Vintage "Meridian" Highboy Dresser by Drexel Furniture
View Similar Items
Vintage "Meridian" Highboy Dresser by Drexel Furniture
About the Item
- Creator:Drexel (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 45.25 in (114.94 cm)Width: 36 in (91.44 cm)Depth: 19.25 in (48.9 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. Condition: age appropriate wear, vintage finish worn, scuffs/scratches, edge wear, chips, discoloration, interior marks, see photos.
- Seller Location:Trenton, NJ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7426234205062
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 vintage Drexel furniture for sale on 1stDibs includes end tables designed by Edward Wormley, walnut side tables designed by Kipp Stewart and lots more.
- Vintage Wicker Highboy DresserBy Bielecky BrothersLocated in Trenton, NJIntroducing this Vintage Wicker Campaign Style Coastal Highboy – a delightful fusion of natural charm and timeless elegance that adds a touch of character to any space. Crafted with ...Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Bohemian Dressers
MaterialsWicker, Rattan, Wood
- Mid-Century "Simplex" Highboy Dresser by Kent CoffeyBy Kent-CoffeyLocated in Trenton, NJThis unique vintage highboy dresser from ""The Simplex"" line by Kent Coffey features a light wood finish with vintage metal drawer pulls. This we...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsMetal
$715 Sale Price35% Off - Mid-Century Modern Dresser with Mirror by Lane FurnitureBy Lane FurnitureLocated in Trenton, NJThis stylish Lane Furniture bedroom dresser features midcentury design and nine spacious drawers in a striking walnut finish and a durable faux-wood laminate top. The details on the ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsMirror, Laminate, Wood
$770 Sale Price / set30% Off - Large Mid-Century Walnut and Cane Dresser by Cavalier FurnitureBy CavalierLocated in Trenton, NJThis larger scale Mid-Century Modern bedroom dresser from Cavalier furniture features a vintage walnut finish with cane front detail, heavy construction, and clean modern lines. The ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsCane, Wood, Walnut
- Mid-Century Four Drawer Dresser by Mengel Furniture- attr. Raymond LoewyBy Mengel Furniture Co., Raymond LoewyLocated in Trenton, NJImmerse yourself in vintage sophistication with this Raymond Loewy designed Mid-Century 4-Drawer Dresser, manufactured by Mengel Furniture. This exquisite piece not only encapsulates...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsMetal
$796 Sale Price20% Off - Tall Vintage Modern Headboard by DrexelBy DrexelLocated in Trenton, NJIntroducing this uniquely tall vintage headboard by Drexel Heritage Furnishings – a statement piece that combines elegance, functionality, and sustainability. Crafted with the finest...Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsCane, Wood
- MCM Highboy Dresser Wardrobe WINDWOOD by DrexelBy DrexelLocated in Lake Worth, FLFor FULL item description click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this page. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A MCM Highboy Dresser...Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Mid Century Curved Front Highboy Dresser by DrexelBy DrexelLocated in Freehold, NJThis mid century eight drawer dresser by Drexel features hardwood construction, bleached walnut veneer with original finish, traditional brass hardware, curved drawer fronts, and tap...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
$1,560 Sale Price20% Off - Drexel Heritage Chippendale Banded Mahogany Highboy DresserBy DrexelLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style seven-drawer highboy dresser By Drexel Heritage USA, Circa 1980s Beautiful banded mahogany, with original brass hardware. Measures: 39.5"...Category
Vintage 1980s American Chippendale Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Vintage mcm highboy dresser by Mengel furnitureBy Raymond LoewyLocated in Sayreville, NJRare highboy cabinet by Mengel furniture Designed by Raymond Loewy circa 1950 Gorgeous piece with loads of storage. Three large drawers, drop down cabinet , and storage space up t...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsMetal
- Drexel Heritage Georgian Mahogany Chest on Chest Highboy DresserBy DrexelLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style eight-drawer chest on chest highboy dresser By Drexel Heritage USA, Circa 1980s Mahogany, with...Category
Late 20th Century American Georgian Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Mid Century Highboy Walnut Dresser Kipp Stewart for Drexel DeclarationBy Drexel, Kipp Stewart & Stewart MacDougallLocated in Baltimore, MDAn elegant Mid-Century Modern tall dresser/highboy/chest of drawers designed by Kipp Stewart and Stewart MacDougall for Drexel’s Declaration Collection, circa 1960’s. Featuring a solid, beautifully grained walnut wood case and frame. The upper drop down cabinet features a single push spring lock door that opens to reveal two shallow top drawers with dividers, offering ample room; for tidy storage of personal effects. Maker Stamp (by Drexel) on the inside of the top drawer. Below are three long and wide bottom drawers, each is adorned with original brass pulls with walnut inlay, creating a striking contrast to the walnut wood. Each drawer has beautiful, stunning walnut grains, and easy gliding dovetail drawers, overall good original vintage condition, with exceptional craftsmanship. A recessed base of round tapered legs and apron provide stable support while conveying an airy “floating” effect. Additional Maker Stamp (Declaration by Drexel...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut