The Berlin-born, New York–based designer Karl Springer brought a chic, high-fashion sensibility to his coffee tables, mirrors, Lucite lamps and other 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, Springer had established his own Manhattan atelier. It was Pierre Scapula, decorator to Jackie and Aristotle Onassis, who spotted Springer's disco-era Onassis chairs — which didn't yet have a name — first commissioned for a private residence in Acapulco, on the floor of the designer’s East 61st Street showroom. Jackie ordered barstools for the couple’s yacht, the Christina O, and dining chairs for their house on the Greek mainland.
At the time of his death, Springer 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 appeal of his work lies in Springer's insistence on exacting construction and, above all, his eye for unusual materials and finishes.
Springer 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.
Find a collection of vintage Karl Springer furniture today on 1stDibs.
Pair of Karl Springer Lacquered Linen Nightstands, circa 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Westport, CT
An elegant pair of original nightstands designed by Karl Springer, dating to the 1980s. Celebrated for his luxurious materials and refined modernism, Springer frequently employed lac...
Linen, Glass, Lacquer
$36,664Sale Price|20% Off
Karl Springer Canopy King Bed with Wood Base, Gunmetal Frame, Brass Corners, and
By Karl Springer
Located in Cheyenne, WY
Karl Springer’s sleek and inviting canopy bed captures his unparalleled eye for fusing unusual materials into the ultimate statement piece. The frame, constructed from exquisitely fi...
Metal, Brass
1970s Coromandel Screen by Karl Springer, Hand-Carved, Vintage Decor
By Karl Springer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
An Incredible 1970 rare four panel “Coromandel” Screen by Karl Springer. The front design is hand carved and painted with black and coral...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Canopy Bed - US King
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Mid-Century Modern style canopy bed with a dramatic vertical slat back design. It has an architecturally inspired design that features Rich Walnut vertical slats, warmly contrasted by a dark chocolate canopy and posts accented with champagne gold brackets...
Wood
French Metal Canopy Bed, King
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Metal Canopy Bed, King Size, with a bronze finish metal canopy frame with a padded upholstered headboard in a neutral linen fabric. The frame with ...
Metal
Set of Simple Danish Oak Nightstands from the 1980s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
A pair of Danish oak nightstands straight from the stylish 1980s. These classic beauties exude simplicity and elegance, perfect for enhancing any bedroom decor. Crafted with high-qua...
Oak
$1,380 / set
H 29.5 in W 24 in D 17.5 in
A pair of Postmodern Pink Formica Waterfall Nightstands. Circa 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of Vintage Custom Made Postmodern Pink Waterfall Formica Nightstands. Circa 1980s Features three drawers with hidden pulls, a waterfall front design, and a laminated light pi...
Formica, Wood
$6,500 / set
H 24.25 in W 24 in D 17 in
Pair of Paul Frankl Ivory Lacquered Nightstands with Brass X Pulls, circa 1950
By Johnson Furniture Company, Paul Frankl
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Everyone loves Paul Frankl furniture. A pillar of design, he created some of the most iconic midcentury pieces of furniture. And here we have a lovely pair of Paul Frankl ivory lacqu...
Brass
Pace Collection 9964-1 Chrome Four Poster King Canopy Bed
By Pace Collection
Located in Hanover, MA
Pace Collection 9964-1 chrome four-poster king size canopy bed. Dimensions shown are external, edge to edge. Internal dimensions 78.5 inches side to side by 80.5 inches head to foot....
Steel, Chrome
Vintage Chinese Hand Painted and Carved Green Room Divider/Screen
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Vintage Chinese Hand-Painted Room Divider — carved wood panels with lacquered finish and ornate detailing, ideal as a statement screen for elegant interiors. Some wear and marks ...
Wood
$4,475
H 41.5 in W 139 in D 24 in
1980s Postmodern Leather Headboard Nightstands & Lamps King Or Queen Size
By Ligne Roset
Located in San Diego, CA
Majestic Italian postmodern headboard nighstands and lamps very nice and clean condition it all comes appart the long part of the board splits the...
Aluminum
$1,500
H 80 in W 41 in D 83 in
Antique American Federal Maple Wood Canopy Single Twin Poster Bed Frame
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Federal Maple Wood Canopy Single Twin Poster Bed Frame with Carved Finials (Color indoors is more true to images 2 and 3). Buyer will...
Maple
Mid Century Canopy Bed - CAL King
Located in Westwood, NJ
This stunning piece features graceful curves and a rich polished ash veneer, offering timeless elegance to your bedroom. The sleek, minimalist canopy frame in Pyramid Brown adds a t...
Brass
$1,882 / set
H 14.97 in W 19.69 in D 16.54 in
Pair of italian nightstands by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti 1980s
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Padova, IT
CONDITION: Very good with small, inevitable signs of age and use. A spot of discoloration on the top, highlighted in the photos, is due to a lamp placed on top. Giovanni Offredi (19...
Brass
Chinese Export Four Panel Coromandel Screen Pastel Beauties
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous Chinese export four-panel coromandel screen featuring a courtyard scene of beauties engaged in leisurely activities. The lacquered panels are incised and painted in soft pas...
Brass
Sold
H 24 in W 24 in D 18.25 in
Pair of Nightstands / Side Tables with Drawer by Karl Springer, 1970s.
By Karl Springer
Located in Kansas City, MO
Pari of Karl Springer bed side tables / night stands / end tables with drawer. Wood cases with ink. New glass inserts. Very good condition and ready to use
Glass, Wood
Karl Springer Stainless Steel Nightstand/End Table, 1980
By Karl Springer
Located in Chicago, IL
Karl Springer Stainless Steel/Chrome Nightstand/End Table, 1980s. Measures 28.25” wide 20” deep 25” tall
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 24.5 in W 28 in D 20 in
Karl Springer Rare Pair of Bedside Tables in Polished Stainless Steel 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of rare and exceptional “THREE DRAWER NIGHT TABLES” in polished stainless steel with glass mirror tops, each with 3 drawers, by Karl Springer, American 1980's. This series in st...
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 24 in W 36 in D 22 in
Karl Springer Pair of Bedside Tables in Lacquered Barkwood 1986 (Signed & Dated)
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of beautifully crafted bedside tables in lacquered barkwood, each with a drawer, by Karl Springer, American 1986 (signed and dated “Karl Springer 1986” with leather label on bot...
Wood, Lacquer
Karl Springer Embossed Leather Backgammon Table Signed & Dated
By Karl Springer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Karl Springer 1988 Parsons Style backgammon table with cover 2 compartments, cups, game pieces & dice Wood covered in two-tone faux lizard leather in light taupe tones Signed & ...
Brass
Karl Springer Pair of Gray Lacquered Linen Bedside Tables 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair beautifully made elegant bedside tables in gray lacquered linen with thick glass tops by Karl Springer, American 1980's. These have been newly relacquered by Lobel Modern. A ti...
Linen, Glass, Wood, Lacquer
Sold
H 24 in W 26 in D 24 in
Karl Springer Rare & Exceptional Pair of Lacquered Goatskin Bedside Tables 1985
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of beautifully crafted bedside tables in lacquered goatskin, each with 2 doors and drawer, by Karl Springer, American 1985 (fabrication date stamped on back “7 19 85”). Lacquer...
Goatskin, Wood
Karl Springer Rare and Stunning Large "Coromandel Screen" 1978
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare and exceptional large 6 panel "Coromandel Screen", hand carved and hand-decorated on the front with black and red lacquer and antiqued gold and silver leaf by Karl Springer, Ame...
Bronze, Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Karl Springer Pair of Lacquered Goatskin Bedside Tables, 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of bedside tables in lacquered goatskin with drawer and floating glass top by Karl Springer, American 1980's. These are beautifully made and the goatskin, one of Springer’s sign...
Goatskin, Glass, Wood, Lacquer
Karl Springer Embossed Leather Backgammon Table Signed & Dated
By Karl Springer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Karl Springer 1988 Parsons Style backgammon table with cover 2 compartments, cups, game pieces & dice Wood covered in two-tone faux lizard leather in light taupe tones ...
Brass
Sold
H 24 in W 28 in D 20 in
Karl Springer Rare and Superb Pair of Stainless Steel Bedside Tables, 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of rare and exceptional bedside tables in polished stainless steel with glass mirror tops, one with 1 drawer above 2 doors and one with 3 drawers by Karl Springer American 1980s. This series in stainless steel is among Springer’s finest. Seamlessly welded, these are a tour de force of design and meticulously crafted. The environmental shot is great at showing how reflective the polished stainless steel is. It’s hard to see in some of the other photos. The piece with 1 drawer over 2 doors is 28 inches wide; the piece with 3 drawers is 24 inches wide. Reference: Karl Springer LTD Red Binder Catalog published in the 1980’s, section titled “cabinets & etageres”, on page 5 of the section there is a photo of the same 3 drawer bedside table with the page titled “KARL SPRINGER LTD THREE DRAWER NIGHT...
Stainless Steel
Karl Springer Pair of Gray Lacquered Linen Bedside Tables 1980s
By Karl Springer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair beautifully made elegant bedside tables in gray lacquered linen with thick glass tops by Karl Springer, American 1980's. These have been newly relacquered by Lobel Modern.
Linen, Glass, Wood, Lacquer