John Keal Dressers
At a time when many furniture makers were turning to cheaper materials for mass production, mid-century modern designer John Keal didn't shy away from utilizing quality woods in his work, like mahogany and walnut to create his coffee tables, cabinets and benches.
While little is known about Keal, he was part of a powerhouse group that collaborated with Los Angeles furniture manufacturer Brown-Saltman in the 1940s and ‘50s. Other designers who had partnered with the firm during the mid-20th century included Greta Magnusson Grossman, Paul Frankl, Paul Laszlo, and Gilbert Rohde, a New York City-born designer who would help legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer Herman Miller avert financial disaster during the Great Depression.
Brown-Saltman was established in 1923 and initially specialized in reproductions of furniture in period styles. When cofounder David Saltman met Frankl, the firm had discontinued its Early California collection and was producing modern furniture.
The Austrian-born Frankl was already a big name in decorating in California in the late 1930s — his clients were Hollywood movie stars who were drawn to pieces such as his Art Deco-style Skyscraper series and other biomorphically shaped designs that showed the influence of Chinese and Japanese forms (Brown-Saltman’s offerings were frequently demonstrative of Asian influences). Frankl had become interested in producing inexpensive furniture for middle-class consumers, and his 1940s-era collaboration with Brown-Saltman was a success — print advertisements touted his name as well as the fact that these furnishings, which drew on the clean lines of chrome-framed Bauhaus pieces but instead integrated organic materials, were intended for modern homes.
Keal’s work also fit snugly into what we now call California modernism, which derived from the Bauhaus and International Style movements, and revolutionized the way we build homes today, not only in the Golden State but across the globe. Keal created sleek end tables in walnut and topped with enameled copper and upholstered low-profile dining chairs framed in bleached mahogany for Brown-Saltman as well as other West Coast mid-century brands such as Glenn of California and Modeline.
Find vintage John Keal seating, storage pieces and tables on 1stDibs.
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Creator: John Keal
John Keal Walnut Dresser with Metal Accent Pulls for Brown Saltman
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
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Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precis...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Keal Dressers
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
1950s John Keal for Brown Saltman Dresser in Blonde Mahogany
Formica Top
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in Germantown, MD
A clean midcentury Brown Saltman blonde mahogany modern double dresser 1950s USA. Blonde mahogany body and very clean formica top.
Exception...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern John Keal Dressers
Materials
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John Keal, Dresser, Wood, Brass, USA, 1950s
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in High Point, NC
A wood and brass dresser designed by John Keal and produced by Brown Saltman, USA, 1950s.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Keal Dressers
Materials
Brass
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John Keal dressers for sale on 1stDibs.
John Keal dressers 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 John Keal dressers, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original dressers by John Keal were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider dressers by Cavalier, Lane Acclaim, and Jack Cartwright. Prices for John Keal dressers can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,600 and can go as high as $4,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,650.