W.&J. Sloane Sofas
For 140 years, W. & J. Sloane was the furniture manufacturer of choice for the American elite. The company’s clientele included John D. Rockefeller and the White House. Vintage W. & J. Sloane lounge chairs, sofas and club chairs luxuriously combine the best of mid-century modern with the opulence of Louis XV style.
Scottish immigrant William Sloane founded the company in New York in 1843. Sloane was from the town of Kilmarnock, which was famous for its fine furniture and carpets. His younger brother, John, joined the company in 1852 and the name was changed to W. & J. Sloane to represent both siblings. Sloane’s son, Douglas, joined soon after.
W. & J. Sloane rose to prominence by importing beautiful Persian carpets to the United States. It was the first company to do so. This garnered the attention of wealthy New York families, including the Whitneys and Vanderbilts. In the late 1800s, W. & J. Sloane began producing its own furniture. It added an antiques department and opened a decorating and upholstery department.
Over the first half of the 20th century, W. & J. Sloane continued to decorate for prominent families while also working on Hollywood movie sets and automobile interiors. The company established a branch in San Francisco and acquired the upscale California Furniture Company. During World War II, the company received contracts for the interior design of United States Navy Liberty ships.
Chef Julia Child worked at the company in 1935, and during the early 1950s, the firm employed Arthur Elrod, an immensely influential decorator who played an integral role in defining mid-century modernist interiors in Palm Springs. By the mid-1950s, ownership of the company was no longer in the hands of the Sloane family.
In 1983, W. & J. Sloane shuttered its downtown Washington store, which was followed by the closure of its flagship New York store in 1984.
On 1stDibs, find vintage W. & J. Sloane seating, case pieces and more.
20th Century Louis XVI W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Fabric, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Upholstery
2010s English Louis XVI W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Wool, Foam
2010s British Louis XVI W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Giltwood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Mahogany, Upholstery
1890s French Antique W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Wood
20th Century French Louis XVI W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century French W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Fabric, Textile, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Upholstery, Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Upholstery, Velvet
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Chrome
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Upholstery, Velvet, Foam, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Velvet
Early 20th Century Italian Louis XV W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Linen, Silk
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Fabric, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Wood, Upholstery
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage W.&J. Sloane Sofas
Wood, Upholstery