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John Keal

At a time when many furniture makers were turning to cheaper materials for mass production, mid-century modern designer John Keal didn't shy away from utilizing quality woods in his work, like mahogany and walnut to create his coffee tables, cabinets and benches.

While little is known about Keal, he was part of a powerhouse group that collaborated with Los Angeles furniture manufacturer Brown-Saltman in the 1940s and ‘50s. Other designers who had partnered with the firm during the mid-20th century included Greta Magnusson Grossman, Paul Frankl, Paul Laszlo, and Gilbert Rohde, a New York City-born designer who would help legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer Herman Miller avert financial disaster during the Great Depression.

Brown-Saltman was established in 1923 and initially specialized in reproductions of furniture in period styles. When cofounder David Saltman met Frankl, the firm had discontinued its Early California collection and was producing modern furniture. 

The Austrian-born Frankl was already a big name in decorating in California in the late 1930s — his clients were Hollywood movie stars who were drawn to pieces such as his Art Deco-style Skyscraper series and other biomorphically shaped designs that showed the influence of Chinese and Japanese forms (Brown-Saltman’s offerings were frequently demonstrative of Asian influences). Frankl had become interested in producing inexpensive furniture for middle-class consumers, and his 1940s-era collaboration with Brown-Saltman was a success — print advertisements touted his name as well as the fact that these furnishings, which drew on the clean lines of chrome-framed Bauhaus pieces but instead integrated organic materials, were intended for modern homes. 

Keal’s work also fit snugly into what we now call California modernism, which derived from the Bauhaus and International Style movements, and revolutionized the way we build homes today, not only in the Golden State but across the globe. Keal created sleek end tables in walnut and topped with enameled copper and upholstered low-profile dining chairs framed in bleached mahogany for Brown-Saltman as well as other West Coast mid-century brands such as Glenn of California and Modeline

Find vintage John Keal seating, storage pieces and tables on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$3,487
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
John Keal for Brown Saltman Walnut and Smoke Glass Coffee Table
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful and elegant one drawer coffee table designed by John Keal for Brown Saltman. Crafted out of walnut the piece has a smoked glass top. The dimensions are 60x24 inches and ...
Category

20th Century American John Keal

Materials

Walnut

John Keal Expanding Coffee Table for Brown Saltman, 1970
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage expandable walnut coffee table. Designed by John Keal for Brown Saltman. Original black poufs included for seating. Signed with the original tags on the poufs. Killer design...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Keal

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Johnn Keal for Brown Saltman Lounge Chairs
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Pair of Johnn Keal for Brown Saltman Lounge Chairs
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern John Keal

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Rare John Keal Wood & Brass Floor Lamp c1960s
By John Keal
Located in San Francisco, CA
Fantastic rare floor lamp by American designer, John Keal c1960s. All original condition, wonderful patina, with original shade. Typically the original outer shades are missing from ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Keal

Materials

Brass

Rare John Keal Wood & Brass Table Lamps c1960s
By John Keal
Located in San Francisco, CA
Fantastic pair of rare table lamps by American designer, John Keal c1960s. All original condition, wonderful patina, with original shades. Typically the original outer shades are mis...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Keal

Materials

Brass

John Keal for Brown Saltman Walnut and Smoked Glass 1 Drawer Side Table
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful walnut and smoked glass square side table designed by John Keal for Brown Saltman. It features one drawer. There is a Brown Saltman Red Decal Label on the inside. It is ...
Category

20th Century American John Keal

Materials

Smoked Glass, Walnut

Mid Century Modern Walnut Tallboy Dresser By John Keal for Brown Saltman, c1960s
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Chino Hills, CA
Introducing a distinguished piece of mid-century modern artistry, this vintage tallboy dresser by John Keal for Brown Saltman defines the iconi...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Keal

Materials

Walnut

John Keal for Brown Saltman Walnut Hexagonal Side Table
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful walnut and smoked glass 6 sided hexagonal side table designed by John Keal for Brown Saltman. It is pictured in our gallery with the matching coffee table and other side ...
Category

20th Century American John Keal

Materials

Smoked Glass, Walnut

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John Keal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

John Keal furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of John Keal furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by John Keal were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Richard Schultz, Tomlinson, and Paul Mayen. Prices for John Keal furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $425 and can go as high as $28,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,650.

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