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Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller "Paldao" Cabinet in Paldao Wood & Leather

Creator: Gilbert Rohde -Herman Miller
Offered by: Object Refinery

Description
Today’s design world carries with it well known names and studios which are celebrated for their work or notable contributions. With the internet and social media, it is commonplace for design work to become ubiquitous in a moment’s time, such is surprisingly true of the design world 100 years ago. In the early 1900’s there existed a collective of designers and their respective firms who served as momentous forces in changing how the world understood architecture, industrial design, art, and furniture. A star member of this group was a man by the name of Gilbert Rohde whose work for Herman Miller transcended the divide of surrealist art and home furnishings.

A native New Yorker, Gilbert Rohde studied art after his secondary education at Stuyvesant High School. His education in the arts served as a foundation for his later work in furniture. Frequent trips to Europe in the 1920’s introduced Rohde to the then-popular design movements such as the Bauhaus School, Streamline Art-Deco, and most importantly Surrealism. Rohde was one of the first to pair modern day materials with extravagant exotic woods such as Filipino Paldao, for which his most notable collection “The Paldao Group” for Herman Miller was named. This cabinet is an example from the 80-piece collection with which Rohde explored ideas of surrealism with organic forms and voluptuous curves. He coined the term “Ectoplastic” for this defining motif of the Paldao Group.

This cabinet is a two-door design with a subtle scalloped front which gives the piece an organic appearance. Brilliantly restored exotic Paldao wood is book-matched on its face to showcase the rich zebra-like grain and natural fluidity. The Paldao Collection’s most notable elements are Rohde’s generous pulls which on this piece are crafted from solid wood, hand carved with an undulating design borrowed from Surrealist forms. The original design called for the base to be finished in leather. The Object Refinery team maintained this detail by selecting a handsome Italian Leather for use and meticulously replacing each nailhead in the exact position of the originals. Overall this is an excellent preserved example of early 1940’s Herman Miller design by the great Gilbert Rohde, a household name once celebrated in newspapers and magazines such as House Beautiful and whose work lives in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and many more.

This Cabinet is a part of a large collection of Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller pieces we’ve acquired. We have a matching Sideboard Server available as well as an expandable Dining Table, and a set of 6 Dining Chairs. Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding this collection.

More Information

Documentation:	Documented elsewhere (exact item)
Origin:	United States
Period:	1920-1949
Materials:	Paldao Wood, Italian Leather, & Antique Brass
Condition:	Good. New restoration by Object Refinery
Styles / Movements:	Modern, Art Deco, Mid Century
Incollect Reference #:	626142

Dimensions

W.	33 in;	H.	19.5 in;	D.	14 in;
W.	83.82 cm;	H.	49.53 cm;	D.	35.56 cm;

Message from Seller:

Stories exist in many forms, we see them in objects. The aesthetic of those before us is passed down through their surviving creations. These are the objects we search for; to preserve, refine, & continue the story. Object Refinery combines design obsession, fine craftsmanship, and a love for history in our worldwide search for objects. Based in Connecticut, USA; we partner with a network of local artisans to restore and refine our findings before passing them on to the next collector.