- Design Inspo
Henredon Furniture: The Storied Past And What’s Ahead
Founded in 1945, Henredon Furniture has been a leader in home design since its early start. For decades, Henredon was considered the top name in the game, paving the way in home decor with innovation, high-grade materials, and chic collaborations. The brand was applauded for appealing to contemporary homes with timeless designs. One of its original ads even boasted "Modern that’s casual, livable, and beautiful."
Its creation began with wooden chests and cabinets but expanded to upholstered furniture, dining sets, and more. Solid hardwoods and stunning cosmetics catered to the all-American aesthetic while carefully avoiding being stuffy or bland.
Flourishing over eight decades, Henredon earned a loyal following of all types of decorators. Though the brand has been missing since being purchased by new owners in 2018, noticed by avid fans absence. “Why is it so hard to find your furniture?” one commenter queried on the brand’s Facebook page (inactive for the last four years).
The brand hasn’t evaporated completely though, and perhaps its marked absence has increased the value of its goods. Enjoy the memories of one of the greatest names in high-end furniture with Nest Casa’s hand selection of vintage collector pieces. Plus, find out why Henredon devotees are getting excited about potential new furniture.
What is Henredon Furniture?
Henredon’s main mission statement was to combine timelessness with innovation. In the 1950s, the brand adopted the name Heritage Henredon to encapsulate its emphasis on incorporating history while moving forward. One of its ads proclaimed, “Henredon rooms go beautifully with time.” Its designs were meant to appreciate the past but be loved forever, and this seems to have succeeded since its furniture is nearly as present in the high-end market today as it once was.
The brand boomed during the Fifties and Sixties. Exploring innovative creations and new lines with buzzy designers and other exclusive collaborations kept the brand on the pulse of the industry. One half of a headline-making duo was with that of Dorothy Draper, the first internationally recognized and most acclaimed interior decorator. Every piece Draper designed for Henredon was an instant icon. Henredon’s famous partnerships were plenty. Ralph Lauren often designed exclusive collections for Henredon from the Sixties through the Nineties.
The History Of Henredon
Henredon was founded in Morganton, North Carolina, in 1945 by a group of four men; T. Henry Wilson, Ralph Edwards, Donnell VanOppen, and Sterling Collet. Their names combined created Henredon. The brand launched with the release of three chest trunks for sale. During the post-war boom, North Carolina became a hub for furniture design and the three chests were all they needed to get off the ground.
By the Fifties, the brand offered an assortment of hundreds of products from cabinets, to sofas, to dining room tables and seating sets. During this time, Henredon kept its upholstery and manufacturing factories in North Carolina with the original site being its center of operations in Morganton. Home decor was evolving and yet Henredon managed to remain one of the most-wanted brands through every decade.
The Mystery Of Henredon’s Disappearance
During the Eighties, Henredon began to source products from overseas in order to compete with rival brands that were also using foreign manufacturing. Sadly, this changed the perception of the family company to merely another imported furniture company. This means vintage Henredon is highly more sought-after than the mass-produced pieces. Before the new manufacturing techniques, its furniture had a considerable amount of hand and detail work making each piece a one-of-a-kind treasure.
In 2018, Henredon’s parent company Heritage Home Group filed for bankruptcy. It had buyers interested in its most iconic brands. Authentic Brands Group purchased Thomasville & Co., which also included Thomasville and Drexel, shortly after. At the time, ABG shared that it was excited to continue the Hendredon’s legacy.
Where To Buy Authentic Henredon Furniture?
Just like any in-demand brand, Henredon has its fair share of impersonators. If you’re looking to buy a real collector piece, here’s how to identify authentic Henredon furniture. Antique enthusiasts advise that the best way to identify genuine Henredon is by finding the “HH” symbols on the inside of the drawers.
Early pieces have a maker’s mark or product code signed by an inspector of the item. How to date Henredon furniture is also simple once you know about its history. Beginning in the Eighties, by the 2000’s most of its parts were made overseas. While the newer creations may not wield a made overseas sticker, the original wood is carved with the brands logo, the location it was made (Morganton, North Carolina), "Henredon Fine Furniture" or "Henredon Furniture Industries Inc." markings.
The Future of Henredon
Henredon’s social media came to a halt since its purchase by ABG in 2018 and has remained that way. However, the brand's website now directs to a page that boasts ‘Coming Soon’. Though there’s no public information as to when production may proceed—and what the brand may look like years later—the promising banner seems like its new owners intend on keeping its word.
Sign up for Henredon’s newsletter to receive future updates. For now, where can you buy Henredon furniture? Get your hands on some of the best-selling vintage and modern pieces, below, that will never lose luster.
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