Most classic furnishings collectors know the Heywood-Wakefield firm for its Victorian wickerwork and streamline moderne designs, but it surely has been an innovator in different kinds all through its historical past.
The Massachusetts firm’s roots return to 1826 when 5 Heywood brothers started making picket chairs and tables of their household shed. They launched the corporate as B.F. Heywood & Co. in 1835.
After becoming a member of forces with native rival Wakefield Rattan Firm in 1897, the newly shaped Heywood-Wakefield efficiently made woven gadgets and early American designs. After wicker furnishings fell from favor, the corporate employed artwork deco designer Gilbert Rohde in 1930, who gave its colonial items some deco aptitude and created glossy bentwood chairs.
Traits and Kinds of Heywood-Wakefield Furnishings
The corporate saved up with customers’ shifting pursuits and produced furnishings in different kinds, together with streamline moderne, Swedish trendy, and mid-century modern. This forward-thinking furnishings constructed from 1935 by 1966 has Heywood-Wakefield’s logos of soppy edging and distinctive, elegant curves. It’s mild but substantial and has little adornment moreover suave knobs and drawer pulls. These minimally designed items have been constructed to final and made in light-colored hardwoods with blonde, champagne, and wheat finishes.
One other attraction is that these totally different trendy kinds look polished as a set. But, similarities in fashion, form, and colour additionally assist them perform effectively as particular person items that work in each massive homes and small residences.
Heywood-Wakefield’s well-crafted furnishings has weathered the years effectively and has discovered a brand new market with right this moment’s collectors. The corporate made all kinds of collectible items, together with armchairs, baby carriages and strollers, desks, dressers, fern stands, pedestals, settees, rocking chairs, and tables.
If you wish to study extra about Heywood-Wakefield, take a look at our WorthPoint® instruments, equivalent to our Marks database and Dictionary page on the furnishings firm.
Adina Ok. Francis has been a author and editor within the antiques and collectibles subject for greater than 20 years. She has a little bit of an obsession with the Victorians and thinks that canines are one in every of life’s biggest presents.
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