About Century Furniture
Century Furniture is one of the youngest brands on our furniture site. Stated in the late 1940’s by Harley Ferguson Shuford Sr., this incredible furniture brand is still in business today!
Like Bernhardt Furniture as well as Drexel, Century is a great American brand.
Used Century Dining Room Furniture, Living room furniture and accent furniture is still a great investment for your home. So, join us as we do a thorough Century Furniture Review, looking at some incredible vintage Century products throughout the years.
After all, one of the company’s slogans, “Century: Furniture of Distinction” can certainly apply to any of their vintage pieces.
Century Furniture History
In 1947, an ambitious furniture salesman named Harley came up with the idea to branch out and manufacture furniture. By only a year later, he had a case-goods plant in Hickory, North Carolina. Less than a year after that, he had his first mahogany dining room set shipped out to a happy customer.
Fast forward to today, Century Furniture Catalog has a humongous product line, offering 700 different products. In fact, most of these items are still made in one of now many upholstery and case good plants in Hickory North Carolina.
To really witness the size and strength of Century Furniture’s operation, watch this video tour of the factory, narrated by Alex Shuford, who at the time was the third generation owner.
Is Century Furniture Good Quality?
Used Century Furniture quality can only be described as excellent quality. In fact, from personal experience, Century Furniture Dining Room China Cabinets were some of the heaviest and best made vintage pieces we have carried over the years. (In fact, one of the china cabinets we still have in storage awaiting delivery is so heavy, it has put holes in a furniture slider!)
Much of the quality in the upholstered pieces by Century is found underneath the layers of fabric, foam and dacron. The hardwood frame and hand-tied springs make a superior product that will last years, if not decades.
Likewise, most of Century Furniture’s finishing process takes up to twenty coats over the course of days. These coats of finish are often rubbed by hand, enhancing the richness of the domestic cherry, oak and walnut that the company uses.
Century Furniture Design
However, I believe Century Furniture’s 60 years + of success can really be traced back to their partnership with strong design leaders.
The famous, Raymond K. Sobota started designing for Century Furniture in 1952, and was with the company for forty subsequent years.
His signature namesake designs are still recognizable and highly collectible today! The Chinoiserie pieces by Sobota typically have beautiful walnut burls paired with black lacquer trims and geometric hardware.
This statement “Chin Hua” Century pieces have a great look in both modern and traditional homes.
Likewise, some of Century Furniture’s other popular vintage designs include those in their Chardeau line. As the name suggests, this line of furniture by Century features beautiful French country designs.
Fine carvings, often enhanced with highlights or lowlights in the finishing process, and beautiful curves often decorate these Century pieces. The Chardeau Century dining room pieces often have a grand yet relaxed feel that was particularly popular in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Today, you will find lines of furniture by several other mainstream designers, including Bunny Williams, Charlotte Moss, Bob Timberlake and Candice Olsen. Each brings to the table a signature style and feel that really enhances the Century brand.
Vintage Century Furniture
Vintage Century Furniture can really enhance a modern bedroom, dining room or living room. Of course, because of the quality and beauty of the products of yesteryear, used Century Furniture continues to be a popular choice.
Century Furniture Value
Century Furniture values can vary from piece and line to line. Because of their fine reputation, used Century Furniture can still command a pretty good dollar on the used market.
That said, most fine furniture can only be resold for a fraction of its original value. So a fine Century dining room set that cost several tens of thousands in the 1980’s or 1990’s might only bring a five figure resale price.
However, values of used Century Furniture can fluctuate, so check this page often. We may see that Century Furniture from years past take an upswing as more and more people recognize the enduring styles and quality of the brand.
Century Furniture Products
If you are interested in learning more about this great brand, make sure you check out our Century Company Video.
Century continues to make beautiful and stylish furniture today. However, vintage Century pieces can be incredibly stylish and unique. Additionally, you may find that vintage Century offers a better price point. Finally, vintage Century furniture typically has a great look. Indeed, you can find discontinued Century pieces at vintage stores, antique stores and online to furnish a beautiful home. So, if you prefer traditional style furniture, check out used Century furniture.
Of course, the best places to find these discontinued collections by Century are
- eBay Marketplace. You may find exactly what you are looking for on eBay.
- Chairish. Known for high end furniture and accessories.
- Consignment shops and local thrift stores.
So, make sure you exhaust all of your options to find great vintage furniture by this high end maker.
Find the best available “Century Furniture” brand pieces available today.