Heywood Wakefield "Sculptura" Tufted Maple Swivel Stool, 1950s
View Similar Items
Heywood Wakefield "Sculptura" Tufted Maple Swivel Stool, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Heywood-Wakefield Co. (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)Width: 19.5 in (49.53 cm)Depth: 19.5 in (49.53 cm)Seat Height: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Bainbridge, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 1169061919RR1209191stDibs: LU913915127561
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.
- Set of Three Benjamin Baldwin Stye Tractor Seat Swivel Stools, 1950sBy Benjamin BaldwinLocated in Bainbridge, NYTrio of American Mid Century handcrafted tractor seat bar stools in the style of Benjamin Baldwin. Featuring a sturdy, open Iron framework, foo...Category
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Stools
MaterialsIron
- Early Gilbert Rohde for Heywood Wakefield Bentwood Coffee TableBy Heywood-Wakefield Co., Gilbert RohdeLocated in Bainbridge, NYGilbert Rohde for Heywood Wakefield Steam Bent Maple Coffee Table, C. 1930. Featuring a floating, laminated steam bent Maple surface, flared upturned ends, rectangular Maple lift, ...Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsPlywood, Maple
- Pair of Oak & Leather Architect Swivel Stools with Heel Ring, Circa 1910Located in Bainbridge, NYPair of Early 20th Century Oak and Dark Brown Leather 33H Swivel Stools. Featuring a solid Oak framework,footrest, round padded vintage leather seats...Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Stools
MaterialsIron
- Karl Springer Tufted Bench in Lucite & Brass, 1970'sBy Karl SpringerLocated in Bainbridge, NYKarl Springer lucite and brass upholstered bench, stool, circa 1980. Featuring a braced rectangular polished brass cross bar frame, four solid cylindrical lucite legs with tufted, luxe woven upholstery...Category
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Benches
MaterialsBrass
- Adolf Loos Egyptian Theben StoolBy Adolf LoosLocated in Bainbridge, NYEgyptian Revival Adolf Loos attributed Theban Beechwood Tripod stool, circa 19l5. Featuring a handcrafted splined, tri legged framework, sculpted seat, and b...Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Egyptian Revival Stools
MaterialsBeech
- Gilbert Rhode for Troy Sunshade "Flamingo" Chrome Line Stool, 1940'sBy Gilbert Rohde, Troy Sunshade CompanyLocated in Bainbridge, NYGilbert Rohde attributed Chrome and Leather Flamingo Chrome Line Stool. Featuring a strong circular four legged Chrome framework, 12.5 W corner to corner leg measurements, new black ...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Stools
MaterialsChrome
- MCM Heywood Wakefield Style Walnut Swivel Rocking Lounge Chair & OttomanBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Chicago, ILMid-Century Modern Heywood Wakefield Style Walnut Swivel Rocking Lounge Chair & Ottoman Newly Upholstered in "Black-Beauty" Button Tufted Italian Leather and Cowhide Classic Mid-...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsCowhide, Leather, Walnut
- Heywood Wakefield, Settee, Maple, Mohair, USA, 1950sBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in High Point, NCA maple and green mohair fabric settee designed and produced by Heywood Wakefield, USA, 1950s. Seat height 18.5” Reupholstered in brand new mohairCategory
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Settees
MaterialsMohair, Maple
- Heywood Wakefield, Settee, Maple, Fabric, USA, 1950sBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in High Point, NCA maple and green velvet fabric settee designed and produced by Heywood Wakefield, USA, 1950s. Seat height 16”Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Settees
MaterialsFabric, Velvet, Maple
- Heywood Wakefield, Settee, Maple, Velvet, USA, 1950sBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in High Point, NCA maple and green velvet fabric settee designed and produced by Heywood Wakefield, USA, 1950s. Seat height 16”Category
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Settees
MaterialsVelvet, Maple
- Tufted Rolling StoolLocated in Brooklyn, NYVintage tufted stool with chrome frame on casters. (Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - with dealer).Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Stools
MaterialsChrome
- Mid Century Trapeze Wood Stools, Italy, 1950sBy Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in SAINT-OUEN, FRFine Italian Modernist mid century trapeze wood poufs stools or benches attributed to Osvaldo Borsani. In the mood of Gio Ponti, Achille and Pier Giacomo Cas...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Stools
MaterialsWood
$3,603 / set