Century Furniture Side Chairs
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.
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Creator: Century Furniture
Spanish Revival Century Furniture Oak Side Chair Cognac Leather Nailhead Details
By Century Furniture
Located in Topeka, KS
Marvelous vintage Spanish Revival Century Furniture side chair comprised of a dark stained oak frame, & cognac leather seat & back with antiqued brass nail head trim details. Beautif...
Category
1940s American Spanish Colonial Vintage Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Metal
CENTURY Chardeau Collection Cherry Caned French Dining Side Chairs - Pair A
By Raymond Sabota, Century Furniture
Located in Charlotte, NC
A pair of French Provincial style dining side chairs by Century Furniture, from their Chardeau Collection designed by Raymond K Sobota. Solid cherry wood, carved detail to crest rail...
Category
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Cane, Cherry
CENTURY Chardeau Collection Cherry Caned French Dining Side Chairs - Pair B
By Raymond Sabota, Century Furniture
Located in Charlotte, NC
A pair of French Provincial style dining side chairs by Century Furniture, from their Chardeau Collection designed by Raymond K Sobota. Solid cherry wood, carved detail to crest rail...
Category
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Cane, Cherry
CENTURY French Country Oval Back Dining Side Chairs - Pair B
By Century Furniture
Located in Charlotte, NC
A pair of French Country style dining side chairs by Century Furniture, of Hickory, North Carolina, USA. Hardwood with a walnut finish, oval open carved design backs, floral striped ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American French Provincial Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Hardwood
Century Furniture Queen Anne Carved Mahogany Side Chair
By Century Furniture
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Queen Anne or Georgian style carved mahogany side chair, dining chair, or desk chair
By Century Furniture
USA, circa 1980s...
Category
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Expertly Reupholstered Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Chairs by Century Furniture
By Century Furniture
Located in Hartville, OH
A rich, decadent black lacquered finish wraps these beautiful chairs by Century Furniture in the style of James Mont. freshly upholstered with new everything and finished with a spec...
Category
1970s American Chinoiserie Vintage Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Brass
CENTURY Caned Walnut Spanish Style Dining Chairs - Set of 6
By Century Furniture
Located in Charlotte, NC
A set of six Spanish style dining chairs by Century Furniture. Solid walnut, carved crestrail, high cane backs, blue & grey color fabric upholstered sea...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Spanish Colonial Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Cane, Walnut
1970s James Mont for Century Furniture Chinoiserie Horseshoe Ming Chairs, Pair
By James Mont, Century Furniture
Located in Medina, OH
A beautiful pair of James Mont Chinoiserie Horseshoe Ming Chairs by Century! Original black lacquer frames with brass accents, reupholstered in ...
Category
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Brass
CENTURY French Country Oval Back Dining Side Chairs - Pair A
By Century Furniture
Located in Charlotte, NC
A pair of French Country style dining side chairs by Century Furniture, of Hickory, North Carolina, USA. Hardwood with a walnut finish, oval open carved design backs, floral striped ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American French Provincial Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Hardwood
2 Vintage Century Furniture Chippendale Gooseneck Red Mahogany Arm Accent Chairs
By Century Furniture
Located in Dayton, OH
2 vintage Century Furniture Chippendale gooseneck red mahogany arm accent chairs
Pair of Chippendale style armchairs by Century Furnit...
Category
Late 20th Century Chippendale Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Set of Midcentury Chinoiserie Style Lounge Chairs by Century Chair Company
By Century Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of horseshoe armchairs with "scrubbed white" finish by the Century Chair Company, 1987. Please confirm item location (NY or NJ) with d...
Category
1980s American Chinoiserie Vintage Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Wood, Upholstery
Six Goatskin Lacquer Dining Chairs by Century
By Century Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Set of six dining chairs with two arm chairs and four side chairs from Century Chair Company. Pastel flame stitch upholstery is original, and in great condition. Extremely well made ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Wood
CENTURY Chardeau Collection Cherry Caned French Dining Side Chairs - Pair C
By Raymond Sabota, Century Furniture
Located in Charlotte, NC
A pair of French Provincial style dining side chairs by Century Furniture, from their Chardeau Collection designed by Raymond K Sobota. Solid cherry wood, carved detail to crest rail...
Category
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Cane, Cherry
CENTURY Chin Hua by Raymond Sobota Black Lacquer Side Chair
By Century Furniture
Located in Charlotte, NC
An Asian style side chair by high-quality furniture maker century. From their "Chin Hua" line designed by Raymond K Sobota. Made in the 1970s in Hickory, North Carolina, USA. Made fr...
Category
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Century Furniture Side Chairs
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Lacquer
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Century Furniture side chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Century Furniture side chairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of fabric and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Century Furniture side chairs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original side chairs by Century Furniture were created in the Hollywood Regency style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider side chairs by and Drexel. Prices for Century Furniture side chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $295 and can go as high as $6,750, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $948.
Questions About Century Furniture Side Chairs
- What is mid century furniture?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Mid-century furniture is furniture created within the period of 1933 to 1965 but most would argue that the style began to emerge in the postwar years. This style of furniture is known for its sleek lines and organic shapes. The creators most frequently associated with mid-century modern furniture believed that good design meant good living. Mid-century modern is today by far the largest category of furnishings on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, Century Furniture still exists. The brand operates from its corporate headquarters located in Hickory, North Carolina. The company was founded in 1947, and RHF Investments, Inc., acquired the company in 2013. You'll find a range of Century Furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A variety of furniture was used during the 16th century. Items commonly found in homes include high-backed armchairs, chests, stools, benches and cupboards. Most European artisans active during the time period produced pieces out of oak wood. Find a large collection of antique furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 22, 2019
Mid-century modernism first appeared in 1945 and merged a minimalist aesthetic with practicality. Mid-century modern furniture is distinguishable by its lack of decoration or extravagance and its use of clean lines, organic curves and variety of natural materials.
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Mid century modern furniture refers to pieces designed during the middle of the 20th century — specifically 1930s through the mid-1960s. This period represents a design and architecture movement characterized by simple shapes, clean lines, and organic materials. Some of the most famous mid century modern designers include Ray Eames, Charlotte Perriand, Isamu Noguchi and Eero Saarinen. - 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023To tell if furniture is mid-century modern, examine the piece, looking for labels and markings that indicate who produced it. Then, consult trusted online resources to determine when the maker was active and what styles of furniture they made. Iconic mid-century modern furniture designers include Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Milo Baughman, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi. A knowledgeable dealer or certified appraiser can help you determine if a particular piece is genuine mid-century modern or a reproduction. Shop a range of mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Mid-century modern furniture combines sleek lines with organic shapes.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024Mid-century modern furniture is so popular largely because its characteristics align well with the trends and tastes that are dominant today. Many people love its simple look defined by clean lines, and the use of natural materials also adds to its popularity. In addition, designers created mid-century modern furniture to be as functional as it is visually appealing, making pieces executed in the style simple, convenient and comfortable to use. Find a wide range of mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 22, 2024There is not a single year that is mid-century modern. The style emerged during the 1940s and 1950s and remained dominant through the 1960s and into the early 1970s. Some notable designers who contributed to the development of the mid-century modern style include Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Milo Baughman, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson. Shop a wide range of mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Some of the most famous mid-century modern furniture designers were Alvar Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames, Paul Evans, Poul Kjærholm, Florence Knoll, George Nakashima, Giò Ponti, Hans Wegner, Charlotte Perriand, Sergio Rodrigues and Eero Saarinen.
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