Karl Springer Furniture

The Berlin-born, New York–based designer Karl Springer brought a chic, high-fashion sensibility to furnishings. During his heyday in the 1970s, Springer’s work was a favorite of the glamour set, who enjoyed the novelty of pieces finished in rich and striking materials that ranged from exotic hides and skins to lacquer and chromed metal. In a sense, Springer was a pre-postmodernist. Much as the dull, safe, corporate sameness of late 20th-century modernism prompted Ettore Sottsass, Michael Graves and others to explore new and provocative structures and materials in design and architecture, so, too, was Springer driven to enliven his creations with fresh and alluring energy and sleekness.
Springer came to New York in the late 1950s and found work arranging window displays at the department store Lord & Taylor. He had studied bookbinding in Germany, and, using his meticulous skills, he began crafting desk accessories wrapped in leather as a sideline. These pieces were sold in luxury stores like Bergdorf Goodman, and drew a sophisticated clientele that included the Duchess of Windsor. By 1965, he had established his own Manhattan atelier, and at his death he had showrooms as far afield as Los Angeles, Tokyo and Munich.
The chairs, tables, credenzas and other furniture forms Springer created are generally simple, but substantial, and often have robust, rounded lines. The attraction of Springer’s work lies in his insistence on exacting construction and, above all, his eye for unusual materials and finishes. He employed Lucite, brass, and gunmetal along with chromed and polished steel, and revived exquisite finishes rarely seen since the days of Art Deco masters such as Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann and Jean-Michel Frank: shagreen (a type of sharkskin), python, goatskin, bone, horn, and lacquered parchment, as well as fabrics that include batik prints. Made of such materials, Springer’s work is by its very nature flamboyant and eye-catching: a suite of pieces will astonish, and an artfully placed side table in exotic hide will add a surprising spark.
Early 2000s American Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century American Karl Springer Furniture
Bronze
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Leather
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
1970s North American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Chrome
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Chrome
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Lucite
Late 20th Century American Karl Springer Furniture
Brass, Stainless Steel
1960s Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Goatskin
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Animal Skin, Lucite
1970s American Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Lucite
1990s American Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Goatskin, Wood
2010s American Karl Springer Furniture
Maple, Goatskin
2010s American Karl Springer Furniture
Goatskin
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Leather, Wood
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Goatskin
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Glass
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Karl Springer Furniture
Metal
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Leather
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Goatskin, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Chrome, Silver Leaf
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Linen, Mirror, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Stone, Brass
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Glass, Lucite
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Ostrich Leather, Wood
Late 20th Century American Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Goatskin
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Mirror, Wood, Python
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Upholstery, Wood, Lacquer
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Python
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Ultrasuede, Wood
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Shell
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Bone
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
1970s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Acrylic
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass, Chrome
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
Early 2000s American Art Deco Karl Springer Furniture
Iron
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Leather, Wood, Python
Early 2000s American Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Stainless Steel
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Leather, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Travertine, Brass
Karl Springer Furniture
1970s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Animal Skin, Mirror, Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Leather
1970s North American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Sheepskin, Oak
1980s American Art Deco Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Brass, Bronze
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Bronze
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Glass
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Karl Springer Furniture
Lucite
1970s Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Lacquer
1980s American Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Stainless Steel
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Karl Springer Furniture
Murano Glass