Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1911-1986
Edmond J. Spence played an important role in promoting the tenets of Scandinavian modernism in the United States but his name remains conspicuously omitted from the history books. He was an American furniture designer who is known for having introduced the West to unfamiliar cultural tastes and translating their subtleties to appeal to mid-century-era consumers.
Spence honed his eye for good craftsmanship as a young man. His family owned a furniture manufacturing company based in Batavia, New York. While not much has been reported about his schooling, it was not long before he started designing his own nightstands, end tables, chairs and more — all of which exhibited the appealing traits associated with mid-century modern furniture. Spence experimented with form and ornament owing to inspiration he gathered from international influences.
During the 1950s, Spence drew on Asian and Swedish influences in developing ideas for his own style of modern furniture. He incorporated aspects of Mexican design to create the Continental-American collection. Manufactured in 1953 by Industria Mueblera, this collection of sculptural wooden furnishings with brass details epitomizes Spence’s ability to draw attention to the most integral parts of global design while adding his own modern spin. The designer’s Coronation Group — a series of dressers, cabinets and more in blonde woods that featured decorative birch veneers — was built by artisans in Sweden and imported for sale to postwar homeowners in the United States by Massachusetts furniture company Walpole.
Spence’s “Peineta” chair — a work of mahogany, plywood and woven palm that is demonstrative of Spanish Colonial influences and is part of the Continental-American line — has long been on display in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art while other works are held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. And if Spence hadn’t captured the hearts of Americans by way of Industria Mueblera showrooms and alluring ads in Interiors magazine, some of his furniture was used as set decoration for the widely loved sitcom I Love Lucy.
Find vintage Edmond J. Spence seating, storage and case pieces, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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Creator: Edmond J. Spence
Edmond Spence 6-Drawer Dresser
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Mid-Century Modern 6-drawer dresser designed by Edmond Spence. Great Sculptural dresser designed by Edmund Spence and made in Sweden. 6 drawers provide ample storage. A handsome Mid...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
$2,800 Sale Price
56% Off
Edmond Spence Swedish Mid-Century Chest of Drawers
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Very sculptural chest of drawers in ebonized mahogany by Edmond Spence (often misspelled as "Edmund Spence"), circa 1955. Concave front with hexagonal legs with brass sabot. Exceptio...
Category
20th Century Swedish Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Architectural walnut dresser by Edmond Spence
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Atlanta, GA
A long dresser in walnut designed by Edmond J. Spence and made in Sweden. It features a slightly curved front and three stacks of twelves drawers in total supported by brass-capped f...
Category
1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
$9,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Edmond Spence Mid-Century American 2-Cabinet High Wooden Drawer Chest
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-Century American two-piece rectangular blond wood high chest consisting of a three-drawer top cabinet and four-drawer bottom standing on four tapered, splayed legs. The top cabin...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Edmond Spence Chest of Drawers
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in San Francisco, CA
A four drawer chest in birch, known as the "Wave" chest.
Category
1950s Swedish Modern Vintage Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Birch
Edmond Spence Wavy Front Nightstands in Birch
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Dallas, TX
Introduce timeless elegance to your bedroom with Edmond Spence's Wavy Front Nightstands in Birch, exclusively available at circa20c. These mid-century modern masterpieces beautifully...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Birch
Cabinet Designed by Edmond J. Spence
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Dallas, TX
A maple cabinet with brass inset handles. Designed by Edmond J. Spence.
Category
1950s Vintage Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Birdseye Maple
Edmond J. Spence Midcentury Swedish Burled Birch Wavefront Chest
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Queens, NY
Midcentury Swedish Burled Birch Wavefront Chest (EDMOND SPENCE).
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood, Birch, Burl
Honey Amber Tone Finish Edmond Spence High Chest Gentlemen
s Dresser Double Door
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Honey amber tone finish edmond spence high chest gentlemen's dresser comode double door.
Category
20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Birch
Edmond Spence Walnut Brass Two Part High Gentleman
s Chest Dresser Cabinet MINT
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid century modern 2 part chest on chest dresser by Edmund Spence MINT!
Category
1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
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Edmond Spence Highboy "Checkerboard" Dresser
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Edmond Spence Eight-Drawer Bedroom Dresser
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Mid-Century Green Wooden High Chest of Drawer by Derk Jan de Vries
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Mid-century green wooden high chest of drawer by Derk Jan de Vries - The Netherlands 1960s.
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Crawford Furniture Mid Century Tall Maple Chest After Edmond Spence
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Mid Century Swedish Modern Nightstand Chest of Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
MCM Swedish Teak Four drawer Chest, stained dark walnut. Perfect height as a console, end table or nightstand.
Please let us know if you have any questions'
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Mid 19th century Swedish birch chest of drawers
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Cabinet Designed by Edmond J. Spence
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Located in Dallas, TX
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Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Wooden High Chest of Drawer by Derk Jan de Vries
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Edmond Spence Swedish Blond High Boy Gentleman
s Chest Dresser 4 Drawers MINT!
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Located in Rockaway, NJ
Edmond Spence Swedish Blond High Boy Gentleman's Chest Dresser 4 Drawers 2 Doors Compartment MINT!
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$5,400
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Mid-Century Swedish Modern Edmond Spence Wave Walnut Dresser
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Clarksboro, NJ
This listing is for a Mid-Century Swedish Modern Edmond Spence Wave Walnut Dresser. Featuring a straight line wave front design, eight drawers for storage, modern legs, and a beautif...
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Chest of drawers
By Zanaboni
Located in Milan, IT
Combining the dark elegance of ebony with the strikingly large grain of the ziricote wood, this oval chest of drawers is a stunning piece of functional decor that will enrich the look of any bedroom. The bold structure rests on a base in brass, which occurs also in the metal details and in the handles of the drawers. The base boasts inserts of Corteccia marble for a luxurious final effect. Matching night tables...
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Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid century Swedish elm chest of drawers circa 1960.
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Previously Available Items
Mid-Century Swedish Modern Edmond Spence Walnut High Chest
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Clarksboro, NJ
This listing is for a Mid-Century Swedish Modern Edmond Spence Walnut High Chest. Featuring a straight line wave design, rolling tambour doors that open to storage space, four wave f...
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Edmond J. Spence, Chest of Drawers, Rosewood, Sweden, 1950s
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in High Point, NC
A rosewood chest of drawers or commode designed and produced by American designer Edmond J. Spence and produced in Sweden, c. 1950s.
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Edmond J. Spence Wave Eight-Drawer Dresser
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dresser by Edmond Spence, c.1950s, Sweden. The maple dresser features eight drawers with a unique sculpted wave front design. The dresser rests on 4 splayed legs.
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Mid-Century Edmund Spence Walnut High Chest
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Edmond J. Spence Architectural 12-Drawer Curved Dresser, c 1960, Signed
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This impressive twelve-drawer dresser in walnut was designed by Edmond J. Spence and made in Sweden in the late 1950s to early 1960s. We just completed refinishing it with an expensive French Polish, the most laborious finish available due to its numerous hand-applied coats of lacquer. The results are a very thick and clear finish which protects the surface from regular use and makes the exotic wood grain underneath pop more than any other type of finish.
Fabricated from walnut which displays vivid grain patterns, this piece is accented by a slight curve and offset drawers which give an architectural vibe. The dresser is raised on four hexagonal legs capped with brass sabots (feet). Twelve drawers in total, three on each of the four rows, and in an alternating pattern with two rows possessing one large drawer and two smaller ones and two rows with equal medium sized drawers.
American designer Edmond J. Spence created a series of Swedish-inspired furniture as part of his works which were manufactured in the Scandinavian country and then imported by Walpole Furniture of Massachusetts. This piece is an example of that collection and at the back of the dresser its is signed with the 'Made in Sweden' brand stamp. Spence acquired a wide range of impressive clients, plus, millions of Americans witnessed his work incorporated on the set of I Love Lucy for many years.
This stunning Edmund Spence dresser...
Category
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
H 32.75 in W 73.5 in D 21.5 in
Edmond J. Spence Walnut Woodblock Gentleman’s Chest
By Edmond J. Spence, United Furniture Corporation
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An Exceptional mid-century Swedish Modern sculpted walnut highboy dresser by Edmond Spence circa 1950s. This dresser is equipped with four sculpted drawers below two doors with piano...
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Edmond Spence Swedish Modern Black Lacquered Gentleman
s Chest, Newly Refinished
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional mid-century Swedish Modern black lacquered birch highboy dresser or gentleman's chest
By Edmond J. Spence
Sweden, 1950s
Measures:...
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H 46 in W 40 in D 20 in
Edmond Spence Swedish Modern Walnut Gentleman
s Chest with Travertine Inlay
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Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional mid-century Swedish Modern highboy dresser or gentleman's chest
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Sweden, 1950s
Beautiful inlaid walnut, with starburst travertine inlay...
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H 48.25 in W 42.25 in L 48.25 in
Edmond Spence Coronation Mid Century Walnut Highboy Dresser
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Edmund Spence coronation mid century walnut highboy dresser
This dresser measures: 42 wide x 18 deep x 45 inches high
?All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restor...
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Edmond Spence Swedish Modern Sculpted Walnut Gentleman
s Chest, Newly Refinished
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Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional mid-century Swedish Modern sculpted walnut "checkerboard" highboy dresser or gentleman's chest
By Edmond Spence
Sweden, 1950s
Measures: 41"W x 19.75"D x 48"H....
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Materials
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H 48 in W 41 in D 19.75 in
20th Century Swedish Birchwood Wave Front Chest of Drawers by Edmond J. Spence
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century Modern Swedish commode with four large drawers, made of hand carved Burlwood and Birchwood, designed by Edmond J. Spence and produced in Sweden, in good condition. The Scandinavian wave front chest...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
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H 31.5 in W 48 in D 20 in
Edmond Spence Swedish Modern Wave Front Dresser Chests, Newly Refinished
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional pair of midcentury Swedish Modern sculpted birch wave front dressers or chests of drawers
By Edmond Spence
Sweden, 1950...
Category
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Edmond J. Spence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Birch
Edmond J. Spence commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs.
Edmond J. Spence commodes and chests of drawers are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Edmond J. Spence commodes and chests of drawers, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original commodes and chests of drawers by Edmond J. Spence were created in the mid-century modern style in sweden during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider commodes and chests of drawers by Hans J. Wegner, Arne Vodder, and Ry Møbler. Prices for Edmond J. Spence commodes and chests of drawers can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,800 and can go as high as $16,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $6,220.
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