Lane Furniture Linen Presses
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. Today, the brand’s vintage mid-century furniture — which includes the Perception, Tuxedo and Acclaim collections — is highly sought after.
Designed by Andre Bus, Lane’s Acclaim furniture collection of coffee tables, end tables, dressers and more has been compared to Drexel’s wildly popular Declaration series for its blend of traditional craftsmanship and the impeccably clean contours that are frequently associated with the best of mid-century modern design.
Ads for the Acclaim line suggested that it included “probably the best-selling table in the world.” Before its offerings expanded to include items for the bedroom and dining room, Lane was primarily known for its tables and case pieces — there are side tables, coffee tables and more created by Bus in the Acclaim collection, each sporting graceful tapered legs and dovetail inlays.
Later, during the 1960s, Lane offered handsome modular wall units created by the likes of Paul McCobb, an award-winning Massachusetts-born designer best known for his work at Directional.
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.
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Brass, Stainless Steel
1960s Macedonian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Cedar
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Cedar
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Walnut, Wood, Cedar
Early 20th Century Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Cedar
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Metal, Aluminum
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Brass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Mahogany, Cedar
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Faux Leather, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Cedar
20th Century American Chippendale Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Brass
20th Century North American Modern Lane Furniture Linen Presses
Wood, Burl
Lane Furniture linen presses for sale on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024No, 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 13, 2023To 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.
- How do I date Lane Furniture?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Lane 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.
- Who bought Lane Furniture?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024Heritage 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 ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify vintage Lane furniture, examine your piece in search of its date code. Most Lane furniture displays a series of numbers that tells you when it was made when read in reverse. For example, a piece that reads “2971120” would be “02 11 79,” indicating that Lane crafted it on February 11, 1979. To be considered vintage, a Lane furnishing must be at least 20 years old. For further assistance with making an identification, use the services of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. On 1stDibs, shop a wide variety of Lane furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024United 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 ExpertFebruary 1, 2024Lane 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, 2024Yes, 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 ExpertOctober 24, 2024To tell how old Lane furniture is, search your piece for a maker's marking. Along with the Lane Furniture name, Lane pieces also display an eight-digit number. When read backward, this number tells you the furniture's year and date of production. For example, a piece marked 06911240 translates to 04, 21, 1960, indicating that Lane manufactured the piece on April 21, 1960. Find a selection of Lane furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024The 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 ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To 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.