1 of 20

Mid Century Sideboard by Schrieber

$1,233.06List Price

About the Item

Mid Century sideboard by Schreiber. A rare and interesting piece by English furniture maker Schreiber. About Schreiber Schreiber was a relative newcomer to the furniture business. Chaim Schreiber came to Britain in the war years to escape Nazi persecution. He started in business by making radio cabinets and he bought a bankrupt furniture business in 1957. By 1967, he was challenging Lebus and Gomme for domination of the furniture market. In the 70s, Schreiber introduced furniture centres, taking complete control of distribution, as well as manufacture. After economic problems in the mid-seventies and a merger with GEC, the Company continued to be one of the biggest names in furniture in the 70s. Schreiber started in business making radio cabinets for Dansette and other larger electrical manufacturers. In those days, radios were either polished wood veneered or wooden covered with leather cloth. Schreiber learnt to make good quality and cheap cabinets to exacting specifications. The large electrical manufacturers controlled the market and demanded the cheapest possible prices. Schreiber needed to develop a manufacturing process that could deliver the best quality at the cheapest prices. This business was doing well, but Schreiber wanted to break away from the control of these large organisations. In 1957, with the profits he made from radio cabinets, he bought the bankrupt furniture maker, Lubetkin. He scrapped the name and made his own furniture. In the mid-sixties, he made bedroom furniture using a technique he called 'furniture engineering'. His furniture was at the cheaper end of the market. He entered the growing built-in bedroom market in the late 'sixties. His bedroom storage furniture was finished in teak. He was slightly behind the fashion in the late 60s, but nevertheless, the business was so successful that he was able to buy Greaves and Thomas in 1967, adding a quality name to the Schreiber Empire. Although Schreiber achieved huge success in the late 60s, the Company really came to prominence in the early 70s. By then, Schreiber had an established reputation at the cheaper end of the market. Chaim Schreiber was a man of strong principles. Always 'Mr Schreiber' to his employees, his management style was directive. However, he treated everyone equally and had a strong sense of what was fair. Schreiber cared deeply for his labour force. In 1970, he abolished clocking in and paid the workers in the same way as he paid the management. He disliked bad manners and admired honesty. If people working for him did well, he rewarded them accordingly. Schreiber was able to make good furniture cheaper than any other company. Unlike G-Plan, he never employed a designer, but copied and adapted other designs. The one revolutionary aspect of Schreiber furniture was the shape of the drawers. They were curved for easy fitting. The main reason for his outstanding success in the early 'seventies was his manufacturing skills. By 1970, his turnover was ahead of that of Gomme. Schreiber's main competitor in the early 'seventies would have been Lebus, but their spectacular failure left the market open. The furniture market of the early 'seventies split neatly into two sections: well-designed, but expensive furniture and furniture sold mainly on price. There was very little in between. Gomme was a master of design, Schreiber a master of price. These two firms exemplified the different marketing philosophies. Both were hugely successful. Teak dining furniture also remained popular in all sections of the market. As mentioned earlier, Gomme continued to sell teak furniture successfully. Schreiber also made dining room furniture with a teak finish. Their Tivoli sideboard was very popular; it was simple, modern and inexpensive. The finish, however, was synthetic. Schreiber also introduced new upholstered furniture in 1973. There was a new sofa and two new swivel chairs. The first, the 'Tivoli', was very similar to designs from the late 'sixties. The second, the 'Castello', was mounted on a circular base. It had deep, buttoned upholstery in imitation leather, Dralon or boucle material. Its padded armrests were similar to the G-Plan saddle range of 1969, but the more rounded shape was typical of the 'seventies. Schreiber also announced new ranges of bedroom furniture in 1973: the 'Nova' in white and the 'Carolina' in rosewood and white. A nice touch, for the time, was a free set of coat hangers with each new wardrobe unit. By 1973, Chaim Schreiber could claim to have furniture for the whole house. He added fitted kitchens to his already extensive range. An innovative deal with Chaim Schreiber's friend and GEC boss, Sir Arnold Weinstock, meant that GEC Schreiber kitchens could come with Hotpoint refrigerators and Cannon gas hobs built-in. Chaim Schreiber joked at the time that he would have taken over GEC, but Schreiber Furniture was not quite big enough. Another innovation for 1973 was the 'Schreiber Furniture Centre'. Chaim Schreiber invited applications from the retail trade for shops to become the new furniture centres. They needed to provide 3,500 square feet of floor space and carry around 4,000 of stock chosen by Schreiber. The Schreiber warehouse would carry back up stock and Schreiber vans would keep the centre stocked via 'milk round' deliveries. Schreiber received 800 applications, from which he chose 280 stores. As well as offering cheap furniture, Schreiber understood some of the frustrations of the buying public. He promised a 21-day delivery time on furniture once ordered from the furniture centres. People were used to having to wait much longer for deliveries. He was prepared to upset retailers in a bid to save costs. He refused to replace furniture damaged in transit. The retailer had to claim a discount and sell it at a cheaper price. Schreiber did not want the extra cost of taking it back. Schreiber success continued in 1973; turnover and profits were more than double the 1971 totals. 1974 was a bad trading year for the British furniture industry and 1975 was even worse. Schreiber struggled in 1974 after years of phenomenal success. Chaim Schreiber put plans for a new factory at Runcorn on hold. A merger with former partner, GEC, saved his business. Chaim Schreiber became Chief Executive of domestic appliance makers Hotpoint and Morphy Richards, as well as Schreiber Furniture. His old friend Arnold Weinstock thought Chaim Schreiber's common touch would help solve GEC's customer complaints problems. With high inflation and incomes falling behind, many people took to self assembly furniture in the late 70s. Schreiber catered to this new trend and introduced a flat-pack range. Their 'Nova' bedroom range, also in white with gold coloured handles, was available as a 'Take & Save' pack you could load into the boot of a small family car. The vast majority of young couples setting up home for the first time still went out and bought teak wall units in the late 'seventies and teak dining room furniture. Schreiber was the most well-known brand. The furniture trade suffered badly in the final years of the 70s. Several firms went out of business, but Schreiber rode out the tough economic conditions and is still a well-known brand in the home improvements sector today. The Schreiber brand is now at Argos which stocks a range of Schreiber bedroom furniture. This sideboard is dated circa late 1960's and comprises of nine drawers each with teak pull cup handles. The unit is made of teak veneer mounted on beech plywood. Laminated beech bent wood legs support the sideboard. A great looking piece ideal for any room. If you love mid century this is for you! Lovely scale and proportions... 150 cm wide 44 cm deep 73 cm high.

Creator:
Schreiber (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 29.53 in (75 cm)Width: 59.06 in (150 cm)Depth: 17.33 in (44 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Plywood,Teak,Laminated,Polished,Varnished,Veneer,Woodwork
Place of Origin:
Europe
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1960
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
Seller Location:
Tarleton, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU6064226655992

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Formica, Beech

1960’s Mid-Century Modern room divider / wall unit by Schrieber

$1,060

H 69.3 in W 42.13 in D 14.18 in

Mid-Century Sideboard by Europa

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Long teak credenza by UK maker Europa Furniture. Resting on a trestle base and featuring four drawers and two storage cabinets. Wide rosewood handles offset the light teak grain. Ple...

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Teak

Mid-Century Sideboard by Europa

$2,500

H 29 in W 79 in D 18.25 in

Mid Century Sideboard

Located in Westwood, NJ

Crafted from exquisite Acacia crown veneer and solids. This sophisticated piece combines functionality with timeless design, featuring three spacious drawers and two sliding doors th...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Sideboard

$5,860 / item

H 35 in W 66 in D 17.5 in

Mid century sideboard by Fristho, 1960s

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Gorgeous mid century sideboard model FDT-1205 by Fristho Franeker with beautiful natural wood veining. The sideboard has 3 doors and 4...

Category

Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Rosewood

Mid century sideboard by Fristho, 1960s

$2,707

H 29.93 in W 79.53 in D 16.93 in

Mid-Century Sideboard by Gordon Russell

By Gordon Russell

Located in London, England

Small mid-century sideboard by Gordon Russell. Solid oak frame and legs with rosewood doors and two fixed internal shelves. U.K circa 1950. H 69cm x W 137cm x D 46cm

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Oak

Mid-Century Sideboard by Gordon Russell

$1,653

H 27.17 in W 53.94 in D 18.12 in

Mid-century sideboard by Ate van Apeldoorn

Located in CASTENRAY, NL

In 1958, van Apeldoorn established his own Furniture workshop, named "Ate van Apeldoorn meubelmakerij." He specialized in crafting solid wood furniture, prima...

Category

Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Steel

Mid-century sideboard by Ate van Apeldoorn

$6,016

H 27.96 in W 70.87 in D 16.15 in

Mid-Century Modern Sideboard by Erik Worts

By Erik Wørts

Located in Allerum, SE

Mid-century modern sideboard by Erik Worts in oak and wenge. ca 1960s Denmark. Born in 1922, Wörts was a celebrated Danish furniture maker renowned for his masterful craftsmanship a...

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Oak, Wenge

Mid-Century Modern Sideboard by Erik Worts

$16,200

H 31.11 in W 87.8 in D 18.51 in

Mid-Century Modern Sideboard by Rivadossi, 1970s

By Officina Rivadossi

Located in Brussels, BE

Mid-Century Modern Sideboard by Rivadossi, 1970s

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Sideboard by Rivadossi, 1970s

$7,701

H 29.14 in W 66.15 in D 15.75 in

Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sideboard by Fristho

Located in The Hague, NL

"Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sideboard by Fristho, circa 1970" A beautifully proportioned sideboard designed and produced by Fristho in the Netherlands around 1970. Executed in warm wa...

Category

Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sideboards

Materials

Walnut

Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sideboard by Fristho

$2,948

H 32.29 in W 78.75 in D 16.93 in

Mid century teak sideboard by Beautility, 1960s

Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest

Beautiful, rustic mid century sideboard by British company 'beautility' - what a lovely name. The teak wooden sideboard consists of 3 drawers and 3 doors. Although its smaller size, ...

Category