Fantastic Pair of 4 Drawer Chests by Raymond Loewy

Although he may not be the first designer that comes to mind for furniture enthusiasts, Raymond Loewy is arguably one of the most significant and influential designers of the modern movement.  His industrial and graphic designs helped form the landscape of post-war America.  His long list of designs are familiar to all of us and include: logos for Shell, BP, Exxon, TWA, Lucky Strike cigarettes, the livery for Air Force One, the Studabaker Avanti and countless others.  He also designed a number of furniture lines.

These chests were designed by Loewy for Mengel Furniture in 1947.  This is a period where Art Deco was still a big influence in modern design and the Bauhaus trained designers had only just started importing their style into American furniture.  The cases and drawer fronts are made of solid oak with the drawers having a subtle bevel on the top and bottom edges.  The solid brushed aluminum pulls mimic the drawer profiles.  These 2 chests had different finishes on them when I acquired them.  One was a traditional medium brown tone.  The other had a gray/green finish that looked very dated and worn.  With their tie to deco design and oak construction with fairly simple lines, I decided they would be candidates for a cerused finish.  I opted to use a dark, chocolate brown base and filled the grain with white.  The result is a stunning transformation that not only makes a huge visual impact but is correct to the period as this technique was often used in deco furniture design.

This pair of chests would make a great dresser or credenza when placed side by side.  They could also be used as a large set of nightstands or end tables.  The finish creates a versatile style that would look great with modern, deco, industrial, gothic, farmhouse or traditional decors.

Dimensions for each: 34"W x 32"H x 19.5"D
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