Baker Collector's Edition Walnut & Tooled Leather Desk
View Similar Items
Baker Collector's Edition Walnut & Tooled Leather Desk
About the Item
- Creator:Baker Furniture Company (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 30 in (76.2 cm)Width: 54 in (137.16 cm)Depth: 28 in (71.12 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good antique condition.
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8419778710
Baker Furniture Company
Owing to the company’s collaborations with many leading designers and artists over time, vintage Baker furniture is consistently sought after today. The heritage brand’s chairs, dining tables, desks and other pieces are widely known to collectors and design enthusiasts for their fine craftsmanship and durability.
Within a few decades of its launch, Baker Furniture Company evolved into one of the largest and most important furniture manufacturers in the United States, and became known for its high-quality production standards. Siebe Baker and business partner Henry Cook founded the original iteration of Baker Furniture Company in 1890 in Allegan, Michigan, after immigrating to the United States from the Netherlands. Allegan is a small town west of Grand Rapids, which, at that time was home to Widdicomb Furniture Co. and more and was known as America’s furniture capital. The company manufactured doors and interior moldings, and introduced a combination desk and bookcase in 1893. In the early 1900s, Siebe became sole owner of the business.
Among others, stage designer Joseph Urban and modernist designer Kem Weber contributed designs to Baker in the 1920s. In 1932, under the leadership of Siebe’s son, Hollis, who started at the company as a salesman but took the reins when his father passed in 1925, Baker Furniture introduced bedroom pieces and debuted its Manor House collection, which made reproductions of European furnishings available to the American market. (Hollis was an avid traveler and procured antiques overseas for the company to reproduce in the United States.) Soon, Baker Furniture Company moved to Holland, Michigan, and eventually opened showrooms in Grand Rapids and elsewhere.
Pioneering Scandinavian designer Finn Juhl created a Danish modern line for Baker in 1951, and the company produced his award-winning Chieftain chair for a short time. In the late 1950s, Baker introduced the Milling Road label to reach a younger audience with stylish but less costly furnishings like console tables, walnut dining chairs and more, and in 1961, British furniture designer T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings introduced a modern neoclassical line at Baker.
The 1960s and ’70s saw the introduction of historic reproduction furniture lines such as Woburn Abbey and the Historic Charleston collection, which remain very popular to this day. In 1990, Baker was licensed to produce a furniture line from Colonial Williamsburg. That same year, the Smithsonian Museum introduced Baker’s Chippendale chair into its permanent collection and the Grand Rapids Art Museum dedicated an exhibition to Baker’s 100-year anniversary, a showcase that included 150 pieces of furniture Siebe Baker had collected as part of a larger assortment that had served as inspiration for his designs.
Today, vintage Baker furniture, such as its elegant mahogany nightstands and teak credenzas — particularly those crafted by Finn Juhl — sees high demand online and elsewhere. The company continues to produce contemporary collections with well-known designers such as Bill Sofield, Barbara Barry and Kara Mann and remains on par with some of the highest quality furniture in the industry.
Browse vintage Baker armchairs, sofas, coffee tables and more on 1stDibs.
- Baker "Collectors Edition" Figured Walnut Bombe Three-Drawer CommodeBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Chicago, ILBaker Furniture collector's edition bombe-front figured walnut four-drawer commode. Linen fold solid brass drop pulls, scalloped top and apron. Canted corner front legs with scallope...Category
Vintage 1960s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Pierre Paulin Bird's-Eye Maple and Walnut Inlay Executive DeskBy Pierre Paulin, Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Chicago, ILRare Pierre Paulin executive desk for Baker. Bird's-eye maple veneers inlaid with dark walnut in the signature motif for the Paulin Collection. Drawers are fitted to give a floating ...Category
Vintage 1980s American Desks
MaterialsBirdseye Maple, Walnut
- Sligh Walnut Curved Front Desk with Leather TopBy Sligh-Lowry Furniture Co.Located in Chicago, ILElegant and timeless walnut and tooled brown leather top curved front five drawer desk or writing table from Sligh. Cabriole legs and scalloped bottom and centre drawers as well as c...Category
Vintage 1950s American Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Bert England Persian Walnut and Leather Desk for John WiddicombBy John Widdicomb, Bert EnglandLocated in Chicago, ILFrom California designer Bert England's Orientation Group for John Widdicomb Company, this extraordinary desk is made of Persian walnut and solid mahogany. Wrapping around the fr...Category
Vintage 1960s American Desks
MaterialsBrass
- Mariani for Pace Grey-Green Leather Executive Desk and CredenzaBy i4 Mariani, Pace CollectionLocated in Chicago, ILItalian executive desk by Mariani for Pace Collection. Modular desk assembles in pieces for easy adjustments and moving. Teal grey leather has tooled borders where the hides are join...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Desks
MaterialsLeather, Wood, Laminate
- Drexel Sandia Collection Jacobean Drop-Front DeskBy DrexelLocated in Chicago, ILDrexel drop front desk from the Sandia Collection, circa 1960s. Interesting writing desk marrying the form of a Govenor Winthrop drop front desk with early English Jacobean...Category
Vintage 1970s American Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Baker Furniture American Mid-Century Walnut, Leather, and Brass Faux Bamboo DeskBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in New York, NYAmerican Mid-Century walnut desk with a black leather top and three drawers with rounded wooden drawer pulls, resting on four stretcher-connected b...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Amuneal’s Collector’s 4 Bay Office UnitBy AmunealLocated in New York, NYFour bays of our collector’s shelving system are used to create this modular office configuration with desk, adjustable display shelving, drawers and la...Category
2010s American Modern Desks
MaterialsBrass
$39,055 / item - BAKER Collector's Edition Hand Painted Lacquered Chinoiserie Occasional ChestBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Charlotte, NCAn Asian Style occasional four-drawer chest by Baker Furniture, from their Collector's Edition. Solid wood with rust red color lacquer, hand painted with chinoiserie scenes to drawer...Category
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsMarble, Brass
- Pair, Baker Collector’s Edition French Country Style 3 Drawer CommodeBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Atlanta, GAPair, Baker Collector’s Edition French Country Style 3 Drawer Commode Each finely constructed French country style chest features 3 drawers with p...Category
20th Century Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Baker Vintage Campaign Style Leather Top Partners DeskBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Palm Beach, FLHandsome mid century partners desk crafted in mahogany with ebony trim and brass hardware featuring three tooled leather panels on the top over a campaign style twin pedestal form ha...Category
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Desks
MaterialsMahogany
- Baker Furniture French Provincial Walnut Secretary Desk With Bookcase HutchBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Carved walnut, with original brass har...Category
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Desks
MaterialsBrass
