Dan Johnson Biography
Dan Johnson (1918-1979) While most post-war furniture designers looked to the future, Dan Johnson found inspiration in the past. The maverick mid-century modern is remembered for his beautiful armchairs, lounge chairs and dining tables with designs reminiscent of ancient Rome. The American furniture designer began his career in the late 1940s creating solid wood pieces such as desks and dining chairs for California furniture maker Hayden Hall. In the early 1950s, he designed chairs and tables for the American furniture importer and manufacturer Selig. In 1955, Johnson moved to Rome on a commission to design apartments. While there, he launched Dan Johnson Studio with the goal of bringing a modern approach to ancient Roman furniture. Pieces from this era of Johnson's career are characterized by their sculptural metal designs. His most famous work was the elegant Gazelle line, sold in America by Selig. It features dining tables, coffee tables and multiple chair designs involving a "Pompeian Verde" green patina, metal frame and traditional flogging techniques. Due to the high production cost, the production line was limited and is today highly exclusive. Another popular design by Johnson for Selig in the 1950s was the Viscount chair. More typical of mid-century style, it was crafted with a wood frame, polished brass accents, and orange leather upholstery. In the 1960s, Johnson designed a similar aluminum chair for the American furniture manufacturer and distributor Shelby Williams, this time with blue upholstery. Johnson died in 1978. The Gazelle Chair is in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum and the Denver Art Museum, and a prototype of the Gazelle Chair is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
