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 Chippendale Burl Wood Sideboard or Bar Cabinet, Circa 1920s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Chippendale or Georgian style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Gorgeous book-matched exotic burled acacia wood, with carved cabriole...
Brass
Romweber French Provincial Louis XV Burl Wood Sideboard, Circa 1920s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV or Chippendale style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Gorgeous book-matched exotic burled avodire wood, w...
Brass
Romweber Chippendale Flame Mahogany Serpentine Front Sideboard Circa 1920s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Georgian or Chippendale style serpentine front sideboard buffet or credenza By Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Carved mahogany, with beautiful flame mahogany front, a...
Brass
Early Romweber Antique English Jacobean Carved Oak Sideboard, Circa 1900
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique English Jacobean style sideboard buffet or credenza By Batesville Cabinet Co. (early Romweber) USA, Circa 1900 Carved oak, with inlaid book-matched burl woo...
Brass
Romweber French Rococo Louis XV Carved Satinwood Long Dresser or Credenza
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Rococo or French Provincial Louis XV style long dresser or credenza By Romweber USA, Mid-20th Century Carved book-matched satinwood, with original brass hardware...
Brass
Romweber Mid-Century Modern Flip Top Buffet Server or Bar Cart, Circa 1960s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous mid-century modern Hollywood Regency flip top rolling buffet server or bar cart By Romweber USA, Circa 1960s Cream lacquered wood, with glass shelves, durable Formica f...
Brass
1970s Romweber Burled Wood Gold Accent Credenza with Filing Drawers
By Bernhard Rohne, Romweber Furniture Co., Mastercraft
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Luxury, pure and simple. Well maybe not so simple… this burled Carpathian elm wood credenza wears it’s gold trim like fine jewelry. The chocolate hued wood is illuminated with brilli...
Brass
Romweber French Provincial Louis XV Carved Rosewood Sideboard, Circa 1920s
By Romweber Furniture Co., H. Schmidt
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Romweber Retailed by H. Schmidt Mfg. Co. of Chicago USA, Circa 1920s Beautiful carved rosewood,...
Brass
Romweber French Rococo Louis XV Carved Walnut Sideboard or Credenza
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Rococo Louis XV style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Romweber USA, circa 1960s Carved walnut, with original brass hardware. Measures: 78.5"W x 2...
Brass
Art Deco Wolfgang Hoffmann Romweber World's Fair Century of Progress Sideboard
By Wolfgang Hoffmann, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and important American Art Deco Century of Progress Sideboard by iconic designer Wolfgang Hoffmann (Austrian, 1900-1969) for Romweber Company, Batesville, Indiana. circa 1933-1936 Created for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, fine quality craftsmanship and construction, having a rectangular exotic rosewood veneered top over conforming solid wood case fitted with four drawers affixed with horizontal pulls, the top drawer opening to reveal felt lined divided interior for silverware, flanked by cabinet doors opening to shelved interior, subtle geometric lines add interest. Rosewood, mahogany, richly figured blonde - golden birch or primavera. Signed, top drawer interior, featuring 1933 World's Fair mark impressed. **Please note, at the time of writing this, a matching display case - vitrine cabinet (shown in last photo) is currently available separately** Provenance / Acquisition: Property from the important and iconic Collection of Mr. James I. Rafftesaeth Jr., Dallas, Texas Acquired from highly reputable auction house, Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas. 2022 Design Signature Auction catalog #8091 History: Wolfgang Hoffmann was born in Vienna, Austria in 1900. He is the son of famous architect, pedagogue and Wiener Werkstatte cofounder, Joseph Hoffmann (1870-1956). Early on, following his father’s s interests, he was trained in the decorative arts and design. Wolfgang Hoffmann once reminisced, “I spent eight years at the Realschule, then three years went to a special architectural school, where I perfected my technical knowledge of architecture and general construction. From this school, I was graduated to the Kunstgewerbeschule [Studying under Oskar Strnad and Josef Frank in Vienna]. After finishing this school, I had one and a half years of practical in a well known architect’s office. Thereafter I worked in my Father’s office for two years”. Hoffmann met his future wife, Polish immigrant Pola (1902-1984) when they were both studying at the Kunstgewerbeschule. Joseph Urban (1872-1933) was needing an assistant for his architectural business in New York and contacted his friend and colleague, Joseph Hoffmann in Vienna. Hoffmann recommended his son Wolfgang. Urban hired him and sent a first class passage ticket to Vienna for Wolfgang to travel to New York. Wolfgang married Pola and traded his ticket for two tickets to America in steerage, arriving in New York City in December of 1925. Leaving the Urban office after nine months, Wolfgang and Pola formed an independent design practice with offices on Madison Avenue in Manhattan with the purpose of creating contemporary interiors and industrial designs. Early work included theaters, stores, and apartments mostly in New York City. During the late 1920’s and early 1930’s the Hoffmanns designed custom furniture for private clients. Some of these examples were shown in the February 1929 issue of House and Garden. Curiously, the examples’ design was attributed to Urban and the production to Pola Hoffmann, Inc. Established in the fall of 1928, the American Designers’ Gallery was “devoted exclusively to showing objects and interiors for practical use… by fourteen American architects and designers”. Its members included the Hoffmans and Urban as well as ceramist Henry Varnum Poor (1888-1971), architect Raymond Hood (1881-1934), artist designer Winold Reiss (1886-1953), graphic designer Lucien Bernhard (1896-1981), decorator Donald Deskey (1894-1989), and architect Ely Jacques Kahn (1884-1972). The Hoffmanns’ work was included in the American Designers’ Gallery’s two showcase events, its 1928 and 1929 exhibitions. Their dining alcove at the 1929 event featured a bench with a dinette table and two chairs in American walnut designed by Wolfgang and a rug by Pola. Lucien Bernhard, fellow Austrian immigrant who settled in New York a year before the Hoffmanns, operated the gallery and decorating service Contempora with Munich resident Bruno Paul (1874-1968). The Hoffmanns, occasionally participating with Contempora, designed a number of outstanding interiors, including the constructivist living room of 1930 for Mrs. O.R. Sommerich at 40 East 66th street. In 1934, Donald Deskey commissioned Wolfgang to design birchwood furnishings for the eclectic apartment at 625 Park Avenue belonging to Helena Rubinstein. In 1931, Wolfgang exhibited his work at the Pennsylvania Art Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The same year, with Kem Weber (1889-1963) he organized the second and final exhibition of AUDAC- “Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts”- at the Brooklyn Museum. At this event, the Hoffmanns showed the dining room previously included in the American Designer’s Gallery’s 1929 exhibition in the Chase Bank Building lobby at 145 West 57th Street in Manhattan. In 1932 Wolfgang was asked to assist Urban in developing the color scheme for the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair “A Century of Progress”. He was also commissioned to design the interior and furniture for the fair’s lumber industries house. There he executed its living and dining rooms furnished by Kroehler Manufacturing Company of Chicago; the boys’ room by Shower Brothers...
Birch, Mahogany, Rosewood
Federal Flame Crotch Mahogany Bow Front Double Door Compartment Sideboard MINT!
By Batesville, Romweber Furniture Co., Established Lines, Drexel, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Federal Flame Crotch Mahogany Bow Front Double Door Compartment Sideboard MINT!
Brass
Romweber Antique Federal Inlaid Flame Mahogany Sideboard Credenza, Circa 1920s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Federal or Hepplewhite style sideboard, buffet, or credenza By Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Gorgeous inlaid flame mahogany, with original brass hardware. Measures: 66...
Brass
Harold Schwartz for Romweber Mid-Century Modern Oak Dresser or Credenza, 1950s
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern sculpted oak tambour door sideboard, credenza, or dresser By Harold Schwartz for Romweber USA, 1950s Measures: 66"W x 21"D x 36.75"H. Good original ...
Oak
$9,375Sale Price|25% Off
Rare Harold M. Schwartz for Romweber Burled Sideboard with Floating Cabinet
By Harold Schwartz, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed by Harold M. Schwartz for Romweber. Burled walnut side board with fiddle back highlights. Brutalist textured brass hardware, including brack...
Brass
1960s Solid Wheeled Walnut Flip Top Server Bar Cabinet
Located in Germantown, MD
Solid walnut wood. High quality construction. Solid brass hardware. Removable Granite top inlay. On wheels for easy handling. Buffet measures 42W X 20D X 31H( flipped top). 68W x 20...
Brass, Other
$2,744Sale Price|20% Off
H 51.19 in W 48.04 in D 20.08 in
Antique Buffet, Scottish Server Cabinet, Mahogany, Mid-Victorian, circa 1870
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique buffet, a Scottish server cabinet in mahogany dating to the mid-Victorian period, circa 1870. Pleasingly patinated and good color...
Mahogany
$1,996Sale Price|20% Off
H 44 in W 107 in D 25 in
Fine Quality Figured Walnut French Provincial Sideboard Buffet Circa 1920
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fine quality French Provincial sideboard buffet, crafted circa 1920, exemplifies the timeless charm and craftsmanship of early 20th-century provincial furniture. Constructed fro...
Walnut
18th Century French Walnut Louis XV Provincial Buffet
Located in Southampton, NY
18th century French walnut Louis XV Provincial Buffet A period handcrafted buffet made of solid walnut with three drawers above two beveled doors opening to a single shelf open. Ori...
Walnut
$2,500
H 31.5 in W 79.75 in D 19 in
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Long Teak Credenza or Dresser by Westnofa
By Westnofa Furniture
Located in Philadelphia, PA
You can use this in any room of the house! A beautifully designed teak credenza with top notch construction made by Westnofa Furniture in Europe. It features a sleek front with 6 dee...
Teak
$2,400Sale Price|29% Off
H 36 in W 66.5 in D 23 in
Antique Rustic Louis XV Style French Provincial Sideboard
Located in Sheffield, MA
The French Provincial style sideboard has two smaller side drawers and one larger middle drawer, all dovetailed. Below are two panelled doors flanking a centre panel all a la French ...
Wood
1920s French Art Deco Rosewood Chrome Sideboard Cabinet Marble top
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
1930s Art Deco sideboard with Marble top. Introducing an exquisite French Art Deco display sideboard, a timeless piece that seamlessly marries functionality with elegance. Crafted ci...
Glass, Wood
Danish Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Sideboard, 1960s
By Arne Vodder, Sibast
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Modern Low Rosewood sideboard, 1960s Beautiful Danish Modern low sideboard in minimalistic style attributed to Danish designer Arne Vodder for Sibast. Front with...
Rosewood
Mid Century Modern Sideboard Buffet
Located in Westwood, NJ
This beautifully crafted sideboard is a striking example of mid-century modern design reimagined for contemporary living. The unit features rich, dark tones contrasted by the Italian...
Marble, Metal
$6,500
H 41.5 in W 88.75 in D 21.5 in
French Provincial Louis XV Grand Regence Style Breakfront Sideboard
Located in Forney, TX
A vintage French Provincial Louis XV style carved walnut sideboard. Hand-crafted in France in the mid-20th century, excellent quality, exceptionally executed in timeless 18th cent...
Marble
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 77.5 in W 40.5 in D 16.5 in
Antique Romweber English Chippendale Georgian Mahogany China Display Cabinet 78"
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Dayton, OH
Early 20th Century English Chippendale / Georgian style China Hutch / Curio / Display Cabinet by Romweber Industries. Circa 1920s. Made from crotch mahogany with a graceful breakfro...
Glass, Mahogany
$4,995
H 67.25 in W 53.75 in D 23.75 in
Antique English 17th Century Charles I Carved Oak Court Cupboard Cabinet 1630
Located in Portland, OR
An important antique English Jacobean carved oak court cupboard, from the reign of King Charles I, dated 1630. The rectangular overhanging top with a carved arcaded frieze, to the ce...
Oak
Sold
H 36 in W 42 in D 14.5 in
Romweber Neoclassical Pantheon Form Carved Walnut and Burl Wood Sideboard
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and unique classical Greek or Roman style sideboard or console table By Jim Peed for Romweber USA, Late 20th Century Carved walnut in u...
Walnut, Burl
Sold
H 36.5 in W 70 in D 22 in
Romweber French Provincial Louis XV Burl Wood Sideboard or Bar Cabinet, 1920s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Gorgeous book-matched exotic burled avodire wood, with gold gilt a...
Brass
Sold
H 35.5 in W 66.5 in D 22.25 in
Romweber French Provincial Louis XV Burl Wood Sideboard or Bar Cabinet, 1920s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Gorgeous book-matched exotic burled acacia wood, with carved cabri...
Brass
Sold
H 36.38 in W 68.75 in D 21.25 in
Romweber French Provincial Louis XV Burl Wood Sideboard or Bar Cabinet, 1920s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Gorgeous book-matched exotic burled acacia wood, with carved cabri...
Brass
Sold
H 32.5 in W 78 in D 24 in
Mid-Century Brutalist Burled Walnut Sideboard by Harold Schwartz for Romweber
By Romweber Furniture Co., Harold Schwartz
Located in New York, NY
This stunning Mid-Century Modern sideboard was designed by the illustrious Harold Schwartz and realized by the Romweber Furniture Company in the United States, circa 1950. It feature...
Brass
Sold
H 38 in W 70.5 in D 22.5 in
Romweber French Provincial Louis XV Rosewood Sideboard Credenza, Circa 1920s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Gorgeous carved rosewood, with inlaid satinwood floral marquetry, ...
Brass
Sold
H 35.75 in W 66 in D 20 in
Romweber French Provincial Louis XV Burl Wood Sideboard Credenza, Circa 1920s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Stunning exotic burled Narra wood, with carved cabriole legs, and ...
Brass
Sold
H 35.25 in W 79.75 in D 20.75 in
Romweber French Provincial Louis XV Burl Wood Sideboard Credenza, circa 1940s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Romweber USA, circa 1940s Exotic African Avodire wood, with beautiful burl wood front, and...
Brass
Romweber Midcentury Burlwood and Brass Buffet
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Romweber midcentury burlwood and brass buffet. This buffet measures: 77 wide x 20 deep x 32 inches high./ All pieces of furniture can be had...
Brass
Cool Mid-Century Modern Mirrored & Blonde Wood Sideboard by Romweber
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Chic Mid-Century Modern well made blonde wood and mirrored sideboard having cool rectangular geometric design on four front doors, and 3 roomy well functioning drawers hidden on each...
Mirror, Birch
Romweber Burl Credenza
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous mid-century credenza from the highly regarded Romweber Furniture of Batesville, Indiana. Stunning two-tone burl wood with brass accents is sure to be a statement piece in an...
Brass
Sold
H 30 in W 62 in D 18 in
Romweber Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Credenza, Refinished
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional mid-century modern Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie sideboard or credenza By Romweber USA, Circa 1950s Black lacquered teak, with original Asian-inspired brass h...
Brass