Pair of Vintage Devoncourt Bachelor Chests from Drexel
View Similar Items
Pair of Vintage Devoncourt Bachelor Chests from Drexel
About the Item
- Creator:Drexel (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 35.5 in (90.17 cm)Depth: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:British Colonial (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1980
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good original vintage condition with only minimal signs of use/age.
- Seller Location:Hartville, OH
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8594234252292
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.
- 1980s Vintage Chests From Century FurnitureBy Century FurnitureLocated in Hartville, OH1 of 2 Monumental Chests of Drawers from Century Furniture. Distressed finish, beautiful hardware and cream stone tops. These are huge and have a strong European rustic feel. Italian...Category
Vintage 1980s American British Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsStone
$2,875 / item - John Widdicomb Vintage Burled Bachelor Chests, a PairBy John WiddicombLocated in Hartville, OHExtraordinary in every way. Uber Rare 1950’s Burled Wood Bachelor Chests from John Widdicomb. Condition Disclosure: Please understand nearly all of our inventory is comprised of ra...Category
Vintage 1950s North American Dressers
MaterialsWood
- 1970s Vintage Century Furniture Omni Collection 4 Drawer ChestBy Century FurnitureLocated in Hartville, OHMagnificent vintage piece from the Omni Collection by Century Furniture. Monumental in size this beauty has a huge presence both physically and beauty. The largest drawers you’ve e...Category
Vintage 1970s American Beaux Arts Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWood
- 1970s Vintage Drexel Heritage Chinoiserie CredenzaBy DrexelLocated in Hartville, OHFabulous vintage hand painted Chinoiserie Credenza from Drexel Heritage. This is a rare one. Not often do you find the interior doors that have been hand painted as well. It’s also ...Category
Vintage 1970s North American Chinoiserie Buffets
MaterialsLacquer
- Trio of Vintage Burled Wood Cabinets from Century FurnitureBy Century FurnitureLocated in Hartville, OHSpectacular trio of Burled Wood Chests from famed Century Furniture. It’s remarkable to find one of these chests available in today’s vintage market ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsWalnut
- 1970s Vintage Chinoiserie Secretary From Jasper Cabinet CoBy Jasper Furniture CompanyLocated in Hartville, OHBeautiful piece. Pristine original condition. Very rare leather writing surface inset. Artist hand-painted scenes from the orient. Condition Disclosure: Please understand nearly ...Category
Vintage 1970s North American Chinoiserie Secretaires
MaterialsLacquer
- Drexel Campaign Chest of Drawers / Bachelor Chest, Circa 1960sBy DrexelLocated in Germantown, MDOffered is a beautiful 1966 Campaign Chest of drawers / Bachelor campaign Chest in excellent condition by Drexel. Smooth gliding dovetail drawers. Measures 34" Wide x 19" Deep x 45...Category
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
$975 Sale Price / item35% Off - DREXEL Chippendale Cherry Block Front Goddard Bachelor ChestBy DrexelLocated in Charlotte, NCA Chippendale Goddard style block front bachelor chest by Drexel. Solid cherry with brass hardware, block front, shell carvings to top drawer and ogee brac...Category
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Edward Wormley for Drexel Precedent Black Lacquered Bachelor Chest, RefinishedBy Drexel, Edward WormleyLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Mid-Century Modern five-drawer dresser chest By Edward Wormley for Drexel, "Precedent" Collection USA, 1948 Black lacquered elm wood, with original brass hard...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Quality Vintage Drexel Mahogany Chest On ChestBy DrexelLocated in Bridgeport, CTFinely crafted as Drexel is known for. The two part chest on chest with a broken bonnet top with urn finial. The top chest with three small drawers, the middle with a carved shell, over four graduated long drawers. The lower chest with one long over three small drawers, the middle one with carved shell. Fine brass bat...Category
20th Century American American Classical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Kipp Stewart Drexel Declaration Bachelors Chest Mid-centuryBy Kipp StewartLocated in Pemberton, NJLovely and rare kipp stewart designed bachelors chest for drexel declaration. The original finish is gorgeous-seems to be glowing. The hardware is the original porcelain white balls...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWalnut
- Dresser Chest by DrexelBy DrexelLocated in Philadelphia, PADrexel modernist three drawer dresser chest. Walnut cabinet with pull rings sitting on a brass plates. Fully re-finished. All drawers come with removable lining covered in faux suede.Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWalnut
$2,360 Sale Price20% Off