Very Cool Mahogany End Table by John Keal

As I began writing this post, I started scanning the web looking for something interesting to say about designer John Keal.  I didn't really turn up much.  But as I looked at images of various pieces he designed the thing that struck me the most was how detailed his designs are.  Almost every piece has a very unique feature that guarantees it won't be mistaken for something else.  He incorporated concealed drawers in pieces, designed in uniquely cantilevered shelves or expanding table tops, used steeply angled legs, all of these with the intent to design a special piece of furniture.  I'm guessing he gave the production staff of Brown-Saltman fits trying to figure out a way to produce these pieces in quantity and still make a buck.  The aesthetics of his designs are American modern but attention to detail is more similar to Danish design.

As with all Brown Saltman pieces, this end table is very well constructed.  The "case", tambour slats and legs are all constructed of solid mahogany.  The boomerang top and supports as well as the sliding door are all mahogany veneer over solid hardwoods.  The most notable feature on this table is its retractable "tambour" table top.  The door rolls back into the case to reveal a large storage space.  This would be a great space to stash magazines, remote controls, drink coasters, anything you might want to have handy in a living room but don't want cluttering up the space.  A cord or charging cable can even be threaded into the compartment to have a convenient yet hidden space for charging electronic devices.  The "flying" boomerang top be a great place to perch a cool table lamp or could be used to support a smaller flat screen TV.

As I do with most pieces, this has been completely stripped and refinished.  The characteristic straight grain and "tiger stripes" of the mahogany show through well.  The door functions perfectly and overall this is a very sturdy as well as rare and collectible table.

Dimensions:  32 1/2"W x 32 1/2"D x 17"H (to table top) 24 1/2"H (to boomerang top)

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Walnut Floating Top End/Coffee Table

If you've spent some time digging through my blog posts this table might look familiar.  In the fall of 2014 I restored a matching end table and coffee table.  As I remember, within a day or two of having sold the identical end table, the original owner contacted me and told me they had another table they wanted to get rid of.  It was too late to refinish this one and sell as a set.  This table could be used as a side table or corner table in a sectional or, as a coffee table depending on what height and scale is desired.  Here is my description from the first table I did.

They all did it.  Finn Juhl, Jens Risom, Greta Grossman, many of the great designers had a variation of the floating top table.  It is a classic design that lives on today.  This set has no makers marks on it but considering the top is walnut and by their general construction,  I would say they are most likely American made.  They remind me the most of Grossman's designs with the crossing stretchers and detail at the top of the legs.  These were originally finished in a Heywood -Wakefield-like bleached finish.  That has been stripped off and the walnut refinished its natural color with the legs dyed to match.  The top of the end table has gently curving sides to set it apart from an ordinary square table.

Dimensions:

End table: 30" x 30" x 20"H

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Broyhill Forward '70 Credenza and Hutch

Like anyone else, I always go into a project with a certain level of expectation.  Sometimes a piece is a cool or rare design or the materials are particularly interesting.  I tend to get more excited about pieces that I have higher expectations for and will bump those up in my queue.  I've had this set for a year and a half.  I acquired it at the same time as some other pieces and it was almost left behind.  For one, it was all painted a taupe color and I generally don't bring home painted pieces because you just can't tell what lies beneath the paint.  Second, I wasn't sure the configuration of this piece was one that would make it desirable.  Third, as my friend MidcenturyMike will tell you, I can be lukewarm on Broyhill pieces because some of them have had walnut that is not colored and figured as nicely as from other makers.  It was time to get working on this piece and as I started the process, I began to realize I set my expectations too low.  As the paint was removed and the walnut was revealed I saw some nice figuring and color variation.  The more time I spent on the piece, the more uses I saw for it.  In the end, this set exceeded my expectations.

This credenza and hutch are part of the Forward '70 line.  These were designed in the early 1960's and represented the vision of Broyhill's designers of what design in 1970 and beyond would be like.  This set, I imagine, was intended as a china storage piece to be used in a dining room.  I'm sure it would work well in this application but I think it has much more functionality to offer.  It would be a great dry bar in a living room or den with the drop down door on the hutch working as a serving surface for drinks.  I would work great as a light use desk with the drop door serving as a work surface for writing or a laptop.  The hutch top could also be used separately by adding some hairpin legs and using as a compact TV/media stand.  The shelves behind the sliding glass doors could house a cable box, Apple TV or other electronic component that uses an IR remote.  The top has enough space for probably a 50" TV.

The entire set has been stripped sanded and refinished.  Because they had been painted and stripped, the cane panels on the hutch door were discolored.  I opted to stain the cane a chocolate brown that works well with the walnut coloring.  The sliding glass doors on the hutch are original and in great shape.  The drawers all slide well on their original steel and roller bearing slides.

Dimensions:
      Credenza 54"W x 30.5"H x 18"D
       Hutch     54"W x 21.5"H x 14"D (at bottom) 11.5"D (at top)

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