Chippendale Style Ball & Claw Tapestry Armchairs by Century Furniture - Set of 2
About the Item
- Creator:Century Furniture (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 43 in (109.22 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 30 in (76.2 cm)Seat Height: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Chippendale (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1980s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. In very good structurally sound and sturdy condition with no notable damage to fabric or wood.
- Seller Location:Lake Worth, FL
- Reference Number:
Century Furniture
Known for its durable vintage display cabinets, nightstands and dressers made of cherry, oak, walnut and more, Century Furniture of Hickory, North Carolina, began as an upholstered goods company in 1947 but added case goods and sophisticated mahogany dining-room furnishings shortly thereafter.
Launched by Harley Ferguson Shuford Sr., a Hickory native who was born to a family of textile mill owners, Century Furniture was intended to be “the best furniture company in the world.” With respect to speed and efficiency, the brand found its footing midway through production on a government contract that Shuford had secured in the early days to manufacture thousands of five-drawer chests. The effort was significant, but it was also a teachable moment as far as Shuford and his team’s learning the ropes of running a factory.
After hiring designer Raymond K. Sobota in 1950 and introducing the enormously popular Citation Collection in 1954, Century established its reputation as a leader in stylishly designed high-quality furniture. Sobota had furniture in his blood — after graduating from Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he worked for his uncle Karl Schmidt, who was at the time a well-known furniture designer for Berkey and Gay and other makers in the Grand Rapids area, then known as America’s furniture capital. Sobota soon launched his own studio, designing furniture as a freelancer for various local manufacturers. Shuford found him by happenstance, journeying to Michigan’s second-largest city to offer a job to another designer who turned him down but recommended Sobota instead.
Century’s Citation line — a sizable collection for the brand that spanned furnishings for the bedroom, dining room and more — is revered in the world of vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors. The pieces sold very well during the 1950s, and the line is an oft-cited success story for Sobota, who would go on to win awards for his work and whose own catalogue of designs for the brand is massive.
In his 40-year career at Century, until he retired in 1995, he designed well over 100 furniture lines. Sobota’s nightstands, cabinets, side tables and more are characterized by his interest in Asian design, distinctly and brilliantly expressed in his Hollywood Regency–style Chin Hua line, which debuted during the 1970s. With its geometrically decorative brass drawer pulls and door handles as well as dining-chair seat-back carvings — all inspired by Asian motifs — this collection has rendered vintage pieces that saw Century’s craftsmen working with alluring ebonized walnut and more, some of the company’s most sought-after work today.
Also in the 1970s as well as in the 1980s, Manhattan interior designer Jay Spectre introduced an Art Deco–informed spirit at Century Furniture, creating oversize, inviting lounge chairs and bentwood benches that featured plush tufted leather cushions. Spectre’s Eclipse collection was at one point among the largest-selling lines for the brand.
Century licensed collections with celebrity interior designers such as Thomas O’Brien, Charlotte Moss and Bunny Williams among others. In 2013, when Alex Shuford III was named president of Century Furniture, the move marked the succession of the third generation to lead this company, which is today one of the world’s largest privately held manufacturers of high-end furniture.
Find Century Furniture lounge chairs and dining chairs as well as vintage mid-century modern credenzas, dressers and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Lake Worth, FL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- Chippendale Wingback Velvet Damask Ball & Claw Down ArmchairLocated in Lake Worth, FLFor full item description be sure to click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this listing. Offering one of our recent palm beach estate fine furniture acquisitions of a chippe...Category
20th Century Unknown Chippendale Armchairs
MaterialsVelvet, Down, Mahogany
- Edwardian Chippendale Armchairs Mahogany Ball & Claw, a PairLocated in Lake Worth, FLOffering one of our recent palm beach estate fine furniture acquisitions of a pair of antiquec 1900 Edwardian Chippendale Mahogany ball & claw armchairs Approximate measurements i...Category
Early 20th Century Chippendale Armchairs
MaterialsMahogany, Cotton
- Oversized Regal French Wingback Armchairs by Century FurnitureBy Century FurnitureLocated in Lake Worth, FLOffering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of An Pair of Oversized Regal French Wingback Damask Armchairs by CENTURY FURNITURE With heavy Cotton Damas...Category
Vintage 1980s French Provincial Armchairs
MaterialsDamask, Mahogany
- Antique C 1900 Edwardian Chippendale Mahogany Ball & Claw Armchairs, a PairBy Thomas ChippendaleLocated in Lake Worth, FLOffering one of our recent Palm Beach Estate Fine furniture acquisitions of a Pair of antique c 1900 Edwardian Chippendale mahogany ball & claw armchairs Approximate measurements...Category
Early 20th Century Edwardian Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsMahogany
- Italian Alfresco Style Dining Chairs by CENTURY FURNITURE - Set of 4By Century FurnitureLocated in Lake Worth, FLFor FULL item description be sure to click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this listing. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Set of (4) Italian Alfresco Style Dining Chairs by CENTURY...Category
Vintage 1980s Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Damask Italian Provincial Armchairs by Century FurnitureBy Century FurnitureLocated in Lake Worth, FLFor FULL item description click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this page. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Pair of Century Furniture Damask Italian Provincial Throne Host Accent Statement Armchairs...Category
Vintage 1980s American Armchairs
MaterialsMahogany, Cotton
- English Chippendale Mahogany Upholstered Arm Chair with Ball & Claw Feet, C 1780Located in Hollywood, SCEnglish Chippendale Mahogany upholstered arm chair with serpentine crest, fluted scrolled ears, intricately carved splat back, curvature scrolled arms, remo...Category
Antique 1780s English Chippendale Armchairs
MaterialsMuslin, Mahogany
- A Fine 19th Century Chippendale Style ArmchairLocated in Central England, GBA Fine 19th Century Chippendale Style Armchair This superb 19th-century example of a top-quality Chippendale open armchair is made from rich...Category
Antique 19th Century English Chippendale Armchairs
MaterialsMahogany
- Antique English Chippendale Armchair Carved Mahogany Leather Ball ClawLocated in Dayton, OHAntique 19th century English Chippendale armchair carved mahogany leather ball claw A beautiful heavy english Chippendale style arm cha...Category
Antique 19th Century Chippendale Armchairs
MaterialsMahogany, Oak
- Pair of Chippendale Style Italian Boucle Small Armchairs, 1940sLocated in Puglia, PugliaPair of Chippendale style armchairs, Italian production in the 1940s, completely restored and upholstered in Boucle fabric. They fit very well in a bedroom or living room.Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Chippendale Armchairs
MaterialsBouclé, Walnut
- Pair of Mid-Century Modern James Mont Style Black Lacquer Armchairs by CenturyBy James Mont, Century FurnitureLocated in Brooklyn, NYThis pair of unique vintage James Mont style armchairs feature stylish sculpted backs, brass feet, comfortable seats, and make a great addition to any interior space. Please confirm ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
- SOUTHWOOD Gainsborough Mahogany Chippendale Style Fretwork Armchairs - PairBy Southwood & Co.Located in Charlotte, NCA pair of Chippendale style upholstered armchairs by Southwood, their Gainsborough. Mahogany frame, a light green color brocade fabric upholstery, upholstered scroll arms, decorative...Category
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Armchairs
MaterialsFabric, Mahogany