1940s Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller Paldao Collection Modern Design Game Table

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A modern “Paldao” Game Table designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, 1940s. Burl wood in contrasting colors and tapered … Read more A modern “Paldao” Game Table designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, 1940s. Burl wood in contrasting colors and tapered wooden legs wrapped in muted green leatherette adorned with metal studs. A standout example of early American modern design, highlighting Rohde’s fusion of organic form and industrial detail. The table features a sculptural, curved-edge top with four corners and a chess board inlay. The single drawer and recessed cup holders emphasize leisure and functionality. This design is part of the Paldao Collection, which Rohde debuted for Herman Miller in 1940s, and is frequently referenced in museum retrospectives on American modernism. A unique opportunity to own a rare furniture design. Has been professionally restored to excellent condition.

Provenance: From a private estate in Southeast Michigan; originally acquired in the 1990s from the main woodworking foreman for Herman Miller, who was employed in the 1940s. Dimensions: 30.75”h x 32”w x 32”d. In excellent condition, professionally restored to original condition and stored for decades. Full condition reports are available upon request.

Gilbert Rohde (1894-1944) was a pioneering American industrial designer who played a crucial role in shaping modern furniture design in the United States. Best known for his transformative work with Herman Miller in the 1930s and early 1940s, Rohde moved American design away from traditional revival styles toward streamlined, functional modernism influenced by the Bauhaus and European avant-garde. Rohde’s work has since been exhibited at major institutions including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and the Wolfsonian–FIU, which holds a significant collection of his furnishings. See less