Posted 4 years ago
Jettabetta1
(5 items)
This is a cherished dresser from my aunt and uncle. I use it and it was purchased from The Chittenden & Eastman co. in Burlington, Iowa. I know it is from the Square Brand Style because the tag shows that. I have found a PDF file on the building and it’s history but not any furniture. I found a little information the last time I looked. The company now only sells mattresses. On that site I found a link but I can’t find it any longer. I’m mainly curious how old it is as it has war wounds but has held up very well. Every time... I move I worry about the mirror. Any information would be accepted gratefully and thankfully.
Update1: I’ve found a pdf catalog which had a lot of furniture but not the Square Brand or my piece. https://archive.org/details/ChittendenEastmanCompany0001
Update2: I found another article about the company and that they produced a catalog of over 700 items. I didn’t count the items in the pdf file above but if that’s the catalog I am back to square one...onward!
https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/29/Chittenden-Eastman-Company.html
Update3: Per email response from Burlington Public Library- “Attached is a photo of the C&E catalog page showing your dresser. You'll notice this model is labeled 46810, while your dresser is 48310. That's because this catalog, from the 1942-43 sales year, is probably one or two years older than your dresser. But as you can see, the details are an exact match.
Unfortunately, the library doesn't own any copies of the C&E catalog from the years between 1944 and 1948. The 1949 catalog clearly shows an entirely different style of furniture, and the 1941-42 catalog is also clearly not a match for your piece. The fact that your dresser is so similar to the 1942-43 item 468-10 leads me to believe your dresser was probably sold the very next catalog year, 1943-44.
The details listed on the catalog page would be exact as well - your dresser is made from walnut and gum woods with a walnut finish. It was of course made here in Burlington.“
I am going to post a link which claims to be a digital catalog of their product archives. I DID NOT go through the links looking for this item, that's your job. Good Luck.
https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au%3AChittenden+%26+Eastman+Company.&qt=hot_author
Oh wow! Thanks so much fhrjr2.
I am sure everyone is dying to know :-). I found information on the dresser and a pretty close date to when it was made. I am very grateful to have my answer and the mystery is solved.
There was a metal dresser with a highly similar Mirror which sat on top that I was interested in. It was designed in the later 30's by deco designer Norman Bel Geddes, somewhat more deco than this one. I had one and there was an identical dresser on the cover of Archetectural Digest in the early 80's, which had been repainted in op art colours.