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About the Item
Early 20th Century English Chippendale / Georgian style China Hutch / Curio / Display Cabinet by Romweber Industries. Circa 1920s. Made from crotch mahogany with a graceful breakfront form featuring carved and scalloped aprons. The cabinet is supported by cabriole legs with acanthus carved knees over ball and claw feet. Upper hutch has two shelves with plate grooves while lower buffet portion opens to a large area for storage of china or collectibles. The crown showcases an open cartouche with foliate and canthus carved detail.
The American Furniture Company, along with Batesville Cabinet Co, Batesville Coffin Co, et al, all now divisions of Romweber Furniture Co, have roots in the Batesville Carving Company, which was founded in 1866 by Frederick Greemann, and Schrader Furniture Company, created by Herman Schrader in 1875. The Schrader Furniture Company also included a general store next to its factory. In 1876 Schrader sold the store to Hillenbrand Brothers, a dry goods and grocery store owned by John and William Hillenbrand of Ripley County, Indiana. Schrader and his associates established the American Furniture Company on 21 April 1879, which came under new management in 1885 with John Hillenbrand as a principal investor. The Hillenbrand partnership, however, was dissolved on 31 December 1887 when John acquired his brother Williams assets. In February 1888, the American Furniture Company organized yet again, this time with John St. Clair as president and John Hillenbrand as vice-president. The Batesville Carving Company became the Batesville Bracket Factory around 1870, which succumbed to fire in 1874. In 1876 William T. Greemanns sons established the Greemann Brothers Manufacturing Company with their father serving as president until his death on 6 December 1899. Despite continued success for a time, the company began to fail after involvement in manufacturing low-end bedroom furniture for mail order firms such as Sears Roebuck Company. The Greemann Brothers Manufacturing Company went into receivership in 1912 and was purchased at auction in March 1913 by Hillenbrand interests. After the acquisition, the Batesville Cabinet Company was incorporated in 1913. Hillenbrand focused this company on the production of dining room furniture, whereas the American Furniture Company remained a manufacturer of high grade bedroom suites. Substantial land holdings were among the assets acquired in the Greemann purchase, and by 1921 Hillenbrand had constructed a combined plant for the American Furniture Company, the Batesville Cabinet Company, and another acquisition the Batesville Casket Company.
Dimensions:
40.5″ x 16.5″ x 77.5″h, shelves 12″ x 12″ x 14″Creator: Romweber Furniture Co. (Manufacturer)Dimensions: Height: 77.5 in (196.85 cm)Width: 40.5 in (102.87 cm)Depth: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)Style: Chippendale (In the Style Of)Materials and Techniques: Glass,MahoganyPeriod: Early 20th CenturyDate of Manufacture: Early 20th CenturyCondition: GoodWear consistent with age and use. Good Antique Condition; Gentle wear from use and age. Light marking / scratching.Seller Location: Dayton, OHReference Number: Seller: 436211stDibs: LU5343242677972Shop All Romweber Furniture Co.
Romweber Furniture Co.
Some vintage Romweber Furniture Company designs may strike the young as pass. But for fans of a certain age, the American brand never went out of style.
The Romweber story began in the late 1800s, with the launch of American Furniture Company, which made bedroom furniture, Batesville Cabinet Company, a dining-room-set manufacturer, and Batesville Coffin Company. The three companies eventually merged to become a large and reputable manufacturer of case goods, furniture and more.
Not unlike many American companies, production at Romweber suffered during the Great Depression. The brand managed to stay afloat by making a rather strange pivot to selling five-pound fruitcake boxes. During the Second World War, Romweber pivoted again, this time to the production of ammunition boxes and pontoons for American troops and, naturally, furniture for officers quarters.
While Romweber furniture (spelled RomWeber in vintage advertisements), dating back to the early 20th century, had designers working in the French Rococo and Chippendale styles, the brand is best known for its mid-century modern pieces. In the postwar years, Romweber manufactured walnut case pieces and storage cabinets that featured decorative olive-ash and burl-wood inlays with brass hardware as well as solid oak credenzas and dining tables designed by the likes of Harold Schwartz. For collectors of sophisticated 1950s furniture, the companys sturdy Viking Oak line is particularly popular.
Its not uncommon for customers to say, My parents had this Romweber Viking set, says Adam Cramer of collectors who visit Liberty 33rd, the gallery he owns with his wife in South Bend, Indiana, about three hours north of Romwebers birthplace in small-town Batesville. Its solid oak, Cramer tells 1stDibs of the line of tables, chairs, desks and more.
Solid oak is the product of slow-growing deciduous trees. Solid oak furniture is durable, desirable and an investment that is usually associated with a hefty price. In solid oak furnishings, such as those that make up the covetable Romweber Viking Oak line, which launched in 1935, there arent any scraps of other components in the construction.
Inspired by Scandinavian folk design, Romwebers Viking Oak is said to have enjoyed one of the longest runs for a commercial furniture line in history. The collection went out of production in the late 1980s, and mid-century editions remain highly prized for their exceptional quality and hand-carved details.
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