Pair of Antique Georgian Style Lacquered Chinoiserie Bookcases
View Similar Items
Pair of Antique Georgian Style Lacquered Chinoiserie Bookcases
About the Item
- Creator:Drexel (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 79.93 in (203 cm)Width: 36.23 in (92 cm)Depth: 14.97 in (38 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Chinoiserie (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: 79481stDibs: LU2369338371752
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.
- Antique Chinese Style Lacquered Chinoiserie Nest of TablesLocated in London, GBA beautiful and very well made antique Chinese style lacquered chinoiserie nest of tables. They were most likely made in England, they date from around the 1970-80’s. The quality is...Category
Vintage 1970s British Chinoiserie Nesting Tables and Stacking Tables
MaterialsWood
- Antique Georgian Style BookcaseLocated in London, GBA handsome and top quality large antique Georgian style bookcase. This dates from around the 1950’s. It is beautifully made, with gorgeous veneers. There is a lovely astral glaze de...Category
Vintage 1950s British Georgian Bookcases
MaterialsGlass, Wood
- Antique Edwardian BookcaseLocated in London, GBAn excellent antique Edwardian Sheraton Revival period bookcase. This was made in England, it dates from around 1900-1910 period. It is of amazing q...Category
Antique 1890s British Sheraton Bookcases
MaterialsGlass, Wood
- Antique Georgian Style Open BookcaseLocated in London, GBA large and impressive antique Georgian style open bookcase. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1950’s. It is of superb quality and is a very useful size. It is very...Category
Vintage 1950s British Georgian Bookcases
MaterialsWood
- Antique Georgian Style Open BookcaseLocated in London, GBA large and impressive antique Georgian style open bookcase. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1950’s. It is of superb quality and is a very useful size. It is very...Category
Vintage 1950s British Georgian Bookcases
MaterialsWood
- Antique Georgian Period SideboardLocated in London, GBA wonderful antique Georgian period sideboard. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1800 period. It is very well made and is a lovely s...Category
Antique Early 1800s British George III Sideboards
MaterialsWood
- English Georgian Style Lacquered Chinoiserie CabinetLocated in New York, NYEnglish Georgian-style (19/20th Century) red lacquered chinoiserie design cabinet with bombe shaped base with drawers and 2 glass doors on upper section.Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Georgian Cabinets
- Georgian Style Chinoiserie Olive-Green Lacquered Blind Door Corner CupboardLocated in West Palm Beach, FLGeorgian style Chinoiserie olive-green Lacquered blind door corner cupboard England, Circa 1890s A good example of late 19th century English Chinoiserie lacquer work in a medium...Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Chinoiserie Corner Cupboards
MaterialsWood
$1,800 Sale Price20% Off - Kindel Furniture Georgian Chinoiserie Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase CabinetBy Kindel FurnitureLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style breakfront bookcase or dining cabinet with hand-painted Chinoiserie scenes By Kindel Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Carved mahogany, with mull...Category
Vintage 1960s American Chinoiserie Cabinets
MaterialsBrass
- Antique Chinoiserie Jacobean Red Lacquered Hand Painted Bookcase or Bar CabinetBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous antique Chinoiserie Jacobean style bookcase, dining cabinet, or bar cabinet In the manner of Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1920s Red lacquered carved walnut, with hand pai...Category
Vintage 1920s American Chinoiserie Cabinets
MaterialsBrass
- A Superb Pair of Cream Lacquered Chinoiserie Decorated Cabinets.Located in Chillerton, Isle of WightA Superb Pair of Cream Lacquered Chinoiserie Decorated Cabinets. A Prime example of chinoiserie decor with traditional Chinese illustrations on the front panelled doors and a simpl...Category
Antique 1890s Chinoiserie Cabinets
MaterialsLacquer
- Chinoiserie Lacquered CabinetLocated in Newport Beach, CAContinental 2 door hand painted and lacquered cabinet with Chinoiserie design on front. Antiqued bronze hardware. 2 interior shelves.Category
Vintage 1920s European Chinoiserie Cabinets
MaterialsBronze