Biography
Karl Springer was a German-American designer who inspired his clientele with sculptural designs and the use of very high-quality and luxurious materials. Born in Berlin in 1931, he emigrated to the USA after the Second World War. After arriving in New York, he began working as a window dresser for the department store Lord & Taylor in 1957. He used his knowledge from his bookbinding apprenticeship to produce leather goods from exotic leather on the side. The combination of simple design and luxurious material attracted the attention of New York's high society. His breakthrough came when the luxury department store 'Bergdorf Goodman' in Manhattan discovered Springer's leather accessories and decided to include them in its range.
In 1965, Springer opened his own production workshop. Encouraged by the success of his first designs, Springer expanded his repertoire. From small accessories, he gradually turned to designing furniture. His designs were equally influenced by traditional and modern styles. He was particularly influenced by Art Deco forms, which he combined with contemporary design approaches. Springer used materials such as lacquer, metals, lucite, precious woods and shagreen - a rare stingray leather. With the support of the Duchess of Windsor, Springer was able to expand his contacts in the high society and gain new clients. He designed objects for Frank Sinatra, Jackie Onassis and Diana Ross. In 1969, at the height of his career, he moved his showroom to a 2000 square meter penthouse on East 61st Street.
A key aspect of his success was his close collaboration with experienced craftsmen and industrial designers. Springer began collaborating with Mark Eckman and expanded the Springer Ltd. brand with his brother Joachim Springer with locations in Tokyo, Miami, Munich and Los Angeles. Karl Springer's ability to combine luxury materials with simple yet elegant forms earned him a reputation as one of the leading designers of his generation. His craftsmanship and flair for materials helped him carve out a unique niche in New York's highly competitive design market.
