Ethan Allen Credenza
Recent Sales
20th Century Credenzas
Mahogany, Satinwood
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Dressers
Walnut
Late 20th Century American Hepplewhite Sideboards
Brass
Late 20th Century American Federal Sideboards
Brass
Late 20th Century American Hepplewhite Sideboards
Brass
Late 20th Century American Georgian Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1980s American Georgian Dressers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Sideboards
Cherry
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Dressers
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Sideboards
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Dressers
Granite
Late 20th Century American Modern Dressers
Maple, Lacquer
Finding the Right Credenzas for You
Antique and vintage credenzas can add an understated touch of grace to your home. These long and sophisticated cabinet-style pieces of furniture can serve a variety of purposes, and they look great too.
In Italy, the credenza was originally a small side table used in religious services. Appropriately, credere in Italian means “to believe.” Credenzas were a place to not only set the food ready for meals, they were also a place to test and taste prepared food for poison before a dish was served to a member of the ruling class. Later, credenza was used to describe a type of versatile narrow side table, typically used for serving food in the home. In form, a credenza has much in common with a sideboard — in fact, the terms credenza and sideboard are used almost interchangeably today.
Credenzas usually have short legs or no legs at all, and can feature drawers and cabinets. And all kinds of iterations of the credenza have seen the light of day over the years, from ornately carved walnut credenzas originating in 16th-century Tuscany to the wealth of Art Deco credenzas — with their polished surfaces and geometric patterns — to the array of innovative modernist interpretations that American furniture maker Milo Baughman created for Directional and Thayer Coggin.
The credenza’s blend of style and functionality led to its widespread use in the 20th century. Mid-century modern credenzas are particularly popular — take a look at Danish furniture designer Arne Vodder’s classic Model 29, for instance, with its reversible sliding doors and elegant drawer pulls. Hans Wegner, another Danish modernist, produced strikingly minimalist credenzas in the 1950s and ’60s, as did influential American designer Florence Knoll. Designers continue to explore new and exciting ways to update this long-loved furnishing.
Owing to its versatility and familiar low-profile form, the credenza remains popular in contemporary homes. Unlike many larger case pieces, credenzas can be placed under windows and in irregularly shaped rooms, such as foyers and entryways. This renders it a useful storage solution. In living rooms, for example, a credenza can be a sleek media console topped with plants and the rare art monographs you’ve been planning to show off. In homes with open floor plans, a credenza can help define multiple living spaces, making it ideal for loft apartments.
Browse a variety of antique and vintage credenzas for sale on 1stDibs to find the perfect fit for your home today.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Ethan Allen owns and operates eight different manufacturing facilities where it produces its own furniture. Six of those facilities are located in the United States and one is in Mexico with another one residing in the Honduras. Shop a collection of Ethan Allen furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify Ethan Allen furniture, search for maker's marks on hidden areas like the insides of drawers, the backs of casegoods, the bases of sofas and the undersides of chair seats and tabletops. Nearly all pieces crafted by the American maker display the Ethan Allen name. Some furnishings may also feature production dates and location markings. These details and the appearance of the maker's marks can be useful in identifying the style name and other characteristics of your furniture. Consult trusted online resources for images of Ethan Allen's logo designs from over the years. A certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer can also aid you in the identification process. Explore a variety of furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 15, 2024Ethan Allen furniture is more than 90 years old. Brothers-in-law Nat Ancell and Ted Baumritter founded the company in Beecher Falls, Vermont, in 1932. Initially, the company manufactured housewares and then branched out into furniture making after buying out a bankrupt furniture maker in 1936. Ancell and Baumritter named their first furniture line, Ethan Allen, after a Revolutionary War leader from Vermont. Shop a range of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
- Is Ethan Allen a luxury brand?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024Yes, Ethan Allen is a luxury brand. The American furniture maker provides customers with the ability to create custom-designed pieces built to suit their needs and preferences, fitting the definition of luxury. Ethan Allen produces its furniture out of fine materials under strict craftsmanship standards to ensure quality. Shop a collection of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, Ethan Allen furniture is still made as of December 2021. The company operates manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Mexico and Honduras and has more than 300 retail showrooms. On 1stDibs, you can find a range of Ethan Allen furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 7, 2024Yes, some Ethan Allen furniture is solid wood. The American furniture company uses both solid wood and solid wood veneers to produce its pieces. In recent years, the furniture maker has also begun to use reclaimed solid wood to make some of its occasional tables and casegoods. Find a variety of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, most Ethan Allen tables are made at least partially out of real wood. Early pieces tend to feature solid wood, but more modern tables may combine wood veneers with engineered wood. Shop a variety of Ethan Allen tables on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 15, 2024Yes, Ethan Allen sofas are generally of good quality. The most durable sofas produced by the American furniture maker are typically those that feature solid hardwood frames and eight-way hand-tied spring systems. Most vintage pieces and some contemporary ones include these features. Shop a collection of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024Yes, Ethan Allen is high-end furniture. The term “high-end” describes furniture that features fine materials and expert craftsmanship. Ethan Allen furniture fits this definition, especially when you consider the brand's vintage pieces, which were hand-built out of carefully selected American hardwoods. On 1stDibs, find a range of Ethan Allen furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, not all Ethan Allen furniture is made in the USA as of January 2022. The furniture company produces pieces at five factories in the U.S., as well as at factories based in Honduras, Mexico and East Asia. Find a collection of Ethan Allen furniture on 1stDibs.
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