American of Martinsville Merton Gershun Urban Suburban Bed
About the Item
- Creator:Merton Gershun (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 30.75 in (78.11 cm)Width: 43 in (109.22 cm)Depth: 81 in (205.74 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Pasadena, TX
- Reference Number:Seller: mr158211stDibs: LU867119328482
Merton Gershun
In as early as the 1920s, American furniture designer Merton Gershun created popular bedroom suites and more for the likes of Shelbyville, Indiana’s Albert Distinctive Modern Furniture Company. Later, he partnered with Dillingham Manufacturing, which had offices in Wisconsin and Mississippi and collaborated with the likes of Arthur Umanoff and Pierre Cardin. The world’s growing population of mid-century modern furniture devotees, however, know Gershun as having been American of Martinsville’s most prolific designer. Vintage Merton Gershun dressers, side tables, bed frames and other pieces are widely collected today.
Founded in the early 1900s by former tobacco producers, American of Martinsville eventually became one of the best known furniture manufacturers in the United States. Besides quality manufacturing, American of Martinsville is additionally recognized for having incorporated the day's trends in its designs. Inspired by designers like George Nakashima and Paul Laszlo, the brand was also known for innovations with wood.
Working with walnut and ebonized mahogany — and integrating decorative flourishes such as brass drawer pulls into his dressers and cane door fronts on his cabinets — Gershun designed numerous furniture lines for the company, including Dilettante, Fortissimo and others. The designer’s Dania collection, with its sleek walnut credenzas fitted with stylish brass accents and large drawers, has enjoyed popularity all over the world.
Gershun was passionate about bringing stylish pieces to American families but was also focused on affordability. His Harlequin line for American of Martinsville — the print ads for which read “SCULPTURED” and “BUDGET-PRICED” in bolded all-caps text — included bedroom and dining room furnishings in solid walnut. For Dillingham, Gershun designed the similarly well-received Esprit and Samara lines as well as other collections.
Gershun was particularly interested in creating furniture for small spaces and for postwar homeowners on a modest budget. He was a big proponent of incorporating international influences into his designs — he drew inspiration from Asia and created chinoiserie-style dressers in bleached walnut supported by ebonized wood bases. To Gershun, modern design was more than clean lines and sharp angles: it was about utility as well as beauty.
Find vintage Merton Gershun case pieces, tables, bedroom furniture and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Pasadena, TX
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllMid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
Vintage 1970s Colombian Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Chrome
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Teak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Furniture
Walnut
You May Also Like
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1950s American Beds and Bed Frames
Mahogany, Maple
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Birch
