Baker Furniture Company Lighting
Owing to the company’s collaborations with many leading designers and artists over time, vintage Baker furniture is consistently sought after today. The heritage brand’s chairs, dining tables, desks and other pieces are widely known to collectors and design enthusiasts for their fine craftsmanship and durability.
Within a few decades of its launch, Baker Furniture Company evolved into one of the largest and most important furniture manufacturers in the United States and became known for its high-quality production standards. Siebe Baker and business partner Henry Cook founded the original iteration of Baker Furniture Company in 1890 in Allegan, Michigan, after immigrating to the United States from the Netherlands. Allegan is a small town west of Grand Rapids, which, at that time was home to Widdicomb Furniture Co. and more and was known as America’s furniture capital. The company manufactured doors and interior moldings and introduced a combination desk and bookcase in 1893. In the early 1900s, Siebe became the sole owner of the business.
Among others, stage designer Joseph Urban and modernist designer Kem Weber contributed designs to Baker in the 1920s. In 1932, under the leadership of Siebe’s son, Hollis, who started at the company as a salesman but took the reins when his father passed in 1925, Baker Furniture introduced bedroom pieces and debuted its Manor House collection, which made reproductions of European furnishings available to the American market. (Hollis was an avid traveler and procured antiques overseas for the company to reproduce in the United States.) Soon, Baker Furniture Company moved to Holland, Michigan, and eventually opened showrooms in Grand Rapids and elsewhere.
Pioneering Scandinavian designer Finn Juhl created a Danish modern line for Baker in 1951, and the company produced his award-winning Chieftain chair for a short time. In the late 1950s, Baker introduced the Milling Road label to reach a younger audience with stylish but less costly furnishings like console tables, walnut dining chairs and more, and in 1961, British furniture designer T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings introduced a modern neoclassical line at Baker.
The 1960s and ’70s saw the introduction of historic reproduction furniture lines such as Woburn Abbey and the Historic Charleston collection, which remain very popular to this day. In 1990, Baker was licensed to produce a furniture line from Colonial Williamsburg. That same year, the Smithsonian Museum introduced Baker’s Chippendale chair into its permanent collection and the Grand Rapids Art Museum dedicated an exhibition to Baker’s 100th anniversary, a showcase that included 150 pieces of furniture Siebe Baker had collected as part of a larger assortment that had served as inspiration for his designs.
Today, vintage Baker furniture, such as its elegant mahogany nightstands and teak credenzas — particularly those crafted by Finn Juhl — sees high demand online and elsewhere. The company continues to produce contemporary collections with well-known designers such as Bill Sofield, Barbara Barry and Kara Mann and remains on par with some of the highest quality furniture in the industry.
Browse vintage Baker armchairs, sofas, coffee tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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Baker Furniture Company lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
- Who makes Baker Furniture?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Samson Holding Ltd. makes Baker furniture through an America subsidiary. The Hong Kong-based company also owns Milling Road and McGuire furniture, after acquiring the brands from Kohler, Co., in 2017. You can shop a range of Baker furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023Whether Baker furniture holds its value will depend on a variety of factors, including how well it’s cared for as well as demand and supply with respect to a given collection or piece. Because it can be difficult to predict how the value of items will change over time, choose furniture that appeals to you. Owing to the company’s collaborations with many leading designers and artists over time, vintage Baker furniture is consistently sought after today. The heritage brand’s chairs, dining tables, desks and other pieces are widely known to collectors and design enthusiasts for their fine craftsmanship and durability. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of vintage Baker furniture from some of the world’s top sellers.
- Is Baker furniture good quality?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024Yes, Baker furniture is good quality. The heritage brand's chairs, dining tables, desks and other pieces are widely known to collectors and design enthusiasts for their fine craftsmanship and durability. Many online reviewers report owning Baker furniture for decades and needing to do very little to keep it looking like new. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Baker furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022No, most Baker furniture is not made in China, although a Chinese company does own the brand. The first pieces crafted by the furniture maker came from their factory in Allegan, Michigan. Today, the company produces furniture in a variety of locations. On 1stDibs, find a range of Baker furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024United Furniture took over Lane Furniture in 2017. After that, the furniture maker became well known among contemporary consumers for its upholstered furniture. In 2022, United abruptly closed and ceased operations at Lane due to financial problems. Find a collection of Lane Furniture pieces from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024The most famous Swedish furniture company is arguably IKEA. Founded in 1943, the company has grown to become one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the world. The brand has more than 450 stores located in more than 60 countries. Shop a range of IKEA furniture from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024IKEA is generally considered to be the world's largest furniture company. Established in 1943 in Älmhult, Sweden, the company now operates more than 450 stores around the world. In 2022, more than 800 million people visited IKEA stores, and millions more bought pieces online. Find an assortment of vintage IKEA furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024The story of what happened to the Lane Furniture company is one of financial difficulties. The company was acquired by United Furniture Industries in 2017 and became particularly well known among contemporary consumers for its upholstered furniture. In 2022, United abruptly closed and ceased operations at Lane due to bankruptcy. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Lane furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 16, 2024What happened to the Drexel Heritage furniture company was that the company went out of business. In 2014, the last Drexel Heritage plant in Morganton, North Carolina, reportedly closed its doors when the Heritage Home Group purchased it. The company rebranded as Drexel in 2017. Then, in 2018, the Heritage Home Group filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations. Although a Chinese manufacturer called Samson Holdings bought the Heritage Home Group, production of Drexel furniture never resumed. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Drexel Heritage furniture.