German furniture designer Tommi Parzinger brought high-style modernism to the forefront. Taking a vivid, stylized approach to mid-century furniture, many of his works feature boldly colored lacquers and offbeat finishes that make his pieces stand out among the works of his peers. Despite his uniquely progressive vision, Parzinger showed equal expertise in producing fine, traditional furnishings.
Born in Munich, Parzinger moved to New York City in 1932. He began his practice in the United States by designing for the Manhattan style trailblazer Rena Rosenthal. In 1939, he established his first company, which split its focus between handcrafted silver household items — such as tea sets and barware — and home furnishings, like dining tables and cabinets. In his first year in business, Parzinger exhibited several pieces of furniture at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.
A master craftsman, Parzinger sought out the most exceptional materials for his furniture, employing the finest woods — like mahogany and walnut — as well as including custom brass hardware and pewter inlays.
His silver works presented an elevated level of style and grace. A November 1939 article in LIFE magazine described Parzinger as “the most creative original designer of silverware in the United States.”
While he was still running his own business — creating 12 to 30 new designs each year — Charak Furniture Company appointed Parzinger as its head of modern furniture design. He modernized Charak’s design approach from a more traditional form to a mid-century modern style.
In the mid-1960s, Parzinger stopped designing furniture, turning his company over to his friend Donald Cameron. He shifted his attention to paintings, which he created until his death in 1981.
On 1stDibs, find a broad selection of vintage Tommi Panzinger tables, lighting, storage pieces and more.
Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern Mid Century Mahogany Breakfront China Cabinet
By Tommi Parzinger, Charak Furniture Company
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern Mid Century Mahogany Breakfront China Cabinet The upper of the china cabinet measures: 60 wide x 13.25 deep x 44.5 inches high The lower of the chi...
Glass, Mahogany
Two-Door Cabinet by Tommi Parzinger
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This is a rare example of Tommi Parzinger's work using fine veneers. This cabinet has absolutely stunning book matched veneers of Curley Maple inset with Mahogany inlays. Perfect fro...
Brass
Stunning Tommi Parzinger Cabinet.
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Wave front cabinet by Tommi Parzinger. The two double door cabinet has been Newly restored with polished brass handles. The interior of the cabinet has four adjustable she...
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Credenza/ Sideboard for Charak Modern
By Tommi Parzinger, Charak Furniture Company
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A rare long credenza designed by Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern. Features three sections each revealed by a door. Left section containing a drawer and shelf, middle section housin...
Oak
Tommi Parzinger Credenza for Parzinger Originals
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in San Francisco, CA
Tommi Parzinger design Chinese red lacquer credenza with polished brass mounted hardware. High quality construction and attention to details, newly lacquered in the original color ...
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Leather Covered Cabinet
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Dallas, TX
A green leather clad cabinet with gold embossing and brass hardware. Designed by Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern.
Leather
Tommi Parzinger Early Important Tall Cabinet/ Bookcase Limed Sawed Oak Cane Door
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Westport, CT
Highly important Tommi Parzinger tall Limed sawed oak and Cane front Bookcase /Cabinet . 1930's together with original photo and sketch fro catalog page ,one of three possibly made. ...
Cane, Oak
$6,920Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Tommi Parzinger Sideboard Cabinet
By Charak Furniture Company, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern buffet. Ribbon grain mahogany with wonderful color, featuring 5 drawers centering two doors. Sculptural wood handles.
Mahogany
$36,000
Tommi Parzinger Cabinet
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Tommi Parzinger cabinet. Sleek sophisticated cabinet Newly restored in an ivory satin finish set on a rich Mahogany plinth base. The cabinet has two sets of drawers with t...
Wood
Tommi Parzinger Sliding Door Cabinet
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Tommi Parzinger Ceruse Finish credenza A great early form on a sophisticated Plynth base. Original lacquered interior. The home this was in was featured in a 1956 House beautiful cov...
Mahogany
Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals Bleached Elm Armoire Wardrobe Cabinet
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals Bleached Elm Armoire Wardrobe Cabinet. Item features swing doors, five dovetail constructed drawers, c...
Elm
Tommi Parzinger Tall Chest or Dresser for Charak Modern
By Tommi Parzinger, Charak Furniture Company
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A tall chest of drawers designed by Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern. Two piece cabinet with lower portion consisting of three generous sized drawers. Above sits a cabinet with door...
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Console Cabinet
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Dallas, TX
A four drawer lacquered console cabinet with mahogany base, brass hardware and Vitrolite white glass top. Designed by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals.
Lacquer
Chinese Two Door Side Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
This two-door side cabinet has a classic, square-corner design with clean lines and minimal decoration. The small cabinet is crafted of elm with traditional joinery methods, faced wi...
Elm
Tommi Parzinger Cabinet
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Tommi Parzinger 4 door Cabinet, Brass Hardware and studs to front and sides Marked Parzinger Originals
Mahogany
1950s Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern Chest of Drawers
By Tommi Parzinger, Charak Furniture Company
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Wonderful Sabre leg chest of drawers on mahogany by Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern. Great scale and stunning hardware Other notable designer from the period include T.H. Robsjohn...
Mahogany
$4,760Sale Price|30% Off
H 31.5 in W 101 in D 19 in
8 foot Lacquered Credenza Cabinet in Style of Tommi Parzinger
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Gorgeous black lacquered 8 foot cabinet in the manner of Tommi Parzinger, circa 1970s. A commanding cabinet for a large room. Large door knocker pul...
Wood
Modern Geometric Two-Door Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern geometric two-door cabinet. This piece features a wide linear geometric design on the doors. The antiqued and weathered driftwood finish highlights the unique design feature...
Wood
$35,000
H 72 in W 60 in D 13 in
Tommi Parzinger Early Important Tall Cabinet/ Bookcase Limed Sawed Oak Cane Door
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Westport, CT
Highly important Tommi Parzinger tall Limed sawed oak and Cane front Bookcase /Cabinet . 1930's together with original photo and sketch fro catalog page ,one of three possibly made. ...
Cane, Oak
$15,800
H 24.5 in W 72 in D 18 in
Mid Century Modern Low Cabinet In Tommi Parzinger Style Wood and Brass, 1950's
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in North Miami, FL
This magnificent and fully restored vintage Tommi Parzinger style Mid-Century Modern low cabinet is sculptural with its monumental polished solid brass hardware that opens the cabinet doors on both sides. It has brass inlay on the top and bottom and legs. The special beautiful restored stain on the wood is a light grey to darker grey over the walnut. One can see the grain of the wood as it becomes more of a mix of champagne and grey. This is perfect in back of a sofa, in a bedroom or den in front of a flat screen TV. Also a great large painting or work of art would be fantastic on top of it. There is one-drawer on the right hand side and 2 shelves on the left and one on the right hand side. Quite stunning! Beautifully restored! All of the original fabulous hardware has been polished. It is 2 cabinets on the one base originally designed and made this way. They do not separate as in for nightstands and they cannot be separated. It is one great Mid-Century Modern designer cabinet...
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Bleached Quarter Sawn Oak Credenza
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Mid Century Modern custom finished Bleached and Cerused Oak cerused oak Credenza. Top and front feature quarrter sawn oak pieces which provide a subtle diamond pattern. A heavy aged ...
Oak
Tommi Parzinger Poppy Lacquer Credenza with Brass Accents, 1950s
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Iconic mid-century sideboard in a stunning Poppy lacquer, accented with aged brass studs and pulls. Cabinet has 2 compartments each housing adjustable shelves and drawers. A true col...
Brass
$2,450
H 34 in W 36 in D 16.25 in
Tommi Parzinger Bamboo and Cane Cabinet Mid Century Modern Glamour 36wx34hx16d
Located in Atlanta, GA
Glamorous Black Cabinet. designed by Tommi Parzinger for Willow and Reed, American, circa 1950s. It has been constructed of bamboo, wood, and cane, with polished brass hardware, and ...
Wood, Bamboo
$4,850
H 40.25 in W 44 in D 18.25 in
Tommi Parzinger Glazed Leather Chest Of Drawers For Charak Modern
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular with the case lacquered to imitate vellum. Three drawers with leather and glazed surface. Mother of Pearl knobs. Signed "Charak Modern" inside drawer. Square section feet.
Leather, Wood, Lacquer
$24,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 18 in W 61.5 in D 28.75 in
Two Midcentury Ebonized Walnut Woven Front Credenzas, Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Two signed Edward Wormley for Dunbar ebonized walnut woven front credenzas with brass fittings. One is a darker walnut than the other so they are not exactly matching in coloration. ...
Walnut
Sold
H 79 in W 51.25 in D 20.5 in
Tommi Parzinger, Mid-Century Modern, Rare Cabinet, Brown Lacquer, Brass, 1950s
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Stamford, CT
One of a kind, showroom model, fabulous Parzinger Art Deco designed wardrobe/entertainment center. Carrying five pull-out drawers and one large open top shelf and six smaller opened ...
Wood
Tommi Parzinger Iconic Studded Small Chest/Bedside Table 1981
By Parzinger Originals, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Small cabinet/chest/bedside table model 223S with 2 drawers in mahogany with chrome studs and exquisite pulls by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals, American 1981. This piece i...
Chrome
Tommi Parzinger 2-Door Cabinet with Illuminating Glass Top 1960s
By Tommi Parzinger, Parzinger Originals
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
2 Door cabinet with sculpted doors and sides with geometric motif with iconic engraved brass pulls and hinges, and illuminating glass top by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals, ...
Brass
Tommi Parzinger Cabinet for Parzinger Originals
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Dallas, TX
A lacquered cabinet with sliding doors, brushed silver hardware and a marble top. Designed by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals. Fully restored.
Marble
Tommi Parzinger Chests for Charak Modern- A Pair
By Charak Furniture Company, Tommi Parzinger
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An elegant and rare pair of chests/ commodes designed by Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern. Each chest features two large drawers and two half drawers, finished in an elegant mahogan...
Mahogany
Tommi Parzinger Small Chest for Parzinger Originals
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in Dallas, TX
A small chest / nightstand designed by Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals. Original blue lacquer with pull out file drawer on casters.
Lacquer
Tommi Parzinger Leather Front Chest of Drawers for Charak Modern
By Charak Furniture Company, Tommi Parzinger
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An elegant chest of drawers designed by Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern. Drawer fronts feature hand tooled yellow/ parchment leather which perfectly compliments the dark wood case....
Leather, Wood
Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals Three-Door Studded Cabinet
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Tommi Parzinger for Parzinger Originals three door studded cabinet. The cabinet has been Newly restored in a soft white Matte finish and brass studs and sits on an espresso colored...
Wood, Lacquer
Tommi Parzinger Originals 1940 Studded 3 Door American Cabinet
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
A three door matte white cabinet on a espresso plinth base. The sideboard cabinet has beautiful satin brass pulls and studs to the face and sides. Drawers and shelves are held inside...
Enamel
Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern Leather Front Chest of Drawers
By Charak Furniture Company, Tommi Parzinger
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Iconic chest of drawers designed by Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern. Features four drawers all clad in hand tooled leather fronts. Top and bottom drawers ar...
Leather
Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern Two Door Cabinet
By Charak Furniture Company, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Hanover, MA
Classic mahogany cabinet with tooled and gilt diamond pattern green leather door panels and distinctive polished brass door pulls. Features a single adjustable interior shelf. De...
Brass
Sold
H 35.12 in W 62 in D 17.5 in
Tommi Parzinger, Buffet, Bleached Mahogany, Brass, Charak Modern, USA, 1960s
By Charak Furniture Company, Tommi Parzinger
Located in High Point, NC
A bleached mahogany and brass buffet designed by Tommi Parzinger and produced by Charak Modern, Boston, MA, United States, 1960s.
Brass