Drexel Side Tables
While vintage Drexel Furniture dining tables, dressers and other pieces remain highly desirable for enthusiasts of mid-century modern design, the manufacturer's story actually begins decades before its celebrated postwar-era Declaration line took shape.
In 1903, in the small town of Drexel in the foothills of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, six partners came together to found a company that would become one of the country’s leading furniture producers. The first offerings from Drexel Furniture were simple: a bed, washstand and bureau all crafted from native oak wood, sold as a bedroom suite for $14.50.
One of Drexel’s early innovations was to employ staff designers, something the company initiated in the 1930s. This focus on design, which few other furniture companies were committing to at the time, allowed Drexel to respond to a variety of new and traditional tastes. This included making pieces inspired by historic European furniture, like the popular French Provincial–style Touraine bedroom and dining group that borrowed its curves from Louis XV-era furniture. Others replicated the ornate details of 18th-century chinoiserie or the embellishments of Queen Anne furniture. Always ready to adapt to new customer demands, during World War II, Drexel built a sturdy desk designed especially for General Douglas MacArthur.
In the postwar era, Drexel 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. In the 1970s, Drexel introduced high-end furniture in a Mediterranean style.
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 Table Rock Furniture, the Heritage Furniture Co. and more.
With the manufacturer’s success — spurred by its embrace of advertising in home and garden magazines — it opened more factories in both North and South Carolina. By 1957, the company that had started with a factory of 50 workers had 2,300 employees and was selling its furniture nationwide.
Drexel underwent a series of name changes in its long history. Its acquisition of Southern Desk Company in 1960 bolstered its production of institutional furniture for dormitories, classrooms, churches and laboratories.
In the following decades, contracts with government agencies, hotels, schools and hospitals brought its high-quality furniture to a global audience. U.S. Plywood-Champion Papers bought Drexel Enterprises in 1968, and it became Drexel Heritage Furnishings.
In 2014, the last Drexel Heritage plant, in Morganton, North Carolina, closed its doors. The company rebranded as Drexel in 2017.
The vintage Drexel furniture for sale on 1stDibs includes end tables designed by Edward Wormley, walnut side tables designed by Kipp Stewart and lots more.
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Drexel Side Tables
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Drexel Side Tables
Ash
1970s American Chinoiserie Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Mahogany
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Drexel Side Tables
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Directoire Drexel Side Tables
Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Birch, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Drexel Side Tables
Aluminum
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Drexel Side Tables
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Drexel Side Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Drexel Side Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Oak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Walnut
1970s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Lacquer, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Wood, Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Drexel Side Tables
Brass
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Drexel Side Tables
Mahogany, Lacquer, Paint
1980s American Chinoiserie Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Gold, Ormolu
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Glass, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Wood
1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Rosewood, Elm, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Cherry
20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Drexel Side Tables
Slate
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Drexel Side Tables
Leather, Elm
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Drexel Side Tables
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Chinese Chippendale Drexel Side Tables
Brass
Drexel side tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Drexel
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, Drexel Heritage and Drexel Furniture are the same thing. The company began as Drexel Heritage, but changed their name in 2017 to reflect their shift toward producing contemporary as well as traditional furniture. You'll find a range of Drexel furniture on 1stDibs.
- What is Drexel Touraine?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023Drexel 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024To 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Whether 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Drexel 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 3, 2024To 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Drexel 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2024Yes, 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. - 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024No, 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertJuly 9, 2024What 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. - 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, 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.