Created by the 19th-century merger of two venerable Massachusetts furniture makers, Heywood-Wakefield was one of the largest and most successful companies of its kind in the United States. In its early decades, the firm thrived by crafting affordable and hugely popular wicker pieces in traditional and historical styles. In the midst of the Great Depression, however, Heywood-Wakefield reinvented itself, creating instead the first modernist furniture — chairs, tables, dressers and more — to be widely embraced in American households.
The Heywoods were five brothers from Gardner, Massachusetts, who in 1826 started a business making wooden chairs and tables in their family shed. As their company grew, they moved into the manufacture of furniture with steam-bent wood frames and cane or wicker seats, backs and sides.
In 1897, the Heywoods joined forces with a local rival, the Wakefield Rattan Company, whose founder, Cyrus Wakefield, got his start on the Boston docks buying up lots of discarded rattan, which was used as cushioning material in the holds of cargo ships, and transforming it into furnishings. The conglomerate initially did well with both early American style and woven pieces, but taste began to change at the turn of the 20th century and wicker furniture fell out of fashion.
In 1930, Heywood-Wakefield brought in designer Gilbert Rohde, a champion of the Art Deco style. Before departing in 1932 to lead Herman Miller — the prolific Michigan manufacturer that helped transform the American home and office — Rohde created well-received sleek, bentwood chairs for Heywood-Wakefield and gave its colonial pieces a touch of Art Deco flair.
Committed to the new style, Heywood-Wakefield commissioned work from an assortment of like-minded designers, including Alfons Bach, W. Joseph Carr, Leo Jiranek and Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky, a Russian nobleman who had made his name in Europe creating elegant automotive body designs.
In 1936, the company introduced its “Streamline Modern” group of furnishings, presenting a look that would define the company’s wares for another 30 years. The buoyantly bright, blond wood — maple initially, later birch — came in finishes such as amber “wheat” and pink-tinted “champagne.” The forms of the pieces, at once light and substantial, with softly contoured edges and little adornment beyond artful drawer pulls and knobs, were featured in lines with names such as “Sculptura,” “Crescendo” and “Coronet.” It was forward-looking, optimistic and built to last — a draw for middle-class buyers in the Baby Boom years.
By the 1960s, Heywood-Wakefield began to be seen as “your parents’ furniture.” The last of the Modern line came out in 1966; the company went bankrupt in 1981. The truly sturdy pieces have weathered the intervening years well, having found a new audience for their blithe and happy sophistication.
Find vintage Heywood-Wakefield desks, vanities, tables and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Mid-Century Heywood Wakefield Wood Credenza
By Heywood-Wakefield Co.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Exemplifying stream-lined mid-century modern design, this authentic Heywood Wakefield wood credenza captures the timeless appeal of mid-20th-century American craftsmanship. Built fro...
Wood
$2,495
H 29.5 in W 80.75 in D 17.75 in
Mid Century Modern Vintage Teak Credenza Sideboard by Mcintosh Danish Style
By A.H. McIntosh Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Discover a stunning classic mid-century modern credenza by Scottish furniture maker Mcintosh. This beautifully styled piece offers great storage solutions with its spacious compartme...
Teak
Small McIntosh Duvegan Credenza in Teak #1
By A.H. McIntosh Furniture
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Scotland Designer: Val Rossi Manufacturer: A.H. McIntosh Era: 1960s Materials: Teak Measurements: 60" wide x 18" deep x 30" tall
Teak
$5,800 / set
H 32.25 in W 71 in D 19 in
Eight Drawer 'Irwin' Credenza / Dresser by Paul McCobb for Calvin Furniture, USA
By Paul McCobb
Located in Deland, FL
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern sideboard credenza or bar cabinet designed by Paul McCobb for his Irwin collection line for Calvin Furniture. The cabinet features stunning Honduran...
Mahogany
$3,452Sale Price|20% Off
H 31 in W 60 in D 18 in
Vintage Imported Danish Teak Credenza/Buffet Tambour Door by William Watting.
Located in Seattle, WA
This vintage Danish Modern teak credenza is attributed to designer William Watting and features the clean lines and functional design associated with mid-century Scandinavian craftsm...
Wood
$2,545Sale Price|32% Off
H 29.53 in W 59.85 in D 18.9 in
Vintage 1960 Retro Teak Sideboard or Credenza by Tom Robertson for McIntosh
By Tom Robertson, A.H. McIntosh Furniture
Located in Markington, GB
Sought after small sized vintage sideboard or credenza by Tom Robertson for McIntosh, 1960s. It has three drawers and a cupboard space. M...
Teak
Bernhard Pedersen Mid Century Danish Teak Tambour Door Credenza
By Bernhard Pedersen & Son
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Bernhard Pedersen Mid Century Danish Teak Tambour Door Credenza This credenza measures: 82.75 wide x 20 deep x 31.25 inches high Fair Vintage Condition - Piece has Heavy Stain Wear...
Teak
$1,950
H 30 in W 72 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Credenza by Leo Jiranek for Bassett Furniture
By Bassett Furniture, Leo Jiranek
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bring iconic mid-century style into your home with this beautifully designed walnut credenza by renowned designer Leo Jiranek for Bassett Furniture. Showcasing Jiranek's signature organic styling, this piece features striking sculpted wave-front drawers, decorative vertical wood inlays on the cabinet doors, gracefully curved case lines, and elegant tapered legs. Crafted in richly grained walnut, the credenza offers both exceptional design and practical storage. The center section includes three spacious drawers, while the two side cabinets provide ample room for dinnerware, barware, media components, or household essentials. Its sculptural silhouette and distinctive inlay details make it an eye-catching focal point in any dining room, living room, or entryway. Whether used as a buffet, sideboard, media console, or statement storage piece, this vintage Bassett credenza...
Walnut
$4,500
H 36.75 in W 66 in D 21 in
Harold Schwartz for Romweber Mid-Century Modern Oak Dresser or Credenza, 1950s
By Romweber Furniture Co., Harold Schwartz
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
$4,600
H 30 in W 59 in D 18 in
Danish Mid-Century Modern Teak Low 4 Drawers Sliding Doors Compartment Credenza
By Maurice Villency
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern take long condenser dresser. with two sliding doors compartment adjustable shelves and four drawers. Made in Denmark for Maurice Villency.
Teak
Gunni Omann for Omann Jun Model 18 Teak Credenza, Denmark 1960s
By Omann Jun Møbelfabrik, Arne Vodder, Gunni Omann
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A hallmark of Danish cabinetry from the golden decade of Scandinavian design, this Model 18 credenza was designed by Gunni Omann for Omann Jun Møbelfabrik, the Ølholm-based workshop his father Andreas founded in 1933. Rendered in warm, book-matched teak, the piece embodies the quiet discipline that defined Gunni Omann's mature output: taut proportions, restrained ornament, and construction detailing left honestly visible rather than concealed. The front elevation balances a bank of four drawers against a pair of wide sliding doors, each opening onto its own cabinet with an adjustable interior shelf. The top drawer is felt-lined and divided, offering a dedicated compartment well suited to flatware or small keepsakes. Drawer fronts are fitted with the sculpted, integrated pulls characteristic of the model, while the doors are hung with the model's signature blade-style pulls, their slim vertical profile echoing the credenza's tapered legs and reinforcing the design's overall restraint. Drawer boxes are dovetailed in a lighter beech, a construction choice typical of Omann Jun's better production runs and a useful marker of authenticity for the model. The case is finished on the back, allowing the credenza to stand freely away from a wall or anchor the center of a room without compromise — a detail not always found on case pieces of this era, and a meaningful plus for anyone using it as a room divider or floating console. The case rises on tapered, gently splayed solid teak legs, lending the long form a sense of lift rather than mass. Model number stamped to the base, consistent with original Omann Jun labeling practice. A versatile scale for a sideboard, console, or media credenza, equally suited to a dining room, entry hall, or living space in need of a long, quietly confident anchor piece. **Dimensions** Height: 31 5/8 in / 80.3 cm Width: 78 5/8 in / 199.7 cm Depth: 18 3/4 in / 47.6 cm **Condition** Presented in very good vintage condition with wear consistent with age. The case retains excellent presence overall; the base shows no notable flaws. Drawers operate smoothly, with one showing a small surface dent. A faint horizontal dent is present on one sliding door, visible only under raking light; the opposite door has a professionally repaired handle. The right side shows a minor edge imperfection and a small area of discoloration at the top. The top surface carries light scattered dents and scratches typical of a well-used credenza...
Teak
Danish Modern Teak Sideboard Credenza by Ib Kofod-Larsen, 1950s
By Bernhard Pedersen & Son, Ib Kofod-Larsen, Johannes Andersen, Brande Møbelfabrik
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Designed by Ib Kofod-Larsen for Faarup Møbelfabrik, this exceptional teak credenza showcases the refined structural elegance and sculptural restraint that define the very best of Sca...
Stainless Steel
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Dresser with Brass Accents, 78" Long, 1960s
By American of Martinsville, Oscar Niemeyer, Broyhill Brasilia
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A striking example of mid-century modern American furniture, this long walnut dresser features a sculptural and architectural silhouette accentuated by refined polished brass accents...
Brass
Hoke Wood Products Mid-Century Modern Walnut High Boy Dresser
By Broyhill Brasilia, Oscar Niemeyer, American of Martinsville
Located in Chattanooga, TN
American made walnut high-boy dresser by Hoke Wood Products. The Mid-Century Modern chest of drawers is crafted from old-growth American walnut, a fine example of classic craftsmansh...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Buffet by John Van Koert, 1950s
By Henredon, Drexel, Karl Johan, John Van Koert
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This Drexel Profile K37 buffet credenza by John Van Koert stands as a commanding exemplar of mid-century modern elegance—defined by precision, craftsmanship, and sculptural detail. C...
Chrome
Arne Vodder for Sibast Danish Teak Tambour Door Stereo Cabinet
By Arne Vodder, Sibast
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A striking record and stereo console designed by Arne Vodder for Sibast Møbler, Denmark, crafted in rich teak and bearing the original Sibast Furniture and Danish Furnituremakers Con...
Teak
