Restored Nine-Drawer Chest by Johnson Furniture Company in Cream Lacquer
View Similar Items
Restored Nine-Drawer Chest by Johnson Furniture Company in Cream Lacquer
About the Item
- Creator:Johnson Furniture Co. (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.5 in (80.01 cm)Width: 74 in (187.96 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1965
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU115224264903
Johnson Furniture Co.
Take a medal from the King of Sweden, a splash of the roaring twenties, and a series of talented designers and you get Johnson Furniture Co.’s elegant Art Deco and period-revival furnishings as well as a taste for why the Johnson name prevailed for over a century in American furniture manufacturing.
A wealth of forests rendered Grand Rapids, Michigan, a logging center during the 1800s. It eventually gained recognition for its furniture industry. The city became a destination for woodworkers who hailed from all over the United States as well as Europe, and Johnson Furniture Co. cofounder Carl Johnson, who had been recognized for cabinetmaking by the head of the royal family in his native Sweden, brought his royally acknowledged talents to America with his two brothers, Hjalmar and Axel in 1887. Together, they established Cabinetmakers Co. in Grand Rapids. In 1908, the brothers sold their start-up and founded Johnson Furniture Co.
Tom Handley, of the well-respected English furniture company Waring and Gillow, became an in-house designer with Johnson Furniture Co. in its early days. Handley would stay on as part of both the Johnson label and of Johnson-Handley-Johnson — a companion company that spun off from Johnson in 1922 — until his death in 1926. At the time, archaeological discoveries were all the rage. The greatest influence on Art Deco jewelry, for example, was the excavation of the tomb of King Tut in 1922, and some vintage Tom Handley designs were adaptations of Egyptian furniture. The brand specialized in a range of styles that included Art Deco, Chippendale, Queen Anne and more.
Acclaimed designer David Robertson Smith, who had made furniture in the Arts and Crafts style for the likes of Gustav Stickley, carried the Johnson Furniture Co. creative team into the early 1930s. Grand Rapids had by then become a thriving hub with respect to the mass production of furniture, and Smith’s sophisticated Dynamique line — a collection of coffee tables, cabinets and more in alluring woods such as walnut and mahogany and based on French furniture — was among the first mass-produced modern furniture made in America.
Johnson hired Lorenzo Rutili, a Carnegie Institute graduate who studied design in Europe, to lead the brand’s design division. Rutili oversaw 30 years of successful Johnson Furniture Co. collaborations with other notable designers including Paul Frankl, Eliel Saarinen, Bert England, J. Robert F. Swanson and Pipsam Saarinen Swanson. After wrapping up his tenure at Johnson, Rutili moved on to design furniture at Tomlinson in North Carolina.
During the 1960s, Kipp Stewart and Milo Baughman designed residential furnishings for Directional — a favorite of mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts — and Johnson produced these pieces, becoming the sole manufacturer for the North Carolina brand.
After a merger with Timberline Inc., Johnson Furniture Co. secured contracts for hotels, motels and university dormitories. In 1983, Johnson and Rose Manufacturing became RoseJohnson Inc. It was later purchased by La-Z-Boy.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Johnson Furniture Co. case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and other furniture.
- Stellar Restored Landstrom Eight-Drawer Chest in Cream LacquerBy Landstrom FurnitureLocated in Atlanta, GAAn absolutely gorgeous eight-drawer chest by Landstrom Furniture, circa 1950. Landstrom was a boutique Illinois firm that produced superior furniture on par with the finest productio...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsMahogany
- Stellar Restored Eight-Drawer Chest by Baker in Cream Lacquer, circa 1970By Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Atlanta, GAA beautiful eight-drawer chest by Baker, circa 1970. Expertly crafted Walnut case construction with exquisite detail. Iconic carved interlocking circle pulls accent the drawers. A pi...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWalnut
- Dramatic Restored Nine-Drawer Chest by American of Martinsville, circa 1950By American of MartinsvilleLocated in Atlanta, GAA beautiful example from a rare series by American of Martinsville, circa 1950. Stout, expertly made mahogany case construction finished in cream lacquer. Fabulous wormhole detail on...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsMahogany
- Magnificent Restored Eight Drawer Chest by Renzo Rutili, circa 1965By Johnson Furniture Co.Located in Atlanta, GAIf a piece feels like Tommi Parzinger, but is marked Johnson Furniture, there can be only one answer as to its Designer: Renzo Rutili. Mr. Rutili was a seminal furniture designer of ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass, Bronze
- Chic Restored Cream Lacquer Raffia Commode by Baker Furniture, circa 1975By Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Atlanta, GAThis magnificent commode is shipped as professionally photographed and described in the listing narrative: Meticulously professionally restored and completely installation ready. ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Sleek Meticulously Restored Cream Lacquer Commode by McGuire, circa 1970By McGuireLocated in Atlanta, GAThese magnificent commodes are shipped as professionally photographed and described in the listing narrative: Meticulously professionally restored and completely installation ready. ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Seven Drawer Chest by Paul T. Frankl for Johnson Furniture CompanyBy Paul FranklLocated in Dallas, TXBeautiful seven-drawer chest designed by Paul T. Frankl for Johnson Furniture. In excellent condition, restored in a beautiful lacquer with solid brass 'X's which have been professio...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Paul Frankl "Station Wagon" Three-Drawer Chest for Johnson FurnitureBy Johnson Furniture Co., Paul FranklLocated in Hanover, MAGorgeous three-drawer nightstand chest by Paul Frankl from his highly coveted "Station Wagon Group" created in 1945 for Johnson Furniture Company of Grand Rapids. Branded mark in top...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- French Directoire style 4 Drawer Chest in cherry and a white-cream finishLocated in Landivy, FRThis 4 drawer chest is a handmade reproduction of the French Directoire style at the end of the 18th century. This period is remarkable for its straight, classical and timeless lines...Category
2010s French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- American Furniture Company Gothic Revival Oak Tallboy Dresser Chest of DrawersLocated in Dayton, OHAmerican Furniture Company Gothic or Spanish Renaissance Revival tallboy dresser, Circa 1930s. Operating out of Batesville Indiana since 189...Category
Vintage 1930s Gothic Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsOak
$2,000 Sale Price20% Off - Mid-Century Modern George Nelson Herman Miller 5 Drawer Chest Dresser RestoredBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Rockaway, NJMid-Century Modern George Nelson Herman Miller 5 drawer chest dresser restored.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
- Kittinger Chippendale Burled Walnut Eight-Drawer Dresser Chest, Newly RestoredBy KittingerLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Chippendale style dresser or chest of drawers By Kittinger Furniture USA, circa 1930s Solid walnut, with burled walnut drawer fronts and original brass hardwa...Category
Early 20th Century American Chippendale Dressers
MaterialsBrass