Ultra Rare Heywood Wakefield Pair of Nightstands circa 1955 Mid-Century Modern
View Similar Items
Ultra Rare Heywood Wakefield Pair of Nightstands circa 1955 Mid-Century Modern
About the Item
- Creator:Heywood-Wakefield Co. (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 25 in (63.5 cm)Width: 21 in (53.34 cm)Depth: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1955
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:West Hartford, CT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3072327729122
Heywood-Wakefield Co.
Created by the 19th-century merger of two venerable Massachusetts furniture makers, Heywood-Wakefield was one of the largest and most successful companies of its kind in the United States. In its early decades, the firm thrived by crafting affordable and hugely popular wicker pieces in traditional and historical styles. In the midst of the Great Depression, however, Heywood-Wakefield reinvented itself, creating instead the first modernist furnishings to be widely embraced in American households.
The Heywoods were five brothers from Gardner, Massachusetts, who in 1826 started a business making wooden chairs and tables in their family shed. As their company grew, they moved into the manufacture of furniture with steam-bent wood frames and cane or wicker seats, backs and sides. In 1897, they joined forces with a local rival, the Wakefield Rattan Company, whose founder, Cyrus Wakefield, got his start on the Boston docks buying up lots of discarded rattan, which was used as cushioning material in the holds of cargo ships, and transforming it into furnishings. The conglomerate initially did well with both early American style and woven pieces, but taste began to change at the turn of the 20th century and wicker furniture fell out of fashion. In 1930, the company brought in designer Gilbert Rohde, a champion of the Art Deco style. Before departing in 1932 to lead the Michigan furniture maker Herman Miller, Rohde created well-received sleek, bentwood chairs for Heywood-Wakefield and gave its colonial pieces a touch of Art Deco flair.
Committed to the new style, Heywood-Wakefield commissioned work from an assortment of like-minded designers, including Alfons Bach, W. Joseph Carr, Leo Jiranek and Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky, a Russian nobleman who had made his name in Europe creating elegant automotive body designs.
In 1936, the company introduced its “Streamline Modern” group of furnishings, presenting a look that would define the company’s wares for another 30 years. The buoyantly bright, blond wood — maple initially, later birch — came in finishes such as amber “wheat” and pink-tinted “champagne.” The forms of the pieces, at once light and substantial, with softly contoured edges and little adornment beyond artful drawer pulls and knobs, were featured in lines with names such as “Sculptura,” “Crescendo” and “Coronet.” It was forward-looking, optimistic and built to last — a draw for middle-class buyers in the Baby Boom years.
By the 1960s, Heywood-Wakefield began to be seen as “your parents’ furniture.” The last of the Modern line came out in 1966; the company went bankrupt in 1981. The truly sturdy pieces have weathered the intervening years well, having found a new audience for their blithe and happy sophistication.
Find a collection of vintage Heywood-Wakefield desks, chairs, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- Pair of Antique Patinated Brass and Glass Vitrine NightstandsLocated in West Hartford, CTAntique 19th century French patinated brass and glass cased vitrine nightstands raised on fluted legs. Top is black glass with gallery and one drawer. Glass on front door and sides. ...Category
Early 20th Century French Industrial Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- Thomasville Allegro Mid century Modern Faux Bamboo Twin Headboard OnlyBy ThomasvilleLocated in West Hartford, CTRare faux bamboo twin headboard only - not footboard, etc, from Thomasville's rare and coveted Allegro line. Faux bamboo styling and yellow...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsWood
- Mid Century Modern Faux Bamboo Full Headboard by Dixie Aloha CollectionBy Dixie Furniture Co.Located in West Hartford, CTRare Dixie Furniture classic faux bamboo headboard crafted in solid oak wood and part of the coveted "Aloha" collection. Size is full and this i...Category
Vintage 1970s American Chinese Chippendale Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsWood, Oak
- Pair of Faux Bamboo Twin Poster Headboards by DrexelBy DrexelLocated in West Hartford, CTFaux bamboo headboards are beautifully carved from solid hardwood and have beautiful an aged cream finish with green accents. By Drexel. Headboa...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsWood
$1,068 Sale Price / set46% Off - Ultra Rare Pair of Chinese Carved Pink Soapstone Urn Lamps with ShadesLocated in West Hartford, CTExquisite and rare intricately carved Chinese soapstone lamps in a rare pink color. They feature delicate flowers on the body and top. Support...Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Table Lamps
MaterialsSoapstone, Brass
$5,200 Sale Price / set20% Off - Pair of Mid-Century Modern Tall Sculptural Italian Table LampsLocated in West Hartford, CTMade of brass and ceramic and colored with a gorgeous creamy off-white and black design, these lamps exude the iconic midcentury look that is so coveted. They have custom made shades...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
$880 Sale Price60% Off
- Heywood Wakefield Mid Century Bamboo Leg NightstandBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Countryside, ILHeywood Wakefield mid century bamboo leg nightstand This nightstand measures: 18 wide x 16 deep x 25 inches high All pieces of furni...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsBamboo, Wood
- Mid-Century Modern Heywood Wakefield Double Bed, Wheat Finish, circa 1950By Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Big Flats, NYA Mid-Century Modern double or full size bed by Heywood Wakefield offers birch construction in Wheat finish, maker and finish marks as photographed, circa 1950 Measures- Headboa...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsBirch
$1,160 Sale Price20% Off - Mid-Century Modern Heywood Wakefield Double Bed Frame, Wheat Finish, Circa 1950By Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Big Flats, NYA Mid-Century Modern double bed frame by Heywood Wakefield offers birch construction in Wheat finish, maker mark as photographed, c1950 Measures- Headboard 35''H x 59''W x 2''D; Foo...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsBirch
$960 Sale Price20% Off - Mid Century Modern King Storage Headboard by Heywood WakefieldBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Freehold, NJThis mid century modern king sized headboard by Heywood Wakefield features hardwood construction, original champagne finish, with a combination of drop front storage cabinets and ope...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsBirch, Maple
- Heywood-Wakefield Full Size Headboard with NightstandsBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Brooklyn, NYThis stylish champagne finish maple headboard features iconic Heywood-Wakefield style and quality 1950s craftsmanship. The unique design of the piece o...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsMaple
$1,120 Sale Price30% Off - Mid Century Encore Headboard by Heywood WakefieldBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Cincinnati, OHA full sized Mid Century headboard in the champagne finish with sliding double doors having tapered solid brass pulls . The doors can be position...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsWood
