Lane Furniture
When the first iteration of the Lane Furniture company began to produce its now-famous Lane cedar chests in the early 20th century, the family behind the brand was unsure of how successful they’d be, so they initially didn’t bother adding their name to the offerings.
The manufacturer was off to a modest start but the family was industrious: The Lanes were made up of farmers and contractors who’d built more than 30 miles of the Virginian railroad. They owned a cotton mill and purchased thousands of acres of land in Campbell County, Virginia, where the Virginian railroad was intended to cross the main line of the Southern Railway.
The Lanes hoped to start a town in this region of the state, and by 1912, streets for the town of Altavista had been laid out and utility lines were installed. In the spring of that year, John Lane purchased a defunct box factory at a bankruptcy auction. His son, Edward Hudson Lane, was tasked with the manufacturing of the cedar “hope” chests for which the Lane family would become known, even though the company was initially incorporated as the Standard Red Cedar Chest Company.
The Standard Red Cedar Chest Company struggled in its early days but introduced an assembly system at its small factory after securing a contract with the federal government to produce ammunition boxes made of pine during World War I. The company prospered and applied mass-production methods to its cedar-chest manufacturing after the war, and, in 1922, rebranding as the Lane Company, it implemented a national advertising campaign to market its products. Ads tied the company’s strong cedar hope chests to romance. Anchored by copy that read “The gift that starts the home,” the campaign rendered a Lane cedar chest a necessary purchase for young women to store linens, clothing and keepsakes as they prepared to marry.
Wartime production during World War II had Lane producing aircraft parts. In the 1950s, the family-owned company began to branch out into manufacturing tables, bedroom pieces and other various furnishings for the entire home. The brand’s vintage mid-century furniture is highly sought after.
Lane’s Acclaim walnut furniture line, which, designed by Andre Bus, has been compared to Drexel’s Declaration series for its blend of modern furniture’s clean contours and traditional craftsmanship. Ads for the Lane series suggested that it included “probably the best-selling table in the world.” (There are end tables, cocktail tables and more in the Acclaim collection, sporting graceful tapered legs and dovetail inlays.) Later, during the 1960s, Lane offered handsome modular wall units designed by the likes of Paul McCobb. 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.
Vintage Lane furniture is generally characterized by relatively neutral styles, which are versatile in different kinds of interiors, as well as good quality woods and careful manufacturing. All of these attributes have made Lane one of the most recognizable names in American furniture.
Browse storage cabinets, side tables and other vintage Lane furniture on 1stDibs.
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture
Cane
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture
Wood, Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture
Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture
Smoked Glass, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture
Wood, Oak, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture
Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture
Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture
Travertine
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture
Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture
Wood
Lane Furniture furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Lane Furniture
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024No, Lane Furniture is not the same as United Furniture. Up until 2017, Lane Furniture was a completely separate company from United, and the two furniture makers had no affiliation with each other. That changed when United Furniture, a subsidiary of Heritage Home Group, acquired Lane. Soon after the initial sale, Heritage resold Lane to Bassett Furniture. On 1stDibs, explore a diverse assortment of Lane Furniture pieces.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023To identify Lane furniture, look for the manufacturer's mark. On a Lane cedar chest, you'll find it on the bottom. Other pieces may display the marking on the base or back or inside a drawer. Most pieces will also have a serial number. Read the digits from right to left to determine the year of production. For example, a chest that says 850303 indicates that Lane produced the piece on March 30, 1958. In some cases, you may see one extra digit at the end. This number represents the plant that made the piece. If you're unsure about the authenticity of a Lane chest or other furnishing, a certified appraiser can assist you with the identification. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Lane furniture.
- How do I date Lane Furniture?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Lane Furniture includes serial numbers on its items. To determine the date an item was produced, read the serial number backwards to spell out the day, month and year. Shop a collection of expertly vetted Lane furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Who bought Lane Furniture?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024Heritage Home Group bought Lane Furniture. The sale occurred in 2017, and after it was complete, Lane became a part of Heritage Home Group's subsidiary, United Furniture. Soon after, United sold Lane to Bassett Furniture. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Lane Furniture pieces from some of the world's top dealers.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024Lane Furniture is made in the United States. The furniture maker has factories located in both Mississippi and North Carolina. In 1922, the company launched under its current name in North Carolina. Over the decades that followed, Lane became widely known for its cedar chests and Acclaim walnut furniture line, which both remain popular among collectors today. Shop a wide range of Lane Furniture pieces on 1stDibs.
- 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 13, 2024Yes, Lane Furniture was made in the USA. The American furniture maker produced most of its pieces at factories located in North Carolina and Mississippi. However, Lane Furniture stopped manufacturing pieces in 2022. Shop a large selection of Lane furniture from some of the world's top sellers 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 ExpertMarch 22, 2022To read Lane Furniture serial numbers, look from right to left. The first two numbers represent the month, and the second two tell you the day. Examine the last two numbers to find out the year of production. For example, a serial number that reads 189280 indicates a piece made on August 29, 1981. Shop a selection of expertly vetted Lane furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Lane Furniture does indeed make cedar chests. From 1912 to 1987, the American furniture company estimated it had sold around 12 million chests and that number continues to grow with today’s sales. Cedar chests are widely used to store clothing and linen because cedar wood is a natural repellent against moisture and moths. You can shop a collection of Lane cedar chests from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.