Raymond Loewy for Mengel Bleached Mahogany Nightstand with Drawer & Shelf
About the Item
- Creator:Mengel Furniture Co. (Manufacturer),Raymond Loewy (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.75 in (73.03 cm)Width: 16 in (40.64 cm)Depth: 14 in (35.56 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Mahogany,Bleached
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
- Seller Location:Bainbridge, NY
- Reference Number:
Raymond Loewy
For those in the know, French-born American industrial designer Raymond Loewy is the “father of streamlining.” He is widely recognized as a pioneer of industrial design consulting — a creative powerhouse who took aim at cluttered designs and simplified them. Loewy left his mark on everything from toothbrushes to trashcans to spacecraft interiors. He designed cars, worked in illustration, and crafted comely dressers and other furniture.
Loewy was born in Paris, France. At age 15, he designed a model airplane that was powered by rubber bands. It won the James Gordon Bennett Cup of 1908. Loewy patented the model kit for this plane by the following year and saw brisk sales. With his savings, Loewy was able to study at the University of Paris and then at Ecole de Lanneau, where he earned an engineering degree in 1918.
Loewy moved to New York City in 1919 and found work as a window designer for the department stores Macy's, Wanamaker's and Saks and as a fashion illustrator for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Loewy’s big break in industrial design came in 1929 when he altered the Gestetner duplicating machine — removing jutting parts and encasing the moving works in an understated cover. It caused a sensation within the industry — and companies began to call on him.
Loewy designed packaging for Coca-Cola and revised the look of Lucky cigarettes. The “Loewy Look,” which referred to the designer’s efforts to strip a product of any unnecessary detail and streamline its appearance, began to characterize hundreds of products.
Loewy found clients in a dizzying number of companies. He did everything from retooling logos to redesigning products. His 1934 Sears Coldspot refrigerator was a sleek innovation that broke sales records. His Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive resembled a speeding bullet and was the darling of the 1939 World’s Fair. Loewy even reworked shapes for snacks at Nabisco. By the time World War II gathered steam, Raymond Loewy Associates — the industrial design firm he founded — had been operating in a number of American cities. When Time magazine featured him on the cover in October 1949 — Loewy was not shy about publicity — his profile soared.
Loewy worked with Studebaker for decades. The success of their 1953 Starliner coupe was due to his revolutionary design, while their 1963 futuristic, fiberglass-bodied Avanti, which came with advanced safety features and materialized at a time when the company was experiencing financial hardship, was his crowning achievement for the maker.
Returning to his roots in aviation, Loewy worked for NASA from 1967 to 1973 on the interior design of the Skylab space station. He was also involved in the interior designs of the Concorde supersonic jet and Air Force One. Loewy delighted in creating furniture and collaborated with manufacturers such as Mengel Furniture, Rosenthal and Doubinsky Frères. In the 1970s, Loewy and his wife shuttered their businesses and retired in France.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Raymond Loewy cabinets, serveware, seating and more.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Bainbridge, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Pair of Paul McCobb 1503 Planner Group Maple & Black Two Drawer ChestsBy Planner Group, Paul McCobb, WinchendonLocated in Bainbridge, NYPair of Paul McCobb Planner Group by Winchendon maple nightstands, cabinets, chests, end tables, 1950's. Featuring Model 1503 ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsMaple
- Pair of Swedish Moderne Dark Walnut Nightstands, 1940sLocated in Bainbridge, NYPair of Swedish handcrafted dark walnut Bedside Cabinets, circa 1950. Featuring a finely crafted, sturdy square, beautifully grained Walnut frame on splayed legs with single piano hi...Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Modern Night Stands
MaterialsWalnut
- Paul McCobb Planner Group Model 1500 Maple & Black Single Drawer Cabinet, 1950sBy Planner Group, Paul McCobb, WinchendonLocated in Bainbridge, NYPaul McCobb Planner Group for Winchendon Single Drawer Maple Nightstand. Cabinet. End Table. Featuring a Black lacquered surround with solid Maple Drawer, original Aluminum donut rin...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsAluminum
- Pair of Paul McCobb Planner Group Maple Six Drawer Double DressersBy Planner Group, Paul McCobbLocated in Bainbridge, NYPair of Paul McCobb planner group maple & black six drawer dressers, 1950's. Featuring classic Paul McCobb modular design including four rectangula...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsEnamel
- Pair Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin Solid Dark Walnut & Chrome TablesBy Milo Baughman, Thayer CogginLocated in Bainbridge, NYPair of Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin attributed Black Walnut & Chrome End Tables, Side Tables, Nightstands, circa 1970. Featuring open rectangular interior (16 x 24.5 x 19.75H) Ch...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsChrome
- Norman Bel Geddes for Simmons Off White Enameled Steel Night Stand, 1930'sBy Norman Bel Geddes, Simmons Company FurnitureLocated in Bainbridge, NYSingle Norman Bel Geddes for Simmons Furniture Enameled Steel Nightstand. Featuring a rectangular Steel form with rounded square surface, single drawer with original round Brass kno...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsSteel, Enamel
- Raymond Loewy for Mengel Black Lacquered Bedside Chests, Newly RefinishedBy Raymond Loewy, Mengel Furniture Co.Located in South Bend, INA gorgeous pair of Mid-Century Modern four-drawer nightstands By Raymond Loewy for Mengel Furniture USA, 1950s Black lacquered oak, with original aluminum hardware. Measures: 16" W x 19" D x 31.63" H. Professionally refinished. Excellent condition. Matching chest of drawers...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsAluminum
- Low Oak Dresser by Raymond Loewy for MengelBy Raymond Loewy, Mengel Furniture Co.Located in Dorchester, MARaymond Loewy designed this clean-lined dresser for the Mengel Furniture Company. Solidly constructed of a handsomely grained oak, it has four dr...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsAluminum
- Raymond Loewy for Mengel Black Lacquered Highboy Dresser, Newly RefinishedBy Raymond Loewy, Mengel Furniture Co.Located in South Bend, INA gorgeous Mid-Century Modern six-drawer highboy dresser or chest of drawers By Raymond Loewy for Mengel Furniture USA, 1950s Black lacquered oak, with original aluminum har...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsAluminum
- Raymond Loewy for Mengel Drop Front Secretary Desk on Iron Legs, RefinishedBy Mengel Furniture Co., Raymond LoewyLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Mid-Century Modern drop front secretary desk By Raymond Loewy for Mengel Furniture Co. USA, 1950s Combed oak, with cerused oak drawer...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
MaterialsIron
- Raymond Loewy for Mengel Ebonized Four Drawer Dresser, USA, c. 1950'sBy Raymond Loewy, Mengel Furniture Co.Located in Deland, FLSimple. Understated. This exquisite dresser was designed by Raymond Loewy, one of the most famous industrial designers of the mid-century era, and manufactured by Mengel. It is const...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsOak
- Raymond Loewy for Mengel Cerused Mid-Century Modern Chests, PairBy Mengel Furniture Co.Located in Kennesaw, GAThese are great all around with a modern form and cerused finish, they pack a decorating punch! This is a pair of bachelor’s chest designed by Raymond Loewy for Mengel Furniture. The...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWood
