Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
In the early 1890s, before his Old Hickory Furniture Company was formally incorporated, Billy Richardson was selling handmade rocking chairs in the town square of Martinsville, Indiana. His designs used hickory saplings that were the perfect combination of pliable and durable, making them ideal for creating graceful, comfortable and long-lasting furniture. This style of “twig furniture” or “rustic furniture” had become popular with the romanticization of escaping to nature in the 19th century, particularly in the Appalachian Mountains.
Reportedly, a young Richardson and his father crafted seating for president Andrew Jackson, nicknamed “Old Hickory,” for use at his Tennessee home, the Hermitage. By the end of the 19th century, Billy Richardson’s furniture had attracted such a fan base that he joined forces with other craftspeople in the area and they convened to work in an empty church, producing hickory sapling furniture full-time. Old Hickory was officially founded in 1899 and began shipping its signature hickory sapling seating and tables across the country.
Some of the company’s earliest customers were America’s National Parks, where Old Hickory’s homespun style of wooden furniture fit right in and turned out to be a sound investment. At Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful Inn and Glacier National Park’s Lake McDonald Lodge, the Old Hickory seating purchased in the early 1900s remains in use to this day.
That’s not to say the company hasn’t adapted over its century-plus lifetime. A look at Old Hickory’s archive is something of a trip through American furniture styles of the past century. There are knotted designs from the 1930s, chaises made of wicker (a versatile and long-lasting natural material) that recall early-20th-century resort style and Mission-style sets reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement.
In the 1940s, Old Hickory tapped designer Russel Wright to lend his eye to the brand. Wright’s streamlined designs married Old Hickory’s rustic sensibility with a modern aesthetic. After closing in 1978, the company underwent two acquisitions and was moved from Martinsville to Shelbyville, Indiana, where it now operates. Today, Old Hickory continues to offer an array of furniture and home accessories, primarily in the widely loved style with which it began.
Find a range of Old Hickory Furniture Company armchairs, tables and other items for sale on 1stDibs.
20th Century American Rustic Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Hickory, Oak
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Fabric
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Fabric
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Leather, Fiberglass, Foam
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Aluminum
Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Antique Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Wood, Antler
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Minimalist Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Suede
1810s Dutch Empire Antique Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Satinwood, Upholstery, Mahogany, Tulipwood
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Wool
1940s American American Craftsman Vintage Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Chestnut
1940s American Rustic Vintage Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Wicker, Oak
1940s American Rustic Vintage Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Cane, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Fabric, Maple
Late 20th Century North American Old Hickory Furniture Company Sofas
Upholstery
