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Telephone Table Bench with Stool by Raymond Loewy, USA, 1950s

Price:$1,250

$1,800List Price

Raymond Loewy

For those in the know, French-born American industrial designer Raymond Loewy is the “father of streamlining.” He is widely recognized as a pioneer of industrial design consulting — a creative powerhouse who took aim at cluttered designs and simplified them. Loewy left his mark on everything from toothbrushes to trashcans to spacecraft interiors. He designed cars, worked in illustration, and crafted comely dressers and other furniture.

Loewy was born in Paris, France. At age 15, he designed a model airplane that was powered by rubber bands. It won the James Gordon Bennett Cup of 1908. Loewy patented the model kit for this plane by the following year and saw brisk sales. With his savings, Loewy was able to study at the University of Paris and then at Ecole de Lanneau, where he earned an engineering degree in 1918.

Loewy moved to New York City in 1919 and found work as a window designer for the department stores Macy's, Wanamaker's and Saks and as a fashion illustrator for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Loewy’s big break in industrial design came in 1929 when he altered the Gestetner duplicating machine — removing jutting parts and encasing the moving works in an understated cover. It caused a sensation within the industry — and companies began to call on him.

Loewy designed packaging for Coca-Cola and revised the look of Lucky cigarettes. The “Loewy Look,” which referred to the designer’s efforts to strip a product of any unnecessary detail and streamline its appearance, began to characterize hundreds of products.

Loewy found clients in a dizzying number of companies. He did everything from retooling logos to redesigning products. His 1934 Sears Coldspot refrigerator was a sleek innovation that broke sales records. His Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive resembled a speeding bullet and was the darling of the 1939 World’s Fair. Loewy even reworked shapes for snacks at Nabisco. By the time World War II gathered steam, Raymond Loewy Associates — the industrial design firm he founded — had been operating in a number of American cities. When Time magazine featured him on the cover in October 1949 — Loewy was not shy about publicity — his profile soared.

Loewy worked with Studebaker for decades. The success of their 1953 Starliner coupe was due to his revolutionary design, while their 1963 futuristic, fiberglass-bodied Avanti, which came with advanced safety features and materialized at a time when the company was experiencing financial hardship, was his crowning achievement for the maker.

Returning to his roots in aviation, Loewy worked for NASA from 1967 to 1973 on the interior design of the Skylab space station. He was also involved in the interior designs of the Concorde supersonic jet and Air Force One. Loewy delighted in creating furniture and collaborated with manufacturers such as Mengel Furniture, Rosenthal and Doubinsky Frères. In the 1970s, Loewy and his wife shuttered their businesses and retired in France.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Raymond Loewy cabinets, serveware, seating and more.

Mid-Century Modern Mengel Limed & Cerused Oak Telephone Bench by Raymond Lowey

$2,995

H 27 in W 34.5 in D 17 in

Mid-Century Modern Mengel Limed & Cerused Oak Telephone Bench by Raymond Lowey

By Mengel Furniture Co., Raymond Lowey

Located in Topeka, KS

Wonderful vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel telephone bench by Raymond Loewy. Comprised of a limed oak case, cerused oak drawer fronts, black iron legs and the original gold upholstery. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. The case has been refinished, the drawers reconditioned, and the legs freshly painted. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, 1950-1959. NOTE: If you love this magnificent Telephone Bench by Raymond Loewy for Mengel we have a matching Secretary Desk or Gentleman’s Chest listed here for sale if it is still available! RING, RING, RING…. Would someone please answer that phone? Ok, ok, you may not have a landline, but BOY do we have the perfect place for you to sit and relax while you answer that call… WOW!!! This is an AWESOME vintage telephone bench designed by Raymond Loewy for Mengel!! It is comprised of a limed oak veneer case, a limed oak cube or cubby with top drawer that slides both ways with charcoal colored cerused oak drawer fronts on both sides, straight black iron legs, and a fabulous square seat wearing its original gold fabric!!! IT. IS. FANTASTIC!!! And it is beautifully finished all around so it can float in any room of your home. This telephone bench or “gossip bench...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Metal

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By Franco Campo & Carlo Graffi

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Elegant Italian mid-modern / Minimalist bench resting on enameled metal legs with molded plywood seats and a center seat in leather-like material. The entire composition forms with black leather central seat...

Category

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H 20.5 in W 72 in D 18 in

Minimalist Bench and Matching Table by JG Furniture

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A Classic, Minimalist bench or coffee table and matching side table by JG Furniture, NYC. Black steel with white Formica tops give it a simple and timeless look. The long table measu...

Category

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Materials

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François Monnet Bench, Pair Available

$4,950

H 19.5 in W 40 in D 17 in

François Monnet Bench, Pair Available

By François Monnet

Located in Miami, FL

A rare François Monnet bench, stainless steel and white faux Leather, pair available. Priced individually.

Category

Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Stainless Steel

$5,400

H 17.5 in W 60 in D 19 in

Low Table or Bench by Edward Wormley for Dunbar

By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture

Located in Sagaponack, NY

A low table or bench with an ebonized walnut frame which rises slightly above the table surface and can hold a loose cushion if used as a bench.

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Walnut

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Telephone Table Bench with Stool by Raymond Loewy, USA, 1950s

About the Item

Raymond Loewy

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