In its striking curtain wall of glass and modernist steel columns, Gordon Bunshaft’s International-style design for the Lever House — cocreated with Natalie de Blois — garnered widespread acclaim. The Pritzker Prize-winner was a legendary American architect, and his influence can be found today in city skylines all over the world.
Bunshaft studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before undertaking fellowships in Europe and North Africa. In 1937, he joined New York City architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill where he worked until his retirement in 1979.
Bunshaft shared the same interest in modernist furniture as Florence Knoll, an architect and furniture designer who had a subtle but profound influence on the course of mid-century American modernism and who helped make Knoll Inc. a leading firm in its field. Bunshaft recommended that Knoll be placed in charge of interiors when, while at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, he designed the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company’s headquarters in the mid-1950s.
Bunshaft’s projects drew heavily on the pioneering architectural work of Le Corbusier as well as Mies van der Rohe, an iconic furniture designer and fellow proponent of modernist architecture.
Celebrated architectural marvels created by Bunshaft include the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library for Yale University and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Research Building for the University of Texas. Completed in 1974, Bunshaft designed the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and finished the National Commercial Bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1983. The National Commercial Bank was his last project.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Gordon Bunshaft case pieces and other furniture.
1961 Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft of SOM Stainless & Rosewood Executive Desk
By Davis Allen, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an Executive Desk, initially designed by Davis Allen and Gordon Bunshaft as part of SOM Design. This particular example dates to the year 1961. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill...
Steel
C. 1958 Gordon Bunshaft of SOM / Alcoa / GF Studios Italic Desk
By Gordon Bunshaft, General Fireproofing Company
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an Italic Desk, designed by Alcoa / Reynolds / GF Studios for Gordon Bunshaft and SOM's Reynolds Metals Headquarters in Richmond, VA. The design is largely seen as a collabor...
Aluminum, Steel
Custom Desk with Credenza by Gordon Bunshaft for General Fireproofing Company
By General Fireproofing Company, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Kansas City, MO
This is a one of a kind, custom designed partners desk with credenza by Gordon Bunshaft for the General Fireproofing Company, also know as GF and Go...
Aluminum, Steel
C. 1958 Gordon Bunshaft of SOM / Alcoa / GF Studios Italic Desk
By Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a custom Italic Desk, designed by Alcoa / Reynolds / GF Studios for Gordon Bunshaft and SOM's Reynolds Metals Headquarters in Richmond, VA. The design is largely seen as a co...
Aluminum, Steel
Alma Mid Century Rosewood and Leather Executive Desk
By Alma Desk Company
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Alma Mid Century Rosewood and Leather Executive Desk This desk measures: 78 wide x 36 deep x 29.5 high, with a chair clearance of 28 inches Fair Vintage Condition - Desk has Stain ...
Leather, Rosewood
$5,800Sale Price|26% Off
H 29.5 in W 72.5 in D 36.5 in
Dunbar Roger Sprunger Rosewood and Stainless Steel Desk
By Roger Sprunger, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Pasadena, TX
A Mid-Century Modern executive desk in the style of Roger Sprunger. Rosewood with stainless steel double pedestal base. Three drawers including one file and two regular with two pull...
Stainless Steel
65 Davis Allen Oak Stainless Credenza
By Davis Allen
Located in Pasadena, TX
Davis Allen joined Skidmore, Owing and Merrill (SOM) in 1950 as a junior architectural designer. In the intervening forty years, and since 1965 with the rank of Associate Partner, Senior Interior Designer, Allen collaborated with three generations of SOM partners. 64" GF Davis Allen...
Stainless Steel
1968 Executive Desk
By Warren Platner
Located in Hanover, MA
Executive desk formerly belonging to noted architect George M. Notter, (1933–2007) of the Boston firm Anderson Notter Finegold (now known as Finegold Alexander Architects). Current institutional memory at the firm suggests it was a special order from Herman Miller for the then new New York offices of MGM, however Herman Miller's archivist was unable to confirm. Styling, particularly the distinctive slim milled aluminum tracks through which the entire drawer carriage glides is clearly similar to Warren Platner's designs for Lehigh-Leopold which were then among the most costly of executive office furnishings. The bent flat bar chromed steel base with its distinctive pigeon toe splay is somewhat similar to a table base in Stow Davis' Electa Series, designed by Alexis Yermakov circa 1971. Walnut laminate top is very clean with no issues. One corner edge shows a small separation. The only identifying markings are within the milled aluminum channel: G.P. F.I. 2 And the date Dec. 20, 1968. See image 18. Between the rectangular laminate top and the chrome base is a heavy blackened steel plate. Underneath the bent chrome pigeon toe feet are bars of a thick phenolic material which act as floor protector. We can have keys made to fit the two locking drawers. Tim Anderson...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Custom Made Long Credenza with Mirrored Tabletop
Located in New York, NY
This custom-built long credenza provides makes for elegant storage and display in a living or retail space. With 12 wood drawers finished in a crisp white paint and accented with br...
Metal, Brass
$6,500
H 31 in W 57.5 in D 27.5 in
Vintage American Art Deco Walnut and Rosewood Executive Desk, 1930s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage American Art Deco desk crafted in the United States, circa 1930s. Defined by its striking symmetry and luxurious mix of materials, this exceptional piece reflects the refined...
Leather, Rosewood, Walnut, Burl
$3,800
H 28.75 in W 60 in D 24 in
Mid-Century American Modern Studio Craft Walnut Desk by Richard Artschwager
By Richard Artschwager
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Walnut Studio Craft single pedestal desk by renowned painter and sculptor, Richard Artschwager, who designed a small collection of furniture in New York City in 1953. These pieces ar...
Walnut
$7,850
H 26.58 in W 110.24 in D 19.69 in
Extra-Large Gordon Bunshaft Credenza by De Coene Frères, 1960s
By Gordon Bunshaft, De Coene Frères, Florence Knoll
Located in Dronten, NL
A rare and exceptional extra-large credenza designed by Gordon Bunshaft and crafted by De Coene Frères for the Lambert Bank in Belgium, circa 1960. This monumental piece exemplifies ...
Chrome
Vintage American of Martinsville Desk
By Merton Gershun
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
Vintage 3-drawer desk in bleached mahogany with a faux bamboo front. This design features an architectural-inspired linear silhouette with open-side shelving. From the sought-after a...
Mahogany
$6,000 / set
H 28.5 in W 80 in D 40 in
Mid-Century Modern Executive Desk in Maple with Aluminum Base, 1955
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-Century rosewood large executive desk with pull out shelves on top resting on 2 drawer units over a Pair of aluminum pedestal bases (HERBERT HIRCHE-Christian Holzäpfel KG) Germa...
Wood
Richard Schultz For Knoll Rosewood and Chrome Executive Desk
By Richard Schultz, Knoll
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a mid century modern executive desk by Knoll International. It was designed by Richard Schultz in the mid 1960's. It's made of rosewood and has chrome legs. It has 2 pull out...
Chrome
Vintage 1960's American of Martinsville Desk
By American of Martinsville
Located in New York, NY
Vintage 1960's American of Martinsville desk with structural details and original pulls. Nice corner details. Marked inside drawer. Two f...
Wood
Sold
H 30 in W 80 in D 40 in
Rare Mid Century Modern Italic Executive Desk by Gordon Bunshaft for GF Studios
By General Fireproofing Company, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Lafayette, IN
This remarkable piece is one of the most spectacular desk designs to come out of the Mid-Century era. Designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft for GF Studios (a division of the General...
Aluminum
Sold
H 30 in W 66 in D 30 in
Gordon Bunshaft Mid-Century Modern Italic Desk for General Fireproofing Co.
By General Fireproofing Company, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Very cool Mid-Century Modern desk designed by modern design architect Gordon Bunshaft (1909-1990) and manufactured by the General Fireproofing Company. This desk is made of aluminium...
Aluminum
Executive Walnut Desk by Gordon Bunshaft for Knoll
By Gordon Bunshaft, Knoll
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage executive walnut desk by Gordon Bunshaft for Knoll. Features two pull-out drawers with chrome steel legs and wrapped around chrome on the edges.
Chrome