Fun Furniture Fact #17: Brown-Saltman

In 1941, Brown-Saltman’s first pieces were based on [Paul] Frankl’s designs, with a few minor adjustments making them adaptable to mass production (onekingslane.com).

So we had this very interesting coffee table in our showroom recently, and we just received a pair of beautiful mid century end tables that all happen to be connected to some noteworthy names in furniture design. Since our inventory is not heavy on high-end designer pieces, I usually like to do a bit of digging around to better understand the higher price-point attached to these sorts of items.

Brown-Saltman was a collaboration between Dave Saltman and Paul Frankl, a leader in American Art Deco design. Frankl created the “Skyscraper” furniture that was made to resemble the increasingly Art Deco skyline of New York City. Although Frankl had some valued big-Hollywood customers, by the 1930s he became interested in the opportunity to distribute his designs to the masses.

The Brown-Saltman partnership began in 1941 and was instantly successful. Certain more expensive features were eliminated in order to attain the lower price point. Most often, the pieces were constructed using soft woods or Weldtex, a combed wood, plywood laminate invented by Donald Deskey. With original Frankl designs now geared toward mass production, there was no slowing them down.

Or so it seemed… In 1942, only the day after signing an extended contract with Frankl, Saltman died in a car accident. The original momentum diminished, and although Frankl continued with the business for a bit longer, it did not last. Although short-lived, the collaboration left behind some innovative and lasting designs.

We’re particularly loving these end tables.