Designer : Terence Harold (T.H.) Robsjohn-Gibbings

T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings (1905 - 1976)

London born Terence Harold Robsjohn-Gibbings moved to the United States in 1930, becoming a U.S. citizen in 1945. He was educated at the University of Liverpool and London University, earning a B.S. in architecture. Working from his office in New York City, he became an advocate of modern design, creating custom contemporary interiors. With an imperious streak and strong opinions, Gibbings became one of the most widely published designers at the time, fiercely advocating independent thinking, individuality, and personal tastes in numerous magazine articles, and in his published books: Goodbye, Mr. Chippendale (1944), Homes of the Brave (1954), Mona Lisa’s Mustache: A Dissection of Modern Art (1944), Furniture of Classical Greece (1963).

The largest and most influential line of furniture Gibbings designed was for the Widdicomb Furniture Co., which introduced his first collection in 1947. For ten years he designed collections for the firm; one of the most widely recognized pieces from Gibbings' association with Widdicomb is the Mesa table of 1951.  

Gibbings' passion for ancient Greek furniture was a constant influence throughout his career. He studied ancient Greek civilization and supplemented his enthusiasm and fascination for the subject by traveling and visiting museums to study Greek antiquities—particularly vases, paintings, and any renderings that illustrated furniture. In 1961 Gibbings met Eleftherios and Susan Saridis, of Saridis of Athens, a group of master cabinet makers in Greece and who continue to make Gibbings furniture to this day. The nineteen piece collection was based on designs from the sixth to fourth centuries B.C. and included chairs, tables, and stools made primarily with walnut or beechwood, and brass and leather. After the 1961 Athens exhibit, three additional pieces were added and Tommi Parzinger of New York soon became the exclusive agent for the line in the United States.

His furniture designs are indicative of the interiors he executed, uncluttered simple classic forms. Gibbings, as one of the key figures on the American design scene, was able to introduce a sense of quality and classical appropriateness to a wider and newly empowered public. He always thought he would be remembered above all else for his Klismos chair that he first designed in 1936 and remained popular throughout his career; he would be pleased that there is a Klismos chair in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

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more pictures   print item   send item by email	item name : Pair of End Tables by T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings designers : Terence Harold (T.H.) Robsjohn-Gibbings Era : Circa 1960's Country of Origin : USA Materials : Wood item description : Pair of End Tables by T.H.Robsjohn-Gibbings USA c. 1960 Beautiful pair of end tables by Robsjohn-Gibbings. Bleached maple tops supported by three tapering, fluted legs resting on acanthus leaves. Excellent original condition 27.25 H  26 Diam each item # : TMF1049 price : Request Price
more pictures   print item   send item by email	item name : Console by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings designers : Terence Harold (T.H.) Robsjohn-Gibbings Era : Circa 1960's Country of Origin : USA Materials : Wood > Satin wood,  Metal item description : Console by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings USA c. 1963 Exceptional Ceylon satinwood console by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings. From the Torno Penthouse designed by Philip Johnson. Slender, gilt-bronze legs make this console appear to float. Three drawers. Provenance available. 28.5H 71W 18D Excellent original condition item # : TMF964 price : Request Price