Edmond J. Spence Architectural 12-Drawer Curved Dresser, c 1960, Signed

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Edmond J. Spence Architectural 12-Drawer Curved Dresser, c 1960, Signed

About the Item

This impressive twelve-drawer dresser in walnut was designed by Edmond J. Spence and made in Sweden in the late 1950s to early 1960s. We just completed refinishing it with an expensive French Polish, the most laborious finish available due to its numerous hand-applied coats of lacquer. The results are a very thick and clear finish which protects the surface from regular use and makes the exotic wood grain underneath pop more than any other type of finish. Fabricated from walnut which displays vivid grain patterns, this piece is accented by a slight curve and offset drawers which give an architectural vibe. The dresser is raised on four hexagonal legs capped with brass sabots (feet). Twelve drawers in total, three on each of the four rows, and in an alternating pattern with two rows possessing one large drawer and two smaller ones and two rows with equal medium sized drawers. American designer Edmond J. Spence created a series of Swedish-inspired furniture as part of his works which were manufactured in the Scandinavian country and then imported by Walpole Furniture of Massachusetts. This piece is an example of that collection and at the back of the dresser its is signed with the 'Made in Sweden' brand stamp. Spence acquired a wide range of impressive clients, plus, millions of Americans witnessed his work incorporated on the set of I Love Lucy for many years. This stunning Edmund Spence dresser which can also function as a credenza, chest of drawers or sideboard would work great in a Mid-Century Modern, Space Age Mod, Scandanavian Modern or Danish Modern home or penthouse apartment but could also look fantastic in a Post-Modern, Contemporary or Zen / Minimalism room. Also consider mixing it up in a Traditional, Transitional, Hollywood Regency, Classical or Art Deco room with a splash of juxtaposition. Would also be an apt choice in a commercial project such as a hotel lobby lounge or members club, creative design studio or high-rise executive office. MEASUREMENTS: H 32.75" x W 73.5" x D 21.5" CONDITION: Excellent refinished condition. Refinished in a French Polish and ready for immediate use.

Creator:
Edmond J. Spence (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 32.75 in (83.19 cm)Width: 73.5 in (186.69 cm)Depth: 21.5 in (54.61 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Walnut
Place of Origin:
Sweden
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1960
Condition:
Refinished. Excellent refinished condition, ready for immediate use.
Seller Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1330228786482

Shop All Edmond J. Spence

Edmond J. Spence

Edmond J. Spence played an important role in promoting the tenets of Scandinavian modernism in the United States but his name remains conspicuously omitted from the history books. He was an American furniture designer who is known for having introduced the West to unfamiliar cultural tastes and translating their subtleties to appeal to mid-century-era consumers.

Spence honed his eye for good craftsmanship as a young man. His family owned a furniture manufacturing company based in Batavia, New York. While not much has been reported about his schooling, it was not long before he started designing his own nightstands, end tables, chairs and more — all of which exhibited the appealing traits associated with mid-century modern furniture. Spence experimented with form and ornament owing to inspiration he gathered from international influences.

During the 1950s, Spence drew on Asian and Swedish influences in developing ideas for his own style of modern furniture. He incorporated aspects of Mexican design to create the Continental-American collection. Manufactured in 1953 by Industria Mueblera, this collection of sculptural wooden furnishings with brass details epitomizes Spence’s ability to draw attention to the most integral parts of global design while adding his own modern spin. The designer’s Coronation Group — a series of dressers, cabinets and more in blonde woods that featured decorative birch veneers — was built by artisans in Sweden and imported for sale to postwar homeowners in the United States by Massachusetts furniture company Walpole.

Spence’s “Peineta” chair — a work of mahogany, plywood and woven palm that is demonstrative of Spanish Colonial influences and is part of the Continental-American line — has long been on display in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art while other works are held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. And if Spence hadn’t captured the hearts of Americans by way of Industria Mueblera showrooms and alluring ads in Interiors magazine, some of his furniture was used as set decoration for the widely loved sitcom I Love Lucy.

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