2021/07/29 10:25:41
Henredon Furniture: A Full Guide
Source: https://www.henredon.com/
What is Henredon Furniture?
That’s the question that popped in your head the moment you spotted this headline. Henredoen is the name of a furniture-making company whose products are among the most expensive in the world. In a nutshell, the Henredon brand is a luxurious chain of high quality and super expensive furniture that’s bought only by the super-rich as they are way out of reach for any normal person.
We are going to explore Henredon furniture, the brief history of the company, how you can identify Henredon furniture, and the many benefits and challenges that this brand of products brings to the table.
Brief History
Source: https://www.henredon.com/
Henredon Furniture was started in 1945 in North Carolina by four individuals who sought to usher in a new era of making unique custom furniture for a growing elite class of people who wanted something different. The very first furniture line the company started with was a product that had three chests.
Over time, things started taking a life of their own as the demand rose. This prompted Henredon to diversify their products, and they started manufacturing all types of furniture pieces using all kinds of high-quality materials. At the time, everything was handcrafted by a team of highly qualified craftsmen.
Mass production shot up, and over the years, the company has undergone a lot of transformation. But one thing that has not changed much is the prestige associated with their products. Owning Henredon furniture is the ultimate sign of wealth, and for this reason, the company doesn’t mass produce at the same level as the other companies.
Some of the most common furniture made by the company range from office furniture, living room, dining rooms, bedroom furniture, among a host of other varied types that can be used in any house, office, or business establishment.
Why is Henredon Furniture such a Big Deal?
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/
As we previously mentioned, Henredon does not simply make furniture; they make products that cannot be replicated using the best materials that money can buy. Being associated with the brand alone is a statement in itself, and the reasons it is such a huge deal include the following.
● Henredon furniture is made using high-quality wood that’s treated using secret processes to give it a very unique appearance and texture. It is this wood that makes the furniture stand out more than anything else.
● The use of unique upholstery that features proprietary designs that cannot be replicated by any other company. A single look is all it takes for anyone to tell that they are in the presence of high-quality furniture.
● Henredon is a luxurious brand that makes some of the most expensive furniture products around. A simple chest drawer set can go for as high as $3,450 per set, a price that would leave jaws on the flow considering the size of the said product.
● Henredon furniture is rare. They are mostly made to order, and this makes their pieces very rare. And as it is with anything in the world, rarity creates demand, and that demand makes the product in question gain high status in the minds of the consumers.
How to Identify Henredon Furniture
Where luxury brands are involved, there’s always the unfortunate attempt at con men and women taking advantage of people by selling knockoffs and passing them off as the real deal. Not everybody is into furniture, and that can make it hard for them to tell if they are getting the real thing or not. Henredon has not been spared from this. Therefore, how will you be able to tell if the Henredon furniture you are looking at is authentic? By following these simple steps.
Step 1: The Marks
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/
Every Henredon furniture comes with a unique mark that is usually left beneath the furniture if you are dealing with a couch, chair, or table. For chest drawers, you will find the mark on the top edges or the back. Some vintage furniture even comes engraved with the mark. This Henredon mark comes in the form of a signature that resembles the logo and is hard to replicate.
The unfortunate part, however, is that the mark tends to erode over time, especially on products that were made a long time ago. This has opened up the opportunity for cons to make furniture with marks that are hard to tell apart from the original since there’s not much to compare to. If finding the mark proves too elusive, consider the services of an appraiser before spending your money on anything.
Step 2: Check Online
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/
You will be surprised at how resourceful the internet can be. Considering how big a brand name Henredon is, if getting a definitive mark to prove the authenticity is hard, then turn to the internet. Simply take a picture of any logo or emblem on the furniture or upholstery material and upload it to forum sites that deal with furniture, and you will find a couple of people who will be able to tell whether what you are dealing with is real or not.
The information may not be very accurate, but you are assured of getting informative opinions that will help you figure out things on your own. If you know anyone good with furniture, then talk to them as they may have some knowledge that could help you in the long run.
Step 3: Scrutinize the Details
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/
Even if you are not an expert in furniture, there’s something that’s bound to turn up if you decide to really inspect the piece of Henredon furniture you are interested in buying. You could begin by familiarising yourself with Henredon features in advance to have a reference point. Once you get your hands on the furniture, take your time inspecting every inch carefully.
In the process, you may find some things that will give you better information. For instance, if you are inspecting a vintage furniture piece, then you don’t expect to find fresh paint or shiny nail heads as that’s an indication that there has been some recent work done, and that points to a forgery. You can also tell by the nature of the wood. If the wood is not timber, then there’s a chance it was not made in North Carolina, and it could be fake.
Step 4: Get an Appraiser
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/
No one can beat the watchful and keen eye of an appraiser. They may cost you a significant amount of money, but you will definitely save yourself from the heartbreak of buying forged furniture. Appraisers are well trained at spotting thighs that normal people would miss without blinking.
Taking an appraiser with you is the easiest way to know if the item in question is fake, as the first thing that will happen is the seller getting spooked at the possibility of being found out. Appraisers also have a vast database of information that they share with each other, and all it would take is a call to each either, and they can tell you if you are about to be swindled or are dealing with the genuine artifact.
The Disappearance of Henredon
Source: https://www.authenticbrands.com/
As of 2018, the Henredon brand stopped being active after a series of events that culminated with the parent company, Heritage Home Group, filing for bankruptcy. Trouble began for Henredon in the eighties when the company switched to importing their raw materials from overseas as opposed to using homegrown materials from North Carolina as it had been doing from the day of its inception. This switch was brought about by increasing competition that was making cheaper furniture due to sourcing cheaper raw materials from other countries.
This switch did not sit well with people who had grown fond of the brand as the company started to resemble the other companies that also imported regular wood from abroad. This caused people to shift their focus to products that were made before that shift, and this throttled sales since new products were not being bought fast enough. This quickly led the company down the road to ruin that it was never able to recover from.
Things finally collapsed in 2018 when HHG filed for bankruptcy. At the time, there were many big brands that showed interest in acquiring the vintage brand to continue the heritage, but so far, there’s no definitive word about what has taken place since then.
The future of the company is still up in the air as it has been since 2018. The official website itself is no longer active but has a “Coming Soon” message on it, which doesn’t say much on the company’s date of return. It is highly unlikely that Henredon will come back, and if it does indeed manage to, it is hard to see how it would be able to survive in an industry that has already moved on and replaced it.
The best bet would be an acquisition by another big brand, and so far, some of the names that have shown interest include Authentic Brands Group. All that long-time fans of the brand can do is wait and see what happens down the road.
Conclusion
The legacy that Henredon furniture has left continues to leave on since there are very few companies that have been able to match the excellence of their products. Getting your hands on Henredon furniture can be a little hard since most of what’s available are vintage products, but you may see some of them turn up in furniture fairs and exhibitions to deal with antiques. Information on where and when these fairs will be held can be found on our website.
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