As a child growing up I remember in a few homes I would visit there were these wonderful furnishings with these really beautiful dovetail designs typically on the surface of the furnishings. I had not thought much about it because in the early 70's it wasn't hard to find or view quality furnishings, it was taken for granted. Homes were still filled with the "good stuff" from the 19th century on up through the mid 20th century.

As a child I did not know what I was seeing, because it was so normal. But now looking back at the homes I would visit with my parents, to visit friends, relatives, cocktail parties etc, within those homes were some really beautiful furniture!

 

One of the furnishings that seemed popular and I remember specifically two homes we would frequent that had the Lane furnishings within.

Lately I have been perusing Facebook Marketplace and Scandinavian and Mid Century is all the rave, again, and I am happy to see it coming back. I love that time period and style. It's known as MCM furnishings, or Mid Century Modern. I have always been pulled to that design and style, one of the reasons I embarked on my sculpted rocking chair builds awhile back.

 

I do believe, correct me if I am wrong, but I think Lane started out as a box and blanket chest maker in the early 1900's. Their cedar lined chests are in abundance in the classifieds, beautiful today as they were then.

 

Here are a few of the Lane Acclaim Series of furnishings I remember as a child, very cool, I still love it! From the little research I have done, I am not sure if this style was produced mainly in the 70's or earlier.

 

I know many of you remember this style.

 

 

 

High Fi Stereo Media Console

 

 

Links of interest

• Lane Cedar Chest
• Home Furnishings Hall of Fame interview with Bernard Lane
• Lane Furniture Blog

As a side note, many of these used solid wood furnishings can be purchased for about the same or less than what brand new lower quality furniture cost today. The coffee table you see above in the original topic, is seen frequently in the marketplace for several hundred dollars.

For example, here is a beautiful Lane Cedar Chest in the FB Marketplace for 595.00, you can't touch this quality today and if you can, it'll run easily over two or three thousand.

 

 

 

Just as an aside, if you have an old Lane cedar chest, they offer free replacement locks.  Unlike the old ones, these do not automatically lock when closed.  Requires a key from the outside.  It helps prevent children from getting locked inside and suffocating.