Kent Coffey Mid-Century "Eloquence" Walnut Dresser

Name: Kent Coffey Mid-Century "Eloquence" Walnut Dresser
Brand: Kent-Coffey
Rating: 4.9 (182 reviews)

About the Item

An iconic piece of American mid-century modern design, this Kent Coffey "Eloquence" 9-Drawer Lowboy Dresser offers the perfect combination of sophisticated style, quality craftsmanship, and generous storage. Crafted in warm walnut, the dresser features the clean lines and sculptural details that have made the Eloquence collection one of the most sought-after furniture series of the mid-century era. The expansive nine-drawer layout provides exceptional organization, with ample space for clothing, linens, and accessories. Distinctive carved drawer pulls and subtly contoured drawer fronts add depth and visual interest while maintaining the collection's refined, minimalist aesthetic. The long, low profile creates a striking presence and makes an ideal foundation for displaying artwork, mirrors, or decorative objects. Please confirm location with seller (NY or NJ)

Creator:
Kent-Coffey (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 31 in (78.74 cm)Width: 64 in (162.56 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Walnut
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Mid-20th
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor structural damages. Minor fading. Discoloration/fading, scuffs/scratches, stains on top veneer, chipping on drawer and top, edge-wear, dings/dents.
Seller Location:
Brooklyn, NY
Reference Number:
Seller: 18237-2773P1stDibs: LU921850512782

Shop All Kent-Coffey

Kent-Coffey

Established in 1907 by Finley H. Coffey and Dr. A.A. Kent, a contemporary and competitor of furniture makers John Bernhardt and James Broyhill, the Kent-Coffey Manufacturing Company in Lenoir, North Carolina, developed a name for itself by designing and mass-producing durable, affordable and stylish bedroom furniture, dressers, tables and other items.

Consider Kent-Coffey a precursor to IKEA, with sturdy oak and mahogany furniture rather than particleboard structures and an American-design bent rather than a Swedish one. The company's mid-century modern furniture, under the leadership of Finley’s son Harold, took off. A magazine ad from the era for the brand’s Perspecta collection positioned a minimalist bedroom set front and center, with its walnut and rosewood dresser, an elegant nine-drawer piece that rested on tapered legs and featured gorgeous sculptural details carved into its drawer fronts, occupying most of the page’s real estate. The materials for Kent-Coffey furniture were sourced locally, as the company touted its relationship with the Lilly Company in nearby High Points, North Carolina, as a supplier of its mahogany, for example.

In 1964, Kent-Coffey Manufacturing Company was sold to Magnavox (but reportedly operated as a wholly owned subsidiary thereafter), and later, in 1983, the company became part of the furniture branch of the Singer Company (of the sewing-machine fame). Singer shuttered its furniture division in the late 1990s.

Today, as is the case with most of the sophisticated furniture designed in postwar America, work that originated at Kent-Coffey is hard to come by.

Previously owned walnut headboards and vintage bedroom dressers with Formica tops from the company’s Perspecta line and sandalwood continental dressers, for example, are highly valued by collectors. Kent-Coffey’s various mid-century modern lines — such as Goldenaire and Town House — were always clearly branded with identifiers such as drawer markings or stamps on the underside of its coveted end tables.

Find vintage Kent-Coffey case pieces and cabinets, nightstands and other furniture on 1stDibs.