Drexel Benches

Questions About Drexel Benches

• Is Drexel Furniture the same as Drexel Heritage?

  1 Answer
  1stDibs ExpertJanuary 3, 2025

  Yes, Drexel Furniture and Drexel Heritage are the same company. While vintage Drexel Furniture dining tables, dressers and other pieces remain highly desirable for enthusiasts of mid-century modern design, the manufacturer was actually established in the early 1900s in the foothills of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
  
  Drexel changed hands and visions throughout the years. It was managed by one of the original partners — Samuel Huffman — until 1935, at which time his son Robert O. Huffman took over as president. It was then that the company began to expand, with several acquisitions of competitors in the 1950s, including Morganton, Table Rock Furniture, the Heritage Furniture Co.
  
  During the 1960s, after being acquired by the Furnishings Group of Champion International, the company’s name was changed to Drexel Heritage. In 2018, the Heritage Home Group, which was formed years earlier by KPS Capital Partners when it acquired Drexel Heritage and other manufacturers such as Lane and Broyhill, filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations. Production of Drexel furniture never resumed.
  
  Find vintage Drexel dining chairs, buffets and other furniture on 1stDibs.

• What is Drexel Touraine?

  1 Answer
  1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023

  Drexel Touraine is a line of furniture produced by Drexel Furniture. The pieces reflect the stylistic elements of the French Provincial style, and the company manufactured them from the mid-1950s through the mid-1960s. In the postwar era, North Carolina’s Drexel Furniture also embraced the clean lines of mid-century modernism with the Declaration collection designed by Stewart MacDougall and Kipp Stewart that featured elegant credenzas and more made in walnut, and the Profile and Projection collections designed with sculptural shapes by John Van Koert. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Drexel furniture.

• How do I identify Drexel furniture?

  1 Answer
  1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024

  To identify Drexel furniture, search your piece for maker's markings. They may be on the back or base, inside of a drawer or under a tabletop or seat. Most pieces will display the Drexel brand name. Other information is often included in the stamp. For example, you will sometimes see the date of production listed either backward or forward and/or a style or collection name. By looking up this information in trusted online resources, you can learn more about your piece. An alternative approach is to have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer inspect your furniture. Explore a diverse assortment of Drexel furniture on 1stDibs.

• Does Drexel still make furniture?

  1 Answer
  1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022

  Drexel Heritage no longer makes furniture and the company has gone out of business. The last company to own Drexel was Heritage Home Group who filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018. It has since gone out of business and sold its headquarters and showroom. Shop a collection of authentic Drexel furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

• How do I know if my Drexel furniture is vintage?

  1 Answer
  1stDibs ExpertMay 3, 2024

  To know if your Drexel furniture is vintage, examine its serial number, which you will usually find in a hidden spot, such as beneath a tabletop or on the back or bottom of a casegood. By cross-referencing this number with information available on trusted online resources, you should be able to estimate the year of production. Drexel furniture produced more than 20 years ago would qualify as vintage. If you need assistance with dating your piece, seek the advice of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Drexel furniture.

• Is Drexel Furniture good quality?

  1 Answer
  1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2024

  Yes, Drexel Furniture is good quality, and owing to the commendable level of craftsmanship that characterizes the company's work, Drexel's furnishings typically retain or increase in value over time. Vintage Drexel dining tables, dressers and other pieces remain highly desirable for enthusiasts of mid-century modern design.
  
  The North Carolina manufacturer initially became known for pieces inspired by historic European furniture. In the postwar era, Drexel adapted to changing tastes and embraced the clean lines of mid-century modernism with the Declaration collection designed by Stewart MacDougall and Kipp Stewart that featured elegant credenzas and more made in walnut. The Profile and Projection collections of the period, designed with sculptural shapes by John Van Koert, also see demand on today’s secondary market. 
  
  Find vintage Drexel Furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

• Is Drexel furniture still in business?

  1 Answer
  1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024

  No, Drexel furniture is not still in business. In 2014, the last Drexel Heritage plant in Morganton, North Carolina, reportedly closed its doors. The company was purchased by United Furniture and rebranded as Drexel in 2017. Then, in 2018, United Furniture's parent company, Heritage Home Group, filed for bankruptcy, and Drexel ceased production. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Drexel furniture.

• Is Drexel Heritage quality furniture?

  1 Answer
  1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022

  Whether or not Drexel Heritage furniture is considered quality is largely a matter of personal opinion. However, the company does produce pieces from carefully selected materials. Many made decades ago still remain in good condition today. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Drexel Heritage furniture.

• What wood is Drexel Furniture made of?

  1 Answer
  1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022

  Drexel Furniture was known for the use of oak wood, native to the area in North Carolina where the company was based. Their attention to quality and detail highlighted the beauty of the wood they used. Browse a variety of Drexel Furniture pieces from top sellers on 1stDibs.

• What happened to the Drexel Heritage furniture company?

  1 Answer
  1stDibs ExpertJuly 9, 2024

  What happened to the Drexel Heritage furniture company was that the brand went out of business. In 2014, the last plant operated by Drexel Heritage — known to mid-century modern furniture collectors as Drexel Furniture — closed its doors. The North Carolina company rebranded as Drexel in 2017. Then, in 2018, the Heritage Home Group, which was formed years earlier by an equity investor called KPS Capital Partners when it acquired Drexel Heritage and other manufacturers such as Lane and Broyhill, filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations. Production of Drexel furniture never resumed.
  
  Find vintage Drexel dressers, sofas, dining tables and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

• Is Drexel Heritage considered high end furniture?

  1 Answer
  1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022

  Yes, Drexel Heritage is indeed high-end furniture. High-end furniture is made using the highest quality materials with the best in craftsmanship and Drexel Heritage furniture is no exception. Shop a collection of Drexel Heritage furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.