The Durham furniture company is well known for their solid, highly durable wooden furniture made from sustainably harvested wood. Of course, the company has been in operation for more than 100 years and continues to provide high quality furniture products to all of its clients. Obviously, this Canadian Company has a rich story, so let’s dive in and get to know Durham Furniture.
About Durham Furniture
The Durham furniture company is well known for their dedication to highly durable and highly detailed craftsmanship.
Although the company has changed hands since its initial conception in the 19th century, the current owners maintain their dedication to the original Durham furniture company quality guarantee.
The Durham furniture company offers a range of furniture including tables, chairs, cabinets and more. Of course, each of their pieces features great attention to detail, including,
- Utilizing the mortise and tenon joint construction method for stability.
- Including corner blocking on cabinets for added strength.
- Fitted backs to eliminate the chance for racking.
- Heat resistant stains.
- Finished bed rails and slats designed to withstand years of use
- dovetail-style drawer construction for continued tightness after years of use and more.
Durham Furniture Company History
Firstly, Durham furniture company has its origins in the late 19th century. In the 1890s, a group of selected business people from the town of Durham, Canada fund-raised more than $10,000 from people in the local area with the intent to help provide employment for people in the town of Durham. By the year 1900, the first shipment from the Durham furniture company had gone out to a British client.
Over the next few decades, the company continually supplied furniture to a variety of individual and business clients. The T. Eaton Company was the Durham Furniture Company’s biggest client. In fact, they even commissioned the Durham furniture company to create a unique set of furniture for princess Elizabeth and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh–later Prince Philip–in 1948. Prince Philip still uses this desk from 1948 at Buckingham Palace today.
Over the years, the company has changed hands several times. Kroehler manufacturing purchased the company during the 1950s, and in 1979 another company (the Strathearn House Group of Toronto) purchased the Canadian division of Kroehler Manufacturing.
In the 1990s, a local group of Durham townspeople raised funds to purchase the company and relaunched it as Durham Furniture Inc in 1992. Incredibly, the once-again Durham-led company remains in the hands of Durham residents to this day.
Of course, this surprises many of our American readers, who may be familiar with the tragic story of Pennsylvania House Furniture and Harden Furniture. Unfortunately, both of these companies eventually closed or sent manufacturing overseas.
On the other hand, Durham remains a patriotic Canadian Company.
Durham Furniture Company Products
The Durham furniture company produces a range of solid wood furniture, including armoires, dressers, night stands, chests, beds and more. Their products are created in a few different styles including contemporary, traditional, casual traditional and a transitional style that combines contemporary and traditional. Also, their furniture is made using sustainability harvested wood and the aforementioned durable craftsmanship.
The fine solid wood furniture of Durham reminds me of other high end brands like Stickley, or Henredon. However, the classic light cherry finish usually found on Durham typically gives it away.
Tips for Purchasing Durham Furniture Products
If you are looking to purchase Durham furniture company products, you can look at the official website for a list of both U.S. and Canadian dealers. At this time, the company does not offer their furniture directly to consumers.
You can view a list of current offerings on their website if you aren’t sure which furniture you would like to purchase.
Durham Furniture For Sale
Durham Furniture is our only non American Furniture brand we promote on Vintage Furniture Guide! Durham Furniture is still made today in Durham, Ontario after over 100 years of business.
Enjoy beautiful solid wood furniture made by our neighbors to the north today. Canada’s finest furniture. What is Durham furniture worth? is it valuable? Where can you find this fine furniture? Of course, the answers start here. Make sure you also visit our Durham Video page to learn a bit more about this company.