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.
Bert England for Stow Davis Swivel Desk Chairs c 1970's pair available
By Stow Davis, Bert England
Located in New York, NY
High end swivel desk chairs designed by Bert England for Stow Davis, circa 1970's. The chairs feature heavy bright steel frames, bases and legs, with original fabric upholstered back...
Steel
Set of 12 Stow Davis Black Leather & Chrome Rolling Swivel Desk or Office Chairs
By Stow Davis
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed and made in the 1960s, these chairs were manufactured by Stow Davis, who was known at the time for producing office furniture that competed with the likes of Knoll in terms ...
Steel, Chrome
1970s Bert England Desk Chair for Stow Davis in Patterned Fabric
By Stow Davis, Bert England
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Bert England Desk Chair, designed in the 1970s. This piece was produced by Stow Davis in the USA circa the 1970s. The chair is comprised of a steel frame on castors, with a...
Steel
Pair of Stow Davis Black Leather & Chrome Rolling Swivel Desk or Office Chairs
By Stow Davis
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed and made in the 1960s, these chairs were manufactured by Stow Davis, who was known at the time for producing office furniture that competed with the likes of Knoll in terms ...
Steel, Chrome
Pair of Stow Davis Black Leather & Chrome Rolling Swivel Desk or Office Chairs
By Stow Davis
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed and made in the 1960s, these chairs were manufactured by Stow Davis, who was known at the time for producing office furniture that competed with the likes of Knoll in terms ...
Steel, Chrome
1960s Stow Davis Office Desk Chairs in Tan Leather w/ Bronze Bases 3x Available
By Stow Davis
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These are large Desk Chairs in Tan leather with Bronze Four-Star Bases, produced by Stow-Davis Furniture of Grand Rapids, MI. in the 1960s. The listed price includes one chair, and w...
Steel, Bronze
H 34.26 in W 18.51 in D 21.66 in
Kevi Office Chair by Jørgen Rasmussen, Tan Leather, Danish Design
By Jørgen Rasmussen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Kevi office chair designed by Jørgen Rasmussen. With height, tilt and other adjustments. New upholstered with tan aniline leather.
Leather
H 33.5 in W 27 in D 17 in
Post Modern Knoll Swivel Desk, Office, Chairs 11 Available
By Knoll, Don Chadwick
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Knoll swivel desk chair(s) from the 1970's, in rich brown formed foam upholstery, on five star base. The chair swivels a full 360, and the base is on double wheel coaster...
Plastic
H 31.5 in W 26 in D 28 in
1980s Charles Pollock for Knoll Office Desk Chair in Leather and Chrome
By Charles Pollock, Knoll
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Iconic desk or office chair designed by Charles Pollock for Knoll. Extremely comfortable with soft black leather. Chair sits above a four star base, with chrome and black plastic acc...
Metal
H 33.86 in W 31.11 in D 27.96 in
Otto Zapf for Knoll Swivel Desk Chair in Black Leather
By Otto Zapf, Knoll
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Otto Zapf for Knoll International, desk chair, leather, lacquered metal, United States, design 1974 When Bobby Cadwallader, the former president of Knoll, encountered the German des...
Metal
H 40.16 in W 28.35 in D 28.35 in
Victorian Style Polished Leather Executive Desk Chair, USA, 1970s
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A handsome executive desk chair upholstered in rich, polished burgundy leather and designed in the classic Chesterfield tradition. The chair features a tall wingback form with deep ...
Brass
H 30 in W 30 in D 30 in
Midcentury Leather and Chrome Swivel Chair
By Gardner Leaver, Maison Jansen, Steelcase, George Mulhauser
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Gardner Leaver for Steelcase Easy chair in saddle brown leather. Chrome is in good shape with no rust. Has just the right angle to be used as an office chair, reading chair or even lounge chair. Swivels 360 with ease. This is a very solid heavy chair...
Chrome
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
H 35 in W 29.5 in D 29.5 in
Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti Italia "Ondo" Executive Leather 1970s Desk Chair
By Saporiti, Gianni Offredi
Located in Peabody, MA
A Saporiti Italia “Onda” executive swivel desk chair in leather with polished steel swivel base designed by Giovanni Offredi, ca. 1970s
Steel
H 34.26 in W 18.51 in D 21.66 in
Kevi Office Chair by Jørgen Rasmussen, Black Leather, 1960s Denmark
By Jørgen Rasmussen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Kevi office chair designed by Jørgen Rasmussen. With height, tilt and other adjustments. New upholstered with black aniline leather.
Leather
H 29.93 in W 27.17 in D 27.17 in
Italian modern office chair by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern office chair by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s Office chair or armchair with padded seat and backrest, upholstered in brown leather with a wooden frame. The four-spoke meta...
Metal
H 29.93 in W 27.17 in D 27.17 in
Italian modern office chairs by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s
By Ico Parisi, MIM Roma
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern office chairs by Ico Parisi for MiM, 1970s Pair of office chairs or armchairs with padded seat and backrest, upholstered in brown leather with a wooden frame. The four...
Metal
H 30 in W 78.25 in D 31 in
6.5FT Stow Davis Sofa
By Stow Davis
Located in Pasadena, TX
Classic lines with a trim in rich walnut with ivory upholstery. Measure: 6.5FT.
Walnut
H 39 in W 28.5 in D 28.5 in
Stow Davis Mid-Century Modern Leather Executive Swivel Desk Chairs, Set of Four
By Stow Davis
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful and very comfortable set of four Mid-Century Modern executive leather swivel desk chairs By Stow Davis USA, Circa 196...
Chrome
H 39 in W 28.5 in D 28.5 in
Stow Davis Mid-Century Modern Leather Executive Swivel Desk Chair, Circa 1960s
By Stow Davis
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful and very comfortable Mid-Century Modern executive leather swivel desk chair By Stow Davis USA, Circa 1960s Gorgeous ...
Chrome
H 33.75 in W 25.25 in D 26.5 in
Stow and Davis Ebonized Walnut and Leather Desk Chair
By Stow Davis
Located in Miami, FL
A Mid-Century Modern black rolling office chair, manufactured by Stow & Davis in the late 1950s-early 1960s. The armchair has sleek lines and the original burnt orange leather uphols...
Metal
H 39 in W 25 in D 24 in
Stow Davis Swivel Tilt Leather Desk Chair
By Stow Davis
Located in New York, NY
Impressive Art Deco swivel tilt executive high back desk chair. By Stow Davis. This chair is in very nice original condition, with original leather upholstery and solid walnut frame....
Leather, Walnut
H 32.5 in W 25 in D 23.5 in
Stow Davis Executive Leather Desk Chair
By Stow Davis
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A executive desk chair with soft and high quality leather in a warm natural medium color sitting on a chrome swiveling adjustable rolling base. Retains the Manufactures label ,Stow D...
Chrome