An art deco cedar waterfall chest by Lane, circa 1950
About the Item
- Creator:Lane Furniture (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 23.5 in (59.69 cm)Width: 47.25 in (120.02 cm)Depth: 18.25 in (46.36 cm)
- Style:Art Deco (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. Scratches, scuffs, and losses to some of the mounded edging along the side. All wear is shown in photos. Structurally sound.
- Seller Location:View Park, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6075241535572
Lane Furniture
When the first iteration of the Lane Furniture company began to produce its now-famous Lane cedar chests in the early 20th century, the family behind the brand was unsure of how successful they’d be, so they initially didn’t bother adding their name to the offerings.
The manufacturer was off to a modest start but the family was industrious: The Lanes were made up of farmers and contractors who’d built more than 30 miles of the Virginian railroad. They owned a cotton mill and purchased thousands of acres of land in Campbell County, Virginia, where the Virginian railroad was intended to cross the main line of the Southern Railway.
The Lanes hoped to start a town in this region of the state, and by 1912, streets for the town of Altavista had been laid out and utility lines were installed. In the spring of that year, John Lane purchased a defunct box factory at a bankruptcy auction. His son, Edward Hudson Lane, was tasked with the manufacturing of the cedar “hope” chests for which the Lane family would become known, even though the company was initially incorporated as the Standard Red Cedar Chest Company.
The Standard Red Cedar Chest Company struggled in its early days but introduced an assembly system at its small factory after securing a contract with the federal government to produce ammunition boxes made of pine during World War I. The company prospered and applied mass-production methods to its cedar-chest manufacturing after the war, and, in 1922, rebranding as the Lane Company, it implemented a national advertising campaign to market its products.
Ads tied the company’s strong cedar hope chests to romance. Anchored by copy that read “The gift that starts the home,” the campaign rendered a Lane cedar chest a necessary purchase for young women to store linens, clothing and keepsakes as they prepared to marry.
Wartime production during World War II had Lane producing aircraft parts. In the 1950s, the family-owned company began to branch out into manufacturing tables, bedroom pieces and other various furnishings for the entire home. Today, the brand’s vintage mid-century furniture — which includes the Perception, Tuxedo and Acclaim collections — is highly sought after.
Designed by Andre Bus, Lane’s Acclaim furniture collection of coffee tables, end tables, dressers and more has been compared to Drexel’s wildly popular Declaration series for its blend of traditional craftsmanship and the impeccably clean contours that are frequently associated with the best of mid-century modern design.
Ads for the Acclaim line suggested that it included “probably the best-selling table in the world.” Before its offerings expanded to include items for the bedroom and dining room, Lane was primarily known for its tables and case pieces — there are side tables, coffee tables and more created by Bus in the Acclaim collection, each sporting graceful tapered legs and dovetail inlays.
Later, during the 1960s, Lane offered handsome modular wall units created by the likes of Paul McCobb, an award-winning Massachusetts-born designer best known for his work at Directional.
The company was acquired by United Furniture Industries in 2017 and became particularly well-known among contemporary consumers for its upholstered furniture. In 2022 United abruptly closed and ceased operations at Lane.
Vintage Lane furniture is generally characterized by relatively neutral styles, which are versatile in different kinds of interiors, as well as good quality woods and careful manufacturing. All of these attributes have made Lane one of the most recognizable names in American furniture.
Browse storage cabinets, side tables and other vintage Lane furniture on 1stDibs.
You May Also Like
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Blanket Chests
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Blanket Chests
Cedar
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Blanket Chests
Walnut, Wood, Cedar
Mid-20th Century American Queen Anne Blanket Chests
Wood, Hardwood, Mahogany, Cedar
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Blanket Chests
Walnut, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Blanket Chests
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Blanket Chests
Cedar
Vintage 1940s American Streamlined Moderne Blanket Chests
Mahogany, Cedar
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Blanket Chests
Wood, Pine
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Benches
Brass
More From This Seller
View AllLate 20th Century Italian Beds and Bed Frames
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Abstract Sculptures
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Leather, Rosewood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Steel, Chrome
