John Van Koert for Drexel Pair of Nightstands, circa 1960
View Similar Items
John Van Koert for Drexel Pair of Nightstands, circa 1960
About the Item
- Creator:John Van Koert (Designer),Drexel (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 27 in (68.58 cm)Width: 20 in (50.8 cm)Depth: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Costa Mesa, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1384217323612
Drexel
While vintage Drexel Furniture dining tables, dressers and other pieces remain highly desirable for enthusiasts of mid-century modern design, the manufacturer's story actually begins decades before its celebrated postwar-era Declaration line took shape.
In 1903, in the small town of Drexel in the foothills of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, six partners came together to found a company that would become one of the country’s leading furniture producers. The first offerings from Drexel Furniture were simple: a bed, washstand and bureau all crafted from native oakwood, sold as a bedroom suite for $14.50.
One of Drexel’s early innovations was to employ staff designers, something the company initiated in the 1930s. This focus on design, which few other furniture companies were committing to at the time, allowed Drexel to respond to a variety of new and traditional tastes. This included making pieces inspired by historic European furniture, like the popular French Provincial–style Touraine bedroom and dining group that borrowed its curves from Louis XV-era furniture. Others replicated the ornate details of 18th-century chinoiserie or the embellishments of Queen Anne furniture. Always ready to adapt to new customer demands, during World War II, Drexel built a sturdy desk designed especially for General Douglas MacArthur.
In the postwar era, Drexel embraced the clean lines of mid-century modernism with the Declaration collection designed by Stewart MacDougall and Kipp Stewart that featured elegant credenzas and more made in walnut, and the Profile and Projection collections designed with sculptural shapes by John Van Koert. In the 1970s, Drexel introduced high-end furniture in a Mediterranean style.
Drexel changed hands and visions throughout the years. It was managed by one of the original partners — Samuel Huffman — until 1935, at which time his son Robert O. Huffman took over as president. It was then that the company began to expand, with several acquisitions of competitors in the 1950s, including Table Rock Furniture, the Heritage Furniture Co. and more. With the manufacturer’s success — spurred by its embrace of advertising in home and garden magazines — it opened more factories in both North and South Carolina. By 1957, the company that had started with a factory of 50 workers had 2,300 employees and was selling its furniture nationwide.
Drexel underwent a series of name changes in its long history. Its acquisition of Southern Desk Company in 1960 bolstered its production of institutional furniture for dormitories, classrooms, churches and laboratories. In the following decades, contracts with government agencies, hotels, schools and hospitals brought its high-quality furniture to a global audience. U.S. Plywood-Champion Papers bought Drexel Enterprises in 1968, and it became Drexel Heritage Furnishings.
In 2014, the last Drexel Heritage plant, in Morganton, North Carolina, reportedly closed its doors. The company rebranded as Drexel in 2017.
The range of vintage Drexel furniture for sale on 1stDibs includes end tables designed by Edward Wormley, walnut side tables designed by Kipp Stewart and lots more.
- Pair of Kipp Stewart and Stewart McDougall Walnut Nighstands, ca. 1960Located in Costa Mesa, CAPair of Kipp Stewart and Stewart McDougall Walnut Nighstands, ca. 1960. Beautiful matched pair of walnut nightstands or side tables by Kipp Stewart and Stewart McDougall for Drexel....Category
Vintage 1960s Night Stands
MaterialsWalnut
$2,396 Sale Price20% Off - Leather Hippo Pair by Deru Germany, circa 1960By DeruLocated in Costa Mesa, CALeather Hippo Pair by Deru Germany, circa 1960. Wonderful examples with perfect warm patina to the leather. Both marked on feet and in overall good condition. Rivets are on underside. Large hippo...Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsLeather
$1,200 Sale Price / set20% Off - Pair of Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan Kantan Lounge Chairs, ca. 1960By Brown Jordan, Tadao InouyeLocated in Costa Mesa, CAPair of Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan Kantan Lounge Chairs, ca. 1960. Beautiful pair of low lounge chairs by Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan. Professionally restored newly powder coa...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsAluminum
- Pair of Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan Kantan Lounge Chairs, ca. 1960By Brown Jordan, Tadao InouyeLocated in Costa Mesa, CAPair of Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan Kantan Lounge Chairs, ca. 1960. Beautiful pair of low lounge chairs by Tadao Inouye for Brown Jordan. Professionally restored newly powder coa...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsAluminum
- Aries Ram by Miguel Duran-Loriga for Alfaraz Ceramics, circa 1960By Miguel Durán-Loriga, AlfarazLocated in Costa Mesa, CAAries Ram by Miguel Duran-Loriga for Alfaraz Ceramics, circa 1960. Wonderful ceramic ram sculpture by Miguel Duran-Loriga, manufactured by Alfaraz Workshops ...Category
Vintage 1960s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsCeramic
- Pair of 'Feather' Task Lamps by George Kovacs for Robert Sonneman, circa 1980By George Kovacs, Robert SonnemanLocated in Costa Mesa, CAPair of 'Feather' task lamps by George Kovacs for Robert Sonneman, circa 1980. Beautiful rare ochre color with counterbalanced arm. Double switch for on-off and high-low settings. Or...Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- John Van Koert for Drexel Profile Mid-Century Modern Black Lacquered NightstandsBy Drexel, John Van KoertLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous pair of Mid-Century Modern three-drawer bachelor chests or nightstands By John Van Koert for Drexel, "Profile" Collection USA, 1950s Black lacquered walnut, with ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- Expertly Restored - Rare John Van Koert "Counter Point" Night Stands for DrexelBy John Van Koert, DrexelLocated in Los Angeles, CARare John Van Koert "Counter Point" night stands for Drexel. ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furnit...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsWalnut
- John Van Koert for Drexel Cherry Wood Two-Tier Side Table, Newly RefinishedBy John Van Koert, DrexelLocated in South Bend, INA sleek and stylish Mid-Century Modern sculpted cherry wood two-tier occasional side table or nightstand By John Van Koert for Drexel, "Counterpoint" Collection USA, 1950s M...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsCherry
- Edward Wormley Pair of Nightstands Precedent Line Drexel, 1950s / 1960sBy Drexel, Edward WormleyLocated in Camden, MEEdward Wormley pair of nightstands for the Precedent collection by Drexel, circa 1947 The pair of silver elm nightstands have been refinished in a blac...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Kipp Stewart for Drexel Declaration Walnut Nightstands - PairBy Kipp Stewart, DrexelLocated in Countryside, ILKipp Stewart for Drexel Declaration Walnut Nightstands - Pair Each nightstand measures: 21 wide x 22 deep x 27.75 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call res...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsWalnut
- Pair of Drexel Heritage Consensus Pecan NightstandsBy DrexelLocated in Pasadena, TXPair of Drexel Heritage consensus pecan nightstands 1970s Campaign style nightstands made by Drexel Heritage for the Consensus line. Nig...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsWood