I love the flared legs stretching out from table and chairs - very dramatic. The dining table conveys an aerodynamic sensibility, very typical of an era celebrating fast cars and jets. This page from the catalog shows our dining table and chairs: I’ve been told the spindle back is the most desirable. The chairs are a combination of pecan wood with walnut veneer.ĭrexel produced three styles of Profile dining chairs: the spindle back, a panel back, and an upholstered back. The catalog claims Drexel used the “finest walnut” on the larger pieces, such as the table and buffet. Walnut and pecan wood form the basis of Drexel’s Profile collection. The sculptured look is emphasized in case pieces by a gentle curve that joins the case at the top, the latter extending slightly outward both in the front and back.
Tapered legs curve gracefully into the tops of tables and backs of chairs. Profile information comes from its catalog with this cover, which I’m estimating around 1956: Drexel Profile: Age, Style and Woodĭrexel manufactured the Profile collection between 19. Contour met with instantaneous success and in a very few years has become the classic among modern flatware patterns in the United States. “Contour,” the notable sterling flatware pattern designed for the Towle Silversmiths, has much the same sculptural feeling in its modeling. The distinctive style of Profile reflects John Van Koert’s work in the silver industry. The Drexel Profile collection marked van Koert’s first foray into furniture design and Drexel touted his experience in modern design. Source Towle SilversmithsĬontour beverage set, 1953 (designed 1951-52) The flatware debuted in 1951, with beverage service appearing in December 1953. King designed the Contour pattern for American sophisticates appreciative of the contemporary aesthetic. Source Towle ContourĪ few years earlier, the president of Towle Silversmiths, looking to branch out into this new, modern direction, hired van Koert as head designer about 1949. Brimming with more than 700 objects used daily, the exhibit featured items by Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish designers.īy Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn Museum), via Wikimedia CommonsThe show promoted Scandinavian design, a term synonymous withīeautiful, simple, clean designs, inspired by nature and the northern climate, accessible and available to all, with an emphasis on enjoying the domestic environment. He served as director of the “Design in Scandinavia” exhibition that traveled through the U.S. Post-World War II modernist design, especially Scandinavian, appealed to van Koert. During his career, Van Koert designed jewelry for Harry Winston, flatware for Towle Silversmiths, furniture for Drexel and later, Serried Ltd. We kept returning to his New York Times obituary, the most informative. Stymied by my research efforts, I asked librarians in Florida and North Carolina for help with the elusive van Koert. Altogether, we made a significant investment in these pieces. When David and our son Michael drove back to pick up the set, David decided to purchase the matching Drexel Profile buffet. We bought the table, 6 chairs, and 3 leaves. While I flipped a few of the chairs over, David got down on his back and wriggled under the table to confirm its Drexel heritage. I was floored (and more than a bit miffed) to see this heavy metal container on the bare wood!Įstate sale prices are highest on the first day, yet David and I ventured out expressly for that dining set. In person, the dining set proved even more impressive than hoped. Here’s a photo of the set at the estate sale. The upholstery on the handsome spindle-back chairs appeared to be in excellent condition - and better still, possibly original. This dining set had two things going for it: it was manufactured by Drexel and is an impeccable example of Mid-Century Modern in design.
An estate sale company had posted photos promoting their upcoming sale, and it looked right up our alley. While scouring ads for our next lead, David and I stumbled across a promising find. Families planning a holiday gathering may discover they need a larger, more stylish table. Home » Posts tagged 'Drexel' Drexel Drexel Profile Dining Set: Back to the Future NovemBy irisabbeyĪutumn offered the perfect time to move the Drexel Profile dining set into our booth at Avonlea Antiques and Design Gallery.