Heywood Wakefield Desk on Castors
View Similar Items
Heywood Wakefield Desk on Castors
About the Item
- Creator:Heywood-Wakefield Co. (Cabinetmaker)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.25 in (79.38 cm)Width: 49.5 in (125.73 cm)Depth: 24 in (60.96 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Mid-20th Century
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU978623577082
Heywood-Wakefield Co.
Created by the 19th-century merger of two venerable Massachusetts furniture makers, Heywood-Wakefield was one of the largest and most successful companies of its kind in the United States. In its early decades, the firm thrived by crafting affordable and hugely popular wicker pieces in traditional and historical styles. In the midst of the Great Depression, however, Heywood-Wakefield reinvented itself, creating instead the first modernist furnishings to be widely embraced in American households.
The Heywoods were five brothers from Gardner, Massachusetts, who in 1826 started a business making wooden chairs and tables in their family shed. As their company grew, they moved into the manufacture of furniture with steam-bent wood frames and cane or wicker seats, backs and sides. In 1897, they joined forces with a local rival, the Wakefield Rattan Company, whose founder, Cyrus Wakefield, got his start on the Boston docks buying up lots of discarded rattan, which was used as cushioning material in the holds of cargo ships, and transforming it into furnishings. The conglomerate initially did well with both early American style and woven pieces, but taste began to change at the turn of the 20th century and wicker furniture fell out of fashion. In 1930, the company brought in designer Gilbert Rohde, a champion of the Art Deco style. Before departing in 1932 to lead the Michigan furniture maker Herman Miller, Rohde created well-received sleek, bentwood chairs for Heywood-Wakefield and gave its colonial pieces a touch of Art Deco flair.
Committed to the new style, Heywood-Wakefield commissioned work from an assortment of like-minded designers, including Alfons Bach, W. Joseph Carr, Leo Jiranek and Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky, a Russian nobleman who had made his name in Europe creating elegant automotive body designs.
In 1936, the company introduced its “Streamline Modern” group of furnishings, presenting a look that would define the company’s wares for another 30 years. The buoyantly bright, blond wood — maple initially, later birch — came in finishes such as amber “wheat” and pink-tinted “champagne.” The forms of the pieces, at once light and substantial, with softly contoured edges and little adornment beyond artful drawer pulls and knobs, were featured in lines with names such as “Sculptura,” “Crescendo” and “Coronet.” It was forward-looking, optimistic and built to last — a draw for middle-class buyers in the Baby Boom years.
By the 1960s, Heywood-Wakefield began to be seen as “your parents’ furniture.” The last of the Modern line came out in 1966; the company went bankrupt in 1981. The truly sturdy pieces have weathered the intervening years well, having found a new audience for their blithe and happy sophistication.
Find a collection of vintage Heywood-Wakefield desks, chairs, tables and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- Early Vladimir Kagan Custom Order DeskBy Grosfeld House, Vladimir KaganLocated in Chicago, ILA early Vladimir Kagan custom order desk made by Grosfeld House. Incredibly well crafted. A fine important example of the designer's work. Note: Cane Modesty Panel shown in some p...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsCane, Wood
- Burl Cityscape Executive Desk By Paul EvansBy Paul EvansLocated in Chicago, ILA period Paul Evans Desk in Cityscape Burl wood. In rather remarkable original condition minus some minor wear and tear that can easily be fixed. Please request additional photos a...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood
- Classy Paul Frankl Writing Desk for Johnson FurnitureBy Johnson Furniture Co., Paul FranklLocated in Chicago, ILElegant proportions, conical tapering legs and brass X-handles. Reminiscent of Tommi Parzinger. This item should be purchased with the intent to refinish. Structurally sound. Priced ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood
- Early Vintage Florence Knoll Dining Table or DeskBy Knoll, Florence KnollLocated in Chicago, ILEarly vintage Florence Knoll dining table. Model 301 Literature: Knoll Furniture 1938-1960, Rouland and Rouland, pg 105 Comes with 1 (18") leaf. Measures: 60" wide without le...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsWood
- Petite Eliel Saarinen Deco DeskBy Eliel Saarinen, Johnson Furniture CompanyLocated in Chicago, ILA petite scale Eliel Saarinen Deco Desk in Birch with Wave-like Aluminum Pulls. Dimensions: 48 wide 20 depth Height to top shelf: 30 1/16" Height to desk surface: 24.75" Wear as s...Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood
- Early Vintage Milo Baughman Architectural Cantilevered Desk for Glenn of CalifBy Milo Baughman, Glenn of CaliforniaLocated in Chicago, ILEarly vintage Milo Baughman Architectural cantilevered desk for Glenn of California c. 1950 This desk is being sold "As-is" at this time. Needs to visit a furniture repair...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood
- Heywood-Wakefield Writing DeskBy Heywood-Wakefield Co., Count Alexis de SakhnoffskyLocated in Trenton, NJInvite mid-century charm into your workspace with this Heywood Wakefield Desk, a highly sought and highly functional icon of vintage modern furniture. This desk, with its sleek curve...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood
$1,596 Sale Price20% Off - Mid Century Modern Heywood Wakefield 3 Drawer Writing DeskBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Freehold, NJThis mid century modern writing desk by Heywood Wakefield features hardwood construction, original champagne finish with newly applied clear coat, three dovetailed drawers with sculp...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMaple
- Vintage Solid Maple Heywood Wakefield Wheat Writing Desk With Cats Eye ChairBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Chattanooga, TNThis listing includes both the desk and chair. Collectors know that it is difficult to find original Heywood in good condition. The desk top has been refinished to match original...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMaple, Fabric
- Heywood Wakefield Trimline Desk by Kem WeberLocated in Los Angeles, CAW59.5 D29.5 H29.5 Fully refinished Mid Century modern desk designed by Kem Weber for Heywood Wakefield. Desk features a chrome tubular frame, birch drawers , a laminate top and a me...Category
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsChrome
- American Mission Heywood Wakefield Natural Wicker Oak DeskLocated in New York, NYAmerican Mission natural wicker and golden oak desk with side shelves and upper section (attributed to HEYWOOD WAKEFIELD).Category
20th Century American Mission Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWicker, Oak
- Nancy Corzine Wakefield Executive DeskBy Nancy CorzineLocated in Countryside, ILNancy Corzine Wakefield executive desk in excellent condition Piece comes fully restored free of dents and scratches.Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsWood