Gilbert Rohde

Rohde was a tireless advocate for modern furniture and interiors in American homes, apartments, offices, and commercial and institutional settings.

[1] He became known for experimenting with industrial materials in furniture and interiors, including Plexiglas, Lucite, Bakelite, and Fabrikoid (a leather-like fabric made by DuPont).

One of his most innovative designs was a molded Plexiglas chair made in 1939, and shown at the Rohm and Haas display at the 1939 New York World's Fair.

Consumers could purchase his furniture at upscale department stores in New York (Bloomingdale's), Washington (Woodward & Lothrop), Philadelphia (Wanamaker's), Cleveland (Halle Brothers Co.), and elsewhere.

As part of its Pioneers of American Industrial Design series, the United States Postal Service issued on August 25, 2011, a commemorative first-class Forever stamp featuring a Rohde-designed clock.