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R-Way Furniture Company

American

Known among vintage furniture collectors for its beautifully finished wooden pieces, R-Way Furniture Company has an enduring legacy as one of the foremost American furniture manufacturers of the 20th century. 

Before it became R-Way, the Sheboygan, Wisconsin-based company was known as the Mattoon Manufacturing Company, founded by entrepreneur George B. Mattoon. Mattoon came from a background of limited means and left school at the age of 12 to support his family. At 15, he enlisted with the Union Army and fought in the Civil War. In 1865, following his stint with the military, Mattoon worked at his brother’s chair factory in Sheboygan Falls. His natural knack for business led him to manufacture and sell his own furniture, establishing the Mattoon Manufacturing Company in 1881.

After Mattoon died in 1904, the company became Northern Furniture. In 1916, the C. Reiss Coal Company bought the firm, and in 1942, it changed the name to R-Way.

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, R-Way became known for producing high-quality home furnishings. Pieces such as dressers, commodes, credenzas, tables, dining room chairs and bedroom furniture were created using walnut, maple and mahogany and accented with brass fixtures. Although R-Way’s furniture consisted mainly of classic mid-century modern style, some pieces deviated into the Exotic Revival style. One example is a black, lacquered Pagoda-form sideboard buffet designed in the style of flamboyant, notorious designer James Mont

R-Way experienced continued success until 1962, when Franklin Industries, Inc., acquired it. In 1965, the company shifted its focus from producing household furnishings to commercial furniture.

During the 1970s and 1980s, R-Way’s production began to slow, and Reiss Industries bought the firm in 1987. R-Way Furniture Company closed in 1992.

Today, R-Way Furniture Company pieces remain highly sought after by mid-century modern interior designers and 20th-century furniture collectors. 

On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage R-Way Furniture Company case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and more furniture and collectibles.

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Period: Late 20th Century
Creator: R-Way Furniture Company
Rway Mid Century Walnut and Brass Expanding Dining Table with 2 Leaves
By R-Way Furniture Company
Located in Countryside, IL
Rway Mid Century Walnut and Brass Expanding Dining Table with 2 Leaves This table measures: 54 wide x 36 deep x 29.25 inches high, with a chair clearance of 26 inches, each leaf mea...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage R-Way Furniture Company

Materials

Brass

R-Way Mid Century Storage Headboard
By R-Way Furniture Company
Located in Countryside, IL
R-Way mid century storage headboard This headboard measures: 57 wide x 12 deep x 36 inches high ?All pieces of furniture can be had in w...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage R-Way Furniture Company

Materials

Wood

Rway Mid Century 5 Drawer Walnut and Brass Highboy Dresser
By R-Way Furniture Company
Located in Countryside, IL
Rway Mid Century 5 Drawer Walnut and Brass Highboy Dresser This dresser measures: 40 wide x 18.5 deep x 41 inches high ?All pieces of furniture can ...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage R-Way Furniture Company

Materials

Brass

Stunning Queen Size Midcentury R-Way Walnut Headboard
By R-Way Furniture Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A beautiful vintage modern headboard by R-Way furniture with a charming vintage walnut finish. Sleek design at 63 inches wide, this piece make...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage R-Way Furniture Company

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Headboard Designed by R Way Manufacturing
By R-Way Furniture Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This vintage midcentury headboard features a simple yet eloquent design. A dark walnut finish with a curved top adds to the appeal of thi...
Category

1970s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage R-Way Furniture Company

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Eight-Drawer Dresser by R-Way
By R-Way Furniture Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stunning vintage modern dresser features eight large drawers with sculpted brass pulls on each. A unique design with brass trim running along the edges of the front and brass fe...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage R-Way Furniture Company

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Bedroom Suite by R-Way
By R-Way Furniture Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This exquisite vintage modern bedroom set includes a highboy dresser, low dresser, mirror, and a pair of nightstands. A sleek design that boasts splayed legs on a sculpted base and t...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage R-Way Furniture Company

Materials

Brass

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R-Way Mid Century 8-Drawer Lowboy Dresser
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Rway Mid Century 5 Drawer Walnut and Brass Highboy Dresser
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R-Way Mid Century Walnut Full Size Headboard
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R-Way Mid Century Walnut Inlaid Rounded Oval 10 Person Dining Table
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Located in Countryside, IL
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R-Way Mid Century Honey Walnut 7-Drawer Highboy Dresser
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Located in Countryside, IL
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R-way Furniture Company furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

R-Way Furniture Company 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 R-Way Furniture Company furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by R-Way Furniture Company 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 Unagusta, Mainline by Hooker, and Hooker Furniture. Prices for R-Way Furniture Company furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $525 and can go as high as $8,950, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,423.
Questions About R-Way Furniture Company
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024
    No, R-WAY Furniture is not still in business. In 1992, the company closed, and in 1993, its assets underwent sale at auction. The closure followed a gradual decline in production that began after 1949, when a new owner purchased the Mattoon Manufacturing Company and changed its name to R-WAY. On 1stDibs, shop a range of R-WAY furniture.

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