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Stow & Davis Desks

American

Stow & Davis made history when it introduced the first wood and steel framework desk in 1928. The American furniture company subsequently became a leader of mid-century modern office furniture production and design.     

Before the company was Stow & Davis, it was the Stow and Haight Furniture Company, formed by the partnership of Russell Stow and Thomas Haight in 1880. It produced kitchen and dining extension tables from a workshop in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1885, businessman George A. Davis purchased Haight’s interest in the firm, and its name was changed to Stow & Davis.

The company turned its attention to manufacturing office furniture, producing its first boardroom table in 1889. By the 1890s, Stow & Davis had established itself as a major supplier of furniture for libraries and offices. By 1916, it was supplying banks with furniture like its sturdy wood Colonial Revival style boardroom tables, leather-upholstered executive and swivel chairs and traditional desks in oak and mahogany.

The Great Depression forced the reorganization of Stow & Davis, and, during World War II, the company was commissioned to manufacture wooden desks, chairs and bunk beds for United States Navy vessels. 

During the 1950s and ’60s, Stow & Davis explored innovative elements of mid-century modernism, collaborating with several notable designers to produce new series inspired by the emerging Art Moderne movement. Instead of solid, classic American designs, Stow & Davis furniture now incorporated curved lines, rounded edges and sleek finishes. These included pieces like American designer Bert England’s stainless steel frame office chairs, walnut and bronzed steel conference tables by Italian designer Osvaldo Borsani and sophisticated Florence Knoll-style credenzas by Giacomo Buzzitta.

In 1985, the Grand Rapids furniture company Steelcase acquired Stow & Davis, and, in 1992, it continued to produce furniture for offices, hotels and homes under a new name: Stow Davis.

On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Stow & Davis seating, case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and more.

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Creator: Stow & Davis
Stow Davis Mid Century Brass and Walnut Credenza
By Stow Davis
Located in Countryside, IL
Stow Davis Mid Century Brass and Walnut Credenza This credenza measures: 84.25 wide x 21 deep x 29 inches high, with a chair clearance of 27.5 inches All pieces of furniture can be...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

Materials

Brass

Stow Davis Mid Century Walnut and Brass Desk
By Stow Davis
Located in Countryside, IL
Stow Davis Mid Century Walnut and Brass Desk This desk measures: 76 wide x 36 deep x 29 high, with a chair clearance of 28 inches All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

Materials

Brass

Walnut Executive Desk by Alexis Yermakov for Stow Davis
By Alexis Yermakov, Stow Davis
Located in Cedar Falls, IA
Stunning walnut color and figure present on this expansive executive desk designed by Alexis Yermakov for Stow Davis' "Electa" line. This desk features a large 36x70 work surface, f...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

Materials

Aluminum

Stow Davis Kidney Shaped Executive Desk
By Stow Davis
Located in Hanover, MA
Handsome late 1940's American Art Deco kidney shaped desk designed by Giacomo "Jack" Buzzita for Stow Davis' Executive collection. Beautifully refinished bleached walnut large kidney shaped top overhangs ovoid shaped satin finished dark walnut case of drawers with cast bronze pulls and a crescent moon shaped pedestal support, both on a shaped ebonized plinth. Case appears like four drawers but is actually three as the middle is double height and fitted for files. Organizer vide poche in top drawer along with metal label "Stow & Davis Furniture Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan". Crescent moon pedestal can be reversed if preferred so the cove faces inside (see last two detail images). Stylistically similar to designs of Gilbert Rohde. Depth of top from center is 39 inches. This particular desk is unusual insofar as all the others I've seen are oriented the other way so that the ovoid case is on the left side and the crescent pedestal is on the right while the kidney top...
Category

1940s American Art Deco Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

Materials

Bronze

1968 Alexis Yermakov for Stow Davis Executive Office Suite
By Alexis Yermakov, Stow Davis
Located in Cedar Falls, IA
Matching executive office suite designed by Alexis Yermakov for Stow Davis in 1968 as part of the Electa line. Stunning walnut color and figure present on this expansive executive d...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

Materials

Aluminum

Mid-Century Modern Walnut and Aluminium Desk by Alexis Yermakov for Stow Davis
By Stow Davis, Alexis Yermakov
Located in Pasadena, TX
Mid-Century Modern Walnut and Aluminium Desk by Alexis Yermakov for Stow Davis 1970s Clean lines with aluminium accents, this minimalist design features ample leg room, 4 drawers (o...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Stow & Davis Desks

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Walnut Single Pedestal Desk by Stow Davis
By Stow Davis
Located in Pasadena, TX
This piece has three drawers, one of which is a filing drawer. A very distinctive desk with unique capped off point stainless steel legs.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

Materials

Chrome

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Mid-Century Modern Walnut & Chrome Credenza by Alexis Yermakov for Stow Davis
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Spectacular Mid-Century Modern Walnut Demilune Executive Desk by Jens Risom
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Mid-Century Modern Walnut Writing Desk by Jens Risom
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Studio BBPR for Olivetti Sintesis "Arco" Office 3-Drawer Desk, Italy 1960s
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George Nelson for Herman Miller Mid Century Walnut Corner Executive Desk
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George Nelson for Herman Miller Mid Century Walnut Corner Executive Desk This desk measures: 60 wide x 30 deep x 29.75 high, with a chair cleara...
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

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Metal, Chrome

72" Mid-Century Modern Credenza by Alexis Yermakov for Stow Davis
By Stow Davis, Alexis Yermakov
Located in Pasadena, TX
Stow Davis Credenza by Alexis Yermakov Features walnut with aluminum trim. One file drawer, four drawers and two shelving cabinets. 79"W x 21"D x 27"H see matching desk available
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1968 Executive Desk
By Warren Platner
Located in Hanover, MA
Executive desk formerly belonging to noted architect George M. Notter, (1933–2007) of the Boston firm Anderson Notter Finegold (now known as Finegold Alexander Architects). Current institutional memory at the firm suggests it was a special order from Herman Miller for the then new New York offices of MGM, however Herman Miller's archivist was unable to confirm. Styling, particularly the distinctive slim milled aluminum tracks through which the entire drawer carriage glides is clearly similar to Warren Platner's designs for Lehigh-Leopold which were then among the most costly of executive office furnishings. The bent flat bar chromed steel base with its distinctive pigeon toe splay is somewhat similar to a table base in Stow Davis' Electa Series, designed by Alexis Yermakov circa 1971. Walnut laminate top is very clean with no issues. One one corner edge shows a small separation. The only identifying markings are within the milled aluminum channel: G.P. F.I. 2 And the date Dec. 20, 1968. See image 18. Between the rectangular laminate top and the chrome base is a heavy blackened steel plate. Underneath the bent chrome pigeon toe feet are bars of a thick phenolic material which act as floor protector. We can have keys made to fit the two locking drawers. Tim Anderson...
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1968 Executive Desk
1968 Executive Desk
H 30 in W 72 in D 36 in
Previously Available Items
Stow Davis Mid Century Boomerang Walnut Executive Desk
By Stow Davis
Located in Countryside, IL
Stow Davis mid century boomerang walnut executive desk The desk measures: 108 wide x 42.5 deep x 29.25 high, with a chair clearance of 27.75 inches high All pieces of furniture...
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

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Mid Century Executive Walnut Desk by Stow Davis
By Stow Davis
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Stunning rare mid-century executive walnut desk manufactured by Stow Davis in the United States, circa 1960s. This desk has been constructed from the highest quality walnut wood and ...
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Stow Davis Mid Century Walnut and Brass Boomerang Desk
By Stow Davis
Located in Countryside, IL
Stow Davis mid century walnut and brass boomerang desk Desk measures: 80 wide x 35.5 deep x 29 inches high with a chair clearance of 27.75 inches All pieces of furniture can be...
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Stow Davis Mid Century Walnut and Brass Executive Desk
By Stow Davis
Located in Countryside, IL
Stow Davis Mid Century walnut and brass executive desk Desk measures: 76 wide x 38 deep x 29.75 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restored vintage co...
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Stow Davis Midcentury Walnut and Brass Boomerang Desk
By Stow Davis
Located in Countryside, IL
Stow Davis midcentury walnut and brass boomerang desk Desk measures: 76.5 wide x 48 deep x 29.5 inches high This price includes getting this piece in what we call restored vintag...
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Rare 1950s Mid-Century Modern Executive Series Kidney-Shaped Desk by Stow Davis
By Stow Davis
Located in Lafayette, IN
Stunning 1950s "Executive" Series desk by Stow Davis. Desk features a 70" kidney-shaped top, walnut veneer and solid bronze hardware. With its beautifully biomorphic shape, versatile...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

Materials

Bronze

Professional Midcentury Desk by Stow and Davis
By Stow Davis
Located in Oakland, CA
Executive midcentury era desk, extremely well made in America (Grand Rapids, Michigan) by Stow & Davis. Very nice walnut veneers and lots of drawers for just about everything: There are a total of 5 drawers; including the center desk drawer with lots of possibilities for separation, coins, etc. Great original hardware in painted black finish.which allows complete control over all the drawers. I’ve had a few of these over the years but never this asymmetrical shape relating to the bottom. Look how the right side is carved in a somewhat graceful way. It supports the top but does not have the typical double sided stack of drawers usually seen in this model. I know this desk very well as I had a similar model I used for about 12 years and sold it after we moved out from our San Francisco location. This one has been restored and we recently refinished to the top and appears to be in overall excellent condition. Along with being a gorgeous desk it also has a story. This is a similar desk to the one Thomas Francis developed the flu vaccine on and Jonas Salk...
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1950s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

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Walnut

1960s Mid-Century Modern Walnut Executive Desk by George Reinoehl for Stow Davis
By Stow Davis, George Reinoehl
Located in Lafayette, IN
Wonderful midcentury executive desk from the "Predictor" line designed by George Reinoehl for Stow Davis. Desk features walnut cabinetry, chrome hardware, and beautiful, three-pronge...
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1950s Mid-Century Modern Sigma Series Boomerang Executive Desk by Stow Davis
By Stow Davis
Located in Lafayette, IN
Stunning 1950s Sigma Series executive desk by Stow Davis. Desk features a massive 89" boomerang-shaped top, walnut veneer and brushed aluminum accen...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

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Aluminum

Stow & Davis Kidney Shape Desk
By Stow Davis
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Kidney shaped Stow & Davis desk with glass top. Label on top drawer says Stow & Davis Furniture Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan. We believe this desk is a...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

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Wood

Stow & Davis Kidney Shape Desk
Stow & Davis Kidney Shape Desk
H 29 in W 69 in L 29 in
72" Stow Davis Leather Top Wood Desk
By Stow Davis
Located in Pasadena, TX
Known for superb quality, this Stow Davis desk is fit for any office or home office. The desk features one pencil drawer, four standards drawers, one file drawer, and a black lined l...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

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Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Burled-Top Walnut Executive Desk by Stow Davis
By Stow Davis
Located in Lafayette, IN
This wonderful Mid-Century Modern desk by Stow Davis is full of unique features. With its beautifully clean lines, Burled oak top, and touch of poli...
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Stow & Davis Desks

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Aluminum, Chrome

Stow & Davis desks for sale on 1stDibs.

Stow & Davis desks are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Stow & Davis desks, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original desks by Stow & Davis were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks by John Stuart, Harvey Probber, and Leon Rosen. Prices for Stow & Davis desks can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,320 and can go as high as $19,495, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,900.
Questions About Stow & Davis Desks
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Stuart Davis's art style is largely Cubist. He used the hard-edge painting technique to create dramatic differences in color. Many of his works draw inspiration from jazz and swing music, and historians credit him with influencing the Pop artists that emerged later in the 20th century. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Stuart Davis art.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024
    The Davis Cabinet Company is more than 90 years old. The company, founded by Lipscomb "Lip" Davis in 1929, grew out of a lumber mill operation located on the Cumberland River in Tennessee. Owners of the mill opened the Standard Furniture Company to put leftover lumber to use. Davis worked for Standard Furniture for eight years before he bought out the company and reopened it as the Davis Cabinet Company. Find a diverse assortment of Davis Cabinet Company furniture on 1stDibs.

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