Baker Chinoiserie Ebony Secretary Chippendale Style, 1950s
View Similar Items
Baker Chinoiserie Ebony Secretary Chippendale Style, 1950s
About the Item
- Creator:Baker Furniture Company (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 89.75 in (227.97 cm)Width: 38.75 in (98.43 cm)Depth: 19.75 in (50.17 cm)
- Style:Chinoiserie (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Old lacquer finish, typical crazing and yellowing of the lacquer. Several bumps on the drop down desk lid as visible in images.
- Seller Location:Hamburg, PA
- Reference Number:Seller: 83421stDibs: LU92696070503
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 the 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 100th 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 other furniture on 1stDibs.
- Linen Wrapped Karl Springer Style Desk, 1980sBy Karl SpringerLocated in Hamburg, PAA chic lacquered linen-covered scroll desk with one drawer. This beautiful ivory Karl Springer-style simple line desk would look great in any interior. It would work well with Mid-Ce...Category
Vintage 1980s Mid-Century Modern Desks
MaterialsLinen, Wood
- Danish Teak Executive Desk in the manner of Arne Vodder, 1960sBy Arne VodderLocated in Hamburg, PAA handsome Danish Modern Executive Desk in the manner of Arne Vodder, 1960. This large Mid-Century desk has five drawers, shelves, and two drop-down doors with extra shelves for ampl...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks
MaterialsTeak
- Monumental Custom Horsehair Desk by Peter Marino, 20th Century USABy Peter MarinoLocated in Hamburg, PAAn important monumental Executive Desk from the beauty mogul, Sydell Miller, Palm Beach home and collection. Most of the fine art and avant-garde furniture and sculpture was original...Category
20th Century American Art Deco Desks
MaterialsBrass, Bronze
- Stainless Steel and Burl Wood Desk by Leon Rosen for Pace, 1980sBy Pace Furniture Company, Leon RosenLocated in Hamburg, PAA monumental Demi Lune Executive's Desk designed by Leon Rosen for Pace. This stunning desk has matchbook burl wood veneer which creates a beautiful surface. The warmth of the wood w...Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Sykky lven Blode Blindheim Rosewood Slant Front Desk, Norway 1960sBy Brode BlindheimLocated in Hamburg, PAA stunning and very beautiful Rosewood Desk for Brode Blindheim by Sykky Iven circa 1960s. This amazing slant front desk is structured on a refined stretcher base. The cabinet has wo...Category
Vintage 1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Desks
MaterialsRosewood
- Chinese Altar Table in Tortoise Shell in the manner of Baker, 1980sBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Hamburg, PAA stunning Chinese Altar Table in the manner of Baker Furniture Company, 20th Century. This Tortoise Shell Finished Console has great scale and is impressive in person. The altar tab...Category
Vintage 1980s American Ming Console Tables
MaterialsWood
- Louis XV Style Walnut Secretary by Baker FurnitureBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Atlanta, GA20th Century Collector's Edition secretary cabinet by Baker Furniture Company in the French style of Louis XV. The secretary is made of upper and lower cabinets made of carved walnut with working locks and keys. The upper cabinet features an arching crown centered by a heavily carved cartouche. The beautifully paneled doors with brass decorative hardware open to reveal a shallow finished interior having a pair of adjustable display shelves. The abattant, or slant front desk, of the lower cabinet hinges...Category
Late 20th Century North American Louis XV Secretaires
MaterialsWalnut
- 1940's, Chinoiserie SecretaryLocated in Newport Beach, CAA petite, two part, hand-painted, lacquered, fully finished, drop front Chinoiserie bureau secrétaire from Spain. The interior of the two-door top is wallpapered in faux bamboo fretw...Category
Vintage 1940s Spanish Secretaires
MaterialsWood, Lacquer
- Chippendale Style Mahogany Secretary Desk by BakerBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Pasadena, TXChippendale style mahogany secretary desk by Milling Street Baker 10 drawers with brass pulls. Desk has ample storage space, featuring 10 drawers. Mi...Category
Late 20th Century North American Chippendale Secretaires
MaterialsBurl
$2,320 Sale Price20% Off - JASPER "Generations" Inlaid Mahogany Chippendale Style Secretary DeskBy Jasper Furniture CompanyLocated in Charlotte, NCA Chippendale style secretary desk by Jasper Cabinet Company, their "Generations" model. Inlaid mahogany, brass hardware, pediment top with inla...Category
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
MaterialsBrass
- BAKER Georgian Walnut Bonnet Top Secretary Desk with Mirrored Blind BookcaseBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Charlotte, NCA Georgian style secretary desk by Baker Furniture. Walnut with brass hardware, double bonnet arched top with three finials, crown molding and bracket feet. Upper blind bookcase...Category
Late 20th Century American Georgian Secretaires
MaterialsBrass
- English Chinese Chippendale Style Bamboo Secretary with Slanted Lift-Top DeskLocated in Atlanta, GAAn English Chinese Chippendale style tall bamboo secretary from the 19th century, with slanted lift-top writing table, doors and drawers. Created in England during the 19th century, this bamboo secretary charms us with its slender proportions and exquisite Chinese Chippendale influence. The overhanging desk opens...Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Secretaires
MaterialsBamboo, Wood