Known for its durable vintage display cabinets, nightstands and dressers made of cherry, oak, walnut and more, Century Furniture of Hickory, North Carolina, began as an upholstered goods company in 1947 but added case goods and sophisticated mahogany dining-room furnishings shortly thereafter.
Launched by Harley Ferguson Shuford Sr., a Hickory native who was born to a family of textile mill owners, Century Furniture was intended to be “the best furniture company in the world.” With respect to speed and efficiency, the brand found its footing midway through production on a government contract that Shuford had secured in the early days to manufacture thousands of five-drawer chests. The effort was significant, but it was also a teachable moment as far as Shuford and his team’s learning the ropes of running a factory.
After hiring designer Raymond K. Sobota in 1950 and introducing the enormously popular Citation Collection in 1954, Century established its reputation as a leader in stylishly designed high-quality furniture. Sobota had furniture in his blood — after graduating from Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he worked for his uncle Karl Schmidt, who was at the time a well-known furniture designer for Berkey and Gay and other makers in the Grand Rapids area, then known as America’s furniture capital. Sobota soon launched his own studio, designing furniture as a freelancer for various local manufacturers. Shuford found him by happenstance, journeying to Michigan’s second-largest city to offer a job to another designer who turned him down but recommended Sobota instead.
Century’s Citation line — a sizable collection for the brand that spanned furnishings for the bedroom, dining room and more — is revered in the world of vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors. The pieces sold very well during the 1950s, and the line is an oft-cited success story for Sobota, who would go on to win awards for his work and whose own catalogue of designs for the brand is massive.
In his 40-year career at Century, until he retired in 1995, he designed well over 100 furniture lines. Sobota’s nightstands, cabinets, side tables and more are characterized by his interest in Asian design, distinctly and brilliantly expressed in his Hollywood Regency–style Chin Hua line, which debuted during the 1970s. With its geometrically decorative brass drawer pulls and door handles as well as dining-chair seat-back carvings — all inspired by Asian motifs — this collection has rendered vintage pieces that saw Century’s craftsmen working with alluring ebonized walnut and more, some of the company’s most sought-after work today.
Also in the 1970s as well as in the 1980s, Manhattan interior designer Jay Spectre introduced an Art Deco–informed spirit at Century Furniture, creating oversize, inviting lounge chairs and bentwood benches that featured plush tufted leather cushions. Spectre’s Eclipse collection was at one point among the largest-selling lines for the brand.
Century licensed collections with celebrity interior designers such as Thomas O’Brien, Charlotte Moss and Bunny Williams among others. In 2013, when Alex Shuford III was named president of Century Furniture, the move marked the succession of the third generation to lead this company, which is today one of the world’s largest privately held manufacturers of high-end furniture.
Find Century Furniture lounge chairs and dining chairs as well as vintage mid-century modern credenzas, dressers and more on 1stDibs.
$3,000
H 28.5 in W 30 in D 18 in
Bernhard Rohne for Mastercraft Extendable Top Burl Buffet or Bar Cart
By Mastercraft, Bernhard Rohne
Located in Bensalem, PA
Stunning Mastercraft rolling buffet cart with fold out top which measures 60 inches feel free to reach out with any questions
Brass
$4,400
H 33 in W 40 in D 20 in
Oriental Mid Century Modern Black Lacquer Base Modern Walnut Server Cabinet MINT
By Henredon, James Mont, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Quality mid-century modern walnut double doors bachelor chest cabinet dresser with beautiful brass hardware on black lacquer ebonised base. Gallery rolled edges top.
Brass
$4,800
H 31 in W 76 in D 19 in
Burl Wood Black Ebonized Border 9 Drawers Long Dresser Credenza Brass Pulls Mint
By Century Furniture, Milo Baughman
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Burl Wood Black Ebonized Border 9 drawers long dresser credenza brass pulls mint.
Brass
$3,200Sale Price|33% Off
H 24 in W 32 in D 20 in
William Doezema for Mastercraft Two-Door Cabinet in Brass and Burl Wood
By William Doezema, Mastercraft
Located in Camden, ME
This exceptional two-door cabinet, designed by William Doezema for Mastercraft, exemplifies the sophisticated elegance that defined the Grand Rapids–based company in the mid-20th cen...
Brass
Mastercraft Brass and Burl Wood Bar Cabinet Server
By Mastercraft
Located in Toledo, OH
Fantastic Hollywood Regency style bar cabinet server by Mastercraft. This piece is constructed of distressed brass with a burl wood top and laminate work surface. The expandable top ...
Brass
$3,995
H 31.25 in W 76 in D 18 in
Chinoiserie Black & Burl Chin Hua Dresser by Raymond K. Sabota for Century Furn
By Raymond Sabota, Century Furniture
Located in Topeka, KS
Marvelous vintage Chinoiserie Chin Hua Collection dresser or sideboard by Raymond K. Sabota for Century Furniture comprised of an ebony-tone wood frame, burlwood inlays, brass trim & hardware, double doors, and nine drawers total. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear even if it has been refinished or restored. Specifically, it has been cleaned but has no outstanding flaws that we have detected. Normal wear as you would expect with use & age. Please see photos, zoom in for details, and see long description as they are part of the condition report. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Late 20th Century. NOTE: IF you love this Chin Hua Collection dresser or sideboard by Raymond K. Sabota for Century Furniture, we have the matching armoire/wardrobe, pair of nightstands, and pair of mirrors in separate listings here for sale if they are still available. We also have many other items from the Chin Hua line. Check them out! OH, MY GOODNESS!!!! If you are looking for a dynamic dresser for your bedroom. Or a beautiful buffet for your dining room. Or a CRAZY gorgeous credenza for your entry hall or living room. You have DEFINATELY found it! This beauty is part of the original Chin Hua Collection designed by Raymond K. Sobota for Century Furniture in 1975. The entire collection was retired in 1998 after a 23-year successful run. So successful that Century Furniture reissued the collection in 2012. And it is no wonder they revived it. The Chin Hua Collection was one of Century’s most revered collections of all time. And this piece bears the original Century Furniture tag and is not part of the new collection and is only available vintage!!! So, It’s your LUCKY DAY!!! Playing with Hollywood Regency and Chinoiserie styles, Raymond Sabota designed this piece oh-so-handsomely. It is comprised of a stunning rectangular ebony-toned wood framework featuring beautiful burlwood inlays on the door fronts, 6 drawers, and phenomenal recessed top. It exhibits double doors in the center of the cabinet and three drawers on each side of the double doors all surrounded with beautiful brass trim & displaying magnificent brass hardware. And hidden BEHIND those double doors lies a marvelous secret!! THREE more drawers graduating from narrow at the top to a bit wider at the bottom AND they also have lovely brass pulls in the center of each drawer. That’s NINE drawers total!! Talk about AMPLE storage space for linens, clothes, books, or whatever your stow-away needs are! It is going to be an incredible addition to your bedroom or dressing area if you choose to use it as a dresser but its usage is not limited to that! It will be BEAUTIFUL in your dining room used as a sideboard or buffet, in the family room as a cabinet for games, toys, and art supplies, or in an entry utilized as a credenza hosting a lovely sculpture or artwork on top and endless options below. Whatever its use, it bears an EXQUISITE and timeless style you are sure to love for years to come! Raymond Karl Sobota (1914-2010) is an award-winning American furniture designer. He attended and obtained his degree in design from Kendall College of Art and Design in his native home of Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating in 1946 Sobota apprenticed with his namesake and uncle, a furniture designer as well, Karl Schmidt, who designed for Berkey and Gay Furniture Company. He apprenticed for seven years leading to his designing for Grand Rapids Bookcase and Chair Co., the Mt. Airy Furniture Co., Hekman Furniture and finally Century Furniture for whom he designed from 1952 until 1995. He designed all the company’s wood furniture during that time in total, over 150 collections. The most notable being Citation, Chin Hua, Claridge, and the Henry Ford Museum and the British National Trust collections. Sobota is credited for helping make Century Furniture the industry leader it is today. Century Furniture Company, one of the world’s largest privately owned upper-end residential furniture manufacturers, was founded in 1947 by Harley Ferguson Shuford, Sr. When first formed Century Furniture was a selling agent for local upholstery lines. But as soon as a year later Shuford had built a case goods plant in Hickory, North Carolina and that started it all. Harley Shuford along with his siblings and children acquired company after company expanding into upholstered furniture, chair manufacturing, and even a leather division. Century has made it through feast and famine in the furniture business and today retains their long-standing role as a leading force in the American home furnishings market. This amazing Chin Hua dresser...
Brass
Bernhard Rohne for Mastercraft Extendable Top Burl Buffet / Bar Cart
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Bernhard Rohne for Mastercraft Extendable Top Burl Buffet / Bar Cart With top that expands to 60 inches
Brass
$6,500
H 31 in W 73 in D 18 in
Black Lacquer Asian Inspired Horse Shoe Handles 5 Drawers Rolled Edges Sideboard
By Century Furniture
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Black Lacquer Asian Inspired Horse Shoe Handles 5 Drawers Rolled Edges Sideboard
Brass
$3,800
H 38 in W 66 in D 19 in
Black Lacquered & Gilt Decorated Details /Green Leather Top Sideboard / Server
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Mid-20th century modern chinoiserie black lacquered sideboard or server, finely crafted with a sleek, architectural silhouette that seamlessly blends modern design with Asian-inspire...
Brass
Century Furniture Black Lacquer and Brass Ming Style Console
By Century Furniture
Located in Pasadena, TX
This console table was made in the Ming style. The table resembles an altar table. It's lacquered in Black and has beautiful brass pulls, There are 2 drawers for storage.
Wood, Lacquer
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Black Lacquer Modular Credenza, Mid-Century
By Renzo Rutili, Edward Wormley, John Stuart Inc., Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This modular credenza by Dunbar is a sight to behold. The fusion of British Colonial, Far East, Regency and Modern create a distinctive harmony, rarely found in such tasteful proport...
Brass
Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Secretary Desk by Maddox, Asian Motif, 1970s
By James Mont, Edward Wormley
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This incomparable slant-front chinoiserie black lacquer secretary desk depicts a serene, traditional Asian motif from head to toe. The gold and greens appear as mystical and radiant...
Brass
1970s Romweber Burl Wood and Gold Trim Executive Desk with Filing Drawers
By Bernhard Rohne, Mastercraft, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Luxury, pure and simple. Well maybe not so simple… this burled Carpathian elm wood executive desk wears its gold trim like fine jewelry. The vintage 1970s desk captures the glamour of the era. The chocolate hued wood is illuminated with brilliant gold-colored metal handles, legs, and bezel. This is no dainty beauty. Designed for serious work and sophisticated environments, the desk features a suite of functional enhancements rarely found in pieces of this era. Three pull‑out table tops, one at the back, and one on each side. These convenient pull-out tables expand the usable surface area for devices or collaborative work. A long center drawer with an integrated organizing tray keeps essentials elegantly contained. On the left and right, two shallow top drawers provide quick‑access storage. Two deep file drawers (one left, one right) accommodate modern organizational needs. These file drawers lock, one key is included. Attention to detail rings throughout the design. Meant to be admired from all angles, it is a true work of art. Romweber, founded in Indiana and known for its uncompromising standards, produced some of the finest American case goods of the 20th century. This desk is a testament to that legacy: substantial, impeccably built, and designed to endure for generations. Its scale, materials, and craftsmanship make it an exceptional choice for executives and collectors seeking a statement piece that communicates authority, taste, and heritage. We also have a matching, equally grand, Romweber executive office credenza with file...
Brass
1970s Vintage Asian Rosewood Tansu Chest with Brass Hardware
By James Mont
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A compact jewel of Asian craftsmanship, this rosewood chest blends ornate detail with purposeful form. The body is crafted from richly figured rosewood, its grain deep and warm, wi...
Brass
1970s Romweber Burl Wood and Gold Trim Executive Desk and Credenza Set
By Bernhard Rohne, Mastercraft, Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Together, these two monumental Romweber pieces create a striking executive office suite rooted in 1970s American luxury and craftsmanship. Crafted in richly figured burled Carpathian...
Brass
Ornately Carved Asian Modern Red Lacquer Gilt TV Cabinet Bar with Brass Hardware
By James Mont
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Hand carved chinoiserie style motifs adorn this substantial red lacquered TV cabinet. Accented by brass metal hardware, the cabinet has a regal pres...
Hardwood
