Do you know this credenza?
April 23, 2013 8:32 PM Subscribe
We just bought this nifty sideboard in a used furniture store. To my very uneducated eye, it looks mid-century, but what do I know? I'd love to learn more about when it was made, what kind of style it is, whatever.
It was labeled as dresser and came with two small matching end/bedside tables. The front has a slight concave curve. Can any vintage furniture enthusiast tell me more?
Midcentury, of a style commonly called "Danish Modern" though I don't think that necessarily means it was made in Denmark specifically.
I'll second looking on the back or underneath (or possibly inside) for some kind of maker's mark, which will tell you more specifics about where and when, or possibly even who designed it.
posted by Sara C. at 8:51 PM on April 23, 2013
I'll second looking on the back or underneath (or possibly inside) for some kind of maker's mark, which will tell you more specifics about where and when, or possibly even who designed it.
posted by Sara C. at 8:51 PM on April 23, 2013
Sometimes (at least on my Danish Modern dressers), the maker's mark is visible on the outside of the drawer box if you take the drawer all of the way out.
posted by deinemutti at 8:59 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by deinemutti at 8:59 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Firstly, that's lovely!
Similar items are often made of teak laminate on the flat surfaces and solid teak legs and handles. It's hard to tell from a photograph, but the colouring and grain looks right from what I can see.
It does appear to be a dresser. Sideboards typically have sliding or hinged doors, and when they do have drawers (which is rarer), they tend to be fairly shallow. The depth of those drawers makes me think they're designed for clothing, not cutlery. Also, although I can't see the smaller tables in the picture, the thickness of the edge makes me think they have a hinged door and internal compartment? If they do, they're likely to be bedside tables rather than end tables and that would again point towards the larger piece being a dresser.
Many vintage dressers once had a mirror that's been removed because it was unwanted or broken. Are there any holes on the back where a mirror could've been screwed in?
I'm curious about the handles. They're called boomerang handles and in my experience, it's very rare to see them on Danish Modernist furniture. They're from a similar time period (the middle of last century) but usually appear in what's known as Atomic style -- think chrome boomerang handles, thin black metal legs, gold-flecked formica, wallpaper with starbursts or diamonds. It makes me wonder if this could be a piece from a later era incorporating several mid-century motifs? I wouldn't care either way, I think it's fabulous, but if it is of the era then it's quite unusual.
(Not an expert, just somebody who likes vintage furniture.)
posted by Georgina at 11:38 PM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Similar items are often made of teak laminate on the flat surfaces and solid teak legs and handles. It's hard to tell from a photograph, but the colouring and grain looks right from what I can see.
It does appear to be a dresser. Sideboards typically have sliding or hinged doors, and when they do have drawers (which is rarer), they tend to be fairly shallow. The depth of those drawers makes me think they're designed for clothing, not cutlery. Also, although I can't see the smaller tables in the picture, the thickness of the edge makes me think they have a hinged door and internal compartment? If they do, they're likely to be bedside tables rather than end tables and that would again point towards the larger piece being a dresser.
Many vintage dressers once had a mirror that's been removed because it was unwanted or broken. Are there any holes on the back where a mirror could've been screwed in?
I'm curious about the handles. They're called boomerang handles and in my experience, it's very rare to see them on Danish Modernist furniture. They're from a similar time period (the middle of last century) but usually appear in what's known as Atomic style -- think chrome boomerang handles, thin black metal legs, gold-flecked formica, wallpaper with starbursts or diamonds. It makes me wonder if this could be a piece from a later era incorporating several mid-century motifs? I wouldn't care either way, I think it's fabulous, but if it is of the era then it's quite unusual.
(Not an expert, just somebody who likes vintage furniture.)
posted by Georgina at 11:38 PM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Congratulations. I really like the piece from the photo. It's definitely "mid-century", and I'd agree that it's meant for the bedroom rather than the dining room, especially since there are night-stand-sized matching tables. Like Georgina, I would not be surprised should you find evidence of an erstwhile mirror on the back of the case.
Sadly, it's really hard to determine a manufacturer unless you can find a maker's mark. My first thought was Heywood-Wakefield (here's an image search), but there were so many shops turning out things in this style.
posted by trip and a half at 11:58 PM on April 23, 2013
Sadly, it's really hard to determine a manufacturer unless you can find a maker's mark. My first thought was Heywood-Wakefield (here's an image search), but there were so many shops turning out things in this style.
posted by trip and a half at 11:58 PM on April 23, 2013
I agree almost entirely with Georgina -- midcentury. not quite Danish modern but clearly drawing from that, probably from the 60's. It's not teak unless the color of the whole pic is off; my guess is walnut, which is very common in domestically built midcentury stuff.
posted by jon1270 at 2:31 AM on April 24, 2013
posted by jon1270 at 2:31 AM on April 24, 2013
Definitely mid-century inspired. But, I'm getting a sort of mash-up between the danish modern aesthetics and what one would call a more California-ish Googie sensibility. That "space age" design style.
It's a really cool piece.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:35 AM on April 24, 2013
It's a really cool piece.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:35 AM on April 24, 2013
I can't see the picture, my work is blocking the site, but a lot of my Danish-Modern pieces have a manufacturer's sticker.
You can look on the underside of the piece, or on the bottom or backs of the drawers to see if it's there. Here's a blog, scroll down for examples.
As for handles, it may be that they're original to the piece, or that they were added after the fact.
I have a sideboard (we use it as a media stand) and I replaced the wooden knobs with brushed nickel because the knobs were soft and if you pulled on them, they'd come off in your hand.
Once you get a piece, you'll get addicted, so you have that to look forward to.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:27 AM on April 24, 2013
You can look on the underside of the piece, or on the bottom or backs of the drawers to see if it's there. Here's a blog, scroll down for examples.
As for handles, it may be that they're original to the piece, or that they were added after the fact.
I have a sideboard (we use it as a media stand) and I replaced the wooden knobs with brushed nickel because the knobs were soft and if you pulled on them, they'd come off in your hand.
Once you get a piece, you'll get addicted, so you have that to look forward to.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:27 AM on April 24, 2013
There were three "phases" of teak midcentury modern furniture, in descending order of quality. First was the stuff made in Denmark and Sweden for local consumption. Then there was a phase made there for export to the United States. Then there was a phase of stuff made in the United States in the style of Denmark and Sweden. I don't know which your sideboard is, but you might be able to tell by, like other posters have said, looking for a maker's mark, which is usually on the underside or back of the piece, and is usually either burned into the wood or is a small metal tag. If there is no mark, it's probably third wave.
Other markers of general quality are what you'd probably expect. Pieces that are well-finished on all surfaces are better than pieces with ragged joins, rough edges, or plywood backs and drawer bottoms. Heavy is better than light. An oil-based matte finish is better than shiny heavy (often orange) lacquer. Neat, carefully-applied lacquer is better than pooled or sloppy or thick.
posted by Susan PG at 8:36 AM on April 24, 2013
Other markers of general quality are what you'd probably expect. Pieces that are well-finished on all surfaces are better than pieces with ragged joins, rough edges, or plywood backs and drawer bottoms. Heavy is better than light. An oil-based matte finish is better than shiny heavy (often orange) lacquer. Neat, carefully-applied lacquer is better than pooled or sloppy or thick.
posted by Susan PG at 8:36 AM on April 24, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks so much, everyone! When it gets delivered on Friday, I'll search every inch for any manufacturer's marks. Any tips on how to care for it? The finish is a little dull, there's a few faint cup marks on top, etc.
posted by mostlymartha at 11:38 AM on April 24, 2013
posted by mostlymartha at 11:38 AM on April 24, 2013
My co-worker has this piece in his office. His is Heywood-Wakefield. He says that the stamp should be in one of the drawers, if it is indeed Haywood-Wakefield and not a knock-off or "inspired by"...
posted by lakersfan1222 at 11:56 AM on April 24, 2013
posted by lakersfan1222 at 11:56 AM on April 24, 2013
If it's teak, you're going to want to dust it with a microfiber cloth, no Pledge or anything else. Occassionally rub it with some teak oil. You can buy it at SHØP or whatever they call your local Scandanavian furniture store.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:24 PM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:24 PM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
First, you need to determine whether the piece has been varnished. If the surface is glazed or cracked or feels plasticky, or if you can see pools or drips of hardened material sitting on top of the wood's surface, it's been varnished. In that case, decide if you can live with it as-is. If not, take it to a professional for refinishing, or start reading up on how to do it yourself. Doing it well is not a small project.
If it hasn't been varnished, you're in luck. In that case, you can easily spot-sand down any marks with very fine sandpaper. (If the marks are deep use fine paper and then extra fine.) Then, wipe down the whole thing with a tack cloth to remove the sanding residue. Then oil it.
That's where it gets tricky, because all kinds of stuff is sold for this purpose, and much of it is not what you want. You're looking for stuff called teak oil or Danish oil. (I think I used to use Danish oil from Watkins.) Do not buy the stuff sold for boats or outdoor furniture though, because it will contain ingredients you don't want, like shellack, varnish, polyurethane sealer and so forth. Those products will seal the wood, which you don't want to do. Do not buy tung oil or linseed oil. Do not buy anything with a stain in it. You just want natural rubbing oil. Wipe it on, let it sit for a few hours, wipe it off, and repeat every few months. It's easy and the result is beautiful. And, you can use what's called paste wax between times, to keep it looking great. Good luck!
posted by Susan PG at 2:06 PM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
If it hasn't been varnished, you're in luck. In that case, you can easily spot-sand down any marks with very fine sandpaper. (If the marks are deep use fine paper and then extra fine.) Then, wipe down the whole thing with a tack cloth to remove the sanding residue. Then oil it.
That's where it gets tricky, because all kinds of stuff is sold for this purpose, and much of it is not what you want. You're looking for stuff called teak oil or Danish oil. (I think I used to use Danish oil from Watkins.) Do not buy the stuff sold for boats or outdoor furniture though, because it will contain ingredients you don't want, like shellack, varnish, polyurethane sealer and so forth. Those products will seal the wood, which you don't want to do. Do not buy tung oil or linseed oil. Do not buy anything with a stain in it. You just want natural rubbing oil. Wipe it on, let it sit for a few hours, wipe it off, and repeat every few months. It's easy and the result is beautiful. And, you can use what's called paste wax between times, to keep it looking great. Good luck!
posted by Susan PG at 2:06 PM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Doesn't look quite like Heywood-Wakefield to me.
Sometimes cup marks or water stains will come out if you lay a towel on them and then apply an iron (not too hot).
posted by fivesavagepalms at 2:33 PM on April 24, 2013
Sometimes cup marks or water stains will come out if you lay a towel on them and then apply an iron (not too hot).
posted by fivesavagepalms at 2:33 PM on April 24, 2013
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