Items Similar to American Studio Movement Sculptural Dragonfly Table by Andrew J Willner, 1973
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5
American Studio Movement Sculptural Dragonfly Table by Andrew J Willner, 1973
About the Item
A fantastical table in the form of a dragonfly by American Studio craftsman, Andrew J Willner, executed in rare English brown oak, its eight individual sections sculpted by hand and constructed with pegged mortise and tenon joinery. Made during Willner’s tenure as wood artist in residence at Peters Valley School of Crafts, where he worked alongside Emil Milan and Karl Seemuller, this table is exceptionally realized and exemplifies Willner’s interest in the segmented forms of the natural world which became part of his signature fantastical style. Bears the artist’s carved initials and date to the underside, ‘AJW Sept. 73’. Well-preserved, likely refinished at some point.
Literature: Meilach, D. Z. (1975). Creating modern furniture (pp. 288–289). New York: Crown Publishers.
*depth of top = 17.5 inches
*depth of base = 24 inches
Andrew Willner is a modern polymath of sorts whose CV credits include those of boat builder, environmentalist, permaculturist, city planner, photographer, and public speaker in addition to master woodworker. He received his earliest training in woodworking in the basement wood shop of his grandfather who ran a lumber business selling reclaimed wood from construction sites.
He earned his Bachelor degree in City Planning at the University of Virginia, did his graduate study in furniture design and sculpture under Wendell Castle student, Alan Lazarus, at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1968 and 1969, and became the first woodworking artist in residence at then-experimental and now-renowned Peters Valley School of Crafts in Layton, New Jersey upon its founding in 1970. It was at Peters Valley that Willner first met Emil Milan who was to become his mentor and life-long friend. Examples of Willner’s work are included in the 2018 monograph, Emil Milan: Mid Century Master.
In the late 1970s, Willner met Vladimir Kagan at the Rhinebeck Craft Fair - - the chance encounter led to Kagan commissioning a chair design from Willner, to be available in several variations, for a show at Kagan’s NYC gallery. Willner used one of his early, original, bent and laminated designs for the commission and over the course of a year or so, a limited number of examples were sold through the Kagan showroom under the Kagan name with Willner credited as the designer.
In 1980, Muppets’ genius, Jim Henson, purchased a whimsical three-legged table of Willner’s at a gallery which was subsequently displayed in the foyer of his “Henson Townhouse” on NYC’s Upper East Side, then home to the Muppet Workshop. Henson was so enchanted by Willner’s design that he commissioned four additional unique creations.
Throughout the period of 1973 to 1984, Willner’s company, Andrew Willner Designs, created sculpture and furniture for gallery shows and exhibitions, publicly and privately commissioned works, and did architectural woodwork which included the creation of dreamlike, nearly Dali-esque staircases and handrails. His creations were widely exhibited during these years and now reside in museums and private collections in both the United States and Europe.
- Creator:Andrew Willner (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 25.5 in (64.77 cm)Width: 34 in (86.36 cm)Depth: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)
- Style:American Craftsman (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Oak,Hand-Carved
- Place of Origin:United States
- Period:1970-1979
- Date of Manufacture:1973
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Brooklyn, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU882629889372
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 2009
1stDibs seller since 2009
112 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Brooklyn, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
More From This SellerView All
- One-Off American Studio Surreal Console Table in Maple by Andrew J Willner, 1976By Andrew WillnerLocated in Brooklyn, NYA one-off, fantastical table by American craftsman, Andrew J Willner, executed in rare, spalted wormy maple, its five individual sections sculpted by hand and constructed with pegged...Category
Vintage 1970s American American Craftsman Console Tables
MaterialsMaple
- American Studio Craft Movement Triangular Architectural Cocktail Table, 1970sLocated in Brooklyn, NYAn American Studio table in stack-laminated and sculpted maple, comprising a scalene triangular top with bullnose edge, supported by an architectural, arcaded base. The form is all a...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsWood
- Brooklyn-Barcelona Table by TJ VolonisBy TJ VolonisLocated in Brooklyn, NYTitle: Brooklyn-Barcelona Table Year: 2013 The Brooklyn-Barcelona console table is a graceful merger of styles and continents. The under-arch is d...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Industrial Console Tables
MaterialsMarble, Copper
- Wendell Castle Starfish Console Table in Polychromed and Stained Woods, 1995By Wendell CastleLocated in Brooklyn, NYAn exceptional console table by Wendell Castle (1932-2018), titled 'Voyage', executed in polychromed jelutong and mahogany with floating, fre...Category
1990s American American Craftsman Console Tables
MaterialsOther
- One-Off American Studio Craft Movement Modern Sofa in Black Walnut and Raw SilkLocated in Brooklyn, NYAn exceptional American Studio Craft sofa executed in black walnut and finished with a raw silk seat cushion, designed and built by Larry an...Category
20th Century American Modern Sofas
MaterialsSilk, Walnut
- American Studio Dovetailed Box in Walnut and Birds Eye MapleLocated in Brooklyn, NYA rectangular box in satin-finished walnut and bird's-eye maple with dovetailing to both body and lid, large wood hinges, and a spring-loaded button closure. Aside from what seem the...Category
20th Century American Organic Modern Decorative Boxes
MaterialsBirdseye Maple, Walnut
You May Also Like
- Side Table by Todomuta Studio Medium Size American Walnut Aluminum Brown&SilverBy Todomuta StudioLocated in Beverly Hills, CAThe side table is from Todomuta Studio's Re-Collectors Series. Recognized as a finalist for the AAD (Andalusian Association of Designers) Awards in 2018, the Re-Collectors collection...Category
2010s Spanish Side Tables
MaterialsAluminum
- Side Table by Todomuta Studio Small Size American Walnut Aluminum Brown & SilverBy Todomuta StudioLocated in Beverly Hills, CAThe sculpture is from Todomuta Studio's re-collectors series. Recognized as a finalist for the AAD (Andalusian Association of Designers) Awards in 2018, the re-collectors collection ...Category
2010s Spanish Side Tables
MaterialsAluminum
- Side Table by Todomuta Studio Medium Size American Walnut Aluminum Brown&SilverBy Todomuta StudioLocated in Beverly Hills, CAThe side table is from Todomuta Studio's Re-Collectors Series. Recognized as a finalist for the AAD (Andalusian Association of Designers) Awards in 2018, the Re-Collectors collection...Category
2010s Spanish Side Tables
MaterialsAluminum
- Side Table by Todomuta Studio Small Size American Walnut Aluminum Brown & SilverBy Todomuta StudioLocated in Beverly Hills, CAThe sculpture is from Todomuta Studio's re-collectors series. Recognized as a finalist for the AAD (Andalusian Association of Designers) Awards in 2018, the re-collectors collection ...Category
2010s Spanish Side Tables
MaterialsAluminum
- Cloud Table by Studio ChristinekaliaLocated in Geneve, CHCloud table by Studio Christinekalia Dimensions: W 135 x D 135 x H 28 cm. Materials: Swedish pine wood, tempered glass. Captured on the moment of tra...Category
2010s Cypriot Post-Modern Tables
MaterialsGlass, Wood, Pine
- Antimatter Table by Dechem StudioLocated in Geneve, CHAntimatter table by Dechem Studio. Dimensions: D 40 x H 37 cm. Materials: glass, metal. Based on the same principle as our Antimatter Vase and Lamp, this table is comprised of a...Category
2010s Czech Post-Modern Side Tables
MaterialsMetal
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Mid Century Foyer Table
Foyer Midcentury Tables
Used School Tables And Chairs
Early America Table Chair
Bear Table Base
English Castle Furniture
Vintage Laminate Table And Chairs
English Eight Chairs
Bear Side Table
American School Chair
Three Legged Side Table
Retro Laminate Table And Chairs
Retro Laminate Table And Chairs Furniture
Shop Vintage School Furniture
English Vintage Shop
American Oak Side Table
Early American Wood Side Table
Vintage Three Legged Chair