Striking Baker Burl Desk with Greek Key Motif
View Similar Items
Striking Baker Burl Desk with Greek Key Motif
About the Item
- Creator:Baker Furniture Company (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Width: 54 in (137.16 cm)Depth: 26 in (66.04 cm)
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Burl
- Place of Origin:United States
- Period:1960-1969
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Houston, TX
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU106063445922
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 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 100-year 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 more on 1stDibs.
- Custom Green Dyed French Armchair with Tropical Palm Tree UpholsteryBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in Houston, TXBeautiful Louis the XV style green dyed French armchair with custom pink tropical upholstery featuring a floral palm tree design.Category
20th Century French Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood, Fabric
$1,350 Sale Price25% Off - Stunning Custom Contemporary Modern Sideboard with Gustav Klimt Style PaintingBy Reeves Design + Art, Gustav KlimtLocated in Houston, TXStunning custom contemporary modern sideboard with Gustav Klimt Style Painting. This handmade sideboard was custom made in Houston, Texas in collaboration ...Category
2010s American Modern Sideboards
MaterialsBirch
$5,437 Sale Price20% Off - Modern Bronze Sculptural Walnut Dining Table with Bronze Leg Signed Oskar KogojBy Oskar KogojLocated in Houston, TXStunning modern bronze sculptural dining table in walnut. It is made by Oskar Kogoj, and the table has aesthetic sculptural detailing on one end. The table leg is made of bronze and ...Category
Vintage 1970s Slovenian Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsBronze
- Stunning Custom Contemporary Modern Sideboard with Frank Trocino PaintingBy Reeves Design + ArtLocated in Houston, TXStunning custom contemporary modern sideboard with light green toned abstract figurative painting. This handmade sideboard was custom mad...Category
2010s American Post-Modern Sideboards
MaterialsOak
$5,625 Sale Price25% Off - "Tail Feathers" Pink and Black Floral Accent ChairLocated in Houston, TXJoy, laughter, and the unexpected are at the heart of Annie Evelyn’s work. Employing a range of materials and processes (tessellating metal pieces to create soft upholstered seating or embedding fresh cut flowers to add aroma), Evelyn uses furniture...Category
2010s American Side Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
$1,537 Sale Price25% Off - Stunning Custom Scandinavian Modern Small Chest by Norm StoekerBy Norm StoekerLocated in Houston, TXStunning custom Scandinavian modern small chest by norm stoeker. The three exposed Egyptian blue drawers are made with master craftsmanship surrounded by ...Category
2010s American Night Stands
MaterialsMaple
$1,650 Sale Price25% Off
- Ivory Lacquered Desk with Leather Top by Alessandro for Baker, 1980sBy Alessandro Gambrielli, Alessandro for Baker FurnitureLocated in Chicago, ILA gorgeous desk or console table designed by European designer and artist Alessandro Gabrielli Gambalogna, known as “Alessandro,” for Baker Furniture in the 1980s. This captivating p...Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsLeather, Lacquer, Wood, Parchment Paper
- EPIFANIA DESK + CUBE Mapa Burl Veneer Desk and Chest of DrawersBy Studio Christine KaliaLocated in Larnaca, CYWood wrapped in mappa burl veneer at its natural colour, transparently matt lacquered. This assemblage brings together two seemingly related volumes to create a higher rectangular profile desk...Category
2010s Greek Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBurl, Wood
- 19th Century Chippendale Burl Walnut Partner's Writing DeskBy Thomas ChippendaleLocated in Hixson, TN19th century Chippendale burl walnut partners writing desk This desk has functional drawers on both sides, a true partner's desk. This desk is...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBurl, Walnut
- Paolo Piva for B&B 'Arcada' Desk in Leather and BurlLocated in Waalwijk, NLPaolo Piva for B&B, executive desk model 'Arcada', stainless steel, burl, leather, glass, brass, Italy, 1985 This rare desk is designed by Austrian-Italian architect and designer Pa...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass, Stainless Steel
- Baker Furniture English Oak and Burl Wood Barley Twist Writing Desk, RefinishedBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional English style writing desk or library table with barley twist legs By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Carved oak, w...Category
Mid-20th Century American William and Mary Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- French Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Desk or Bureau Plat By BakerLocated in Houston, TXFrench Louis XV Style chinoiserie desk or Bureau plat By Baker. Outstanding and unusual 20th century Baker Furniture Company French Louis XV style chinoiserie desk, writing table or...Category
20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsLeather, Wood