Jay Spectre for Century Furniture 1970s Cerused Oak Desk
View Similar Items
Jay Spectre for Century Furniture 1970s Cerused Oak Desk
About the Item
- Creator:Jay Spectre (Designer),Century Furniture (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 30.5 in (77.47 cm)Width: 56 in (142.24 cm)Depth: 27 in (68.58 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1970s
- Condition:Minor losses. The wood is in vintage condition with light scratches to the surface and minor flakes as shown.
- Seller Location:Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1974311117111
Jay Spectre
From arranging window displays as a teenager to securing a preeminent position in the decorating and design sphere, Jay Spectre had an extraordinary career. He drew on a range of influences for his lounge chairs, chests of drawers and coffee tables of the 1970s and ‘80s, and is best known for these furnishings as well as his interiors of the era.
For his eponymous Manhattan firm, Spectre created modern, delectable interiors for luxury homes, private aircraft, yachts and offices — his clientele included corporations and affluent figures all over the world — and for his sophisticated furnishings and decor, he found inspiration in Art Deco as well as in Asian and African art..
Spectre’s career in design began modestly — he worked as a window dresser in his Kentucky hometown. He had big plans, however, and moved to New York City, where he would establish the Jay Spectre Inc. design firm. During interviews in the years that followed, Spectre spoke highly of Hollywood glamour and its impact on his work. He was interested in the forces of modernism and technology, and was greatly inspired by the Art Deco era, which was brought to global attention at a large decorative arts exhibition held in Paris in 1925. The movement’s textile designers integrated floral motifs and vivid colors into their works, while Art Deco furniture makers were fond of dark woods, modern metals and decorative embellishments such as exotic animal hides.
In 1985, in order to grant large manufacturers the rights to produce Spectre’s furniture designs, he formed a licensing firm called J.S.P.S. Inc. with South African-born interior designer Geoffrey Bradfield. This was the era that brought Spectre recognition, awards, and numerous high-profile clients that the designer called “silent celebrities” (they deeply valued their privacy).
Spectre also created furniture that was aimed at younger consumers and intended to be affordable. He introduced an Art Deco–informed spirit at North Carolina’s Century Furniture — a brand that is known to vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors — where he created oversize, inviting lounge chairs and bentwood benches that featured plush tufted leather cushions. Spectre’s Eclipse collection was at one point among the largest-selling lines for the brand.
Spectre was named one of the top eight designers in America by the Smithsonian Institution for their "Giants of Design 1979" exhibition. He earned a pair of awards from the Chicago Merchandise Mart in 1982 and 1983, and was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 1986.
Find vintage Jay Spectre seating, tables and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Century Furniture
Known for its durable vintage display cabinets, nightstands and dressers made of cherry, oak, walnut and more, Century Furniture of Hickory, North Carolina, began as an upholstered goods company in 1947 but added case goods and sophisticated mahogany dining-room furnishings shortly thereafter.
Launched by Harley Ferguson Shuford Sr., a Hickory native who was born to a family of textile mill owners, Century Furniture was intended to be “the best furniture company in the world.” With respect to speed and efficiency, the brand found its footing midway through production on a government contract that Shuford had secured in the early days to manufacture thousands of five-drawer chests. The effort was significant, but it was also a teachable moment as far as Shuford and his team’s learning the ropes of running a factory.
After hiring designer Raymond K. Sobota in 1950 and introducing the enormously popular Citation Collection in 1954, Century established its reputation as a leader in stylishly designed high-quality furniture. Sobota had furniture in his blood — after graduating from Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he worked for his uncle Karl Schmidt, who was at the time a well-known furniture designer for Berkey and Gay and other makers in the Grand Rapids area, then known as America’s furniture capital. Sobota soon launched his own studio, designing furniture as a freelancer for various local manufacturers. Shuford found him by happenstance, journeying to Michigan’s second-largest city to offer a job to another designer who turned him down but recommended Sobota instead.
Century’s Citation line — a sizable collection for the brand that spanned furnishings for the bedroom, dining room and more — is revered in the world of vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors. The pieces sold very well during the 1950s, and the line is an oft-cited success story for Sobota, who would go on to win awards for his work and whose own catalogue of designs for the brand is massive.
In his 40-year career at Century, until he retired in 1995, he designed well over 100 furniture lines. Sobota’s nightstands, cabinets, side tables and more are characterized by his interest in Asian design, distinctly and brilliantly expressed in his Hollywood Regency–style Chin Hua line, which debuted during the 1970s. With its geometrically decorative brass drawer pulls and door handles as well as dining-chair seat-back carvings — all inspired by Asian motifs — this collection has rendered vintage pieces that saw Century’s craftsmen working with alluring ebonized walnut and more, some of the company’s most sought-after work today.
Also in the 1970s as well as in the 1980s, Manhattan interior designer Jay Spectre introduced an Art Deco–informed spirit at Century Furniture, creating oversize, inviting lounge chairs and bentwood benches that featured plush tufted leather cushions. Spectre’s Eclipse collection was at one point among the largest-selling lines for the brand.
Century licensed collections with celebrity interior designers such as Thomas O’Brien, Charlotte Moss and Bunny Williams among others. In 2013, when Alex Shuford III was named president of Century Furniture, the move marked the succession of the third generation to lead this company, which is today one of the world’s largest privately held manufacturers of high-end furniture.
Find Century Furniture lounge chairs and dining chairs as well as vintage mid-century modern credenzas, dressers and more on 1stDibs.
- Ebonized Contemporary Desk in Wood, Chrome, Glass Top, 21st-CenturyLocated in Miami, FLEbonized Contemporary desk in wood, chrome, glass top, 21st-century. Offered for sale is a contemporary ebonized wood and chrome desk with a white glass top. The desk has a floati...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks
MaterialsMetal, Chrome
$1,760 Sale Price20% Off - 1960s Danish Modern Teak Desk, Severin Hansen AttributedBy Severin HansenLocated in Miami, FL1960s Danish Modern Teak Desk, Severin Hansen Attributed Offered for sale is a newly refinished Danish Modern teak desk attributed to Severin Hansen. The circa 1960s writing desk...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks
MaterialsTeak
$2,548 Sale Price20% Off - 1820s Antique Italian Provincial Walnut Writing Desk, Cabriole LegsLocated in Miami, FL1820s Antique Italian Provincial Walnut Writing Desk, Cabriole Legs Offered for sale is an antique Italian Provincial walnut writing desk from the early 19th century. The desk has...Category
Antique Early 19th Century Desks
MaterialsBrass
$2,240 Sale Price20% Off - 1960s Lady's Writing Desk Secretaire, Tambour Doors, Marquetry Banded DrawersLocated in Miami, FL1960s Lady's Writing Desk Secretaire, Tambour Doors, Marquetry Banded Drawers Offered for sale is a diminutive lady's secretaire writing desk with flame mahogany veneers, banded mar...Category
Mid-20th Century American Desks
MaterialsBrass
- Karl Springer Zebrawood Writing Desk with Stainless Steel and Brass AccentsBy Karl SpringerLocated in Miami, FLKarl Springer zebrawood writing desk with stainless steel and brass accents Offered for sale is a highly polished Karl Springer exotic zebrawood writing desk with a stainless stee...Category
Late 20th Century American Desks
MaterialsBrass, Stainless Steel
$14,400 Sale Price20% Off - Jens Quistgaard Peter Løvig Nielsen Flip-Top Teak Desk, Danish ModernBy Jens Quistgaard, Dansk, Peter Løvig NielsenLocated in Miami, FLJens Quistgaard Peter Løvig Nielsen flip-top teak desk, Danish Modern. Offered for sale is an iconic Danish modern teak desk...Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks
MaterialsTeak
- Desk in Cerused Oak by Jay SpectreBy Jay SpectreLocated in Palm Springs, CAWonderful desk in Cerused oak with round drawer pedestal and glass top for Century Furniture. Incredibly versatile piece with great scale. Metal label in drawer reads "Century Jay Sp...Category
20th Century American Streamlined Moderne Desks
MaterialsOak, Glass
- Custom Cerused Oak Armoire, Jay SpectreBy Jay Spectre, Century FurnitureLocated in New York, NYCustom Finished, Cerused Oak wardrobe by Jay Spectre for Century Furniture. Wardrobe features 2 large bottom drawers and doors open to reveal a series of cubicles and smaller drawers...Category
20th Century American Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsNickel
$7,840 Sale Price20% Off - Jay Spectre Cerused White Oak, Two-Drawer CommodeBy Jay Spectre, Century FurnitureLocated in Chicago, ILJay Spectre for Century Furniture, two-drawer commode in cerused white oak with brushed steel base and top banding. Could also be used as a flat scre...Category
Late 20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsSteel
- Modernist Commode Night Table by Jay Spectre for Century FurnitureBy Jay Spectre, Century FurnitureLocated in New York, NYVoguish dresser, commode, night stand designed by Jay Spectre for the Century Furniture Company. This chic chest features two deep drawers, a brushed steel plinth base, and cerused...Category
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsSteel
- Jay Spectre 7 Drawer Oak Dresser by CenturyBy Jay Spectre, Century FurnitureLocated in Highland, INDesigned by Jay Spectre for Century, this dramatic 7-drawer dresser from his "Eclipse" collection is a post-modern take on Deco / Moderne design. Crafted of oak with a black lacquer ...Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Dressers
MaterialsChrome
- Jay Spectre Cerused Oak 8 Drawers Dresser Completely RestoredBy Jay SpectreLocated in Rockaway, NJMid century modern Jay Spectre light grey cerused oak long dresser credeza.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsOak