Fun Furniture Fact #21: Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller Dresser

The busy life of a New Yorker means making lots of decisions prior to even stepping out your front door. The decision of what to wear carries obvious importance, and therefore, choosing the right dresser as the proper home for our clothing deserves some serious consideration.

We recently got in this mighty fine 5-drawer dresser designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller; it features brass drawer pulls, flared legs and a two-tone body with a light wood front. The drawers pull out smoothly and the top drawer contains a center divider; a big plus for the meticulous organizer.

(To read more about wear and condition, please refer to the product page)

Founded in 1905, Herman Miller, an American-based furniture production company, soared to fame in the 1940s with collaborations involving many talented designers such as Isamu Noguchi, George Nelson, and Ray and Charles Eames. The company produced pieces that would later become definitive examples of industrial design. By the middle of the 20th century, Herman Miller was synonymous with “Modern” furniture.

In 1931, Gilbert Rohde, considered a vivacious modernist himself, attracted the interest of Herman Miller and he soon began designing for the company. His designs combine the form and ornamentation reminiscent of the Art Deco style with the rationalism from Bauhaus design, while still maintaining a sense of simplicity.

While Rohde designed for several other furniture manufacturers like Heywood Wakefield, Widdicomb Company, and the Troy Sunshade Company, his work for Herman Miller remains his best work and is considered some of the best work of the period.