Heywood-Wakefield Company gallery plaque

[1960?–1990?]

A photograph of a Heywood-Wakefield Company wooden gallery plaque. The eagle depicted on the plaque is the official symbol of the Heywood-Wakefield Company. The Heywood-Wakefield Company was started in 1826 by the five Heywood brothers; Walter, Levi, Seth, William and Benjamin in Gardner, Massachusetts. By 1926 it had merged with the Wakefield Rattan Company and had become the largest furniture manufacturing company in America with factories in Michigan, Oregon, and Canada. Originally famous for its bent back chairs, giving Gardner the nickname of "Chair City of the World", the Heywood-Wakefield Company became known for their beautiful Modern line of furniture in the 1930's and 1940's. The Modern Line was based on progressive art deco designs. The company closed in 1979, but was later revived in 1992 by the South Beach Furniture Company to meet its demand for art deco furniture, and today makes upwards of 35 furniture lines based on the Heywood-Wakefield original designs.