By Henkel Harris
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Henkel Harris Jefferson Queen Anne pedestal side, accent or center table. Made of Wild Black Cherry featuring octagonal form with two incognito flip top storage compartments and tripod base with pad feet.
The Henkel-Harris legacy started from humble beginnings. After serving in the Second World War, Carroll Henkel and his wife, Mary made the decision to enter into the furniture business. Knowing very little about the craft, the Henkels decided to begin this business venture with their friend, John Harris. In 1946, The Henkels rented their first building and began making furniture. Since they were so inexperienced, they spent countless hours studying woodwork and learning all that they could about the craft. Mary and Carroll would spend hours viewing antique furniture and attempting to recreate the same type of woodwork and quality that these pieces possessed. While trying to gain a foothold, the Henkels also began working as furniture repairmen. This opportunity allowed them to perfect their finishing techniques and gave them a greater understanding of the antique furniture that they regarded so highly. The experience gained from this endeavor led to the creation of the acclaimed Henkel Harris finish, which is still regarded for its high clarity, durability, and overall quality.
After many years of hard work, the Henkels employed five other workers and were slowly gaining the reputation for offering some of the most quality furniture available. In 1956, John Harris left the company to pursue other business ventures, leaving Mary and Carroll to manage the company themselves. Because of limited capital, marketing campaigns were all word-of-mouth and depended on the satisfaction of the few customers that they had and by networking themselves through making visits to dealers all over Virginia. After Harris left the company, Carroll was left to travel the country and attempt to sell furniture out of the back of his vehicle, while Mary took charge of the plant in Winchester during his absence. The manufacturing department was in need of growth, however, and the current plant was not big enough to fit the Henkel's needs. So in the early 1960s, the Henkels began production of their own plant in Winchester, Virginia. By 1963, only a few days prior to Christmas, the Henkels moved into their newly completed factory.
In 1969, Carroll passed away suddenly, leaving Mary to run the company by herself. A woman managing a successful business in a totally male dominated industry was incredibly uncommon and posed a great challenge to Mary. Despite the adversity, Mary grew the company to 90 employees very quickly after the death of her husband. She also began traveling around the world, specifically to Europe. She used these trips as an opportunity to view European antique furniture so that she could innovate new Henkel Harris furniture based on the European design.
A prolific advocate of education, Mary also offered to pay tuition for her workers wishing take night classes. After paying...
Category
Late 20th Century Queen Anne Center Tables