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Johnson Furniture Co. Credenzas

Take a medal from the King of Sweden, a splash of the roaring twenties, and a series of talented designers and you get Johnson Furniture Co.’s elegant Art Deco and period-revival furnishings as well as a taste for why the Johnson name prevailed for over a century in American furniture manufacturing.

A wealth of forests rendered Grand Rapids, Michigan, a logging center during the 1800s. It eventually gained recognition for its furniture industry. The city became a destination for woodworkers who hailed from all over the United States as well as Europe, and Johnson Furniture Co. cofounder Carl Johnson, who had been recognized for cabinetmaking by the head of the royal family in his native Sweden, brought his royally acknowledged talents to America with his two brothers, Hjalmar and Axel in 1887. Together, they established Cabinetmakers Co. in Grand Rapids. In 1908, the brothers sold their start-up and founded Johnson Furniture Co.

Tom Handley, of the well-respected English furniture company Waring and Gillow, became an in-house designer with Johnson Furniture Co. in its early days. Handley would stay on as part of both the Johnson label and of Johnson-Handley-Johnson — a companion company that spun off from Johnson in 1922 — until his death in 1926. At the time, archaeological discoveries were all the rage. The greatest influence on Art Deco jewelry, for example, was the excavation of the tomb of King Tut in 1922, and some vintage Tom Handley designs were adaptations of Egyptian furniture. The brand specialized in a range of styles that included Art Deco, Chippendale, Queen Anne and more.

Acclaimed designer David Robertson Smith, who had made furniture in the Arts and Crafts style for the likes of Gustav Stickley, carried the Johnson Furniture Co. creative team into the early 1930s. Grand Rapids had by then become a thriving hub with respect to the mass production of furniture, and Smith’s sophisticated Dynamique line — a collection of coffee tables, cabinets and more in alluring woods such as walnut and mahogany and based on French furniture — was among the first mass-produced modern furniture made in America.

Johnson hired Lorenzo Rutili, a Carnegie Institute graduate who studied design in Europe, to lead the brand’s design division. Rutili oversaw 30 years of successful Johnson Furniture Co. collaborations with other notable designers including Paul Frankl, Eliel Saarinen, Bert England, J. Robert F. Swanson and Pipsam Saarinen Swanson. After wrapping up his tenure at Johnson, Rutili moved on to design furniture at Tomlinson in North Carolina.

During the 1960s, Kipp Stewart and Milo Baughman designed residential furnishings for Directional — a favorite of mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts — and Johnson produced these pieces, becoming the sole manufacturer for the North Carolina brand.

After a merger with Timberline Inc., Johnson Furniture Co. secured contracts for hotels, motels and university dormitories. In 1983, Johnson and Rose Manufacturing became RoseJohnson Inc. It was later purchased by La-Z-Boy.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Johnson Furniture Co. case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and other furniture.

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Creator: Johnson Furniture Co.
Renzo Rutili Storage Cabinet with Bench for Johnson Furniture
By Johnson Furniture Co.
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Renzo Rutili for Johnson Furniture Company chest with bench, circa late 1950s. This Asian influenced example has bleached wood doors and ebonized c...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Johnson Furniture Co. Credenzas

Materials

Bronze

Art Deco Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture Mahogany and Cork Sideboard
By Johnson Furniture Co., Paul Frankl
Located in Chicago, IL
Art Deco Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture Mahogany and Cork sideboard An exquisite, iconic and truly timeless and unparalleled classic sideboard by Paul Frankl for Johnson Furnitur...
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Johnson Furniture Co. Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Paul Frankl Cork Credenza for Johnson Furniture Co
By Johnson Furniture Co., Paul Frankl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul Frankl’s cork furniture pieces are among his longest-lasting contributions to American modernism and are highly sought after to this day. This mahogany example, a cork top crede...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Johnson Furniture Co. Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Spectacular Restored Buffet or Credenza in Cream by Renzo Rutili, circa 1960
By Johnson Furniture Co., Renzo Rutili
Located in Atlanta, GA
Renzo Rutili was a seminal furniture designer of the 20th century who is sometimes overlooked in retrospect. Much of his work is more sophisticated, cutting edge and downright fabulo...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Johnson Furniture Co. Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Renzo Rutili Bleached Mahogany and White Micarta Long Cabinet
By Johnson Furniture Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Attributed to Renzo Rutili for Johnson Furniture, long cabinet finished in bleached mahogany with white Micarta top and white resin sabots. Circular recessed brass pulls with center ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Johnson Furniture Co. Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Majestic Restored Credenza by Reno Rutili for Johnson Furniture, circa 1960
By Renzo Rutili, Johnson Furniture Co.
Located in Atlanta, GA
If a piece feels like Tommi Parzinger, but is marked Johnson Furniture, there can be only one answer as to its Designer: Renzo Rutili. Mr. Rutili was a seminal furniture designer of ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Johnson Furniture Co. Credenzas

Materials

Brass

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Brazilian Modern Credenza in Caviuna Hardwood by Forma Moveis, 1960’s, Brazil
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Paul Frankl Sideboard with Lacquered Cork and Brass
By Paul Frankl
Located in Atlanta, GA
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Cork top credenza buffet by Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture Company.
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Johnson Furniture Co. credenzas for sale on 1stDibs.

Johnson Furniture Co. credenzas are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Johnson Furniture Co. credenzas, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original credenzas by Johnson Furniture Co. were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider credenzas by Finn Juhl, Michael Taylor, and Grosfeld House. Prices for Johnson Furniture Co. credenzas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,250 and can go as high as $29,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,855.
Questions About Johnson Furniture Co. Credenzas
  • 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 19, 2025
    Johnson Carper furniture was made during the 20th century. The company began manufacturing furniture in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1927. It remained in operation until 1979. During the intervening years, Johnson Carper became widely known for its Art Deco and mid-century modern designs. Some of its most famous lines include the Ronda, the Delray and the Brentwood. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Johnson Carper furniture.

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