Heywood Wakefield Blond "Encore" Step Back Cupboard China Cabinet Etagere
About the Item
- Creator:Heywood-Wakefield Co. (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 64 in (162.56 cm)Width: 33 in (83.82 cm)Depth: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950
- Condition:Refinished. Restored.
- Seller Location:Van Nuys, CA
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Van Nuys, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Heywood-Wakefield "Kohinoor" Sculpted Extra-Wide 6-Drawer DresserBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Van Nuys, CAHeywood-Wakefield "Kohinoor" 6 -drawer dresser with extra-wide drawers, sculpted front, and tapered legs all finished in the "Encore Yellow" Birch.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBirch
- Heywood-Wakefield Butterfly Drop-Leaf Wishbone Dining TableBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Van Nuys, CAThis original solid maple "Butterfly" dining table by Heywood-Wakefield circa 1948 features a unique three-leg wishbone base with two center leaves and folding sides. Dimensions: -...Category
Vintage 1940s American Tables
MaterialsSteel
- High Style Mid Century Reading Chair w/ Ottoman by Heywood WakefieldBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Van Nuys, CACirca 1950 modern Heywood Wakefield reading chair with stylished pouf ottoman. The chair featuring a beautiful wood border with nail-back decorative edge and tapered legs. The ottoma...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Restored Mid Century Maple and Faux Rattan Corner Table by Heywood WakefieldBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Van Nuys, CARestored Mid Century Maple corner table by Heywood Wakefield with Faux Rattan single strand legs made of oak and a cut out corner to fit your unique interior needs or to feature Wake...Category
Vintage 1950s End Tables
MaterialsMaple, Oak
- Restored "1949er" Rattan Sofa & Lounge Set by Heywood WakefieldLocated in Van Nuys, CAThree-strand "1949er" rattan living room set by Heywood Wakefield featuring a 3 seat sofa and set of two lounge chairs with decorative"1949er" arms and arched base. A great example o...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsRattan
- Restored "1949er" Rattan 3-Strand Lounge Chair by Heywood WakefieldLocated in Van Nuys, CAThree-strand "1949er" rattan living-room lounge chair by Heywood Wakefield features decorative arched u arms and arched base. Great example of early post-war American rattan furnitur...Category
Vintage 1950s Lounge Chairs
MaterialsRattan
- MCM 2-Piece China Hutch Cabinet Buffet by Heywood Wakefield Contessa CollectionBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Topeka, KSMid-Century Modern 2-piece china hutch, cabinet, or buffet by Heywood Wakefield for the Contessa Collection. Comprised of 2-pieces a top hutch & a bottom buffet in a dark cherrywood, woven wicker basket weave or caned door fronts, brass toned pulls, & slim steel legs. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. There are nicks on the left side of the buffet edge toward the front. Stiffener has been added underneath buffet as the cabinet had sagged in the middle making doors uneven. Stiffener corrected that issue. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, 1960’s. In 1959, the Heywood Wakefield “Contessa” slogan was "Wood for warmth and grace ... steel for strength and rigidity." "Furniture of Slender Elegance." And does this China cabinet ever fit that description. The Contessa line features a darker cherrywood, gold or brass toned accents, and slim steel legs. This cabinet has 2 pieces. A bottom buffet that features brass toned pulls that open two sets of double doors. There are three drawers on the right side with a silverware tray in the top drawer. The left side is open storage. The top hutch features two rolling side doors with woven wicker basket weave, or caned, door fronts and three shelves in the center. The whole cabinet stands on slim steel legs and exudes mid-century modern magnificence! This awesome, versatile china cabinet or buffet will look amazing whether you place it in the dining room, living room, study, or the kitchen. It is adaptable enough to blend right in whether your design style leans to Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian Modern, industrial, southwestern, or modern country. In 1897, two prominent furniture companies, Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company merged and created Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company; the name would be shortened to Heywood-Wakefield in 1921. The new company rose to popularity in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s with its solid wood, Art Deco-inspired, mid-century modern furniture. In 1992, South Beach Furniture Company acquired the rights to the Heywood-Wakefield name. After realizing how in demand vintage Heywood Wakefield pieces were, production began on new pieces that remained true to the style, quality, and values of the original company. Today's Heywood-Wakefield is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the name and its famous pieces while incorporating new and contemporary technology which allows new generations to appreciate the classic looks from a classic company. This is a fabulous piece by Heywood Wakefield’s Contessa...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsMetal
- Restored Heywood Wakefield Wheat Finish M326 Cabinet BookcaseBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Chattanooga, TNThis listing is for ONE cabinet. There are TWO cabinets available. Contact us if you want to buy two. We can give you a custom combined price and shipping quote. Versatility abounds with this Heywood Wakefield M326 bookcase cabinet. Coffee bar, book case, or entryway console are just a few ideas. As a dry bar, the adjustable / removable shelf will allow you to keep that whiskey collection cozy. Buy both cabinets and flank your bed for the ultimate nightstand experience. These shallow (11″ deep) gems will fit practically anywhere. 36” Wide x 11” Deep x 32.75” High Collectors know that it is difficult to find original Heywood in good condition. The fair color wood typically shows all the flaws of half century of use. You’ll be delighted to know that this pair of cabinets has been mostly restored. The Heywood finishes are among the most challenging to replicate. We are pleased to say that we have achieved a a near perfect muted grain and color match to the the original Heywood Wakefield wheat...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsMaple
- Pair of Vintage Restored Solid Maple Heywood Wakefield Wheat Bookcase CabinetsBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Chattanooga, TNVersatility abounds with this Pair of Heywood Wakefield cabinets. Coffee bar, book case, or entryway console are just a few ideas. As a dry bar, the adjustable / removable shelf will allow you to keep that whiskey collection cozy. Flank your bed for the ultimate nightstand experience. These shallow (11" deep) gems will fit practically anywhere. Collectors know that it is difficult to find original Heywood in good condition. The fair color wood typically shows all the flaws of half century of use. You’ll be delighted to know that this pair of cabinets has been mostly restored. The Heywood finishes are among the most challenging to replicate. We are pleased to say that we have achieved a a near perfect muted grain and color match to the the original Heywood Wakefield wheat...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsMaple
- Heywood Wakefield Wheat Finish Bookcase Media Cabinet Dry Bar on Hairpin LegsBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Chattanooga, TNOur shop elevated (literally) this Incredibly versatile Heywood Wakefield display hutch bar with a sleek set of 12" metal hairpin legs. Instead of using only screws, we opted to inst...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Heywood Wakefield Compact Bar or Cabinet BookcaseBy Heywood Brothers & Co.Located in Wichita, KSWonderful smaller Heywood Wakefield cabinet - originally marked as a bookshelf but can be used as a bar or a sideboard in many ways. The fini...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsWood
- Mid Century Modern Heywood Wakefield Two Door Bookcase in Wheat Circa 1950By Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Big Flats, NY***Ask About Reduced In-House Shipping Rates - Reliable Service & Fully Insured*** Mid Century Modern Heywood Wakefield Bookcase with Upper Shelf over Double Door Blind Cabinet in Wh...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsBirch