Somewhat of an overlooked icon of American design, Ficks Reed was founded by Louis Ficks in 1885 as the National Carriage and Reed Company, a New York purveyor of wicker baby carriages. By the turn of the century, however, the company had moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and, under the auspices of Ficks Reed, began manufacturing furniture with wicker, rattan and bamboo.
Over the coming decades, Ficks Reed would benefit from an increased interest in Asian imports, as evidenced in everything from the growing popularity of chinoiserie wallpaper and Chinese porcelain to the Japanese influence in Frank Lloyd Wright’s modern architecture.
The brand was also bolstered by partnerships with several prominent architects and designers throughout the 20th century, including Paul László, Pipsan Saarinen Swanson — creator of the company's Sol-Air Group and elder sister of Eero Saarinen — John B. Wisner, Paul T. Frankl and Dorothy Draper.
Each Ficks Reed partner brought their unique sensibility to the designs — Swanson’s had skeletal frames while Draper, a largely forgotten decorator and pioneer of the Hollywood Regency style, favored more ornate detailing; László created low-slung seats — but all were rendered in the company’s signature wicker and bamboo.
Thanks in large part to the Draper relationship, Ficks Reed furniture has long been a fixture at The Greenbrier and Colony hotels, as well as other luxury properties including the Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton resorts and The Breakers in Palm Beach. In 2006, Draper protégé Carleton Varney continued his mentor’s legacy by debuting a new 20-piece collection for Ficks Reed based on her original designs.
A recent resurgence in the popularity of wicker and rattan has given way to newfound demand for Ficks Reed rattan chairs and other furniture in the secondary market, where original vintage pieces are often refinished, repainted or lacquered to further underscore the textural detail of their bamboo and rattan frames.
Find vintage Ficks Reed sofas, tables, armchairs and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Pr. Mid Century Corner Lounge Chairs by Ficks Reed
By Ficks Reed
Located in New York, NY
Super chic pair of triangular lounge chairs, attributed to Ficks Reed. The chairs feature a wrap around plinth style base of repeating bamboo pieces, and a bent bamboo frame. The cus...
Bamboo
Edmond Spence Mid-Century Lounge Chairs, Pair
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Edmond Spence mid-century lounge chairs - pair. Each chair measures: 27 wide x 33.5 deep x 28 high, with a seat height of 13 (without cushion) and arm height/chair clearance 23 in...
Wood
$6,800 / set
H 33.5 in W 29 in D 35.5 in
Ficks Reed, Lounge Chairs, Bamboo, Rattan, Fabric, USA, 1950s
By Ficks Reed
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of moulded bamboo, rattan and blue fabric lounge chairs produced by Ficks Reed, USA, c. 1950s. Vintage fabric in fair condition, ideally replaced. Moderate wear to rattan con...
Fabric, Bamboo, Rattan
French Cerused Lounge Chairs style of Jean Michel Frank
Located in New York, NY
chairs.
PVC, Oak
$396Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 43 in W 24 in D 23 in
Boho Modern Bamboo Highback Side Chairs in Mid-Century Style
By Ficks Reed
Located in Trenton, NJ
This pair of highback bamboo side chairs brings warmth, character, and a subtle tropical spirit to any space. The tall bamboo backs create an open, elegant silhouette that feels both...
Bamboo
Edmond Spence "Yucatan" Chairs
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful set of 2 Mexican modernist 'Yucatan' dining chairs designed by Edmond J. Spence made of mahogany and woven seagrass, Mexico, the 1950s. The seagrass is in great condition and the chairs have been refinished. "Edmond J Spence made a career out of translating international modern styles for the U.S. market–he designed a successful blonde wood line made in Sweden and imported by Walpole Furniture of Massachusetts. Spence’s Mexican venture dubbed the “Continental-American Collection,” was launched by Industria Meublera in 1953. A contemporary ad boasts “superb raw materials [and] fine Mexican handcraftsmanship,” and shows an Aztec stone...
Seagrass, Mahogany
Vintage Coastal Ficks Reed Lounge Chairs - a Pair
By Ficks Reed
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This Pair of Vintage Coastal Ficks Reed Lounge Chairs captures the breezy, relaxed essence of coastal living. Crafted by Ficks Reed, known for their quality rattan and bamboo furnitu...
Upholstery, Reed
American Designer, Lounge Chairs, Wood, Fabric, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of wood and light grey fabric lounge chairs designed and produced in the US, c. 1950s. Wear consistent with age and use. Fabric in fair vintage condition, replaced at some po...
Fabric, Wood
Set of Midcentury Erik Buch Style Chairs
By Erik Buch
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of four dining chairs with soft teak frames and upholstered seat and back. Danish made Mid-Century Modern design. Please confirm location NY or NJ.
Teak
$6,490 / set
H 40.56 in W 23.23 in D 28.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs in Wood and Cane, Set of 2
Located in Weesp, NL
Stylish and classy set of Mid-Century Modern lounge chairs in great condition. These elegant chairs have beautiful webbed cane curved backrests all intact. The ivory colored comforta...
Faux Leather, Cane, Teak
Set of 4 Paul McCobb Style Dining Chairs by Lane
By Paul McCobb, Lane Acclaim
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Set of 4 unique dining chairs made by Lane Furniture. Often attributed to Paul McCobb due to the simple yet elegant design. Clean lines through the metal frames working up to the wood and cane backrests. 4 total chairs. One captain chair and 3 side chairs...
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1960s Hans Wegner GE 300 Lounge Chairs for Getama, Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner, GETAMA
Located in Delray Beach, FL
A handsome and highly collectible pair of Danish Modern lounge chairs, model GE 300, designed by Hans Wegner for Getama and made in Denmark in the 1960s. These chairs embody Wegner’s...
Upholstery, Teak
Vintage Danish Modern Armchairs – Niels Otto Møller Model 57, Teak, a Pair
By Neils O. Möller
Located in Delray Beach, FL
This exceptional early pair of Model 57 armchairs by Niels Otto Møller represents the purest expression of Danish Modern craftsmanship—where sculptural restraint, material honesty, a...
Leather, Teak
Pair of Scandinavian Art Deco Lounge Chairs, Curved, Upholstered, 1930s
Located in Delray Beach, FL
A striking pair of Scandinavian Art Deco lounge chairs dating to the 1930s or 1940s. These substantial and exceptionally well-crafted chairs embody the elegance of the Art Deco perio...
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Walnut Armchair by Laurence Peabody
By Lawrence Peabody
Located in Delray Beach, FL
A clean and well-proportioned armchair designed by Laurence Peabody for Richardson Nemschoff. Features a solid walnut frame with simple lines and original white vinyl upholstery. A v...
Walnut
Vintage 1970s Swedish Modern Safari Lounge Chair by Börje Johanson
By Börje Johanson
Located in Delray Beach, FL
A refined expression of Swedish modern design, this safari lounge chair by Börje Johanson pairs architectural restraint with relaxed comfort. Designed in the 1970s and produced by Jo...
Steel
