Tommi Parzinger

Tommi Parzinger was born in Munich in 1903. He studied at the Kunstgewebeschuke (School of Arts and Crafts) before moving to New York in 1935 where he began designing ceramics and metal pieces for Rena Rosenthal. In 1938 Parzinger began designing collections for the Charak Company of Boston, a fine furniture manufacturer. Furniture became his main focus and he opened his first showroom, Parzinger Inc, in 1939.

He experimented with strong colours, exotic woods and new finishes bringing back a taste for refinement that had faded during the war. Parzinger is renowned for his tailored furniture and exquisite old world craftsmanship. He built up a prestigious high society clientele following and was a favourite with interior designers.

In addition to his own firm he also designed furniture, fabrics, lighting and accessories for other firms including Salterini, Hofstatter and Willow and Reed. In the mid 1990s his work was shown by the Palumbo Gallery in New York.