Last night I watched With These Hands, a documentary about the closure of the Hooker furniture plant in Martinsville. Hooker sounds like it was a heck of a company. I say “was”—it’s still in business, but they moved all of their manufacturing to China, and it’s really the same company in name only. The film was conceived and executed by just one man, Matthew Barr. Here’s the trailer.
Are there any Virginia furniture manufacturers left? I’m determined to furnish our house in Virginia-made furniture, but I’m not sure that’s even possible anymore.
There’s Brass Beds of Virginia:
http://www.brassbedofva.com/index.html
…which I only know about because their merchandise is on The Price is Right a lot.
The only one close to us is Clore’s in Madison Co. There is also Bassett down in Southside, but I am not sure if they do in-state manufacturing.
Let me second the recommendation of E.A. Clore Sons, Inc., owned and operated in Madison County since 1830.
I’ve got a couple of their small pieces (a footstool and a clock), and they’re quite nice.
http://www.eaclore.com/
There’s also Antique Tables Made Daily, up in Sperryville (Rappahannock Co.). They use salvaged antique wood (e.g. from barn demolition) and make some really nice stuff:
http://www.farmtable.com/
3rd for E.A. Clore – love them! quality and value -bar none
Sorry, forgot these guys! http://www.thornco.com/ located in Waynesboro
Wow. Keep ’em coming, folks. :) I’d love to wind up with lots of links to Virginia furniture makers. At $250/apiece, it’d take a while to build up a dining room set from E.A. Clore, but if those chairs are as high quality as I suspect they are, it might be worth the wait. I want furniture that will be around and in use long after I’m dead.
Another vote for Clore. When we lived in that area, we purchased our dining room set one piece at a time, over about 10 years. It’s fantastic, and also timeless. This furniture will absolutely be around and in use long after I’m dead.
As of a few years ago, there were a couple of furniture-makers in Free Union.
I know Stewart Myers (old bassist from Agents of GOod Roots) was doing custom woodwork furniture for a while. He’s down in Richmond and shares a recording studio in Louisa with Chris Keup. Not sure if he’s still doing it, but if you want his contact info, I’m happy to send.
What I’m interested in is really furniture manufacturers—companies who are going to make stuff whether I show up or not—rather than custom furniture makers. There’s just such an enormous price difference between made-to-order furniture and manufactured furniture, and I expect to own very few items in the former group in my life. :)
Yet another vote for Clore’s. There’s no comparison. Like Publius said, what you buy now will be around, being used, and making folks happy for a long, long time. Their stuff is insanely well-made and durable. Buy something now and in ten years you need something else to match the color or style? They can do it.
I’ve had less success with Thorn (but these came as gifts and inheritances). Fine stuff, but Thorn didn’t really make it; and when it broke, they did a half-ass fix; and when it broke again . . . well, they were out of business and not answering the phone. (Upside to the story, the craftsman who made the piece and marked his name on the bottom took my call and replaced the defective piece for a very modest sum.)
So, Clore’s by a mile — in fact, a marathon of miles.
I’m sad that they’ve opened up a new storefront showroom, but perhaps the really interested can still make it down to the old place.
http://www.thomasjohnsonfurniture.com/companyTJ.php?PHPSESSID=883274054cac58446c5c1d2a094666cf
Downtown Lynchburg. This guy is amazing. He made the furniture for The Craddock Terry Hotel a boutique Hotel in downtown Lynchburg
Waldo/all,
Thorn and Company is no longer in Waynesboro– is no longer, in fact, at all. Which is sad, because a lot of talented people worked hard to make a go of it. Thorn’s designs have been licensed to Funk Brothers Furniture: funkbrothersfurniture.com. Mike and Dan Funk are a small shop in Charlottesville carrying on Thorn’s line of furniture and its blend of material integrity and value.
Disclaimer: before opening my own shop, I worked for Thorn and Co. for a while in the late nineties, and still feel very loyal to the company, Art and Brooks Thorn, their former employees, and Mike, who is a good friend…
John
Waldo, you can also check Stanley Furniture in Stanleytown, VA.
http://www.stanleyfurniture.com
Two thirds of their products are still made in Virginia or North Carolina. You can browse their products on their website. Country of origin is labeled on each product info page.