Antique Chinoiserie Ebonized 5-Drawer Century Stylized Pagoda Form Server
View Similar Items
Antique Chinoiserie Ebonized 5-Drawer Century Stylized Pagoda Form Server
About the Item
- Creator:Century Furniture (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 31 in (78.74 cm)Width: 73.25 in (186.06 cm)Depth: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Style:Chinoiserie (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1890
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Overall very good condition with finish lifting and slight moisture mark as photographed.
- Seller Location:Big Flats, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 671971stDibs: LU2396312567381
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 Neoclassical Carved Mahogany & Burl Server circa 1930Located in Big Flats, NYAn antique neoclassical style server offers mahogany and burl construction with backsplash having carved cartouche over single drawer case with stylized shield, dental and scroll elements raised on legs...Category
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Serving Tables
MaterialsMahogany
$1,320 Sale Price20% Off - Antique Second Empire Deeply Carved Flame Mahogany Server, circa 1900Located in Big Flats, NYAn antique 2nd American Empire server offers flame mahogany construction with backsplash surmounting top with carved rope twist bordering, bowed convex f...Category
Early 20th Century American American Empire Serving Tables
MaterialsMahogany
$1,480 Sale Price20% Off - Antique Oak Marble Top Server with Mirrored Back Splash & Spindled Rail C1900Located in Big Flats, NY***Ask About Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Reliable Professional Service & Fully Insured*** Antique Oak Marble Top Server with Mirrored Back Splash, Carved Crest & Spindled Rail ...Category
Early 20th Century Serving Tables
MaterialsMarble
$1,960 Sale Price20% Off - Kittinger Colonial Williamsburg Queen Anne Mahogany Revolving Server, 20th CBy KittingerLocated in Big Flats, NYAn antique Kittinger Colonial Williamsburg Queen Anne style revolving server offers mahogany construction in hexagonal form with upper and lower plat...Category
20th Century American Queen Anne Serving Tables
MaterialsWood, Mahogany
$1,440 Sale Price20% Off - French Empire Style Maitland Smith Inlaid Sunburst Server with Figural SupportsBy Maitland SmithLocated in Big Flats, NYA French Empire style console table by Maitland Smith of the "Limited Edition Collection" offers burl, satinwood and mahogany construction in demilune form with inlaid sunburst top, ...Category
20th Century Console Tables
MaterialsOrmolu
$3,600 Sale Price20% Off - Queen Anne Councill Craftsmen Flame Mahogany Inlaid & Banded Lowboy 20th CenturyBy CouncillLocated in Big Flats, NYA Queen Anne style server custom handcrafted by Councill Craftsmen offers flame mahogany construction with cabinet having three cross banded drawers surmounted by satinwood inlaid to...Category
Mid-20th Century American Queen Anne Dry Bars
MaterialsMahogany, Satinwood
$1,160 Sale Price20% Off
- 18th Century Three-Drawer Antique Cherrywood ServerLocated in Billingshurst, GB18th century three-drawer antique cherrywood server, standing on Silhouette cabriole legs with three deep storage drawers. The piece has a three plank c...Category
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Console Tables
MaterialsCherry
$3,686 Sale Price20% Off - Three-Drawer English Mahogany ServerLocated in Wilson, NCThis early 19th century three-drawer English mahogany server has a center drawer with arched supports below. The drawers have cockbeaded edges ...Category
Antique 1820s English Serving Tables
MaterialsBrass
$2,800 Sale Price20% Off - Three Drawer English Hepplewhite ServerLocated in Wilson, NCThis mahogany server has a bowed front. The center apron has stylized carved fans. The hardware is later.Category
Antique 1790s English Hepplewhite Serving Tables
MaterialsBrass
- English Mahogany Two Drawer ServerLocated in Wilson, NCThis Sheraton style server has a gallery that has an arched top and shaped sides. The top and drawer fronts are inlaid with Tonbridge style inlay...Category
Antique 1820s English Sheraton Serving Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Chinoiserie Jacobean Hand Painted Sideboard Server, Bar Table, or Center TableBy Theodore AlexanderLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous hand painted Chinoiserie Jacobean bar height sideboard server, bar table, or center table In the manner of Theodore Alexander Circa Late 20th Century Carved walnut, wit...Category
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Serving Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Three Drawer English Mahogany Server/Console TableLocated in Wilson, NCThe top of this table has one single board 19 1/2inches deep joined to a two inch board in the rear. The drawer fronts are flamegrained mahogany and are banded with boxwood edging. T...Category
Antique 1790s English Console Tables
MaterialsBrass