There was something for everyone in Stow & Davis's offerings during its heyday. Known for its period revival designs — as well as its wood-and-steel framework desks and other Streamline Moderne-inspired works of the late 1920s and '30s — the American manufacturer created sleek and innovative modern office furniture during the mid-century years, too.
Before the company was Stow & Davis, it was the Stow and Haight Furniture Company, formed by the partnership of Russell Stow and Thomas Haight in 1880. It produced kitchen and dining extension tables in a workshop in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1885, businessman George A. Davis purchased Haight’s interest in the firm, and its name was changed to Stow & Davis.
The company later turned its attention to manufacturing office furniture, producing its first boardroom table in 1889. By the 1890s, Stow & Davis had established itself as a major supplier of furniture for libraries and offices. By 1916, it was supplying banks with furniture such as its sturdy wood Colonial Revival-style conference tables, leather-upholstered executive and swivel chairs and traditional desks in oak and mahogany.
The Great Depression forced the reorganization of Stow & Davis, and, during World War II, the company was commissioned to manufacture wooden desks, chairs and bunk beds for United States Navy vessels.
During the 1950s and ’60s, amid the rise of what we now call mid-century modernism, Stow & Davis endeavored to innovate, collaborating with several notable designers to produce inspired new collections.
While it continued to offer traditional furniture styles influenced by English design, Stow & Davis began to incorporate curved lines, rounded edges and sleek finishes into its offerings during the postwar years. Its mid-century modern furniture included pieces like Bert England’s stainless steel frame office chairs, walnut and bronzed steel conference tables by Italian designer Osvaldo Borsani and sophisticated credenzas by Giacomo Buzzitta, an award-winning alum of the John Widdicomb Company.
In 1985, the Grand Rapids manufacturer Steelcase acquired Stow & Davis.
Find vintage Stow & Davis seating, case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and more on 1stDibs.
Pair of Midcentury Solid Walnut Lounge Chairs by Stow Davis
By Jens Risom, Stow Davis
Located in Buffalo, NY
Pair midcentury solid walnut lounge chairs by Stow Davis, handsome architectural profile in the style of Jens Risom. Superior quality and construction, retains original orange wool f...
Fabric, Walnut
$1,800 / item
Pair of Stow Davis Cube Chairs
By Stow Davis
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of classic Stow Davis cube armchairs. Very comfortable and stylish, original upholstery, on plinth bases.
Upholstery
Pair Walnut and Shagreen Leather Armchairs by George Reinoehl for Stow & Davis
By George Reinoehl, Stow Davis
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome and solid pair of Mid-Century Modern walnut armchairs designed by George Reinoehl for Stow Davis, Grand Rapids, MI. The clean lines and minimalist design invoking the beau...
Brass
Stunning Pair of Stow Davis Walnut Lounge Chairs, Classic Modernist Design
By Jens Risom, Stow Davis
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning pair of Stow Davis sculpted walnut lounge chairs, Classic modernist design, extremely comfortable, retain original mustard green Naugahyde floating seat and back, also retai...
Naugahyde, Walnut
Pair of Midcentury Solid Walnut Lounge Chairs by Stow Davis
By Jens Risom, Stow Davis
Located in Buffalo, NY
Pair midcentury solid walnut lounge chairs by Stow Davis, handsome architectural profile in the style of Jens Risom. Superior quality and construction, retains original orange wool f...
Fabric, Walnut
Stunning Pair Modernist Walnut Arm Chairs by Stow Davis /after Jens Risom
By Jens Risom, Stow Davis
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning pair modernist sculptural walnut arm chairs by Stow Davis /after Jens Risom. Classic Mid-Century Modern Design, beautiful dove-tail joinery, ...
Upholstery, Walnut
$2,400 / set
Stow Davis Mid-Century Scoop Chairs
By Stow Davis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of vintage modern arm chairs with polished chrome frame holding a floating scoop seat. Tufted fabric seat with great curved shape. Please confirm location NY or NJ
Chrome
$1,600 / set
"England Chair" by Stow Davis
By Stow Davis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Mid-Century Modern office chairs by Stow Davis. Featuring polished chrome frame with swooping arms. Please confirm location NY or NJ.
Chrome
1987 Bert England for Stow Davis England Dining Chair with Brown Upholstery
By Stow Davis, Bert England
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an 'England Chair', designed by Bert England for Stow-Davis Furniture of Grand Rapids, MI. in the late 1970s. These chairs date to 1987 and the listed price includes one ...
Steel
Pair of Vintage Walnut Lounge Chairs by Jens Risom Design
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stunning pair of Mid-Century Modern arm chairs by Jens Risom Design feature extremely thick padded seating, a floating style backrest, and sculpted arm rests. A sturdy walnut fr...
Upholstery, Walnut
$14,500 / set
H 39.5 in W 27 in D 28.5 in
Beautiful Pair of Large Scale Double-Sided Cane Club Chairs - 2 Pair Available
Located in Atlanta, GA
These magnificent club chairs are shipped as professionally photographed and described in the listing narrative: Meticulously professionally restored and ready for upholstery. There ...
Cane, Ash
$4,200 / set
H 30 in W 30 in D 30 in
Pair of White Painted Austrian Cube Chairs in the Manner of Josef Hoffmann
By Josef Hoffmann
Located in Buffalo, NY
Pair of white painted Austrian cube even armchairs in the manner of Josef Hoffmann, original white painted finish, Arts & Crafts style pierced open lattice work, stunning.
Wood
Pair of Jens Risom Walnut Lounge Chairs
By Jens Risom
Located in Pasadena, TX
Jens Risom Jens Risom emigrated from Europe to the U.S. when he was just 23 years of age. Like other Scandinavian designers such as Josef Frank and Kaare Klint, Risom continued to h...
Leather, Walnut
1970s M. F. Harty for Stow Davis Tomorrow Sofa Chair Set of 7
By Stow Davis
Located in Bensalem, PA
This is a truly remarkable one of a kind set that came out of the VIP section of Teterboro airport in northern New Jersey adjacent to Newyork it was said that Paul McCartney and Pres...
Chrome
$14,000 / set
H 30 in W 29 in D 31 in
Pair of Jens Risom Model 2137 Walnut "Floating" Lounge Chairs in Olive Velvet
By Jens Risom
Located in Brooklyn, NY
These exceptional Jens Risom Model 2137 lounge chairs supported by sculptural walnut bases are scarce examples of the 1961 design. They are relatively small in scale, though the sea...
Velvet, Walnut
Jens Risom Upholstered Lounge Chair
By Jens Risom
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A comfortable and stylish Jens Risom upholstered armchair, circa 1950s. Rare design with original early label still intact.
Upholstery
$8,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 33.5 in W 25 in D 35.5 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Walnut Lounge Chairs
Located in North York, ON
Pair of Mid-Century Modern walnut lounge chairs. America circa 1970’s, iconic Mid-Century Modern styling. Beautiful curves and unique shape. Masterfully restored in a rich dark espre...
Fabric, Walnut
$3,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 29 in W 24 in D 24 in
Pair of Edward Wormley Walnut Open-Arm Lounge Chairs
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Two architectural open arm lounge chairs in walnut by Dunbar, with green and blue horizontal stripe upholstery.
Walnut
Mid Century Lounge Chair after Risom Big Chair
By Jens Risom
Located in New York, NY
Chic and sophisticated architectural lounge chair, after the iconic Risom big chair. The chair has a large upholstered seat which is set in a solid walnut fr...
Upholstery, Walnut
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Open Arm Walnut Lounge Chairs
Located in Wilmington, DE
Pair of Mid-Century Modern walnut open arm lounge chairs Offered is a beautifully pair of original lounge chairs by Cintique. They are all original and feature the original green ...
Walnut
$2,480 / set
H 31 in W 27 in D 24 in
A Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bubble Chairs by Stow & Davis. Circa 1970s
By Stow Davis
Located in Miami, FL
A Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bubble Chairs by Stow & Davis. Circa 1970s Feature a sleek chromed swivel base, the original cobalt blue upholstery, and removable seat cushions...
Chrome
Sold
H 30.75 in W 29.5 in D 30.5 in
Pair of Black Tufted Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs Stow Davis / Knoll Style
By Dunbar Furniture, Knoll, Stow Davis
Located in Houston, TX
This pair of black modern tufted faux leather / vinyl lounge chairs were heavily inspired by the designs of Stow Davis as well as the Florence Knoll lounge chair. Sleek, yet comforta...
Walnut
Pair of Leather and Ebonized Wood Club /Lounge Chairs
By Stow Davis
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of sleek modernist cube chairs by Stow Davis of Grand Rapids Michigan. Features rich camel colored leather upholstery. Loose seat and back cushions. Ebonized wood framing and al...
Leather, Wood
Pair of Stow Davis White Leather Armchairs
By Osvaldo Borsani, Stow Davis
Located in Astoria, NY
A substantial pair of game and armchairs, produced circa 1940s by the Stow-Davis Furniture Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, following the style of designer Osvaldo Borsani, with tu...
Leather, Walnut
Pair of Stow Davis Black Leather and Walnut Sculptural Armchairs
By Stow Davis
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Stow Davis Italian Regency carved walnut and black leather arm chairs. Curvaceous back and saber legs with recessed panels, block corners and sculpted arms. Black leather seat and back with back panel. From the period when Bert England was designing for Stow Davis, so possibly an England...
Leather, Walnut
Sold
H 32.5 in W 23 in D 26 in
Stylish Set of Four American 1940s White and Red Leather Upholstered Game Chairs
By Stow Davis
Located in San Francisco, CA
A stylish and well-proportioned set of four American, 1940s white and red leather upholstered arms/game chairs, Stow and Davis Furniture Co. from th...
Stow & Davis Walnut Chair
By Stow Davis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century walnut frame side chair by Stow & Davis. Please confirm item location (NY or NJ) with dealer.
Walnut
Matching Pair of Modernist Stow Davis Limed Oak and Leather Armchairs
By Stow Davis
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning Pair of Limed Green and Leather arm chairs,, Sleek ,simple.elegant design..Wonderful worn patina..Classic Mid-Century Modern.
Brass
Set of Four Mid Century Dining Chairs by Stow Davis
By Stow Davis
Located in Astoria, NY
A set of four dining chairs by Stow Davis with chrome frames and original upholstery. They are in vintage condition with age appropriate wear; spots and wear on upholstery
Chrome
Mid-Century Stow and Davis Armchair In Walnut and Leather
By Stow Davis
Located in Astoria, NY
A single vintage chair in walnut with grey leather upholstery by Stow and Davis furniture company of Grand Rapids. The front legs have brass cap d...
Brass