maker of the “White House Line” steel. Steel kitchens were first developed in the second half of the 1920s and exclusive to extremely high-end (often exhibition) homes in the pre-WWII era. These early (pre-war) cabinets were quite streamlined and "deco" in their appearance. Typically white, ice gray or gentle cream color, they were customized to each home and considered the 'modern' and very "American" choice for the discerning client. Frank Lloyd Wright was an early fan of steel kitchen cabinets and adopted them quite early on in the century. Wright chose St. Charles cabinets (the cream of the crop) for many of his designs. I've included a few images of the kitchen at falling water and its original St. Charles cabinetry here. By the 1950s, steel cabinetry exploded in popularity (but remained relatively "high-end") with the post-war house-building and overall economic boom in the US. By the late 1950s, steel cabinets were available in a variety of colors including deco pink, lavender, tomato red, teal, canary yellow, among others. Other steel cabinet companies came into being, such as Geneva and Youngstown. St Charles remained the most exclusive (always custom) and longest-running cabinet maker. To order a St. Charles kitchen, St. Charles expert (salesman) came to the prospective buyers’ house for an in-depth consultation. His tools included miniature cabinets that could be put together to create a kitchen to fit the homeowners’ space. This listing is for a single kitchen cabinet from a set of original St. Charles steel cabinets dating to the 1940s, with original light gray finish. It is extremely rare to find pre-war examples of the cabinets with their original finish and in good, usable condition.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 30 in (76.2 cm)Width: 12 in (30.48 cm)Depth: 25 in (63.5 cm)
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Steel,Powder-Coated
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1940s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Good antique condition. Minor age appropriate wear. Original finish and hardware, signed.
  • Seller Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU4190317384572

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