About The Bassett Furniture Company
Many people recognize Bassett Furniture today from their large retail showrooms. Of course, they still offer affordable beautiful furniture to Americans across the nation.
However, Bassett Furniture has been around since the early 1900’s and was founded in Southern Virginia in the town of Bassett. The Bassett family controlled the company until recently, and they produced some great furniture from oak, maple and cherry for many many years.
Like Lane Furniture, Bassett is proud of their Virginia roots.
Vintage Bassett Furniture
You may find some outstanding vintage Bassett Furniture in used furniture stores, or online. The furniture company, like many others, experienced a great boom Post World War II. Multiple factories popped up in Bassett, Virginia and Martinsville, Virginia, employing thousands of people. Bassett produced awesome bedroom, living and dining room furniture by the 1970s.
Additionally, at times, you may see the name “Vaughan Bassett” used for vintage pieces.
Are Vaughan Bassett and Bassett Furniture Company the same thing? Yes, Vaughan Bassett and Bassett Furniture Company are essentially the same company. Two men formed the Vaughan Bassett Company in the early 1900s, but eventually the Vaughan name was dropped for simplicity.
Is Bassett Furniture made of real wood?
Many vintage Bassett dressers are made of solid woods like cherry, oak and maple. So, yes, vintage Bassett Furniture more than likely it is made of solid wood. That said, some parts that are not exposed, such as drawer runners, dust covers or the backs of furniture pieces feature pressed wood, plastic, metal or particle board.
You may see French Provincial styles, Mid Century Modern styles or more traditional style bedroom furniture made by the Bassett Company. Therefore, you really can find just about anything you like within the company’s extensive catalog.
Likewise, you will see some stylish dining room sets with French cabriole legs and caned back chairs. And you may see some sleek Mid Century Style tables and chairs pop up by Bassett Furniture.
Bassett Furniture History & Present Day
A familiar story for many furniture factories: globalization started to put pressure on the company by the 1980’s and 1990’s. Asian countries started manipulating their currency, “dumping” their product (selling their products for less than cost) and started to dominate in the furniture fields.
As a result, many companies (of all types, shoes, car, furniture etc) started to close and cut jobs. A sad few decades in America left many people out of work and without hope. Bassett did start importing some of their furniture.
Is Bassett Furniture made in the USA?
Bassett does still make some of its furniture domestically currently, but some of its current merchandise (either in parts or total) is imported from Asian companies. Their 100 retail stores across the country still employ many people. But it seems they focus more heavily on living room sets and upholstered goods than wooden furniture.
However, Bassett Furniture has a special line of furniture that is made domestically. Called “Bench Made,” this line of solid wood furniture makes use of Bassett domestic factories in Appalachia Virginia. Each piece is made to order, one at a time. Many wood finishes are offered, but many of the designs of the Bench Made line by Bassett Furniture tend to have a rustic quality to them.
Indeed, many of the living room accent tables offered in this line have very simple chunky legs and modern edges. Likewise Bench Made bedroom pieces have simple “live edge profiles” or beachy and casual shapes. In other words, Queen Anne or Sheraton styles seem to have fallen from popularity in the Bassett Company.
Vintage Mid Century Bassett
During the mid 20th Century, Bassett Company made some really modern designs. Indeed, you can find some really hip and stylish Mid Century Modern Bassett on the market today.
Of course, many of these vintage Bassett desks, beds, dressers and buffets have a great look. And, they all show very nice quality. The company took pride in making their solid wood furniture during that period.
Additionally, most vintage MCM furniture by Bassett comes at a bargain price. Of course, in comparison to high end Mid Century, Bassett MCM furniture really can offer great value to the consumer.
Vintage Bassett Furniture for Sale
If you are looking for vintage Bassett Furniture, it is best to start with top rated vintage sellers online. You may have to hunt, but you can seek out domestically-made Bassett Furniture from the good old days of American Factories. Enjoy awesome furniture from this company for years to come by purchasing vintage Bassett pieces.
Additionally, you can learn more about the history of Bassett by visiting our video page.