Michael Taylor for Baker Far East Collection Walnut Drop Front Secretary Desk
View Similar Items
Michael Taylor for Baker Far East Collection Walnut Drop Front Secretary Desk
About the Item
- Creator:Baker Furniture Company (Manufacturer),Michael Taylor (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 43.25 in (109.86 cm)Width: 40 in (101.6 cm)Depth: 19 in (48.26 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960s
- Condition:Very good vintage condition. Minor wear expected with age and use.
- Seller Location:South Bend, IN
- Reference Number:Seller: 82311stDibs: LU2745327066582
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.
- Michael Taylor for Baker Far East Ebonized Cabinet With Secretary Desk, 1960sBy Baker Furniture Company, Michael TaylorLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous mid-century modern Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie stacking cabinet or chest with drop front secretary desk By Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture, "Far East Collection" US...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
MaterialsBrass
- Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture Far East Collection Walnut Bar Cabinet, 1960sBy Baker Furniture Company, Michael TaylorLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous mid-century modern Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie stacking lighted wall unit or bar cabinet By Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture, "Far East Collection" USA, 1960s Gorge...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsBrass, Silver Leaf
- Michael Taylor for Baker Far East Collection Walnut Double Dresser, RefinishedBy Baker Furniture Company, Michael TaylorLocated in South Bend, INA stunning mid-century modern Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie eight-drawer double dresser or credenza By Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture, "Far East" Collection USA, 1960s Carved ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
- Michael Taylor for Baker Far East Collection Chinoiserie Walnut Coffee TableBy Baker Furniture Company, Michael TaylorLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous mid-century modern Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie sculpted walnut coffee table or cocktail table By Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture, "Far East Collection" USA, 1960s ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- Michael Taylor for Baker Far East Black Lacquer and Gold Leaf Bar Cabinet, 1960sBy Baker Furniture Company, Michael TaylorLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous mid-century modern Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie stacking lighted wall unit or bar cabinet By Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture, "Far East C...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsBrass, Gold Leaf
- Michael Taylor for Baker Far East Collection Walnut Dining Chairs, Set of SixBy Baker Furniture Company, Michael TaylorLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous set of six Mid-Century Modern Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie dining chairs By Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture "Far East" Collection USA, 1960s Solid carved walnut frames, with gold faux bois...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- Michael Taylor "Far East" Credenza by BakerBy Baker Furniture Company, Michael TaylorLocated in Highland, INA great design in fantastic original condition, this Michael Taylor credenza by Baker Furniture is part of his "Far East" design which incorporates Asian motifs in the designs. The b...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsWood
- Pair Baker Far East Collection Michael Taylor Natural Elmwood Colonnade CabinetsBy Baker Furniture Company, Baker Far East Collection, Michael TaylorLocated in Topeka, KSWonderful vintage Asian Style chinoiserie Baker Furniture Far East Collection by Michael Taylor pair of cabinets. Comprised of natural ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Cabinets
MaterialsBrass
- Michael Taylor for Baker - Credenza Cabinet - Far East Collection - Coral RedBy Baker Furniture Company, Baker Far East Collection, Michael TaylorLocated in Decatur, GAExquisite credenza sideboard by Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture, circa early 1950s. Part of his iconic "Far East" Collection and finished in a custom ordered deep coral tone lacqu...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsLacquer, Wood
- Pair of Michael Taylor for Baker Far East Collection Dresser Chests CommodeBy Baker Furniture Company, Baker Far East Collection, Michael TaylorLocated in Hudson, NYExceptional pair of solid wood dressers designed by Michael Taylor for the very collectable "Far East Collection" by Baker Furniture. This pair has been expertly refinished by Columbia County's premier woodworker Michael Gregorio. This finish shows the action or the original wood which appears to be elm. The double ring door pulls which are the Michael Taylor signature complete the look. The design of these dressers are the definition of style meets function.Although elegantly styled- the pieces are solid and very usable. We are offering the pair in this listing as well as a second pair which you can find in our other listings. We also have available the companion "vanity" piece which can be added between any of the pieces as shown in the last few photographs. All dressers...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWood, Elm
- Pair of Michael Taylor for Baker Far East Collection Dresser Chests CommodesBy Baker Furniture Company, Baker Far East Collection, Michael TaylorLocated in Hudson, NYExceptional pair of solid wood dressers designed by Michael Taylor for the very collectable "Far East Collection" by Baker Furniture. This pair has been expertly refinished by Columbia County's premier woodworker Michael Gregorio. This finish shows the action of the original wood which appears to be elm. The double ring door pulls which are the Michael Taylor signature complete the look. The design of these dressers are the definition of style meets function.Although elegantly styled- the pieces are solid and very usable. We are offering the pair in this listing as well as a second pair which you can find in our other listings. We also have available the companion "vanity" piece which can be added between any of the pieces as shown in the last few photographs. All dressers...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWood, Elm
- Frank Van Steenberg for Baker Far East Collection Walnut SideboardBy Baker Furniture Company, Frank Van SteenbergLocated in Chicago, ILBaker Far East collection figured walnut sideboard. Pair of hinged doors with large solid brass escutcheons open to reveal four drawers. Set of three siding doors with recessed panel...Category
Vintage 1950s American Sideboards
MaterialsBrass
