Century Furniture
Known for its many durable display cabinets, nightstands and dressers made of cherry, oak, walnut and more, Century Furniture of Hickory, North Carolina, began as an upholstered goods company in 1947 but added case goods and sophisticated mahogany dining-room furnishings shortly thereafter.
Launched by Harley Ferguson Shuford Sr., a Hickory native who was born to a family of textile mill owners, Century Furniture was intended to be “the best furniture company in the world.” With respect to speed and efficiency, the brand found its footing midway through production on a government contract that Shuford had secured in the early days to manufacture thousands of five-drawer chests. The effort was significant, but it was also a teachable moment as far as Shuford and his team’s learning the ropes of running a factory.
After hiring designer Raymond K. Sobota in 1950 and introducing the enormously popular Citation Collection in 1954, Century established its reputation as a leader in stylishly designed high-quality furniture. Sobota had furniture in his blood — after graduating from Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he worked for his uncle Karl Schmidt, who was at the time a well-known furniture designer for Berkey and Gay and other makers in the Grand Rapids area, then known as America’s furniture capital. Sobota soon launched his own studio, designing furniture as a freelancer for various local manufacturers. Shuford found him by happenstance, journeying to Michigan’s second-largest city to offer a job to another designer who turned him down but recommended Sobota instead.
Century’s Citation line — a sizable collection for the brand that spanned furnishings for the bedroom, dining room and more — is revered in the world of mid-century modern furniture collectors. The pieces sold very well during the 1950s, and the line is an oft-cited success story for Sobota, who would go on to win awards for his work and whose own catalogue of designs for the brand is massive.
In his 40-year career at Century, until he retired in 1995, he designed well over 100 furniture lines. Sobota’s nightstands, cabinets, side tables and more are characterized by his interest in Asian design, distinctly and brilliantly expressed in his Hollywood Regency–style Chin Hua line, which debuted during the 1970s. With its geometrically decorative brass drawer pulls and door handles as well as dining-chair seat-back carvings — all inspired by Asian motifs — this collection has rendered vintage pieces that saw Century’s craftsmen working with alluring ebonized walnut and more, some of the company’s most sought-after work today.
Also in the 1970s as well as in the 1980s, Manhattan interior designer Jay Spectre introduced an Art Deco–informed spirit at Century Furniture, creating oversize, inviting lounge chairs and bentwood benches that featured plush tufted leather cushions. Spectre’s Eclipse collection was at one point among the largest-selling lines for the brand.
Century licensed collections with celebrity interior designers such as Thomas O’Brien, Charlotte Moss and Bunny Williams among others. In 2013, when Alex Shuford III was named president of Century Furniture, the move marked the succession of the third generation to lead this company, which is today one of the world’s largest privately held manufacturers of high-end furniture.
Find Hollywood Regency–style lounge and dining chairs as well as vintage mid-century modern wardrobe credenzas, dressers and more from Century Furniture on 1stDibs.
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Century Furniture
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1970s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Century Furniture
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Century Furniture
Wood
Late 20th Century American Chinese Chippendale Century Furniture
Hardwood
Late 20th Century North American Louis XV Century Furniture
Silk, Hardwood
1990s American Century Furniture
Fabric
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Century Furniture
Ash, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Century Furniture
Oak
1970s American Chinese Chippendale Vintage Century Furniture
Upholstery, Faux Bamboo, Wood
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Century Furniture
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1980s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Century Furniture
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Century Furniture
Burl
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Century Furniture
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Century Furniture
Walnut
20th Century American Century Furniture
Marble
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Century Furniture
Hardwood
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Century Furniture
Faux Bamboo, Wood
20th Century American Modern Century Furniture
Mahogany, Lacquer
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Century Furniture
Hardwood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Century Furniture
Cane, Walnut
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Century Furniture
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Century Furniture
Chrome
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Century Furniture
Birch
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Century Furniture
Fabric, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Century Furniture
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Century Furniture
Burl
1970s American Chinoiserie Vintage Century Furniture
Lacquer
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Century Furniture
Birch
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Century Furniture
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Century Furniture
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Century Furniture
Aluminum
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Century Furniture
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1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Century Furniture
Mirror
Mid-20th Century North American Empire Century Furniture
Cherry, Burl
Late 20th Century American Chinese Chippendale Century Furniture
Hardwood
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Century Furniture
Glass, Wood, Lacquer
1970s Hollywood Regency Vintage Century Furniture
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Century Furniture
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Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Century Furniture
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Late 20th Century Century Furniture
Walnut
Late 20th Century French Provincial Century Furniture
Maple
Late 20th Century Century Furniture
Maple
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Century Furniture
Brass
1980s American Vintage Century Furniture
Wood, Wool
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Century Furniture
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Late 20th Century Century Furniture
Upholstery
Late 20th Century Chippendale Century Furniture
Upholstery, Mahogany
Late 20th Century French Provincial Century Furniture
Upholstery
1980s American Meiji Vintage Century Furniture
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Late 20th Century Century Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Louis XV Century Furniture
Wood, Upholstery
20th Century North American Modern Century Furniture
Fabric
1980s American Modern Vintage Century Furniture
Stainless Steel, Stainless Steel
1970s American Modern Vintage Century Furniture
Upholstery
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Century Furniture
Brass
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Century Furniture
Aluminum
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Century Furniture
Burl, Lacquer
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Century Furniture
Brass