Here we have four technical drawings on one sheet of paper: a perspective drawing in the top right corner and three elevation views on the left side, bottom left corner, and bottom middle. The piece in question is a cleverly designed two-tiered end table. Its supporting frame is made of tubular metal and is two different height of capital 'L' shapes. These L shapes are as if the long ends of the letter are laid horizontally, while the shorter end are the 'legs.' The L shapes overlap each other with two different side heights creating the two tiers, with the bottom tier poking out slightly from underneath the top. The overall table shape is most prominent in the top right drawing, a perspective drawing, the picture drawn from above at an angle. The elevation drawings show only the sides: the elevation on the left side of the page is the top view and looks like two squares with parallel lines on the top and bottom borders. Beneath and to the right are lines with arrows and numbers indicating height. The bottom left drawing elevation is the right side view of the table and displays the two overlapping 'L' shaped frames prominently with thin parallel lines. To the right, a line with arrows reads 18', indicating the height. On the other side of the height indication is the front elevation view of the table, and it has two curving 'U' shapes, indicating the metal frame touching the floor and a slight line for the table top. Surrounding all of the drawings is a square pencil border mimicking the paper size. Underneath is a long rectangle border with numbers, lines and words reading: [Scale 1 = 1'0, Revised 11/19/34] on the right side, [Metallon] on the left, and [6265, 18x30] written in a small circle on the lower right corner. There is a small red P above the long rectangle as well.

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See more objects with the tag furniture, metal, table, tubular, glass, steel, chrome, tube.

Object Timeline

1934	Work on this object began.
1970	We photographed this object.
1988	We acquired this object.
2014	We photographed this object.
2015	We photographed this object.
2017	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Drawing, Design for Metallon End Table

This is a Drawing. It was from the office of Donald Deskey and manufactured by Ypsilanti Reed Furniture Company and made for (as the client) Richard H. Mandel. It is dated November 19, 1934 and we acquired it in 1988. Its medium is graphite on tracing paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

This perspective, plan, and elevation for an end table illustrate Deskey’s application of European modernist style and techniques to his designs for American furniture. The asymmetrical tubular frame used chrome-plating, a technique that Deskey applied early in his furniture, creating modern designs from industrial materials suitable to every room in the home.

This object was donated by Donald Deskey. It is credited Gift of Donald Deskey.

Z Clock
bent chrome-plated tubular brass, enameled brass, plate glass.
Gift of George R. Kravis II.
2018-22-76

B3 Chair
chrome-plated tubular steel, canvas.
Gift of Gary Laredo.
1956-10-1-a,b

A two-tiered, linear, tubular metal and clear glass end table. The frame is formed from chromed, bent tubular metal and has an asymmetrical structure, with a square, clear glass top, and a rectangular, clear glass shelf, the curved edges of the base are joined by a straight chrome metal bar in the center.

End Table (USA)
bent chromed metal, glass.
Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
2006-4-1

Our curators have highlighted 9 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

Drawing, Design for Cantilevered Armchair

Drawing, Design for Cantilevered Armchair
graphite, red color pencil on tracing paper.
Gift of Donald Deskey.
1988-101-1905

This is a cantilevered chair with a curved support made of tubular steel, on which a cane seat and chair are woven tightly in between. Most prominent is the use of curved tubular steel frame. From the chair shape to the the bottom half, the steel frame transitions seamlessly from chair back, to seat, to dramatic, round, half circle shape front 'legs' into a square support on the bottom for feet, in one single piece. This curving to square design is repeated for chair's arms: a singular tube creates two, long rounded supports that seamlessly transitions into flat arms on either side of the chair and is squared off behind the chair's back. Along the chair's arms, seat, and back is a dark brown woven cane.

Model MR534 Lounge Chair
bent nickel-plated tubular steel, cane.
Gift of the David Teiger Trust.
2016-36-7

Bottle Opener (Denmark)
stainless steel.
Gift of Peter Condu.
1992-25-3

Its dimensions are

H x W: 33.9 × 38.1 cm (13 3/8 in. × 15 in.)

It is inscribed

Inscribed in graphite, lower left: METALLON; in red color pencil, lower right: P; in graphite, lower right: SCALE 1"=1'–0" / REVISED 11/19/34; in graphite, lower right: 6265 / 18"x30" [circled]; in graphite: dimensions

Cite this object as

Drawing, Design for Metallon End Table; Manufactured by Ypsilanti Reed Furniture Company; Office of Donald Deskey (American, 1894–1989); Client: Richard H. Mandel; USA; graphite on tracing paper; H x W: 33.9 × 38.1 cm (13 3/8 in. × 15 in.); Gift of Donald Deskey; 1988-101-1253

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2DsfB/
Accession Number 1988-101-1253
Object ID 18623951