Century French Empire Neoclassical Figural Banded Burl Wood Nightstands, a Pair
View Similar Items
Century French Empire Neoclassical Figural Banded Burl Wood Nightstands, a Pair
About the Item
- Creator:Century Furniture (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 24 in (60.96 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Empire (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Mid-20th Century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Philadelphia, PA
- Reference Number:Seller: 1644642423261stDibs: LU934121123032
Century Furniture
Known for its durable vintage display cabinets, nightstands and dressers made of cherry, oak, walnut and more, Century Furniture of Hickory, North Carolina, began as an upholstered goods company in 1947 but added case goods and sophisticated mahogany dining-room furnishings shortly thereafter.
Launched by Harley Ferguson Shuford Sr., a Hickory native who was born to a family of textile mill owners, Century Furniture was intended to be “the best furniture company in the world.” With respect to speed and efficiency, the brand found its footing midway through production on a government contract that Shuford had secured in the early days to manufacture thousands of five-drawer chests. The effort was significant, but it was also a teachable moment as far as Shuford and his team’s learning the ropes of running a factory.
After hiring designer Raymond K. Sobota in 1950 and introducing the enormously popular Citation Collection in 1954, Century established its reputation as a leader in stylishly designed high-quality furniture. Sobota had furniture in his blood — after graduating from Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he worked for his uncle Karl Schmidt, who was at the time a well-known furniture designer for Berkey and Gay and other makers in the Grand Rapids area, then known as America’s furniture capital. Sobota soon launched his own studio, designing furniture as a freelancer for various local manufacturers. Shuford found him by happenstance, journeying to Michigan’s second-largest city to offer a job to another designer who turned him down but recommended Sobota instead.
Century’s Citation line — a sizable collection for the brand that spanned furnishings for the bedroom, dining room and more — is revered in the world of vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors. The pieces sold very well during the 1950s, and the line is an oft-cited success story for Sobota, who would go on to win awards for his work and whose own catalogue of designs for the brand is massive.
In his 40-year career at Century, until he retired in 1995, he designed well over 100 furniture lines. Sobota’s nightstands, cabinets, side tables and more are characterized by his interest in Asian design, distinctly and brilliantly expressed in his Hollywood Regency–style Chin Hua line, which debuted during the 1970s. With its geometrically decorative brass drawer pulls and door handles as well as dining-chair seat-back carvings — all inspired by Asian motifs — this collection has rendered vintage pieces that saw Century’s craftsmen working with alluring ebonized walnut and more, some of the company’s most sought-after work today.
Also in the 1970s as well as in the 1980s, Manhattan interior designer Jay Spectre introduced an Art Deco–informed spirit at Century Furniture, creating oversize, inviting lounge chairs and bentwood benches that featured plush tufted leather cushions. Spectre’s Eclipse collection was at one point among the largest-selling lines for the brand.
Century licensed collections with celebrity interior designers such as Thomas O’Brien, Charlotte Moss and Bunny Williams among others. In 2013, when Alex Shuford III was named president of Century Furniture, the move marked the succession of the third generation to lead this company, which is today one of the world’s largest privately held manufacturers of high-end furniture.
Find Century Furniture lounge chairs and dining chairs as well as vintage mid-century modern credenzas, dressers and more on 1stDibs.
- Antique American Sheraton Tall Tapered Leg Burl Wood Nightstand TableLocated in Philadelphia, PA19th century antique American Sheraton tall tapered leg burl wood nightstand / side table. Item includes beautiful wood grain, nicely carved details, 2 dovetailed drawers, tall taper...Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Sheraton Night Stands
MaterialsMahogany, Burl
- Large French Empire Regency Style Bronze Ormolu Burl Wood Pier Mirror FiguralLocated in Philadelphia, PAImpressive antique French Empire / Regency style burl wood beveled glass pier mirror with stately bronze mounts including human figured feet, maiden faces, and a cherub upon a horse ...Category
20th Century French Empire Pier Mirrors and Console Mirrors
MaterialsGlass, Burl
- Vintage Mid-Century Modern Tobago Sculpted Walnut Nightstands, a PairLocated in Philadelphia, PAVintage Mid-Century Modern Tobago sculpted walnut nightstands - a pair. Item features beautiful wood grain, nicely craved details, 2 swing doors, 1 wooden shelf, very nice vintage pa...Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsWalnut
- French Louis XV Style Yellow Butterfly Painted 3 Drawer Nightstands - a PairLocated in Philadelphia, PAFrench Louis XV Style Yellow Butterfly Painted 3 Drawer Bombe Nightstands - a Pair. Item features yellow painted finish, hand painted butterfly and flor...Category
Mid-20th Century American Louis XV Night Stands
MaterialsMetal
- Vintage French Rococo Baroque Style Gold Gilt Bombe Nightstands - a PairLocated in Philadelphia, PAVintage French Rococo Baroque Style Gold Gilt Bombe Nightstands - a Pair. Item features heavy solid wood construction, distressed gold gilt finish, shapely bombe form, 3 dovetailed ...Category
Mid-20th Century Baroque Night Stands
MaterialsWood, Paint
- Custom French Neoclassical or Empire Style Cherry & Burl Wood Coffee TableLocated in Philadelphia, PAAn exceptional custom made vintage coffee table with a burl wood inlaid cherry top. The base is believed to be a converted French Empire style chandelier. The feet have ball bearing ...Category
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsBronze
- Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry and Burl Wood NightstandBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous French Empire or Neoclassical style nightstand or end table By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Beautiful book-matched cherry wood, with burl wood columns and original ...Category
Vintage 1980s American Empire Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- Regency Blond Burl-Wood Nightstands by Century Furniture, a PairBy Century FurnitureLocated in Fort Washington, MDStunning vintage pair of blond burl-wood nightstands made by Century Furniture, 2 drawers and a pull out shelf make these nightstands the perfect ones for a master bedroom, plenty of...Category
Mid-20th Century American Regency Night Stands
MaterialsWood
$1,760 Sale Price20% Off - King Burl Wood Nightstands by Century FurnitureBy Century FurnitureLocated in Lake Worth, FLOffering one of our recent palm beach estate fine furniture acquisitions of a Pair of King Burl wood nightstands by Century Furniture Approximate...Category
Late 20th Century Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
$3,895 / set - Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry and Burl Wood Nightstands, Newly RefinishedBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous pair of French Empire style nightstands or end tables By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Cherry wood, with burl wo...Category
Vintage 1960s American Empire Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry and Burl Wood Nightstands, Newly RefinishedBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous pair of French Empire style nightstands or end tables By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Cherry wood, with burl wo...Category
Vintage 1960s American Empire Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- Empire Burl Wood DeskLocated in Hudson, NYBeautiful burl wood set against ebonized legs and trim. Desk has a single compartmentalized drawer with key and elegantly curved legs.Category
Antique 19th Century Austrian Empire Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBurl
$8,500