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John Van Koert Tray Tables

Canadian, American, 1912-1998

John Van Koert was integral to the rise in popularity of Scandinavian modern furniture during the mid-20th century all over the United States. The Canadian-born designer’s spare walnut coffee tables and elegant armchairs, for example — particularly those that he created for North Carolina’s Drexel Furniture — reflected the influence of the era’s alluring Danish design and were prominently featured in the modern interiors of postwar American homes.

Originally from Manitoba, Van Koert moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to attend the University of Wisconsin. There he studied sculpture and trained in metalwork. Van Koert later taught design in the school’s art department. After World War II, Van Koert settled in New York City. He created jewelry for Harry Winston before shifting his focus to flatware and furniture design. 

Van Koert found quick success with his flatware designs for Towle Silversmiths. His Contour set was part of the “Knife, Fork and Spoon” exhibition organized by the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis in the early 1950s. In 1954, he served as design director for the “Design in Scandinavia” exhibition, which toured Canada as well as the United States and featured hundreds of designs created in Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden by the likes of Kaj Franck, Ilmari Tapiovaara, Finn Juhl and others.

Van Koert kept busy over the years. Drexel embraced the clean lines of mid-century modernism during the postwar era with the Declaration collection designed by Stewart MacDougall and Kipp Stewart that featured elegant credenzas and more made in walnut, and the Profile, Casa Del Sol and Projection collections designed with sculptural shapes by Van Koert.

In the early 1960s, Van Koert created a contemporary line for Richardson-Nemschoff, a furniture manufacturer based in the designer’s former stomping grounds of Wisconsin. During the early 1970s, he partnered with Sarreid Ltd., a brand that got its start sourcing materials from Spain and Italy and bringing the exceptional talents of European wood carvers, sculptors and painters to the forefront of American home decor.

On 1stDibs, find vintage John Van Koert seating, tables and storage pieces.

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Creator: John Van Koert
Wonderful Drexel Rolling Bar Cart Mid-Century Modern, circa 1957
By John Van Koert, Drexel
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Wonderful folding rolling bar cart by Drexel, designed by John van Koert circa 1957. This piece is made of Italian walnut and retains its original finish. I love the removable solid...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Van Koert Tray Tables

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Wonderful Drexel Rolling Bar Cart Mid-Century Modern, circa 1957
Wonderful Drexel Rolling Bar Cart Mid-Century Modern, circa 1957

Wonderful Drexel Rolling Bar Cart Mid-Century Modern, circa 1957

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John Van Koert tray tables for sale on 1stDibs.

John Van Koert tray tables 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 Van Koert tray tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original tray tables by John Van Koert were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 1950s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider tray tables by and Charles Hollis Jones. Prices for John Van Koert tray tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $950 and can go as high as $950, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $950.

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