W. J. Sloane New York Striped Velvet Traditional Sofa

For 140 years, W. J. Sloane was the furniture manufacturer of choice for the American elite. The company’s clientele included John D. Rockefeller and the White House. Vintage W. J. Sloane lounge chairs, sofas and club chairs luxuriously combine the best of mid-century modern with the opulence of Louis XV style. 

Scottish immigrant William Sloane founded the company in New York in 1843. Sloane was from the town of Kilmarnock, which was famous for its fine furniture and carpets. His younger brother, John, joined the company in 1852 and the name was changed to W. J. Sloane to represent both siblings. Sloane’s son, Douglas, joined soon after.

W. J. Sloane rose to prominence by importing beautiful Persian carpets to the United States. It was the first company to do so. This garnered the attention of wealthy New York families, including the Whitneys and Vanderbilts. In the late 1800s, W. J. Sloane began producing its own furniture. It added an antiques department and opened a decorating and upholstery department.

Over the first half of the 20th century, W. J. Sloane continued to decorate for prominent families while also working on Hollywood movie sets and automobile interiors. The company established a branch in San Francisco and acquired the upscale California Furniture Company. During World War II, the company received contracts for the interior design of United States Navy Liberty ships. 

Chef Julia Child worked at the company in 1935, and during the early 1950s, the firm employed Arthur Elrod, an immensely influential decorator who played an integral role in defining mid-century modernist interiors in Palm Springs. By the mid-1950s, ownership of the company was no longer in the hands of the Sloane family.

In 1983, W. J. Sloane shuttered its downtown Washington store, which was followed by the closure of its flagship New York store in 1984.

On 1stDibs, find vintage W. J. Sloane seating, case pieces and more.