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Bernhard Rohne Commodes and Chests of Drawers

German, Canadian, b. 1944

Widely acclaimed for the range of case pieces he designed for Michigan manufacturer Mastercraft during the 1970s, metal artist and furniture designer Bernhard Rohne has been creating distinctive acid-etched brutalist furnishings, home accessories, sculptures and other works for decades. The German-born Vancouver-based designer’s cabinets, coffee tables, credenzas and more are statement pieces in any interior and can introduce contrast and vigor into living rooms and dining rooms.

Born in Peine, Rohne attended the WKS Hanover art school. It was in his material science class that Rohne immersed a small painted copper plate into a container of acid. After some time, he couldn’t detect whether or not any kind of chemical reaction had taken place, so he left the plate in the acid and went to lunch. 

When Rohne returned, yellow clouds had filled the room and the school had to be evacuated. However, when he was able to retrieve the copper plate, Rohne saw that there had indeed been a reaction between the metal and the chemical. The incident, while most definitely dangerous, sparked his interest and set him on a path of material exploration and design that collectors and art enthusiasts continue to celebrate to this day.

Rohne moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1967. During the 1970s, Grand Rapids-based furniture manufacturer Mastercraft — known to collectors of mid-century modern and Hollywood Regency design — partnered with Rohne and produced a large group of case pieces featuring applied brass plaques and panels, acid-etched with forms and patterns that are marked by the influence of Abstract Expressionism and Geometric Abstraction

For his best known pieces, Rohne worked with brass, aluminum, copper and zinc metal sheets, which he oxidized and etched in order to create fascinating surface panels for his walnut console cabinets and sideboards that, with their patinated bronze and black lacquer doors, are sculptural attention-grabbing works in today’s interiors.

Rohne’s work, like many pieces of brutalist furniture and sculptures designed by him or like-minded metalworker Paul Evans, remains popular with interior designers and can lend unique, eccentric, human notes to an art and design collection in any home.

Find vintage Bernhard Rohne tables, storage pieces and wall decor on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Bernhard Rohne
Small Acid-Etched Brass Chest of Drawers by Bernhard Rohne for Mastercraft
By Bernhard Rohne, Mastercraft
Located in Dorchester, MA
Canadian designer Bernhard Rohne created this handsome three-drawer dresser for Mastercraft. Covering the case are abstract designs in Rohne's signature surface treatment of acid-etc...
Category

1970s American Vintage Bernhard Rohne Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Bernhard Rohne for Mastercraft Acid Etched Brass Chest of Drawers and Mirror
By Bernhard Rohne, Mastercraft
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern Hollywood Regency chest of drawers with matching wall mirror By Bernhard Rohne for Mastercraft Furniture USA, 1970s Acid etched brass, with bla...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bernhard Rohne Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Mastercraft Chest and Matching Mirror by Berhardt Rohne
By Bernhard Rohne
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A great 1960s three-drawer chest of drawers and matching mirror by Bernhard Rohne for Mastercraft. Acid etched brass and lacquered wood, with rounded corners on the chest. The mirror...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bernhard Rohne Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

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Bernhard Rohne commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs.

Bernhard Rohne commodes and chests of drawers are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Bernhard Rohne commodes and chests of drawers, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original commodes and chests of drawers by Bernhard Rohne were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider commodes and chests of drawers by Hickory Manufacturing Company, Romweber Furniture Co., and Davis Cabinet Company. Prices for Bernhard Rohne commodes and chests of drawers can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,800 and can go as high as $4,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,800.

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