Before it became a legendary American manufacturer of traditional furniture, Kittinger Furniture was a paper company called Thompson, Colie & Company (later to become Colie & Son), after its founders, Oliver and George Colie. The father-son entrepreneurs started a small business in 1866 manufacturing paper products and, subsequently, upholstered furniture in Buffalo, New York. Business for the latter was so successful that in order to keep up with demand, the Colies opened a second factory in 1885 that focused on handcrafted furniture designed in 18th-century styles.
Later, George Colie decided to sell his beloved company to his son-in-law, Irvine J. Kittinger Sr., and his brother, Ralph. They changed the name to the Kittinger Furniture Company in 1913. In 1929, the company’s sales exceeded $1 million, which allowed the brothers to expand far beyond Buffalo, opening showrooms in Chicago, Dallas and other cities across the United States, where they could present their expert reproductions of popular historic furniture styles for the home and office.
In 1937, Kittinger was granted an exclusive license to reproduce antique custom furniture for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. The company manufactured Hepplewhite-style chests of drawers, mahogany Chippendale dressers, Asian-influenced mid-century modern marble-top coffee tables of ebonized wood and a variety of other pieces. The brand’s revered Mandarin line, a Hollywood Regency–style collection that debuted in the 1940s, included bedroom furnishings such as lacquered wood vanities, nightstands and more, each featuring prominent Greek key drawer pulls and decorative black trim.
Between the mid-1970s and 1990s, Kittinger Furniture changed hands frequently and even went out of business. In 1996, Raymond Bialkowski, a former master cabinetmaker for the company, and his wife, Karen, purchased the company and, along with some other former Kittinger craftsmen, began creating furniture under its name once again in north Buffalo. Over the years, Kittinger has produced furniture for the White House, including a handcrafted conference table and chairs for the Cabinet Room during President Nixon’s administration and chairs for the Roosevelt Room in 2016.
Today, the award-winning Kittinger Furniture continues to make historical and new custom handcrafted pieces of high quality.
Find a range of Kittinger Furniture on 1stDibs.
Kittenger Wood Lawyer's Desk
By Kittinger
Located in Dallas, TX
A Kittinger solid wood lawyer's desk. The desk is made of solid mahogany wood. The desk has a long thin drawer in the center flanked by four drawers to the sides. The desk has ornate...
Mahogany
Scribe Desk in Walnut Wood
Located in Paris, FR
Desk Scribe with legs structure in solid walnut wood and top with three-drawers made in walnut plywood with squared lines. The three-drawers are with sledge legs in solid walnut w...
Leather, Walnut
Spectacular Wood Desk, circa 1930
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Exceptional and spectacular French Art Deco wood desk. Two drawers in facade, circa 1930.
Chrome
Italian Art Desk desk in wood and steel, 1930s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Art Desk desk in wood and steel, 1930s Desk in briar wood. Under the rectangular top, there are a column of three rectangular drawers with round chromed steel handles and a l...
Metal
1960s Chevron Bamboo Rattan Wood Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning and one of a kind, bamboo chevron, rattan, faux bamboo wood desk you could hope to find. Outstanding design is exhibited through...
Bamboo, Rattan, Wood, Paint
Curvaceous Italian Burl Wood Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Curvaceous Italian Burl Wood Desk, Italy, circa 1950s. Elegant curvaceous design with amazing burl wood.
Brass
"Locust" Wood Desk by Alexandre Caldas
By Alexandre Caldas
Located in Geneve, CH
"Locust" Wood desk with "Nest" chair by Alexandre Caldas Desk: Width: 120 cm Depth: 80 cm Height: 76 cm The design can be inspiring for those who deal with it in a day-to-day use. In this case, the comfort and the organization frees us for the creative process, while is functionality tries to be unobtrusive and restrained, without harming the environment that surrounds it. Without great effort, its user can easily reach everywhere and access the tools of work…LOCUST Working Desk The construction of the legs in an “X” mode, confers an extreme stability without further lockups, since the locking is already part of the design. Also the way the top trapdoors are designed conceals the hinges, making imperceptible the way they open and close. The fact of being higher in the back create a slope which allows a better reading and writing. This difference combined with the 48 degree tilt of the front drawers, creates an illusion of thickness that completely eliminates the viewing of all the front storage when we are standing at it. The inner hole in one leg carries internal electric power...
Oak
English Yew Wood Modesty Panel Desk
Located in Woodbury, CT
This pedestal desk features a modesty panel as well as two file drawers and three-piece parchment and green, tooled leather. A center inset gives the nor...
Leather, Yew
Empire Burl Wood Desk
Located in Hudson, NY
Beautiful burl wood set against ebonized legs and trim. Desk has a single compartmentalized drawer with key and elegantly curved legs.
Burl
Inlaid Wood Desk Accessory
Located in Pasadena, TX
Inlaid wood desk accessory showcases traditional Persian craftsmanship, featuring a rectangular base intricately decorated with hand-painted floral and geometric patterns in rich hue...
Wood
Desk in Leather and Wood
By CPRN HOMOOD
Located in Milan, IT
A highly functional and clean design characterize this desk featuring soft leather, an exotic style wood top and a sturdy metal base. Perfect for sitting down...
Leather, Wood
Modernist lacquered wood executive desk
Located in New York, NY
Modernist lacquered wood five drawer executive desk and with cantilevered top.
Wood
Desk in Wood Italian, 1950
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Wood
Kittinger Mahogany Kneehole Desk, Gilt-Tooled Black Leather Inset Top
By Kittinger
Located in Astoria, NY
Kittinger Mahogany Kneehole Desk, with gilt-tooled black leather inset top above central drawer flanked by two short drawers on each side atop fluted tapered legs on casters, "Kitten...
Leather, Mahogany
Kittinger English Tudor Carved Walnut Executive Desk, Circa 1920s
By Kittinger
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding English Tudor or William & Mary style executive desk By Kittinger USA, Circa 1920s Gorgeous carved walnut, with original brass hardware. Measures: 66"W x 36"D x 30...
Brass
Kittinger Vintage Leather Top Inlaid Federal Style Desk
By Kittinger
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome vintage writing desk crafted in walnut in classic form featuring three tooled leather panels on a case with three drawers in front, the reverse side with false drawers, bra...
Leather, Walnut
Mid 20th Century Regency Style Rosewood and Bronze Campaign Desk
By Kittinger
Located in Stamford, CT
Classic rosewood and bronze Campaign desk in the English Regency style. With bronze legs and center stretcher, the legs ending in paw feet. X form stretchers at the sides. This hands...
Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 27.56 in W 49.81 in D 20.08 in
Rare 1940s Hollywood Regency 'Mandarin' desk / dressing table by Kittinger, USA
By Kittinger
Located in Hastings, GB
A rare 1940s Hollywood Regency 'Mandarin' desk / dressing table by Kittinger, USA. Greek key design drawer pulls: 3 drawers each side. Warm grey and ivory lacquer (a little bit of we...
Wood, Lacquer
Elegant Black Stained French Style Bureau Plat or Desk by Kittinger
By Kittinger
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant Black Stained French Style Bureau Plat or Desk by Kittinger, American, circa 1960s. It has recently been refinished in a black stain that still allows you to see the beautifu...
Metal, Brass
Kittinger Georgian Burl Wood and Mahogany Leather Top Executive Desk
By Kittinger
Located in South Bend, IN
A stately Georgian or Chippendale style executive desk with inlaid leather top By Kittinger Furniture USA, mid-20th century Gorgeous burl wood, with carved mahogany, origina...
Brass
Kittinger Queen Anne Burled Walnut Writing Desk or Console Table
By Kittinger
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Queen Anne style writing desk or console table By Kittinger USA, Circa 1960s Burled walnut top and drawer fronts, wi...
Brass
British Colonial Style Leather Top Desk
By Kittinger
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial Style Leather Top Desk. Five drawer desk crafted in mahogany with a classic form, three tooled brown leather panels on a top with a beaded edge, exotic burled cuts o...
Mahogany
Kittinger Queen Anne Burled Walnut Writing Desk, Newly Refinished
By Kittinger
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Queen Anne style writing desk or console table By Kittinger USA, Circa 1960s Carved mahogany, with original brass...
Brass
Sold
H 30 in W 71.5 in D 19.5 in
Kittinger Chippendale Burled Walnut and Mahogany Desk or Credenza, Refinished
By Kittinger
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional English Chippendale style kneehole desk or credenza By Kittinger USA, circa 1960s Mahogany, with burled walnut drawer fronts, and original brass hardware. ...
Brass
Antique Kittinger Fruitwood and Leather Top Writing Desk Writing Table
By Kittinger
Located in West Hartford, CT
Rare signed Kittinger light colored fruitwood desk with black leather top and very unusual brass pulls throughout, including on both the back front of desk.