Thursday, April 14, 2011

T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings

Terence Harold Robsjohn-Gibbings (1905-1976) was born and educated in London but moved to New York in 1936. He opened a shop on Madison Avenue and started his American career, selling to the likes of cosmetic and fashion icon Elizabeth Arden, publisher Alfred A. Knopf and tobacco heiress Doris Duke.

His most important residential commission was the home of Hilda Boldt Weber in Bel-Air, California. The home was eventually purchased with all its furniture by hotel magnate Conrad Hilton.

In 1944 Robsjohn-Gibbings wrote a book entitled Good-bye, Mr. Chippendale, which was a spoof of the decorating style of the time.  He ridiculed the American fondness for reproduction European antiques, and he wasn't much kinder to modernists such as Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, whose work he considered too dull and utilitarian.

He expressed an admiration for Frank Lloyd Wright, and his low blond furniture of the 1940s shows Wright’s influence. Widdicomb Furniture began to mass-produce his designs in 1946, and his work soon influenced many designers of the period. From 1943-1956 he worked as the designer for Widdicomb.

In 1966 Robsjohn-Gibbings moved to Greece, but he wrote for Architectural Digest till his death in 1976.

From lostcityarts.com and architecturaldigest.com


Mesa table for Widdicomb
merrillantiques.com

Widdicomb sofa
furniturestocks.com

Tripod lamp for Hansen
vandm.com

Slipper chairs for Widdicomb
1stdibs.com

Klismos side table for Widdicomb
1stdibs.com

Magazine table
porterandplunk.com

Desk for Widdicomb
1stdibs.com

Widdicomb armchair
spinariodesign.com

1 comment:

  1. I'm in love with the magazine table and tripod lamp but they're all fabulous. That first table is incredible!

    ReplyDelete