Romweber Furniture Co.
Some vintage Romweber Furniture Company designs may strike the young as passé. But for fans of a certain age, the American brand never went out of style.
The Romweber story began in the late 1800s, with the launch of American Furniture Company, which made bedroom furniture, Batesville Cabinet Company, a dining-room-set manufacturer, and Batesville Coffin Company. The three companies eventually merged to become a large and reputable manufacturer of case goods, furniture and more. Not unlike many American companies, production at Romweber suffered during the Great Depression. The brand managed to stay afloat by making a rather strange pivot — to selling five-pound fruitcake boxes. During the Second World War, Romweber pivoted again, this time to the production of ammunition boxes and pontoons for American troops and, naturally, furniture for officers’ quarters.
While Romweber furniture (spelled “RomWeber” in vintage advertisements), dating back to the early 20th century, had designers working in the French Rococo and Chippendale styles, the brand is best known for its mid-century modern pieces. In the postwar years, Romweber manufactured walnut case pieces and storage cabinets that featured decorative olive-ash and burl-wood inlays with brass hardware as well as solid oak credenzas and dining tables designed by the likes of Harold Schwartz. For collectors of sophisticated 1950s furniture, the company’s sturdy Viking Oak line is particularly popular.
“It’s not uncommon for customers to say, ‘My parents had this Romweber Viking set,’” says Adam Cramer of collectors who visit Liberty & 33rd, the gallery he owns with his wife in South Bend, Indiana, about three hours north of Romweber’s birthplace in small-town Batesville. “It’s solid oak,” Cramer tells 1stDibs of the line of tables, chairs, desks and more.
Solid oak is the product of slow-growing deciduous trees. Solid oak furniture is durable, desirable and an investment that is usually associated with a hefty price. In solid oak furnishings, such as those that make up the covetable Romweber Viking Oak line, which launched in 1935, there aren’t any scraps of other components in the construction. Inspired by Scandinavian folk design, Romweber’s Viking Oak is said to have enjoyed one of the longest runs for a commercial furniture line in history. The collection went out of production in the late 1980s, and mid-century editions remain highly prized for their exceptional quality and hand-carved details.
Find vintage Romweber furniture on 1stDibs.
Color: Brown
Creator: Romweber Furniture Co.
1930’s Burled Romweber French Rococo Louis XV Style Five Drawer Highboy Dresser
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Charleston, SC
Stunning rare African avoider Burled wood with ornate carved details, hand painted, and original brass hardware. A very sexy serpentine front on the top drawers. Manufactured in th...
Category
1930s American Louis XVI Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Wood, Burl, Paint
Harold Schwartz Romweber Oak 8-Drawer Tall Chest, Sculptural & Architectural 50s
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
By Harold Schwartz for Romweber, this rare sculptural and architectural piece is as cool as anything designed by Vladimir Kagan, Hans Wegner, or Finn Juhl. High quality construction ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Oak
Harold Schwartz Romweber Oak Tambour Cabinet, Sculptural & Architectural 1950s
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
By Harold Schwartz for Romweber, this rare sculptural and architectural piece is as cool as anything designed by Vladimir Kagan, Hans Wegner, or Finn Juhl. High quality construction ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Oak
Rare 1939 Vintage Viking Oak Corner Console Radio by Romweber
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Lafayette, IN
Very rare corner radio with custom Viking Oak cabinet by the Romweber Furniture Company of Batesville, IN.
Radio features:
- Stromberg Carlson M...
Category
1930s Gothic Revival Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Oak
Art Deco Wolfgang Hoffmann Romweber World's Fair Century of Progress Sideboard
By Romweber Furniture Co., Wolfgang Hoffmann
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and important American Art Deco Century of Progress Sideboard by iconic designer Wolfgang Hoffmann (Austrian, 1900-1969) for Romweber Company, Batesville, Indiana. circa 1933-1936
Created for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, fine quality craftsmanship and construction, having a rectangular exotic rosewood veneered top over conforming solid wood case fitted with four drawers affixed with horizontal pulls, the top drawer opening to reveal felt lined divided interior for silverware, flanked by cabinet doors opening to shelved interior, subtle geometric lines add interest. Rosewood, mahogany, richly figured blonde - golden birch or primavera.
Signed, top drawer interior, featuring 1933 World's Fair mark impressed.
**Please note, at the time of writing this, a matching display case - vitrine cabinet (shown in last photo) is currently available separately**
Provenance / Acquisition:
Property from the important and iconic Collection of Mr. James I. Rafftesaeth Jr., Dallas, Texas
Acquired from highly reputable auction house, Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas. 2022 Design Signature Auction catalog #8091
History:
Wolfgang Hoffmann was born in Vienna, Austria in 1900. He is the son of famous architect, pedagogue and Wiener Werkstatte cofounder, Joseph Hoffmann (1870-1956). Early on, following his father’s s interests, he was trained in the decorative arts and design. Wolfgang Hoffmann once reminisced, “I spent eight years at the Realschule, then three years went to a special architectural school, where I perfected my technical knowledge of architecture and general construction. From this school, I was graduated to the Kunstgewerbeschule [Studying under Oskar Strnad and Josef Frank in Vienna]. After finishing this school, I had one and a half years of practical in a well known architect’s office. Thereafter I worked in my Father’s office for two years”.
Hoffmann met his future wife, Polish immigrant Pola (1902-1984) when they were both studying at the Kunstgewerbeschule. Joseph Urban (1872-1933) was needing an assistant for his architectural business in New York and contacted his friend and colleague, Joseph Hoffmann in Vienna. Hoffmann recommended his son Wolfgang. Urban hired him and sent a first class passage ticket to Vienna for Wolfgang to travel to New York. Wolfgang married Pola and traded his ticket for two tickets to America in steerage, arriving in New York City in December of 1925.
Leaving the Urban office after nine months, Wolfgang and Pola formed an independent design practice with offices on Madison Avenue in Manhattan with the purpose of creating contemporary interiors and industrial designs. Early work included theaters, stores, and apartments mostly in New York City.
During the late 1920’s and early 1930’s the Hoffmanns designed custom furniture for private clients. Some of these examples were shown in the February 1929 issue of House and Garden. Curiously, the examples’ design was attributed to Urban and the production to Pola Hoffmann, Inc.
Established in the fall of 1928, the American Designers’ Gallery was “devoted exclusively to showing objects and interiors for practical use… by fourteen American architects and designers”. Its members included the Hoffmans and Urban as well as ceramist Henry Varnum Poor (1888-1971), architect Raymond Hood (1881-1934), artist designer Winold Reiss (1886-1953), graphic designer Lucien Bernhard (1896-1981), decorator Donald Deskey (1894-1989), and architect Ely Jacques Kahn (1884-1972).
The Hoffmanns’ work was included in the American Designers’ Gallery’s two showcase events, its 1928 and 1929 exhibitions. Their dining alcove at the 1929 event featured a bench with a dinette table and two chairs in American walnut designed by Wolfgang and a rug by Pola.
Lucien Bernhard, fellow Austrian immigrant who settled in New York a year before the Hoffmanns, operated the gallery and decorating service Contempora with Munich resident Bruno Paul (1874-1968). The Hoffmanns, occasionally participating with Contempora, designed a number of outstanding interiors, including the constructivist living room of 1930 for Mrs. O.R. Sommerich at 40 East 66th street. In 1934, Donald Deskey commissioned Wolfgang to design birchwood furnishings for the eclectic apartment at 625 Park Avenue belonging to Helena Rubinstein.
In 1931, Wolfgang exhibited his work at the Pennsylvania Art Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The same year, with Kem Weber (1889-1963) he organized the second and final exhibition of AUDAC- “Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts”- at the Brooklyn Museum. At this event, the Hoffmanns showed the dining room previously included in the American Designer’s Gallery’s 1929 exhibition in the Chase Bank Building lobby at 145 West 57th Street in Manhattan.
In 1932 Wolfgang was asked to assist Urban in developing the color scheme for the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair “A Century of Progress”. He was also commissioned to design the interior and furniture for the fair’s lumber industries house. There he executed its living and dining rooms furnished by Kroehler Manufacturing Company of Chicago; the boys’ room by Shower Brothers...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Birch, Mahogany, Rosewood
Romweber Burl Credenza
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous mid-century credenza from the highly regarded Romweber Furniture of Batesville, Indiana. Stunning two-tone burl wood with brass accents is sure to be a statement piece in an...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Brass
Harold Schwartz for Romweber Credenza
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Denton, TX
Mid-Century Modern Harold Schwartz for Romweber Buffet. Many storage openings for flatware & china. A unique butterfly joinery- bow-tie design on the t...
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Wood
Midcentury Burl Wood and Mirrored Armoire by Romweber
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Amazing midcentury burl wood and mirrored armoire by Romweber Furniture manufactured in the United States, circa, 1970s. This armoire has a captivating design as you can see the perf...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Glass, Burl
Burl HiBoy Dresser by Harold Schwartz for Romweber
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Large and striking chest of drawers made by Romweber. Beautiful burlwood finish with complimenting brass hardware.
Please confirm location NY or NJ.
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Burl
Harold Schwartz for Romweber Oak Spider Leg Dining Table, Newly Refinished
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional Mid-Century Modern extension dining table
By Harold Schwartz for Romweber
USA, 1950s
Sculpted oak with parquetry top, splayed spider legs, and unique felt-lined cutlery...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Oak
Romweber French Rococo Louis XV Satinwood and Parcel Painted Triple Dresser
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Rococo Louis XV style triple dresser or credenza
By Romweber
USA, Circa 1940s
Book-matched satinwood, with painted tr...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Rococo Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Brass
Romweber Viking Oak Lift Top Bar Cabinet, Circa 1960s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional rustic lift top bar cabinet
By Romweber, "Viking Oak" Collection
USA, Circa 1960s
Carved solid oak, with original brass hardware.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Rustic Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Brass
French Rococo Style China Cabinet by Romweber
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Jacksonville, FL
Large lighted dining cabinet by Romweber in ornate French Rococo style features lighted interior and onlays of cartouche design elements. Good c...
Category
1960s North American Rococo Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Glass, Wood
Romweber French Rococo Louis XV Burl Wood and Parcel Painted Twin Beds, Pair
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of French Rococo Louis XV style twin beds
By Romweber
USA, Circa 1930s
Exotic burled African avodire wood, with paint and gilt details.
Measures: 42.75" W...
Category
1930s American Rococo Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Burl, Paint
Vintage Burl Wood and Mirrored Nightstands by Romweber
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Beautiful vintage burl wood and mirrored nightstands by Romweber Furniture in the United States, circa 1970s. These nightstands have been built from the highest quality burl wood. Th...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Glass, Maple, Burl
6.5 Vintage Harold Schwartz Romweber White Dresser
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Pasadena, TX
Romweber
6.5 vintage Harold Schwartz Romweber white dresser
Restored in a white lacquered finish.
6 drawers with black circular pulls.
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Wood
Harold Schwartz for Romweber Ebonized Sideboard Credenza, Newly Refinished
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern ebonized mahogany sideboard credenza or bar cabinet
By Harold Schwartz for Romweber
USA, 1950s
M...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Mahogany
Vintage Harold Schwartz Romweber White Lacquered Nightstand
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Pasadena, TX
Vintage Harold Schwartz Romweber white lacquered nightstand
White lacquered nightstand. One-drawer with shelving below.
Black circular pulls.
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Wood
Pair of Romweber Carved Oak Lounge Chairs
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Romweber carved oak lounge chairs newly upholstered in black vinyl. Frames are heavily carved.
Category
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Oak
Harold Schwartz for Romweber Ebonized Bar Cabinet, Newly Refinished
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern ebonized mahogany sideboard credenza or bar cabinet server
By Harold Schwartz for Romweber
USA, 195...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Mahogany
Rare Harold M. Schwartz for Romweber Burled Sideboard with Floating Cabinet
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed by Harold M. Schwartz for Romweber. Burled walnut side board with fiddle back highlights. Brutalist textured brass hardware, including brack...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Brass
Romweber High Chest
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Romweber high chest of drawers in burl and ebony.
Category
1930s American Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Burl, Ebony
Harold Schwartz for Romweber Burled Walnut Parabolic Coffee Table
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Convex-curve edge burled walnut coffee table by Harold M. Schwartz for Romweber. Carved openings at each end resemble a tray top.
Category
1950s American Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Burl, Walnut
Rare Harold Schwartz Headboard Bed for Romweber
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Rare Harold Schwartz Headboard Bed for Romweber
Italian in Style in the manner of Gio Ponti
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Wood
Uncommon Harold M. Schwartz Trapezoidal Side Table for Romweber
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Dark oak hand-carved trapezoidal three-tiered end table by Harold M. Schwartz for Romweber. Three surface levels, with the top being glass. Tapered hand-carved legs are inverted tria...
Category
1950s American Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Oak, Glass
Trio of Harold Schwartz White Oak Nesting Tray Tables for Romweber
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Wonderful modern design and sturdy oak framing, these nesting tables by Harold Schwartz for Romweber have finely carved legs and stretchers. The top table has three oak trays for ser...
Category
1950s American Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Oak
Romweber Figured Walnut Dresser With Crema Marble Inset Panels
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Romweber Furniture Italian Regency style nine-drawer long chest/cabinet/dresser with figured walnut and inset marble drawer fronts. Cast brass three part filigree pulls open the outs...
Category
1950s American Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Burl, Walnut
Rare Harold Schwartz Bowtie Bar Cart Console Server Buffet in Style of Gio Ponti
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare rolling bar cart console server by Harold Schwartz for Romweber. A beautiful work of art. One of his best designs of the period.
16" deep
44" wide
41.5" height
12.25 x...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Wood
Romweber Figured Walnut & Travertine Regency Night Stand.
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Figured walnut night stand with travertine marble door insert by Romweber. Solid brass floral shaped pulls with brass appointments on either side of the single drawer. Raised platfor...
Category
1960s American Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Travertine, Marble, Brass
Harold Schwartz for Romweber Sculpted Oak Dining Chairs, Set of Six
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional set of six Mid-Century Modern sculptural dining chairs
By Harold Schwartz for Romweber
USA, 1950s
Sculpted oak,...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Upholstery, Oak
Romweber 9 Drawer Dresser in Fruitwood with Burl Cartouche Accents Midcentury
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Romweber substantial nine drawer dresser in fruitwood with lovely burl accents. This dresser has generous drawers with a tray in a top drawer for your accoutrement.
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Hollywood Regency Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Burl, Fruitwood
Stunning Vintage Modern Bedroom Set by Romweber
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This unique vintage burl bedroom set includes a matched pair of nightstands, impressive highboy dresser, and spacious low dresser. Perfect midcentury bedroom suite...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Romweber Furniture Co.
Materials
Brass
Romweber Furniture Co. furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Romweber Furniture Co. 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 Romweber Furniture Co. furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Romweber Furniture Co. 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 Conant Ball, John Stuart Inc., and Broyhill. Prices for Romweber Furniture Co. furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $950 and can go as high as $22,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,995.
Creators Similar to Romweber Furniture Co.
Questions About Romweber Furniture Co.
- What is Romweber Furniture?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 7, 2024Romweber Furniture was an American furniture manufacturer. It began in the late 1800s with the launch of American Furniture Company, which made bedroom furniture; Batesville Cabinet Company, a dining-room set manufacturer and Batesville Coffin Company. The three companies eventually merged to become a large manufacturer of case goods, furniture and more. While Romweber Furniture had earlier designers working in the French Rococo and Chippendale styles, the brand is best known for its mid-century modern pieces. This includes walnut case pieces and storage cabinets that feature decorative olive-ash and burl-wood inlays with brass hardware, as well as solid oak credenzas and dining tables designed by Harold Schwartz. For collectors of sophisticated 1950s furniture, the company’s sturdy Viking Oak line is particularly popular. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Romweber furniture.
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