Heywood-Wakefield Streamlined Tambour Desk, 1960s
View Similar Items
Heywood-Wakefield Streamlined Tambour Desk, 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Heywood-Wakefield Co. (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 34 in (86.36 cm)Width: 32 in (81.28 cm)Depth: 23.5 in (59.69 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Bainbridge, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 10521213171stDibs: LU91399296381
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 Gilbert Rohde for Heywood Wakefield Bentwood Coffee TableBy Heywood-Wakefield Co., Gilbert RohdeLocated in Bainbridge, NYGilbert Rohde for Heywood Wakefield Steam Bent Maple Coffee Table, C. 1930. Featuring a floating, laminated steam bent Maple surface, flared upturned ends, rectangular Maple lift, ...Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsPlywood, Maple
- Harvey Probber Zebrano & Ebonized Mahogany Two Drawer DeskBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Bainbridge, NYAmerican Mid Century American Harvey Probber Inc. Writing Desk, 1960's. Featuring a rectangular form in mixed wood construction with smooth heavily veneered Zebrawood surface and ski...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMahogany, Zebra Wood
- Peter Hvidt & Orla Molgaard for John Stuart Larger Teak Writing Desk, 1950'sBy Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, Peter Hvidt, John Stuart Inc., Hvidt & MølgaardLocated in Bainbridge, NYDanish Peter Hvidt & Orla Molgaard Nielsen Larger Teak Desk for Soborg Møbelfabrik Denmark, 1960's. Featuring a larger, rectangular wood and metal four drawer desk form with 2 rear cubby shelves...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsEnamel, Iron
- Maurizio Tempestini for Laurel Adjustable Swedish Brass Desk Lamp, 1960sBy Maurizio Tempestini, Laurel Lamp CompanyLocated in Bainbridge, NYAmerican Mid Century Laurel lamp Co. D-747 swedish brass table lamp, 1960s. Featuring a sculpted curved Brass arm, adjustable 10D Brass domed mushroom shade with enameled Off White i...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsAluminum, Brass
- Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Style Adjustable Brass Desk Lamp, 1960sBy Gerald Thurston, LightolierLocated in Bainbridge, NYAmerican Mid-Century Modern Gerald Thurston for Lightolier style brass desk lamp. Featuring a slender, sturdy Brass plated tubular stem, round balanced, weighted 6D base, turn switch to base, adjusting Black enameled interior Brass shade head (8.25 W x 3W) extending to 10W with Cast Iron handle...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Jean Boris Lacroix Style Nickel-Plate Tripod Desk Lamp, 1960sBy Jean Boris LacroixLocated in Bainbridge, NYModernist nickel-plate tripod petite table lamp, in the manner of Jean Boris Lacroix, 1960's. Adjustable positions, standard size socket, featuring a round Mercury glass bulb. Premiu...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsNickel
- 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 - Elegant Heywood Wakefield Ladies Writing Desk & ChairBy Heywood-Wakefield Co.Located in Buffalo, NYElegant Heywood Wakefield Ladies Writing Desk & Chair.. Classic mid century modern,Wonderful original finish.Solid birch wood.. Hand delivery avail to New York City or anywhere en ro...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsFabric, Birch
- 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
