Berkey and gay hutch
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Early 20th Century American William and Mary Vanities
Vintage 1920s American Jacobean Cabinets
He apprenticed for seven years
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie End Tables
A beautiful blend of William & Mary, Jacobean and Gothic styling. In 1874, the new company opened their six-story factory, complete with wholesale and retail showrooms, in Grand Rapids. The cabinet opens to two removable shelves with plate grooves over a large lower dovetailed drawer for accessory storage.
A Breif History of Berkey & Gay Furniture Company
In 1855, William Berkey arrived in Grand Rapids and founded a mill to manufacture window sashes and other wood building products.
In 1874, the new company opened its six-story factory, complete with wholesale and retail showrooms, in Grand Rapids. Oriel Cabinet constructed a factory at this site in the 1880s, but the original factory was destroyed by fire in 1890. This was highly successful, and soon the Berkey brothers were concentrating on making furniture.
The two central doors are below a diamond carved frieze and exhibit exquisite geometric molding with quarter cut applied finials and round medallions. One of these was the Oriel Cabinet Company, which he established in 1880. Measures 42" in width, 22" in depth
Early 20th Century William and Mary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1930s Side Tables
Early 20th Century Tables
Vintage 1940s American Jacobean Cabinets
By 1882, this factory covered three city blocks. Great antique condition. Local stockholders reopened the factory in 1935, and continued production until World War II, when it was converted to wartime needs.
Local stockholders reopened the factory in 1935, and continued production until World War II, when it was converted to wartime needs.
After the war, an attempt was made to convert back to furniture production, but the company was again forced to declare bankruptcy in 1948 and closed the factory for good.
The Berkey & Gay Furniture Company used three different types of labels to mark the tables and other furniture that they manufactured. The hutch is supported by turned legs along the front with bun feet and straight legs along the rear with a tapered foot.
He was joined by his brother, Julius, who later began manufacturing what became known as the Berkey Table.This was highly successful, and soon the Berkey brothers were concentrating on making furniture. In 1919 the company further expanded the factory 240 feet north along Monroe Avenue.
In 1920, the company merged with the Wallace Furniture Company and the Grand Rapids Upholstery Company to form Consolidated Furniture Companies, but continued to use the trademark Berkey & Gay because of its name recognition.
Both Oriel Cabinet and Berkey & Gay continued independently until 1911, when the two companies merged.