Pay a visit to the town of High Point, North Carolina — long the capital of American-made furniture — and, from nearly any location in the city, you’ll see a tall smokestack bearing the name Tomlinson. It’s a name with deep roots there: In 1901, Sidney Halstead Tomlinson, Sr., and his brother founded the Tomlinson Chair Manufacturing Co., producing adaptations of 19th-century European antiques for an enthusiastic American audience. Later the Tomlinson Furniture Company grew rapidly over the ensuing decades, becoming a significant contributor to High Point’s thriving manufacturing economy.
Although Tomlinson began with a focus on antique-style furniture, by the middle of the century the company had adopted aesthetics from the modern style that was rapidly growing in popularity around the world.
Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Tomlinson Furniture produced coffee tables, storage cabinets and seating in the low-slung, sleek silhouettes that were typically characteristic of what we now know as mid-century modern designs.
Working with designers like John Lubberts and Lambert Mulder, the company experimented with materials like woven cane and unique styles such as neoclassical lounge chairs in cherrywood that were seen as thoughtful modern interpretations of Biedermeier furniture.
During the mid-1950s, Tomlinson Furniture introduced its dramatic and decorative Sophisticate line, a collection of case pieces, seating, tables and more, available in a variety of woods. Today, designs that originated in the collection, such as its pecan-framed chairs with seats and backs of woven leather straps, are increasingly sought after by collectors.
Find vintage Tomlinson furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
$1,746Sale Price|30% Off
Tomlinson Sophisticate Cross-Banded Walnut And Burl Low Storage Chest
By Tomlinson
Located in Germantown, MD
Tomlinson Furniture Co. Sophisticate Collection Cross-Banded Walnut And Burl Low Storage Chest in great vintage condition. Measures 33.75" in width, ...
Walnut, Burl
$1,396Sale Price|30% Off
Tomlinson Furniture Mid-Century Provincial Oak Secretary Chest of Drawers
By Tomlinson
Located in Germantown, MD
A Tomlinson Furniture Mid-Century French Provincial Style Stained Oak Secretary Chest of Drawer featuring three dovetailed, flawlessly working drawers, pull out secretary tray extend...
Oak
George I Style Burl Walnut bachelor's Chest
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
George I style burl walnut bachelor's chest, circa 1910. With a burl walnut top with herringbone inlay and molded front and side edges, a slide with brass knobs, 4 graduated burl wal...
Brass
French 18th Century Natural Oak Chest of Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined French 18th century chest of drawers, beautifully crafted in natural oak and retaining a soft, sun-washed patina that highlights the elegance of its provincial craftsmanshi...
Oak
Antique Four Drawer Walnut Burl Wood Chest
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine European Walnut burl four drawer chest with a shaped top with a darker carved edge. The frieze drawer has dark carved moldings and escutcheon and the supports also have darker...
Burl, Walnut
$2,760Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.5 in W 34.5 in D 17.75 in
English Burl Walnut Serpentine Chest, 19th Century
Located in Houston, TX
This English chest is crafted in richly figured walnut burl veneer with an elegant serpentine front. with an elegant dating to the 19th century. burl walnut chest is a beautifully ...
Walnut, Burl
$5,950
H 35.25 in W 50 in D 21.75 in
Italian Neoclassical Period 1790s Walnut and Mahogany Commode with Cross Banding
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Neoclassical period walnut and mahogany four-drawer commode from circa 1790 with cross banding, classical hardware and tapered legs. This exquisite Italian Neoclassical pe...
Mahogany, Walnut
Antique Provincial Chest of Drawers
Located in Bradenton, FL
An antique provincial style cherry wood chest of drawers made by cabinet maker Samuel Harper (1818-1904) of Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York. Four hand dovetailed drawers open wi...
Wood, Cherry
$1,795
H 31 in W 29.5 in D 16 in
Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Oak and Burl Wood Chest of Drawers
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style chest of drawers or commode By Baker Furniture USA, circa 1980s Carved oak, with burl wood top and original brass hardware. ...
Brass
1960s Belgian Brutalist Oak Chest of Drawers Mid Century
Located in London, London
A mid-century Belgian chest of drawers in solid oak, dating to the 1960s, with a focus on honest materials and straightforward construction. The piece comprises three generously size...
Oak
Mid Century CONTINENTAL FURNITURE Co Chest of Drawers
By Continental Furniture Company
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and handle all the shipping details. However, if you let us know what 1st Dibs is quoting you and give us your zip code, we can sometimes ship it for less and get it to you faster. For a shipping quote, click on "ASK THE SELLER" under the purchase button and provide your zip code. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Vintage Mid Century CONTINENTAL FURNITURE Co...
Mahogany
Custom Five-Drawer Walnut Burl Chest of Drawers
Located in Woodbury, CT
Created by our English cabinetmaker with exacting detail, this Georgian styled walnut burl chest has the traditional arrangement of two drawers over three graduated drawers, each cro...
Walnut, Burl
Antique Provincial French Country Chest Of Drawers
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An Antique Provincial French Chest with good size and fine traditional form. Oak construction on four carved Louis XV style feet. The chest with barbed and scalloped front features t...
Brass
Banded Burl Wood Bow Front Chest
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A traditional form Bow Front Chest with notable handsome Burl veneers with great color. The top in banded burl wood over matching banded burl wood drawers- two short over three gradu...
Brass
Sold
H 25.25 in W 30.75 in D 18.5 in
Pair of Light Yellow Four Drawer Bachelors Chests by Tomlinson w/ Brass Hardware
By Tomlinson
Located in Houston, TX
Lovely pair of bachelors chest or nightstands by Tomlinson in a nice yellow with white trim and brass hardware.
Brass