like New John Van Koert Walnut Coffee Table, 1956
View Similar Items
like New John Van Koert Walnut Coffee Table, 1956
About the Item
- Creator:John Van Koert (Designer),Drexel (Cabinetmaker)
- Dimensions:Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)Width: 54 in (137.16 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1956
- Condition:Like new and refinished entirely.
- Seller Location:South Charleston, WV
- Reference Number:Seller: John Van Koert table1stDibs: LU1616212621082
John Van Koert
John Van Koert was integral to the rise in popularity of Scandinavian modern furniture during the mid-20th century all over the United States. The Canadian-born designer’s spare walnut coffee tables and elegant armchairs, for example — particularly those that he created for North Carolina’s Drexel Furniture — reflected the influence of the era’s alluring Danish design and were prominently featured in the modern interiors of postwar American homes.
Originally from Manitoba, Van Koert moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to attend the University of Wisconsin. There he studied sculpture and trained in metalwork. Van Koert later taught design in the school’s art department. After World War II, Van Koert settled in New York City. He created jewelry for Harry Winston before shifting his focus to flatware and furniture design.
Van Koert found quick success with his flatware designs for Towle Silversmiths. His Contour set was part of the “Knife, Fork and Spoon” exhibition organized by the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis in the early 1950s. In 1954, he served as design director for the “Design in Scandinavia” exhibition, which toured Canada as well as the United States and featured hundreds of designs created in Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden by the likes of Kaj Franck, Ilmari Tapiovaara, Finn Juhl and others.
Van Koert kept busy over the years. Drexel embraced the clean lines of mid-century modernism during the postwar era with the Declaration collection designed by Stewart MacDougall and Kipp Stewart that featured elegant credenzas and more made in walnut, and the Profile, Casa Del Sol and Projection collections designed with sculptural shapes by Van Koert.
In the early 1960s, Van Koert created a contemporary line for Richardson-Nemschoff, a furniture manufacturer based in the designer’s former stomping grounds of Wisconsin. During the early 1970s, he partnered with Sarreid Ltd., a brand that got its start sourcing materials from Spain and Italy and bringing the exceptional talents of European wood carvers, sculptors and painters to the forefront of American home decor.
On 1stDibs, find vintage John Van Koert seating, tables and storage pieces.
Drexel
While vintage Drexel Furniture dining tables, dressers and other pieces remain highly desirable for enthusiasts of mid-century modern design, the manufacturer's story actually begins decades before its celebrated postwar-era Declaration line took shape.
In 1903, in the small town of Drexel in the foothills of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, six partners came together to found a company that would become one of the country’s leading furniture producers. The first offerings from Drexel Furniture were simple: a bed, washstand and bureau all crafted from native oakwood, sold as a bedroom suite for $14.50.
One of Drexel’s early innovations was to employ staff designers, something the company initiated in the 1930s. This focus on design, which few other furniture companies were committing to at the time, allowed Drexel to respond to a variety of new and traditional tastes. This included making pieces inspired by historic European furniture, like the popular French Provincial–style Touraine bedroom and dining group that borrowed its curves from Louis XV-era furniture. Others replicated the ornate details of 18th-century chinoiserie or the embellishments of Queen Anne furniture. Always ready to adapt to new customer demands, during World War II, Drexel built a sturdy desk designed especially for General Douglas MacArthur.
In the postwar era, Drexel embraced the clean lines of mid-century modernism with the Declaration collection designed by Stewart MacDougall and Kipp Stewart that featured elegant credenzas and more made in walnut, and the Profile and Projection collections designed with sculptural shapes by John Van Koert. In the 1970s, Drexel introduced high-end furniture in a Mediterranean style.
Drexel changed hands and visions throughout the years. It was managed by one of the original partners — Samuel Huffman — until 1935, at which time his son Robert O. Huffman took over as president. It was then that the company began to expand, with several acquisitions of competitors in the 1950s, including Table Rock Furniture, the Heritage Furniture Co. and more.
With the manufacturer’s success — spurred by its embrace of advertising in home and garden magazines — it opened more factories in both North and South Carolina. By 1957, the company that had started with a factory of 50 workers had 2,300 employees and was selling its furniture nationwide.
Drexel underwent a series of name changes in its long history. Its acquisition of Southern Desk Company in 1960 bolstered its production of institutional furniture for dormitories, classrooms, churches and laboratories.
In the following decades, contracts with government agencies, hotels, schools and hospitals brought its high-quality furniture to a global audience. U.S. Plywood-Champion Papers bought Drexel Enterprises in 1968, and it became Drexel Heritage Furnishings.
In 2014, the last Drexel Heritage plant, in Morganton, North Carolina, reportedly closed its doors. The company rebranded as Drexel in 2017.
The vintage Drexel furniture for sale on 1stDibs includes end tables designed by Edward Wormley, walnut side tables designed by Kipp Stewart and lots more.
- Masterpiece Coffee Table by Rude OsolnikBy Rude OsolnikLocated in South Charleston, WVPreviously the property of the Osolnik family. 41.5" diameter and 18" tall. An important artist, who seldom produced furniture. This example by Osolnik is representative of the fine...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsCherry
- Round coffee Table by Paul LaszloBy Brown Saltman, Paul LaszloLocated in South Charleston, WVA rare table by Paul Laszlo. 40" diameter by 14 1/8" tall. This circular low coffee or cocktail table features thoughtful design with tiers added below eith...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsMahogany
- Fine Walnut Table by Lane AltavistaBy Lane FurnitureLocated in South Charleston, WVLane, alta-vista Walnut Two-tier 29" x 23", 20.5" tall. Exceptional construction and style has been employed by Lane to produce this excellent side table. Featuring solid lumber us...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- Paul McCobb Raymond Loewy Coffee TableBy Paul McCobb, Planner GroupLocated in South Charleston, WVUnique table produced by Planner Group with Genuine vintage (not later re-issued pattern) formica top design "skylark" by Raymond Loewy and Brooks Stevens...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsIron
- Danish Modern Style Coffee Table by BassettBy Bassett FurnitureLocated in South Charleston, WVSolid surfboard stylized edges and magazine rack shelf. Features raised edges typical of Danish modern production, but American produced. Ideal for use as coffee or end table. In ex...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsOak, Walnut
- Monumental 9 Foot Cocktail Table or bench in WalnutBy Dunbar Furniture, Edward WormleyLocated in South Charleston, WVA remarkably large coffee table table or bench 9 feett length. Depth 19.75" x 15" in height. Produced from 100% solid walnut lumber with no veneers. It includes 3 cased boxes that attach to the underside which pull out on steel slides providing a black laminate surface for additional drinks or food service area and cocktails. These cased boxes are removable This table was taken from an estate where the owner had Dunbar 9 foot sofas...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- John Van Koert for Drexel Coffee Table, 1950s, USABy Drexel, John Van KoertLocated in Miami, FLWonderful vintage condition John Van Koert for Drexel Coffee Table from the Casa del Sol Collection. 1957 USACategory
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsMetal
$2,750 Sale Price24% Off - Midcentury Bench / Coffee Table by John Van Koert for DrexelBy John Van Koert, DrexelLocated in San Diego, CAModernist bench or table by John Van Koert for Drexel, superior quality and construction. Scaled down version of the Classic dining table, simple, elegant design. solid and sturdy fr...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsMahogany
$1,000 Sale Price20% Off - Mid Century Profile Coffee Table by John Van Koert for Drexel c. 1960’sBy Drexel, John Van KoertLocated in New York, NYChic, stylish, architectural mid century modern coffee table designed by John Van Koert for Drexel Furniture as part of the classic Profile series, circa 1960’s. The table features ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsWood
- 2 pc. Mid Century Surfboard Coffee Table by John Van Koert for Drexel c. 1960’sBy Drexel, John Van KoertLocated in New York, NYRare two part coffee table designed by John Van Koert for Drexel Furniture, as part of their class Profile series, circa 1960’s. As the table consists of two separate pieces, it can...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsWood
- Eye Shaped Cymbal Coffee Cocktail Table by John Van KoertBy John Van KoertLocated in New York, NYEye shaped formica top with medallion center motif, on decorative aluminum base. The top has damage at both pointed ends, and there is wear to the finish on the metal base. Not in p...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsAluminum
- Rare 2 pc. Coffee Table by John Van Koert for DrexelBy John Van KoertLocated in Cincinnati, OHA well crafted two piece mahogany and walnut coffee table with tapered ends and middle legs , the other legs are a T styled design . The top has great graining with nice details a ve...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsMahogany, Walnut