Uber Cool Walnut Brown Saltman End Table

For all these mid century pieces there is a story.  Whether it is a story of the designers or the travels of the piece and its previous owners or the acquisition of the piece.  Its part of what makes these pieces interesting.

I picked this end table up while I was buying another unrelated piece.  I hadn't seen one before but saw the Brown Saltman label and noticed some of the details and figured it was a worthwhile purchase.  When I got home and began to research the piece I quickly became disappointed.  Although I could find very little information on it, what I discovered was my piece was missing the coolest part.  The piece I had had very uninteresting brass pendant pulls on the drawers.  The few pictures I could find of the piece showed that it came with some very cool spade shaped pulls.  I knew that for a piece of furniture so rare I could hardly find pictures it would be even less likely I could find the hardware for it.  I scoured ebay and etsy looking for something even similar to no avail.  I began digging through hardware suppliers hoping to find something that would give it the same cool feel as the originals, but nothing.  I put it aside in hopes that someday something would come up.  A few months later, I had just finished helping my buddy MidcenturyMike source some pulls for some pieces he had.  I jokingly sent him picks of the pulls I was looking for and said if you ever see these....  Literaly a day later, an ad popped up on craigslist from one of the local vintage furniture dealers of the same end table.  But this one had been changed.  I think the nice little legs and base had broken off and someone made a clunky pedestal base for it.  It had also been stained dark brown.  But...it had the cool spade pulls!  I quickly called and had them hold the piece.  I'm sure this is just part of the story of this little table's life.

The table, as typical with Brown Saltman pieces is very nicely made with many small details revealing the consciousness of the designer.  The small angled legs, dowel stretchers and case edges are all made of solid walnut.  The drawer faces are bookmatched and have nicely curved corners.  There is always a question of whether or not to refinish vintage pieces.  Most mass produced pieces do not have the cache' to justify preserving the original finish unless they are pristine.  The lacquer finish most of these used does not spot repair well and is subject to yellowing and crazing as they age.  This piece however, is pretty rare, is in very good original shape and has the advantage of having an oiled finish.  Oiled finishes do not protect well but they do repair well so don't always have to be stripped and refinished.  There are a few small scratches on the top edges in the solid walnut and one very faint water ring on the top.  This is a piece that I think has added value if the finish is original.  I don't know which of the design luminaries of Brown Saltman penned this piece, I suspect John Keal but cannot confirm.  I do know that I'm not likely to see one again.

With its size it could be used as either an end table or a small coffee table.  In either case it will bring some cool into your living room.

Dimensions  27" x 27" x 18"H
sold

Drexel Composite Bedroom Set

As I began the process of putting finish on this set I faced a design dilemma.  A test of my regular finish in an inconspicuous area revealed that the mahogany and pecan used in these pieces would end up a light, somewhat golden color.  I'm pretty fierce in my adherence to the philosophy of not adding pigment to finer materials such as walnut or mahogany but felt on these pieces the color I was getting with my normal finish would detract from the overall look.  I also didn't want to lose the great "movement" that mahogany is known for.  No, mahogany doesn't shake or vibrate.  Some woods, because of the way the growth rings form, change color or tone depending on the angle they are viewed from.  Mahogany is a species that exhibits this well.  However, opacity in the finish can lessen the effect.  Opacity can come in the form of pigment particles.  After testing various stains I found something that did a great job of adding color to the finish without hiding the nice banding and striping in the mahogany.  The resulting color is somewhat deeper and warmer than the original finish on the pieces.

After I acquired the set, I was able to find very little information on the line.  Date codes on the pieces showed they were manufactured in late 1961 and early 1962.  I have yet to uncover the designer of the Composite line.  John Van Koert would be a likely candidate having designed the Counterpoint and Profile lines in the same time period.  But with other luminaries such as Kipp Stewart and Stewart McDougall, Ed Wormley and Barney Flagg also having designed for Drexel in the 50's Van Koert isn't the only candidate.  Actually with the sled style base of the credenza and the use of mahohany and burl that are more reminiscent of deco period pieces I see the influence of Paul Laszlo in these.

The set is very nicely made with details that don't show up on "department store" quality pieces from the era.  The cases all use mitered joints to eliminate edgebanding and for a cleaner look.  The front edges of the cases are all solid pecan.  This front edge is rabbeted on the dressers to reveal a smaller profile from the front view.  This technique was also often used on Danish furniture.  The rung of the sled base on the credenza has a subtle curve on its top edge.  All of these details were deliberate and subtle and added expense to the manufacturing of the pieces.  The hardware is also noteworthy.  The drawers use a heavy brass D-ring on an inset escutcheon.  The hardware on this set arrived with a fair amount of wear and oxidation.  Although I love how patinated metal looks, it didn't fit with the freshly refinished wood, so I cleaned them up and they are now shiny brass with a light patina.  All the original drawer dividers are intact and the jewelry storage trays are in both dressers.

For about the same money as you'd pay for a Furniture Row bedroom set you can get a unique, well made set of American furniture with far nicer materials than the Furniture Row pieces.  Although the Drexel set has already been around for 50 years, if I had to bet on which set would still be around 50 years from now, I'd bet on the Drexels.

Dimensions:

7-drawer low dresser    62"W x 31"H x 20"D
7-drawer upright chest   33"W x 50"H x 20"D
2x nightstands         20" W x 23"H x 16"D
 king headboard       82"W x 39"H

 
Headboard for $195.   All other pieces are sold

Walnut Brown Saltman 8 Drawer Dresser by John Keal

Many mid-century enthusiasts may not be familiar with Brown-Saltman.  They have produced pieces designed by some of the pillars of modern design such as Gilbert Rohde, Paul Frankl, Paul Laszlo and John Keal.  Keal did much of his design work for Brown-Saltman and was known for his clean lined designs, great focus on details and adding in features such as sliding tambour tops or coffee warmers in side tables.

This piece is a fine example of Keal's work.  The design reminds me a bit of an Aston Martin sports car.  It is subtle enough that many might pass it by not realizing its beauty.  It may gain notice because of its lower than normal stature but its excellence isn't revealed until you look more closely.  Prodigious amounts of solid walnut were used in its construction, from the elegantly profiled "picture frame" profile of each drawer and perimeter of the case, to the solid walnut pedestal base.  Also of note on the base, this particular piece uses some of the darkest walnut I've seen.  I thought it may be ebony wood at first but closer inspection of grain structure and walnut's characteristic odor as I sanded it confirmed the species.  Beautiful casework and joinery ensure this piece is ready to serve duty another 50 years.  Brown Saltman also used very high quality side mount roller drawer glides for strength and durability and the drawers glide open and closed with ease.
Beautifully figured walnut veneers wrap the case and the drawers are all bookmatched.

On most pieces I don't mention much on the mirror but this one is very high quality with a solid walnut frame that has a matching profile to the drawers and heavy high quality glass.  It can be mounted to the dresser or hung separately. (pics added at bottom)

It is a rare opportunity to own such a high quality piece of mid century furniture and this one now looks nearly new.

Here is a place in L.A. selling the same dresser, also restored without the mirror for nearly double.
http://instagram.com/p/v9f5a_KgJ9/?modal=true


Dimensions:  60"W x 28"H x 20"D
        mirror:   34" x 44"

sold

Stunning Restored Modernist Dressers by United Furniture

As I began writing the blog post describing these pieces I found myself researching the definition of art.  It seems there are as many opinions on the definition of art as there are opinions on art itself.  I came across a description in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy that is used as one of the constraints on defining art.

"traditionally, artworks are intentionally endowed by their makers with properties, usually perceptual, having a significant degree of aesthetic interest, often surpassing that of most everyday objects"

While one could argue that most designed objects have a degree of aesthetic interest designed into them, it is the "often surpassing that of most everyday objects" that elevates an object to the status of a work of art.

The visual impact of these pieces will be decor defining.  With their scale and geometry, the meticulously detailed lay-up of the veneers and the organic feel of the sculpted figures they will be the focal point of a room.  They are not pieces for one looking for furniture to blend into its surroundings.

The low dresser has 3 large center drawers with another 3 drawers behind each of the figured doors.  The chest has 3 large drawers at the bottom with 2 smaller drawers above and open storage with a single adjustable shelf behind its figured door.  The large capacity of both pieces make them as functional as they are beautiful.

As I do with all my restorations I try to enhance the natural beauty of the materials as much as possible.  The original finish hid all the beautiful figuring and color variation of the walnut veneers.  The oak used in the figures and some of the trim has been dyed so that it works in harmony with the walnut.

These beautiful statement pieces are ready to become functional new additions to your art collection.

Dimensions:

9-drawer dresser: 74"W x 32"H x 20"D
5-drawer chest:    41"W x 48"H x 20"D

sold