Skip to main content

Lane Furniture

When the first iteration of the Lane Furniture company began to produce its now-famous Lane cedar chests in the early 20th century, the family behind the brand was unsure of how successful they’d be, so they initially didn’t bother adding their name to the offerings.

The manufacturer was off to a modest start but the family was industrious: The Lanes were made up of farmers and contractors who’d built more than 30 miles of the Virginian railroad. They owned a cotton mill and purchased thousands of acres of land in Campbell County, Virginia, where the Virginian railroad was intended to cross the main line of the Southern Railway.

The Lanes hoped to start a town in this region of the state, and by 1912, streets for the town of Altavista had been laid out and utility lines were installed. In the spring of that year, John Lane purchased a defunct box factory at a bankruptcy auction. His son, Edward Hudson Lane, was tasked with the manufacturing of the cedar “hope” chests for which the Lane family would become known, even though the company was initially incorporated as the Standard Red Cedar Chest Company.

The Standard Red Cedar Chest Company struggled in its early days but introduced an assembly system at its small factory after securing a contract with the federal government to produce ammunition boxes made of pine during World War I. The company prospered and applied mass-production methods to its cedar-chest manufacturing after the war, and, in 1922, rebranding as the Lane Company, it implemented a national advertising campaign to market its products. Ads tied the company’s strong cedar hope chests to romance. Anchored by copy that read “The gift that starts the home,” the campaign rendered a Lane cedar chest a necessary purchase for young women to store linens, clothing and keepsakes as they prepared to marry.

Wartime production during World War II had Lane producing aircraft parts. In the 1950s, the family-owned company began to branch out into manufacturing tables, bedroom pieces and other various furnishings for the entire home. The brand’s vintage mid-century furniture is highly sought after.

Lane’s Acclaim walnut furniture line, which, designed by Andre Bus, has been compared to Drexel’s Declaration series for its blend of modern furniture’s clean contours and traditional craftsmanship. Ads for the Lane series suggested that it included “probably the best-selling table in the world.” (There are end tables, cocktail tables and more in the Acclaim collection, sporting graceful tapered legs and dovetail inlays.) Later, during the 1960s, Lane offered handsome modular wall units designed by the likes of Paul McCobb. The company was acquired by United Furniture Industries in 2017 and became particularly well-known among contemporary consumers for its upholstered furniture. In 2022 United abruptly closed and ceased operations at Lane.  

Vintage Lane furniture is generally characterized by relatively neutral styles, which are versatile in different kinds of interiors, as well as good quality woods and careful manufacturing. All of these attributes have made Lane one of the most recognizable names in American furniture.

Browse storage cabinets, side tables and other vintage Lane furniture on 1stDibs.

5
to
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
1
1
1
5
5
46
12
10
5
4
Creator: Lane Furniture
Dealer: Olde Good Things NY
Lane Mid Century Walnut Cube End Table w Bottom Storage
By Lane Furniture
Located in New York, NY
The Lane Furniture Company was founded in 1912 by John Lane in Altavista, Virginia, USA. Initially, it focused on manufacturing cedar chests. Over the years, it expanded its product ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture

Materials

Walnut

MCM Lane 3 Piece Solid Walnut Console & End Table Set
By Lane Furniture
Located in New York, NY
The Lane Furniture Company was founded in 1912 by John Lane in Altavista, Virginia, USA. Initially, it focused on manufacturing cedar chests. Over the years, it expanded its product ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Lane Mid-Century Modern Wood Coffee Table w Drawer
By Lane Furniture
Located in New York, NY
The Lane Furniture Company was founded in 1912 by John Lane in Altavista, Virginia, USA. Initially, it focused on manufacturing cedar chests. Over the years, it expanded its product ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture

Materials

Wood

Lane Chestnut Mid-Century Modern Dresser w Mirror
By Lane Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Medium tone Mid-Century Modern chestnut dresser with four drawers, two cabinet doors and a large rectangular mirror. Made by Lane. Good condition with appropriate wear from age. One ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Chestnut

Pair Walnut & Oak Lane Side End Tables with Side Dots
By Lane Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Pair of walnut and oak side tables made by Lane Furniture. Each table is decorated with three dots on each side. The Lane style number is 1595 05. Serial number 2672010. Priced for...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Related Items
Rare Lovely Lane Acclaim Walnut Hall Console Table, Mid-Century Modern
By Lane Furniture
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Rare piece of Lane Acclaim dovetail top hall console table. This is the very hard to find console table in the Lane Acclaim series. This is the 1st one i have ever seen. Very nice...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Lane Rhythm Mid Century Tallboy Dresser
By Lane Furniture
Located in Baltimore, MD
This is a beautiful example of Mid-Century craftsmanship by Lane furniture. This dresser is part of the Rhythm collection by Lane, built in the 1960’s, to have a style that was timel...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Birdseye Maple Dresser by Milo Baughman for Lane Furniture
By Lane Furniture, Milo Baughman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stunning Mid-Century Modern birdseye maple dresser by Milo Baughman for Lane Furniture. This dresser is equipped 9 drawers and brass d...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture

Materials

Birdseye Maple

Lane Stacatto Mid Century Walnut Lowboy Dresser
By Lane Furniture
Located in Countryside, IL
Lane Stacatto Mid Century Walnut Lowboy Dresser This lowboy measures: 78 wide x 18.75 deep x 30 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what ...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Mid-century Walnut Lane Staccato Brutalist Dresser c.1970
By Lane Furniture
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A mid-century Brutalist, mosaic Walnut nine drawer dresser with six large drawers and middle cabinets with three additional drawers for plenty of organization and storage. The...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture

Materials

Walnut

1960’s Mid-Century Modern Lane “Rhythm” Coffee Cocktail Table
By Lane Furniture
Located in Charleston, SC
This vintage 1967 Lane coffee table from the Rhythm Series is representative of the Mid Century Modern era with its, minimal lines and a formidable profile accented by a clean walnut...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Parsons Style Console Table by Lane circa 1970’s
By Lane Furniture, (after) Jean Michel Frank
Located in New York, NY
Chic architectural Parsons style console table by Lane Furniture, circa 1970’s. The table is in its original rich chocolate brown paint finish ( shows light cosmetic wear ) and is s...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Post-Modern Lane Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Mid-Century Lane Staccato Brutalist Nine Drawer Dresser
By Lane Furniture
Located in Baltimore, MD
A unique cubist style nine drawer dresser by Lane furniture features the brutalist style made popular by Paul Evans. Bold and impressive, with heavy solid wood construction, figured ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Oval Walnut Pedestal/Stands/End Table by Lane
By Lane Furniture
Located in Wilmington, DE
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Oval Walnut Pedestal/Stands/End Table by Lane Offered is a beautiful pair of Mid-Century Modern Walnut pedestal/stands. The set is highly unique. The Ov...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture Brutalist 70s Tallboy Dresser Storage
By Lane Furniture
Located in Madison, WI
Incredible PAIR of two Mid Century, Brutalist, 1970s Dressers. Very nice looking and functional high quality Brutalist Lane dresser. The drawers catch on rollers, so they do not c...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Lane Rhythm Mid Century Travertine Top Square Coffee Table
By Lane Furniture
Located in Countryside, IL
Lane rhythm mid century travertine top square coffee table This table measures: 28.5 wide x 28.5 deep x 20.5 inches high ?All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call res...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture

Materials

Travertine

Lane Hexagonal Coffee Table Walnut & Smoked Glass Top Mid Century Modern
By Lane Furniture
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed and made in the 1970s by Lane Furniture, this handsome coffee table features a great build and a super sleek and modern look. Made 6 walnut panels joined to form a hexagon, ...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture

Materials

Smoked Glass, Walnut

Lane Furniture furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Lane Furniture furniture 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 Lane Furniture furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Lane Furniture were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Drexel, Henredon, and Widdicomb Furniture Co.. Prices for Lane Furniture furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $322 and can go as high as $15,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,703.
Questions About Lane Furniture
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
    No, Lane Furniture is not the same as United Furniture. Up until 2017, Lane Furniture was a completely separate company from United, and the two furniture makers had no affiliation with each other. That changed when United Furniture, a subsidiary of Heritage Home Group, acquired Lane. Soon after the initial sale, Heritage resold Lane to Bassett Furniture. On 1stDibs, explore a diverse assortment of Lane Furniture pieces.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
    Heritage Home Group bought Lane Furniture. The sale occurred in 2017, and after it was complete, Lane became a part of Heritage Home Group's subsidiary, United Furniture. Soon after, United sold Lane to Bassett Furniture. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Lane Furniture pieces from some of the world's top dealers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    To identify Lane furniture, look for the manufacturer's mark. On a Lane cedar chest, you'll find it on the bottom. Other pieces may display the marking on the base or back or inside a drawer. Most pieces will also have a serial number. Read the digits from right to left to determine the year of production. For example, a chest that says 850303 indicates that Lane produced the piece on March 30, 1958. In some cases, you may see one extra digit at the end. This number represents the plant that made the piece. If you're unsure about the authenticity of a Lane chest or other furnishing, a certified appraiser can assist you with the identification. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Lane furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Lane Furniture includes serial numbers on its items. To determine the date an item was produced, read the serial number backwards to spell out the day, month and year. Shop a collection of expertly vetted Lane furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024
    The story of what happened to the Lane Furniture company is one of financial difficulties. The company was acquired by United Furniture Industries in 2017 and became particularly well known among contemporary consumers for its upholstered furniture. In 2022, United abruptly closed and ceased operations at Lane due to bankruptcy. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Lane furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
    Lane Furniture is made in the United States. The furniture maker has factories located in both Mississippi and North Carolina. In 1922, the company launched under its current name in North Carolina. Over the decades that followed, Lane became widely known for its cedar chests and Acclaim walnut furniture line, which both remain popular among collectors today. Shop a wide range of Lane Furniture pieces on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024
    United Furniture took over Lane Furniture in 2017. After that, the furniture maker became well known among contemporary consumers for its upholstered furniture. In 2022, United abruptly closed and ceased operations at Lane due to financial problems. Find a collection of Lane Furniture pieces from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024
    Yes, Lane Furniture was made in the USA. The American furniture maker produced most of its pieces at factories located in North Carolina and Mississippi. However, Lane Furniture stopped manufacturing pieces in 2022. Shop a large selection of Lane furniture from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To read Lane Furniture serial numbers, look from right to left. The first two numbers represent the month, and the second two tell you the day. Examine the last two numbers to find out the year of production. For example, a serial number that reads 189280 indicates a piece made on August 29, 1981. Shop a selection of expertly vetted Lane furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, Lane Furniture does indeed make cedar chests. From 1912 to 1987, the American furniture company estimated it had sold around 12 million chests and that number continues to grow with today’s sales. Cedar chests are widely used to store clothing and linen because cedar wood is a natural repellent against moisture and moths. You can shop a collection of Lane cedar chests from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Recently Viewed

View All