The Michigan-based furniture maker Steelcase has a long and distinguished history, but collectors focus on its vintage office furniture and desk chairs from the 1950s to the ’70s, when, along with such companies as Knoll and Herman Miller, the firm helped define the aesthetics of American mid-century modernism.
Steelcase was founded in Grand Rapids in 1912 as the Metal Office Furniture Company, promoting steel desks and other furnishings as safer, fireproof alternatives to wooden pieces at a time when smoking in the workplace was common. Boston’s first skyscraper — the 32-story Customs House — was furnished by the company in 1915. Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect and furniture designer whose work had a profound influence on the shape of modern life, turned to the firm in 1937 to fabricate the enameled metal chairs and desks for his Johnson Wax Headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin.
In the 1950s, when Steelcase formally adopted the name it still uses today, the company developed a sleek and functional style employing rectilinear chrome frames for glass-topped tables and upholstered seating pieces. The look is similar to that of the minimal, Bauhaus-inspired designs of Florence Knoll, another icon of furniture design who helped shape the ethos of the postwar business world.
By the 1970s, Steelcase had enlivened its styling, offering such pieces as chairs and side tables designed by Gardner Leaver, with circular bases and curving supports. As you will see on these pages, Steelcase designs offer a perfect foundation for a modernist decor, with a touch of flair.
Find vintage Steelcase furniture on 1stDibs.
2011 Scott Wilson for Steelcase / Coalesse Round Laminate Dining Table 48in
By Steelcase
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Dining Table, originally designed by Scott Wilson for Steelcase. This particular example was produced in the USA and dates back to 2011. The table is comprised of an alumin...
Aluminum
1980s Herman Miller ET151 Eames Segmented Aluminum Group Dining Table
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Segmented Conference Dining Table, Model ET151, initially designed by Ray and Charles Eames for Herman Miller in 1964. This piece dates to the 1980s. The table's design is ...
Aluminum
2016 Fly Offset Side / Coffee Table by Antonio Citterio for Flexform w/ Top
By Flexform, Antonio Citterio
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a “Fly” rectangular side table, designed by Antonio Citterio for Flexform in 2009. This particular example was produced in Italy in 2016. The table is constructed of a sa...
Steel
2010s Mark Muller for Nienkamper Vox Conference / Dining Table in Cherry
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Vox Conference Table, designed by Mark Muller for Nienkamper. This particular example was produced in Canada in the 2010s. The design features a clean, architectural table ...
Metal
2021 Herman Miller Eames Aluminum Group Contract Base Café, Dining Table
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an Eames Contract Base Table, originally designed by Ray and Charles Eames in 1957. This particular example was produced by Herman Miller in the United States in 2021. The ta...
Aluminum
2010s Todd Bracher for Fritz Hansen T No.1 Dining Table with Glass Top
By Todd Bracher
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a T-no1 DIning Table, originally designed by Todd Bracher for Fritz Hansen in 2008. This particular example was produced in the 2010s. The table is comprised of high-gloss bu...
Aluminum
Modern Christian Cornelius for Coalesse Akira Rectangle Mobile Conference Table
By Coalesse, Steelcase
Located in Secaucus, NJ
Elegant Akira mobile collaborative and conference table or work table, designed by Christian Cornelius for Coalesse and Steelcase. Akira is a high-performance multi-purpose table for...
Aluminum
Henrik Tengler Train Conference Table For One Collection
By Henrik Tengler
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Henrik Tengler Train Conference Table Leg: Stainless Steel, Tabletop: Laminate White For One Collection. As a prominent feature of the Train Table Series, originally created in 2004...
Steel
Henrik Tengler Train Conference Table For One Collection
By Henrik Tengler
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Henrik Tengler Train Conference Table Leg: Stainless Steel, Tabletop: Linoleum Mushroom For One Collection. As a prominent feature of the Train Table Series, originally created in 2...
Steel
Centro Progetti Tecno Conference Table 545cm/214in
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Centro Progetti Tecno, conference table model 'T335', lacquered wood, aluminum, Italy, 1975-1978 Large conference table with a black lacquered wooden top that has an incredibly soft...
Aluminum
Henrik Tengler Train Conference Table For One Collection
By Henrik Tengler
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Henrik Tengler Train Conference Table Leg: Graphite, Tabletop: Laminate White For One Collection. As a prominent feature of the Train Table Series, originally created in 2004 by He...
Steel
Eames Conference Table by Herman Miller, Modern Wood Veneer Design
Located in Queens, NY
American Post-War Design oval conference table with wood veneer top resting on an ebonized trimmed and aluminum double pedestal base (design by EAMES for HERMAN MILLER) Condition: G...
Wood
