Some vintage Romweber Furniture Company designs may strike the young as passé. But for fans of a certain age, the American brand never went out of style.
The Romweber story began in the late 1800s, with the launch of American Furniture Company, which made bedroom furniture, Batesville Cabinet Company, a dining-room-set manufacturer, and Batesville Coffin Company. The three companies eventually merged to become a large and reputable manufacturer of case goods, furniture and more.
Not unlike many American companies, production at Romweber suffered during the Great Depression. The brand managed to stay afloat by making a rather strange pivot — to selling five-pound fruitcake boxes. During the Second World War, Romweber pivoted again, this time to the production of ammunition boxes and pontoons for American troops and, naturally, furniture for officers’ quarters.
While Romweber furniture (spelled “RomWeber” in vintage advertisements), dating back to the early 20th century, had designers working in the French Rococo and Chippendale styles, the brand is best known for its mid-century modern pieces. In the postwar years, Romweber manufactured walnut case pieces and storage cabinets that featured decorative olive-ash and burl-wood inlays with brass hardware as well as solid oak credenzas and dining tables designed by the likes of Harold Schwartz. For collectors of sophisticated 1950s furniture, the company’s sturdy Viking Oak line is particularly popular.
“It’s not uncommon for customers to say, ‘My parents had this Romweber Viking set,’” says Adam Cramer of collectors who visit Liberty & 33rd, the gallery he owns with his wife in South Bend, Indiana, about three hours north of Romweber’s birthplace in small-town Batesville. “It’s solid oak,” Cramer tells 1stDibs of the line of tables, chairs, desks and more.
Solid oak is the product of slow-growing deciduous trees. Solid oak furniture is durable, desirable and an investment that is usually associated with a hefty price. In solid oak furnishings, such as those that make up the covetable Romweber Viking Oak line, which launched in 1935, there aren’t any scraps of other components in the construction.
Inspired by Scandinavian folk design, Romweber’s Viking Oak is said to have enjoyed one of the longest runs for a commercial furniture line in history. The collection went out of production in the late 1980s, and mid-century editions remain highly prized for their exceptional quality and hand-carved details.
Find vintage Romweber furniture on 1stDibs.
Romweber Antique French Rococo Louis XV Burl Wood Wall Mirror, Circa 1920s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful antique French Rococo Louis XV or Baroque style carved burl wood framed wall mirror By Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Measures: 32.5"W x 1"D x 48"H. Very good original vin...
Mirror, Burl
Romweber French Provincial Louis XV Cream Lacquered Wall Mirror, Circa 1960s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial or French Rococo Louis XV style wall mirror By Romweber USA, Circa 1960s Carved cream lacquered walnut, with silver gilt trim. Measures: 34.75"W x 1....
Mirror, Walnut, Lacquer
Romweber Hollywood Regency Lacquered Grasscloth and Brass Wall Mirrors, Pair
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional pair of Modern Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie wall mirrors By Romweber USA, Circa 1980s Beveled glass mirror, with beautiful lacquered grasscloth and brass frame. M...
Brass
Romweber Hollywood Regency Lacquered Grasscloth and Brass Wall Mirror
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Modern Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie wall mirror By Romweber USA, Circa 1980s Beveled glass mirror, with beautiful lacquered grasscloth and brass frame. Measures: ...
Brass
Romweber Hollywood Regency French Rococo Louis XV Wall Mirror, Circa 1960s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Hollywood Regency or French Rococo Louis XV style wall mirror By Romweber USA, Circa 1960s Carved cream lacquered walnut, with gold gilt trim. Measures: 32.75"W x 2"D ...
Mirror, Walnut, Lacquer
Romweber Style Antique Victorian Carved Mahogany Oval Wall Mirrors, Pair
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of antique Victorian or Neoclassical style carved mahogany framed oval wall mirrors In the manner of Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Each measures: 30.5"W x 2"D x 38.75"...
Mirror, Mahogany
$1,250 / set
H 31.5 in W 19.75 in D 1 in
Hollywood Regency Wall Mirrors, Ebonized Wood & Brass Filigree, 1990s
Located in Plainview, NY
Hollywood Regency Wall Mirrors, Ebonized Wood & Brass Filigree, 1990s An elegant pair of Hollywood Regency style mirrors. This pair of compatible mirrors have a rectangular frame of...
Brass
$297Sale Price|54% Off
H 14.18 in W 18.12 in D 1.58 in
Antique Mahogany Hand Carved Victorian Wall Mirror
Located in Søborg, DK
Antique wall mirror from the late 1800s. This beautiful hand carved mirror is in original condition with the original beveled glass plate that has never been out of the frame and therefore it also maintains the original back plate. There is no woodworm at all in the frame. A reason for this could be the type of wood that the frame is made of which looks like mahogany. Such a decorative beautiful antique...
Wood, Hardwood
Hollywood Regency style Wall Mirror
Located in Denton, TX
Stunning faux draped linen with custom antique finish and gold paint accents . The decorative part of the frame is molded foam mounted to a wood frame, This keeps the weight down bel...
Mirror, Foam, Wood
$500
H 27.5 in W 15.25 in D 1.25 in
Antique Victorian Mahogany Oval Vanity Wishbone Dresser Mirror 28"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian oval vanity / dresser mirror featuring a mahogany frame with carved pierced / reticulated crest Dimensions: 15.25" x 1.25" x 27.5"
Mirror, Mahogany
French Louis XV Carved Wood Mirror
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This exquisite French Louis XV style mirror is a true celebration of Old World craftsmanship and decorative artistry. Richly adorned with hand-carved Rococo scrollwork, flowing acant...
Mirror, Wood
$480
H 13.5 in W 11.63 in D 2.75 in
Gilt Rose Flower Hollywood Regency Vanity Wall Mirror, Toleware Tole 1960s Italy
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous Hollywood Regency mirror. Made of gilded metal. No chips, no cracks, no repairs. It measures approximate 13.5" high and 11.63" at the widest point. Mirror itself is approx...
Metal
Ceramic Wall Mirror, circa 1960, France
By Roger Capron
Located in Brussels, BE
Round wall mirror, circa 1960, France. White glazed ceramic, multicolor hand-painted stripes. Dimensions: 28 cm diameter, 3 cm deep. All purchases are covered by our Buyer Protection...
Ceramic, Mirror
$324Sale Price|20% Off
H 23.23 in W 17.72 in D 1.97 in
Antique Edwardian Oval Mahogany framed Wall Mirror
Located in Bishop's Stortford, GB
Antique Edwardian Oval Mahogany framed Wall Mirror. Showing original side brackets as once a vanity chest mirror. This elegant round mirror features a beautifully crafted Mahogany fr...
Mahogany
Gilded French Louis XV Wall Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This exquisite gilded French Louis XV wall mirror embodies the elegance and refinement of 18th-century Rococo design. Expertly crafted, the frame features intricate hand-carved detai...
Gesso, Fruitwood
$750
H 31.5 in W 19.75 in D 1 in
Vintage Hollywood Regency Wall Mirror, Ebonized Wood & Brass Filigree
Located in Plainview, NY
Vintage Hollywood Regency Wall Mirror, Ebonized Wood & Brass Filigree Hollywood Regency style mirror ebonized on brass, The mirror has a rectangular frame of ebonized wood flanking...
Brass
$1,348Sale Price|20% Off
H 52 in W 31 in D 2 in
Fine Quality Gold Gilded French Harvest Wall Mirror Circa 1960s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fine quality gold gilded French harvest wall mirror, circa 1960s, beautifully captures the elegance and refinement of traditional French decorative arts. Crafted with exceptiona...
Walnut
Japanese Antique Wall Mirror 1860s-1920s / Wabisabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old Japanese mirror. Its calm black frame, accented with delicate ornamentation, quietly emerges from the surface and brings a refined yet substantial presence to any spac...
Mirror, Cedar, Plaster
Sold
H 41.75 in W 28.5 in D 1.75 in
Romweber Louis XV French Rococo Carved Gold Lacquered Satinwood Wall Mirror
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful vintage Louis XV French Rococo or Baroque style carved gold lacquered satinwood framed wall mirror By Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Measures: 28.5"W x 1.75"D x 41.75"H. V...
Mirror, Satinwood, Lacquer
Romweber French Provincial Carved Pine Wall Mirror
By Romweber Furniture Co., Jim Peed
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial style carved pine framed wall mirror By Jim Peed for Romweber USA, 20th century Measures: 25.25"W x 1"D x 3...
Mirror, Pine
Harold Schwartz for RomWeber Burled Walnut Mirror
By Romweber Furniture Co., Harold Schwartz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Burled walnut framed mirror with metal crown detail on the top. Beautiful mirror to place above a modern credenza or dresser.
Maple
Large Wall Hanging Mirror with Brass Inlays by Romweber
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Large wall hanging mirror with frame in dark Circassion walnut with brass inlays by Romweber, American, 1970s.