Pair of Mid-Century Asian Inspired Nightstands by Ray Sabota for Century
View Similar Items
Pair of Mid-Century Asian Inspired Nightstands by Ray Sabota for Century
About the Item
- Creator:Raymond K. Sobota (Designer),Century Furniture (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 24 in (60.96 cm)Width: 22 in (55.88 cm)Depth: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Wood,Lacquered
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor imperfections in the finish visible at certain angles.
- Seller Location:Peabody, MA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU88803414972
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.
- Pair of Korean Bandaji Side Tables / NightstandsLocated in Peabody, MAPair of Korean Bandaji (blanket) chests on stands with intricate brass-work and hardware. Were used as night stands.Category
Vintage 1920s Korean Meiji Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
$1,575 / set - Pair of Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern Night Stands, circa 1950sBy Charak Furniture Company, Tommi ParzingerLocated in Peabody, MAPair of scoop front nightstands by Tommi Parzinger for Charak Modern, circa 1950s.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsMahogany
- Pair of Bamboo and Rattan Night Stands Circa 1970sLocated in Peabody, MAPair of rattan and bamboo nightstands with cane wrapped accents, circa 1970s.Category
Vintage 1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsBamboo, Cane, Rattan
- Pair of Sleek Modernist Mahogany Step End Tables, Ca. 1960sLocated in Peabody, MAPair of minimalist step end tables in mahogany, circa 1960s.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
MaterialsMahogany
- Pair of Regency Style End Tables with Marble Tops circa 1960sLocated in Peabody, MAPair of mid-century end tables in the regency style, with Italian marble tops over open-work wood bases with brass scrollwork.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
MaterialsMarble
- Pair of European Hand Painted Bed Side Tables, Circa 1940sLocated in Peabody, MAA charming pair of hand decorated bedside tables, most likely Italian, circa 1940s.Category
Vintage 1940s Unknown Country Night Stands
MaterialsWood, Paint
Sold$1,795 / set
- Unusual Pair of Cerused Faux Bamboo Chests by Ray SabotaBy Century FurnitureLocated in Atlanta, GAA Wonderful pair of cerused faux bamboo small chests by Ray Sabota for Century Furniture Company, circa 1970's. Brass hardware and lovely Greek Key motifs a...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Mid Century Italian NightstandsLocated in Albano Laziale, Rome/LazioA pair of mid century Italian handmade nightstands made from birch root veneer and details in cherry wood. Each nightstand is equipped with a draw...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
$3,281 / set - Mid-Century Modern Nightstands by American of Martinsville, a PairBy American of MartinsvilleLocated in Brooklyn, NYStylish pair of Mid-Century Modern nightstands manufactured by American of Martinsville. Well-built frame with walnut veneer exterior. A nice addition to any modern interior. Please ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsWalnut
- 1950s Pair of Mid-Century Modern Nightstands by George Nelson for Herman MillerBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Sagaponack, NYA set of two (2) Mid-Century Modern walnut end tables / nightstands designed by George Nelson with satin-chromed legs and a lateral drawer. Made by Herman Miller in the USA, circa 19...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsMetal
- Pair of Mid Century Style Walnut NightstandsLocated in Westwood, NJMid century style nightstands, constructed of American walnut with a transparent, hand-rubbed finish. The drawer fronts feature waln...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsWood
On Hold$7,244 / item - Pair of Mid Century Style D Form NightstandsLocated in Westwood, NJMid century style D form nightstand, constructed of American walnut with a transparent, hand-rubbed finish. The drawer fronts feature walnut veneers in a box match styling and the ha...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsWood
$6,995 / item