Iconic Designers- Iconic Furniture

Many times a certain piece of furniture becomes identifiable with a particular decorator. Who doesn't associate the slipper chair with Billy Baldwin? Some decorators, such as Dorothy Draper, went beyond designing furniture for specific projects and created entire collections for prominent furniture manufacturers. Many of these decorators' designs, or imitations of them, are still being produced today. And if they aren't, these coveted designs have become highly collectible. Here are just a few iconic pieces of furniture that were either designed, owned, or championed by 20th c. design legends.


Parish-Hadley Table by John Rosselli, available at Ainsworth-Noah. Parish owned an antique table of this design (see below), which was auctioned off after her death. Reproductions of this table are being made by Rosselli.


Auction catalog with photo of Sister Parish's living room on the cover; her antique red corner table is included in the photo.


"Espana" Chest by Dorothy Draper for Heritage


Ad for Draper's Collection for Heritage


Klismos chair by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, available through Eric Appel. Robsjohn-Gibbings' designs were heavily influenced by ancient Greece.


"Loop" chair designed by Frances Elkins; reproductions available through Downtown


Tables designed by John Dickinson, available through Antique & Art Exchange. Dickinson is most closely associated with his plaster pieces that incorporated "animal legs".


(Photo at top of room decorated by Billy Baldwin, which includes the iconic slipper chair)