1930’s Carved Renaissance Oak Partner Desk by Berkey
Gay with Ten Drawers
About the Item
- Creator:Berkey Gay Furniture (Cabinetmaker)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.75 in (80.65 cm)Width: 72 in (182.88 cm)Depth: 40 in (101.6 cm)
- Style:Renaissance Revival (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1920
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Dallas, TX
- Reference Number:Seller: w252-3001stDibs: LU951246258592
Berkey & Gay Furniture
In 1855, William Berkey arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and founded a mill to manufacture window sashes and other wood building products. He was joined by his brother, Julius, who later began manufacturing what became known as the Berkey table. This was highly successful, and soon the Berkey brothers were concentrating on making furniture.
The company took on various partners over time, including George W. Gay, who bought an interest in the company in 1866 to form Berkey Brothers Gay. In 1873, William Berkey withdrew from the company, and Julius Berkey and George W. Gay incorporated to form the Berkey Gay Furniture Company. In 1874, the new company opened its six-story factory, complete with wholesale and retail showrooms, in Grand Rapids. By 1882, this factory covered three city blocks. The company is known for making Victorian furniture.
George W. Gay, although continuing to be involved with Berkey Gay, also struck out on his own business ventures. One of these was the Oriel Cabinet Company, which he established in 1880. Oriel Cabinet constructed a factory at this site in the 1880s, but the original factory was destroyed by fire in 1890. In 1892, the company constructed a new factory, which continues to occupy the site.
Both Oriel Cabinet and Berkey Gay continued independently until 1911, when the two companies merged. The Oriel factory became Berkey Gay's Plant No. 1 following the merger, and an addition was immediately made to the plant in 1912. In 1919 the company further expanded the factory 240 feet north along Monroe Avenue.
In 1920, the company merged with the Wallace Furniture Company and the Grand Rapids Upholstery Company to form Consolidated Furniture Companies but continued to use the trademark Berkey Gay because of its name recognition.
Sales increased in the 1920s and the company aggressively expanded. However, when the Great Depression hit, the company was unable to continue financing its new sites and was forced to sell to the Chicago-based Simmons Company. Even this was not enough, as Simmons declared bankruptcy in 1931, and the Grand Rapids factories closed their doors.
Local stockholders reopened the factory in 1935, and continued production until World War II, when it was converted to wartime needs. After the war, an attempt was made to convert back to furniture production, but the company was again forced to declare bankruptcy in 1948 and closed the factory for good.
The Berkey Gay Furniture Company used three different types of labels to mark the tables and other furniture that they manufactured. The first label was branded into the wood and can often be found inside the drawers of authentic Berkey Gay sideboards and other case pieces. Around the year 1900 the branded type label was replaced by a paper label. The brass label was used starting around the 1920s until Berkey and Gay went out of business in the 1940s.
Find antique Berkey Gay buffets, dining tables, sideboards and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Schear Brothers)
You May Also Like
Antique Early 19th Century English Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing...
Oak
Antique 1880s French Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century American Renaissance Revival Dining Room Tables
Wood
Antique 1890s French Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century English Gothic Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut, Plywood
20th Century Italian Regency Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century Tables
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Oak
Mid-20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
More From This Seller
View AllAntique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Antique Mid-18th Century Spanish Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Baroque Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Wrought Iron
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XIII Bookcases
Oak
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Leather, Oak
