MassModern Home

Currently for Sale

MM032 Robsjohn Black Lthr

MM034 Robsjohn Dining Tbl

MM039 Palmer Dbl. Lateral

MM040 Palmer 2 over 1

MM043 Kittinger Deco Cabi

MM044 Kittinger Mandarin

MM068 Porsche Chair

MM079 Dusseldorf Pitcher

MM107 Glidden Torquoise

MM109 Rich Miller Vase

MM115 David Roberts Litho

MM115A David Roberts #1

MM115B David Roberts #2

MM115C David Roberts #3

MM116 Paulin Lamp Table

MM117 Paulin Cocktail Tbl

MM156 Kittinger Bunching

MM167 Mandarin Chest

MM172 Baker Dining Table

MM217 Widd Drawer Chest

MM218 Widd Door Cabinet

MM219 Widd Desk

MM224 Widdicomb Arm Chair

MS001 Acclaim 2 Tier Orig

MS012 Acclaim Two Tier Ta

Archive Study Collection

MM185 Paulin Chairs

MM203 H-H Oval Cocktail

MS011 Van Koert Chairs

MM221 Saarinen HouseChair

MM200 M/C Pedestal Purple

MM198 Baker Step Table

MM149 Amer. Modernist Pr.

MM215 Mastercraft Cocktai

MM204 Linea Cara Table

MM170 Johan Tapp Lamp Tab

MM166 H-H Oval Cocktail

MM153 Floor Lamp

MM132 Wing Table

MM001 Acclaim Lamp Table

MM042 Gehry Lamp

MM002 Acclaim Coffee Tbl

MM003 Acclaim Lamp Table

MM005 Saarinen Cabinet #1

MM006 Saarinen Cabinet #2

MM007 Knoll Headboard

MM008 Mies BRNO Chairs

MM009 Square Acclaim Lamp

MM010 Acclaim Cocktail #2

MM011 Acclaim Two Tier #1

MM012 Acclaim Two Tier #2

MM013 HW Rect Lamp Table

MM014 HW Round Lamp Table

MM016 Dining Table

MM017 Danish Modern Chair

MM018 Thayer Coggin Chair

MM019 FLW Rect Dining Tbl

MM020 FLW Dining Chairs

MM021 FLW Rnd Dining Tbl

MM022 FLW Cabinet

MM023 Conant Ball Chair

MM024 Saarinen Chest on C

MM027 Robsjohn Cocktail

MM028 Robsjohn Lamp Table

MM035 Saladino Mirror

MM036 Saladino Lamp Table

MM037 Saladino Console

MM038 Saladino Coffee Tbl

MM045 Alessandro Console

Picasso Madoura Ceramics

MM048 Acclaim Rectangular

MM049 Acclaim Chair Set A

MM050 Botta Cocktail

MM051 Picasso Ceramic

MM052 Ritter Glass

MM054 B England Chairs

MM055 Spinneybeck Chairs

MM057 Widdicomb Buffet

MM058 Conant Ball Chairs

MM059 Robsjohn China

MM060 Faces of Nepal

MM062 Acclaim Sideboard

MM066 Acclaim Articulated

MM069 Guitar Pick Acc

MM070 Robsjohn Lamp Table

MM071 Ardley Hall Tables

MM072 Gibby Marble Lamps

MM073 Modernist Clock

MM074 Acclaim Round Dinin

MM075 Acclaim Chairs #B

MM076 Acclaim 2 Tier #E

MM077 Acclaim 2 Tier #F

MM078 Acclaim Record Cabi

MM080 Acclaim Round Cockt

MM081 Helck Painting

MM082 Reed Golf Lithos

MM092 Acclaim Console

MM105 Baker Rattan Chairs

1800 Series Bedroom Group

MM100 Modern Headboard

MM101 Modern Nightstands

MM102 Modern Master Chest

MM103 Modern Low Dresser

MM104 Modern Mirrors

MM120 Lane Acclaim Table

MM122 Round Acclaim Lamp

MM123 Lane Acclaim Table

MM124 Baker Modern Chairs

MM125 Acclaim Drop Leaf

MM127 Lane Tables Pair

MM128 Laurel Lamps Walnut

MM129 Safran Co. Lamp

MM133 Wood Table Lamp

MM134 Square Lamp Table

MM135 Baker Party Butler

MM137 Lane Rhythm Table

MM138 Wright Dining Table

MM138A Condition Addendum

MM154 Saarinen Chest

MM025 Saarinen Twin Beds

MM054 Bert England Chairs

MM121 Lane Acclaim Table

MM122 Acclaim Round Table

MM139 Baker Octagon Tbl

MM046 Alessandro Cocktail

MM141 Laurel Lamp

MM176 FLW Dining Table

MM177 FLW Chairs

MM150 Milo Style Table

MM178 Mastercraft Console

MM184 Acclaim Tables Pair

MM155 Saarinen Tall Cabin

MM166 H-H Surfboard Cockt

MM190 Acclaim Boomerang T

MM203 Mies Style Chairs

MS002 Drexel Lamp Table

Past Exhibits

Architect Modern

Designer Modern

Acclaim by Andre Bus

Baker Modern

Selected Biographies

Frank Lloyd Wright

Eliel Saarinen

Pierre Paulin

Brian Palmer

John Saladino

Robsjohn-Gibbings

Accessories

MA028 Anne Laddon Nikon

Research & Resources

Kittinger Modern

FHA by Johnson Furniture

Frank Lloyd Wright Guide

Acclaim Study Guide

Saladino Study Guide

Pierre Paulin Baker Catal

Finn Juhl Catalog Baker

Pfister Catalog

Robsjohn Gibbings for Bak

Brian Palmer Catalog

Bert England Catalog

About MassModern

Atomic Ranch Summer 2015

Contact Us

To The Trade


Terence Harold Robsjohn-Gibbings

1905 - 1976



MM027 Robsjohn Cocktail Table
MM028 Widdicomb Lamp Table(s) by Robsjohn-Gibbings
MM032 Widdicomb "Gibby" Chair and Ottoman / Original Leather
#1782 Cocktail Table

#1650 Lamp Tables
(pair)

#WWZ "Gibby" Arm Chair
#WWA Ottoman

 
MM057 Widdicomb Modern Buffet by Robsjohn-Gibbings
MM070 Widdicomb Lamp Table by TH Robsjohn-Gibbings
MM059 Robsjohn China Cabinet
Buffet

#5019 Lamp Table

#4013 China Cabinet

 
 
 
 
#180 Table Lamps
(pair)

 
 
Robsjohn-Gibbings, House & Garden, January 1940
Robsjohn-Gibbings, House & Garden, October 1947
Robsjohn-Gibbings, House & Garden, July 1949
three photos above courtesy Conde Nast; Click to Supersize




A British born architect and furniture designer, Robsjohn-Gibbings studied architecture at London University. He afterwards worked briefly as a naval architect, designing ocean liner interiors, and then as art director for a motion picture studio. In 1926, he became a salesman for an antiques dealer who specialized in Elizabethan and Jacobean furniture, and Robsjohn-Gibbings was assigned prominent accounts such as Elizabeth Arden and Neiman Marcus.


In the late 1930s and in the Forties, he was the most important decorator in America. After opening a shop on New York's Madison Avenue in 1936, Robsjohn-Gibbings proceeded to design houses from coast to coast for such scions as tobacco heiress
Doris Duke, Alfred A. Knopf and Thelma Chrysler Foy.


The design work of T. H. Robsjohn Gibbings is hallmarked as a modern mixture of the classical elements of Ancient Greecian design and of Art Deco period design. It features mosaic floor reproductions, sculptural fragments, and sparse furnishings, all combining to achieve his trademark brand of modern historicism.


He disliked the prevailing tastes of the day, describing them as "an indigestible mixture of Queen Anne, Georgian and Spanish styles." He likewise considered Bauhaus-style modernism a fraud; he expressed his views in his writings such as Goodbye, Mr. Chippendale (1944), a spoof of modern interior design, Mona Lisa's Mustache: A dissection of Modern Art (1947), and Homes of the Brave (1953).


One of the designer's most important residential commissions was Hilda Boldt Weber's mansion Casa Encantada in Bel-Air. Creating more than 200 pieces of furniture for that house between 1934 and 1938, Robsjohn-Gibbings indulged his passion for Greco-Roman design by incorporating sphinxes, dolphins, lions' paw feet and Ionic columns in table bases, torchères and select pieces of furniture, nonetheless keeping the interior design simple and elegant. Casa Encantada survived its sale to Conrad Hilton in 1952, but its next owner, David Murdoch, stripped the house of what was called "opulent simplicity" and auctioned off the contents in the early 1980s.


T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings much preferred the visual vocabulary of the classical world, particularly ancient Greek furniture and design. Robsjohn-Gibbings' look was widely emulated, and from 1943-56 he worked as a designer for the Widdicomb furniture company in Grand Rapids, Michigan.


In 1960, he met Greek cabinetmakers Susan and Eleftherios Saridis, and together they created the Klismos line of furniture, which drew heavily on classical forms. It is still in production. Robsjohn-Gibbings eventually moved to Athens, where he became designer to
Aristotle Onassis.


His honors include the 1950 Waters Award, and the 1962 Elsie de Wolfe Award.

 







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