Mid-Century Kroehler Lounge Chairs
About the Item
- Creator:Kroehler Mfg. Co. (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 35 in (88.9 cm)Width: 28 in (71.12 cm)Depth: 31 in (78.74 cm)Seat Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:ca. 1963
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Fabric good, seats spongy.
- Seller Location:Brooklyn, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 8743-6928RJ1stDibs: LU9218904559
Kroehler Mfg. Co.
Before growing into one of the largest furniture brands in the United States in the mid-20th century, the Kroehler Manufacturing Co. had humble beginnings. It was founded in 1902, when Peter E. Kroehler, a Chicago-based businessman who grew up on a farm in Minnesota, bought a small furniture manufacturer called Naperville Lounge Co., a maker of wooden lounge chairs and upholstered furniture, founded in 1893.
Peter had first worked there as a clerk before rising to partner and then president and finally owner. Under Kroehler’s leadership, a new factory was built in Naperville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 1913, and soon after the company was renamed.
Kroehler Manufacturing Co. became a fixture of the American furniture industry, eventually employing around 8,000 people in four plants in Illinois and Ohio, and by the 1940s was bringing in more than $20 million in annual sales.
The company was a pioneer in innovative 20th-century furniture, patenting some of its designs, like the Unifold sofa bed with a removable mattress that was developed in 1909 and the sideways foldable Duofold sofa bed. Colorful ads in popular magazines such as Ladies Home Journal propelled these dual-purpose furnishings into customer favorites.
Kroehler was also known for its hand-tufted Turkish couches as well as unique shapes for lounge-chair backs, such as batwings and scallops. In addition to seating and sofa beds, the company specialized in furniture for the entire home, from sturdy wooden cabinets to sleek mid-century modern credenzas.
Kroehler’s historic Naperville factory closed in 1978 due to financial struggles and was acquired by a Chicago investment firm that sold the plants as well as the rights to the Kroehler name. Its Naperville factory was converted into apartments in the 1980s, and decades later the company name is still visible on the building.
Kroehler Manufacturing Co. is remembered for its long association with the Chicago area and its quality mid-century modern pieces, which remain coveted collector’s items to this day.
Find vintage Kroehler Manufacturing Co. furniture on 1stDibs.
You May Also Like
Vintage 1960s Lounge Chairs
Fabric
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Ash, Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Brass
Early 2000s American Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Wood
More From This Seller
View AllVintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Fabric
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Faux Leather, Wood
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Fabric
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Chrome
