RWAY Furniture Mid Century Mahogany Empire Style Dresser 3 Drawer Chest Inlay

Description

Rway Chest

An Empire style chest of drawers by Rway featuring mixed wood construction with mahogany veneers in a medium dark finish. The case has three full length stacked drawers with brass pulls and columnar front stiles in an ebonized finish with gilded acanthus leaves to the top. This chest of drawers has a brass applique to the top drawer in the manner of ormulu. Marked along the left inside of top drawer.

Rway Furniture Background

The R-Way Furniture Company was initially founded in 1881 as the Mattoon Manufacturing Co, and by 1900 the business had grown to employ 800 workers on a site which covered 12 acres.

When the company’s founder George B. Mattoon died in 1904, the company was renamed as the Northern Furniture Co. and went on to successfully produce a wide range of furniture including dining room tables and chairs, desks, bookcases and buffets.

In 1916 it was purchased by an arm of the C. Reiss Coal Company, and continued to produce furniture under the name of Northern until 1949 when the business changed its name to R-Way Furniture. In 1942 the company had opened a chain of 12 showrooms, in which customers could view products and order items from a catalogue.

R-Way went on to operate as a furniture company until 1992, when it began to phase out production at the factory. In 1993 the plant’s equipment was sold at a public auction, and the company finally ceased trading.

Condition

There is some finish loss and light distressing to the body from use.
Otherwise Very Good
See Pictures

Dimensions

22.625” x 49” x 34.75”
(L x W x H)