This week we decided to look into the history of mid century modern furniture maker, Johnson Carper.
We have a lot of admiration for the design and durability of Johnson Carper furniture (we have a full bedroom set and a desk for our 3 year old 😊).
Most of the info that I have for you on Johnson Carper centers around their furniture lines, so let's start there!
Johnson Carper Designs
Check out the Johnson Carper "Ronda" nine drawer dresser that is part of this week's drop.
We also had coordinating pieces in earlier drops (the chest, shelf, headboard and nightstand, and a six drawer lowboy, tallboy and headboard).
Original ad for Johnson Carper Ronda - from @boston_modern
One of our favorite Johnson Carper designs is the Delray! We had one of the modular bedroom sets that Johnson Carper made, pictured below (see end of the article for the Chats with Jeff episode on that!)
This ad also from @boston_modern
Another notable Johnson Carper dresser design is the Brentwood, which features curving drawers. Say what you like about formica/laminate tops, but these dressers still look great after a lifetime of use!
Here's a close up of a Brentwood that we sold last year.
Ad also from @boston_modern - he is a great resource for identification!
History
So let's get into some of the history of Johnson Carper.
Like many of its contemporaries, Johnson Carper was located near the Appalachian mountains, in Roanoke, Virginia. My internet sleuthing suggests that the company was started in 1927.
Apparently, by looking at the ads that we have seen, Johnson Carper worked with designers like Edmond Spence, who designed their Delray line. Edmond Spence was a pretty renowned designer in the middle of the century for his Danish modern designs!
Checkout this video featuring the company and its factory:
I found it interesting how they showed the veneering process.
I wasn't able to find out a lot about the company, but the well loved TV show "I Love Lucy" featured their furniture! Two of their Fashion Trend bedroom sets were featured in Lucy and Desi's on set bedroom.
This was their first set - photo credit WikiCommons
Here's their second set with twin beds (same style as our son's) photo credit Flickr
Lastly, here is an Instagram video that Jeff did about the Johnson Carper Delray set that we had last year!
Please be sure to comment and share any info you might have about Johnson Carper!
Hello! I have two Johnson carper dressers which have straight sides… a style I can’t seem to find pictured anywhere. They were designed this way. They are not missing legs. This design did not have legs. I have photos. I’m wondering if you have any information on this style. They came from an Inn in the Catskills NYS.
My dad was a traveling manufacturer’s representative and sold furniture to department stores/furniture stores in Tennessee and southern Kentucky. Johnson Carper was one the lines he sold in the 1960’s.
I have a beautiful high boy And a little boy with a mirror that are in great shape. They don’t make furniture like this anymore. Wondering where a good place would be to sell something like this?