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Monumental Chrome "Oriental" King Headboard & Frame, Elaine Cohen, D.I.A., 1972

Creator: Elaine Cohen
Offered by: Habitat-Gallery

Description
Think you’re looking at a Milo Baughman? Think again. This striking chrome headboard—often wrongly attributed to Baughman—is the work of Elaine Cohen, the sole designer and later president of Design Institute of America (DIA) during its formative years. While the mid-century modern world has long assigned these dazzling chrome pieces to a man, the truth is that Cohen built DIA’s entire aesthetic from the ground up—redefining metal furniture with bold geometry and a distinctly modern attitude.

This piece is a perfect example of Cohen’s vision: a bold geometric headboard inspired by “Oriental flavoring” (as 1970s ads put it), blending classic Chippendale influences with a sleek, playful, and contemporary twist. Its scaled-up crisscross chrome framework isn’t just design—it’s sculpture. And don’t let the photos fool you: this bad boy is substantial, measuring nearly 78" wide by 66.5" tall.

The headboard comes complete with two twin bed frames that attach directly. Insert two twin box springs, and you’ve got the perfect base for a king mattress—making it as practical as it is glamorous.

About Elaine Cohen
Elaine Cohen’s story is one of brilliance and erasure. As DIA’s only designer in the early 1970s, she created every piece in their line-- from consoles and cocktail tables to chairs and beds, earning rave reviews from contemporary press. One 1972 Philadelphia Inquirer feature described her work as “gentle curves and satin nickel accents redefining metal with a new attitude and updated image.” By the late 1970's, Cohen had become president of DIA, a groundbreaking achievement for a woman in a male-dominated furniture industry.

Yet despite her leadership and creativity, Cohen’s name faded from the narrative over the decades. Dealers, auction houses, and design writers, perhaps drawn to the marketability of a male designer’s name, began attributing her designs to Milo Baughman. The irony? Baughman never worked for DIA. Cohen’s work was hiding in plain sight, mistaken for someone else’s simply because her authorship wasn’t protected.

This headboard isn’t just a gorgeous example of 1970s modernism. It’s a conversation starter. A design history lesson. And a chance to set the record straight.

Dimensions & Details:
Headboard: 78” W x 66.5” H

Includes two twin bed frames that attach to the headboard.

Fits two twin box springs with a king mattress atop.

More Information

Documentation:	Documented elsewhere (exact item)
Notes:	See period advert.
Origin:	United States, North Carolina
Period:	1950-1979
Materials:	Chrome, polished
Condition:	Good. Very minimal wear
Creation Date:	1972
Styles / Movements:	Modern, Hollywood Regency, Mid Century
Incollect Reference #:	818843