Craft Associates Furniture
In its inaugural days, iconic mid-century modern furniture brand Craft Associates was largely the work of founder and forward-thinking designer Adrian Pearsall and his wife, Dorie. The pair assembled sexy, stylish furniture in their Pennsylvania basement that they later sold from the back of a truck to the era’s marquee department stores in Philadelphia and New York City.
The New York–born Pearsall (1925–2011) served in the Navy before earning his architectural engineering degree from the University of Illinois in 1950. He abandoned architecture after only a couple of years and turned instead to furniture design, opening Craft Associates in 1952 to sell his sophisticated living room seating, dining room furnishings and more. Flush with dynamic angles and clean lines, Pearsall’s sculptural, expressive designs — coffee tables, luxurious lounge chairs and more — helped define the style of the Atomic Age. With the help of Dorie and working in partnership with his brother Richard, Pearsall oversaw the expansion of Craft Associates into a leading employer of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, with popular furniture including architecturally striking tables as well as plush beanbag chairs.
From Craft, there was Pearsall’s low-slung Gondola sofa, which embraces the sitter with its enveloping, geometrically rich form, his range of glass-topped tables — most boasting provocatively shaped wood slabs that serve as bases — as well as his skinny, high-backed upholstered walnut armchairs. Pearsall drew on his background in architecture for the organic and eye-catching structures of these pieces in addition to his larger scale work. One of his biggest projects was the complete design of his family’s 10,000-square-foot Pennsylvania home in Forty Fort, which boasted an indoor pool, sauna, tennis court and ice cream bar.
After growing his business to 800 employees, Pearsall sold Craft Associates in 1968 to Lane Furniture, which continued producing his pieces into the late 1970s before halting production. With business partner John Graham, Pearsall established a new company, Comfort Designs, in the 1970s, while also devoting time to his lifelong hobbies of sailing and restoring classic yachts.
A company called New Craft Associates revived Pearsall’s brand’s name, referencing mid-century-era furniture design in its current projects while not formally associated with Pearsall or his family. Restoration Hardware has also reissued some of his Craft Associates designs, with Pearsall and his company’s distinctive furniture remaining popular statement pieces adaptable to any home.
Find a range of vintage Craft Associates furniture on 1stDibs.
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Sheepskin, Cane, Wood, Walnut
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Maple, Teak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Cowhide, Upholstery, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Slate
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Leather, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Slate
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Fabric, Walnut
1970s Brutalist Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Resin, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Resin, Wood
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Wood, Maple
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Walnut
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Leather, Walnut
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Leather, Ziricote
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Chenille, Walnut
1960s American Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Naugahyde, Walnut
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Wood, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Brass
1960s American Brutalist Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Resin, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Brass
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Leather, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Metal
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Bouclé, Upholstery
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Bouclé, Wood, Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Leather, Ziricote
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Bouclé, Upholstery
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Wood, Walnut
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Iron
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Steel
1970s American Brutalist Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Glass, Resin, Hardwood
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Mohair, Wood, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Fabric, Glass, Walnut
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Fabric, Wood, Oak
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Wood, Walnut
1970s American Brutalist Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Resin, Wood, Fabric, Upholstery
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Cane, Oak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Glass, Walnut
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Copper
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Wood, Fabric
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
20th Century American Other Craft Associates Furniture
Resin
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Glass, Walnut
2010s American Modern Craft Associates Furniture
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Glass, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Craft Associates Furniture
Fabric, Walnut