Pennsylvania House Breakfront

Once a household name, Pennsylvania House was an American furniture producer known for its fine solid wood pieces. In operation for more than a century, the company made living, dining and bedroom furniture like chairs, end tables and chests of drawers, most of which were crafted from solid cherry. 

The company was founded in 1887 in a small factory in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. From the outset, Pennsylvania House sourced most of its raw materials from old-growth cherry tree forests within 100 miles of the factory. For almost the entirety of the company's history, particularly during its heyday from the 1930s to the 1970s, colonial-style cherry furniture endured as its most popular offering. 

Over time, Pennsylvania House expanded into reproduction Victorian furniture and even offered a line of modern pieces to appeal to shifting tastes. In the 1960s and throughout the ’70s and ‘80s, furniture made of maple, oak, walnut and pine also grew in demand for its lower price points and lighter finishes. Cherry, however, remained a mainstay.

In the 1990s, the changing global marketplace posed a challenge to Pennsylvania House and many other American furniture companies. Solid wood furniture decreased in popularity as more affordable options were introduced from abroad.

 La-Z-Boy purchased the company in 2005 and its operations were moved overseas. In 2007, Pennsylvania House was sold again, and no new furniture was produced under the brand.

Today, vintage Pennsylvania House solid wood furniture is beloved by collectors for its exceptional beauty and quality.

On 1stDibs, find Pennsylvania House case pieces, tables, seating and more.

Although traditionally used in the bedroom to store garments that would not be hung in a closet, an antique or vintage cabinet can easily find a purpose in rooms throughout your entire house.

The world's first storage cabinets, reportedly constructed in Renaissance-era Europe, were demonstrative of excellence in carpentry and the work of master carvers. These robust bureaus or sophisticated chests of drawers were typically built from common woods, such as oak or walnut. Although they were fairly uniform in structure and lacked the bright colors of modern-day furniture, case pieces and storage cabinets that date from the 18th century and earlier were often found in the homes of nobility.

Their intricate carvings and various embellishments — adornments made from ivory, ornate lacquer work and, later, glass shelvings — reflect the elegance with which these decorative furnishings were associated. Given its valuable purpose and the beauty of the early furnishings' designs, the storage cabinet is an investment that will never go out of style.

The practical design that defines the earliest storage cabinets has inspired the creation of household must-haves, like minimalist drink trolleys and marble wood bookcases. From hiding outdoor gear in the mudroom to decluttering your kitchen with a tall kitchen pantry cabinet, these versatile furnishings have now become available in enough sizes, styles and colors to accommodate any space. After all, these aren't your run-of-the-mill filing cabinets.

A sophisticated storage cabinet — wood storage cabinets with doors and shelves, for example — can serve as a room divider when necessary, while the right vintage wall unit or floor-to-ceiling cabinetry solutions can seamlessly become part of any space without disrupting the energy of the room. And although you may hide items away in its drawers, bookworms might prefer a storage cabinet with open shelving for displaying favorite books or other media.

One-of-a-kind solutions for the modern consumer abound, but enthusiasts of understated, classical beauty may turn to Baroque-style storage cabinets. Elsewhere, admirers of mid-century modernism looking to make a statement with their case pieces will warm to the dark woods and clean lines of vintage storage cabinets by Paul McCobb, Florence Knoll or Edward Wormley.

Sometimes the best renovation is a reorganization. If you're ready to organize and elevate your space, a luxury storage cabinet is the addition you need.

Find a variety of vintage and antique storage cabinets on 1stDibs, including unique Art Deco storage cabinets, chinoiserie cabinets and more.