Stow & Davis Furniture
There was something for everyone in Stow & Davis's offerings during its heyday. Known for its period revival designs — as well as its wood-and-steel framework desks and other Streamline Moderne-inspired works of the late 1920s and '30s — the American manufacturer created sleek and innovative modern office furniture during the mid-century years, too.
Before the company was Stow & Davis, it was the Stow and Haight Furniture Company, formed by the partnership of Russell Stow and Thomas Haight in 1880. It produced kitchen and dining extension tables in a workshop in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1885, businessman George A. Davis purchased Haight’s interest in the firm, and its name was changed to Stow & Davis.
The company later turned its attention to manufacturing office furniture, producing its first boardroom table in 1889. By the 1890s, Stow & Davis had established itself as a major supplier of furniture for libraries and offices. By 1916, it was supplying banks with furniture such as its sturdy wood Colonial Revival-style conference tables, leather-upholstered executive and swivel chairs and traditional desks in oak and mahogany.
The Great Depression forced the reorganization of Stow & Davis, and, during World War II, the company was commissioned to manufacture wooden desks, chairs and bunk beds for United States Navy vessels.
During the 1950s and ’60s, amid the rise of what we now call mid-century modernism, Stow & Davis endeavored to innovate, collaborating with several notable designers to produce inspired new collections.
While it continued to offer traditional furniture styles influenced by English design, Stow & Davis began to incorporate curved lines, rounded edges and sleek finishes into its offerings during the postwar years. Its mid-century modern furniture included pieces like Bert England’s stainless steel frame office chairs, walnut and bronzed steel conference tables by Italian designer Osvaldo Borsani and sophisticated credenzas by Giacomo Buzzitta, an award-winning alum of the John Widdicomb Company.
In 1985, the Grand Rapids manufacturer Steelcase acquired Stow & Davis.
Find vintage Stow & Davis seating, case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and more on 1stDibs.
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Chrome
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Chrome
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Metal
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century American Post-Modern Stow & Davis Furniture
Steel
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Chrome
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Bronze
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Chrome
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Bronze, Steel
1970s American Space Age Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Chrome
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Chrome
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stow & Davis Furniture
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Stow & Davis Furniture
Chrome
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Stow & Davis Furniture
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Stow & Davis Furniture
Walnut
1970s American Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Walnut
1970s American Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Walnut, Glass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Steel
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Stow & Davis Furniture
Chrome
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Stow & Davis Furniture
Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stow & Davis Furniture
Marble, Steel
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stow & Davis Furniture
Teak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stow & Davis Furniture
Fabric, Walnut
1970s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Naugahyde, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Stow & Davis Furniture
Walnut, Fabric
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Chrome
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Furniture
Stainless Steel
Stow & Davis furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Stow & Davis
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Stuart Davis's art style is largely Cubist. He used the hard-edge painting technique to create dramatic differences in color. Many of his works draw inspiration from jazz and swing music, and historians credit him with influencing the Pop artists that emerged later in the 20th century. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Stuart Davis art.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024The Davis Cabinet Company is more than 90 years old. The company, founded by Lipscomb "Lip" Davis in 1929, grew out of a lumber mill operation located on the Cumberland River in Tennessee. Owners of the mill opened the Standard Furniture Company to put leftover lumber to use. Davis worked for Standard Furniture for eight years before he bought out the company and reopened it as the Davis Cabinet Company. Find a diverse assortment of Davis Cabinet Company furniture on 1stDibs.