Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
In 1855, William Berkey arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and founded a mill to manufacture window sashes and other wood building products. He was joined by his brother, Julius, who later began manufacturing what became known as the Berkey table. This was highly successful, and soon the Berkey brothers were concentrating on making furniture.
The company took on various partners over time, including George W. Gay, who bought an interest in the company in 1866 to form Berkey Brothers & Gay. In 1873, William Berkey withdrew from the company, and Julius Berkey and George W. Gay incorporated to form the Berkey & Gay Furniture Company. In 1874, the new company opened its six-story factory, complete with wholesale and retail showrooms, in Grand Rapids. By 1882, this factory covered three city blocks. The company is known for making Victorian furniture.
George W. Gay, although continuing to be involved with Berkey & Gay, also struck out on his own business ventures. One of these was the Oriel Cabinet Company, which he established in 1880. Oriel Cabinet constructed a factory at this site in the 1880s, but the original factory was destroyed by fire in 1890. In 1892, the company constructed a new factory, which continues to occupy the site.
Both Oriel Cabinet and Berkey & Gay continued independently until 1911, when the two companies merged. The Oriel factory became Berkey & Gay's Plant No. 1 following the merger, and an addition was immediately made to the plant in 1912. In 1919 the company further expanded the factory 240 feet north along Monroe Avenue.
In 1920, the company merged with the Wallace Furniture Company and the Grand Rapids Upholstery Company to form Consolidated Furniture Companies but continued to use the trademark Berkey & Gay because of its name recognition.
Sales increased in the 1920s and the company aggressively expanded. However, when the Great Depression hit, the company was unable to continue financing its new sites and was forced to sell to the Chicago-based Simmons Company. Even this was not enough, as Simmons declared bankruptcy in 1931, and the Grand Rapids factories closed their doors.
Local stockholders reopened the factory in 1935, and continued production until World War II, when it was converted to wartime needs. After the war, an attempt was made to convert back to furniture production, but the company was again forced to declare bankruptcy in 1948 and closed the factory for good.
The Berkey & Gay Furniture Company used three different types of labels to mark the tables and other furniture that they manufactured. The first label was branded into the wood and can often be found inside the drawers of authentic Berkey & Gay sideboards and other case pieces. Around the year 1900 the branded type label was replaced by a paper label. The brass label was used starting around the 1920s until Berkey and Gay went out of business in the 1940s.
Find antique Berkey & Gay buffets, dining tables, sideboards and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Schear Brothers)
1930s American Vintage Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century William and Mary Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
1960s American Georgian Vintage Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1920s American Jacobean Vintage Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century American High Victorian Antique Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Early 2000s American Modern Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Late 20th Century American Georgian Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1920s American Jacobean Vintage Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century American American Empire Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Mahogany
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1920s American Jacobean Vintage Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Mid-20th Century American Empire Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century American Napoleon III Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century American French Provincial Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Berkey & Gay Furniture Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Berkey & Gay Furniture commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 19, 2025Berkey & Gay furniture is no longer made, as the company went out of business in the 1940s. William Berkey originally founded the company in 1855 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Although the organization changed hands and went through multiple mergers, it continued to manufacture many of its pieces in the city throughout much of its history. Find a selection of Berkey & Gay furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 19, 2025Berkey & Gay furniture was made from the mid-19th century through the mid-20th century. In 1855, William Berkey arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and founded a mill to manufacture window sashes and other wood-building products. His brother, Julius, joined him, and he later began manufacturing what became known as the Berkey table. This was highly successful, and the Berkey brothers soon concentrated on making furniture. The company took on various partners over time, including George W. Gay, who bought an interest in the company in 1866 to form Berkey Brothers & Gay. It continued to operate until the 1940s. Shop an assortment of Berkey & Gay furniture on 1stDibs.