1940s Designer Chest of Drawers Attributed to Frances Adler Elkins

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This chest has a distinctive multi-lobed, undulating wavy façade or "block-front" silhouette, combining classical European shapes with mid-century clean lines. … Read more This chest has a distinctive multi-lobed, undulating wavy façade or "block-front" silhouette, combining classical European shapes with mid-century clean lines. A common design by Frances Adler Elkins .
Finishing: This particular variation showcases a heavily patinated, antiqued painted wood finish (or distressed parchment/lacquer look) fitted with vintage style brass drop-pull hardware which aren’t original to the chest .
Best known for her iconic loop chairs-an enduring symbol of her design legacy-Elkins brought the same sculptural sensibility and historical fluency to her case pieces. A key figure in early American modernism, she developed a uniquely American design language that merged 18th-century European forms, surrealist flourishes, and pared-down modern silhouettes. Though often linked to the early expressions of Hollywood Regency, her approach was more cerebral than theatrical, prioritizing balance, form, and proportion. She collaborated closely with her architect brother David Adler, and her interiors— layered yet edited-influenced a generation of designers including Michael Taylor and John Dickinson.
This chest exemplifies Elkins' philosophy. 42x18x32 Came out of an estate in Lake Forest, IL. The chest of drawers isn’t stamped. See less