The vintage Lane Acclaim line of furniture seems to have been very popular in mid century America. We speculate that — much like the popular Drexel Declaration line — the design of Lane Acclaim appealed to Mrs. America because it was a good compromise between traditional and modern. It was a little bit Early American, a little bit mid mod.
Remember: The mass of Mrs. Americas were not nuts about mid century modern. But maybe she could tiptoe in. Interestingly — also like Drexel Declaration, there’s a Shaker feel to the Lane Acclaim design — you can see how the wood is connected. Reader Dave is a big fan of the line. He recently acquired what seems to be a very hard-to-find catalog of available pieces from the Lane Acclaim Line — and graciously shares it with all of us today.
Dave writes:
After much hunting, I finally tracked down a complete Lane Acclaim catalog on Ebay and have scanned it. This is a small booklet, 3″ x 4″, that was hung on showroom pieces with a string. As someone who owns six lane pieces (all tables) I was surprised to learn how extensive the line actually was! Especially since you mostly see only the tables trading, with possibly an occasional hutch or desk. I think it would be of value for MCM fans to have access to this great historical record of a classic furniture line. It’s a valuable reference for buyers and sellers.
This story is particularly fun for me, because I have a Lane Acclaim table — it is the cocktail table 900-01 (shown in the lead photo.) My mother in law gave it to me. It was her parent’s coffee table.
But, I’ve never seen most of the furniture that is in this catalog. Look at those nesting tables above — it looks to me like the top one has the dovetailed edge and the inner one doesn’t. Very interesting.
And what is that I see — a TV snack cart on wheels? Amazing!
The Boomerang table above is one I’ve seen before — but the picture window table with the big drawer — that’s new to me.
From the Lane Acclaim catalog:
Although contemporary in classification, Acclaim furniture has a distinct hand-crafted quality that gives it unusual warmth and mellowness. Edges are softly rounded and suggest patient hand-working, rubbing, more hand-working and rubbing to achieve the soft, sculptured contours. Only the top 35% grade of walnut on the market is considered for this furniture. Then, out of 100 feet purchased, only 40 feet will meet Lane’s exacting requirements for grain and color. This fine wood is then finished with a mellow gunstock patina, enriched in character with dovetail inlays. Let your finger-tips brush across the satin-sooth dovetailing — you won’t be able to tell where the joinings are. Drawers operate easily and smoothly on steel ball bearing drawer guides.
The hutches and buffets are especially interesting. The drawer edges seem to have the same dovetail detail that the popular coffee tables have. I’d love to see one of these in the wild.
Above: Lane Acclaim chairs — who would have guessed?
Where there are chairs there is bound to be a few dining table options — again sporting the signature dovetail edges. Fantastic!
The dressers and chests in this line are also quite amazing.Being Lane — the company most notably known for their cedar chests — of course the Acclaim line had to have one. The Lane Acclaim Cedar Chest above appears to have “matchmaker changeable front panels” giving it maximum decorative versatility.
Again — I was surprised to see that there are headboards in this line — sporting the well known dovetailed motif.
The catalog also has cleaning and care instructions for Lane Acclaim furniture:
Directions: To polish, first clean the surface lightly with a moistened cloth. Then apply a good furniture polish smoothly with the grain. After it dries, gently polish the surface with a soft cloth. With brand-new furniture, do this once a week for the first month. After that time, polish occasionally to keep the beautiful finish. Dust regularly, but do it lightly because dust is abrasive.
Caution: Don’t place rubber-based lamps, telephones, radios or other objects on lacquer finishes unless the surfaces are protected by pads. Rubber can cause a chemical reaction, turning the finish yellow. It is also advisable to avoid placing furniture where it is constantly exposed to direct sunlight.
Mega thanks to reader Dave for sharing his treasured Lane Acclaim catalog with the Retro Renovation clan. To view the catalog, see our slideshow below:
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:?
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Rick says
I have my folks Lane dovetail drum table with the closed door sides. Never knew what it was until for some reason I had it turned upside down last year. Have yet to find another on eBay etc. It’s in fine condition and the inside still smells like new. Have often thought about getting rid of it, but guess I’ll hang on to it for now.
Price says
Marvelous! I found a Lane parquet top end table with brass legs at The Goodwill for $4…I think it might be worth a lot more now.
Sara says
Recently, a local second-hand place had a one piece hutch in nice condition for $100. I went and looked at it several times but I didn’t have a job at the time and couldn’t justify the purchase! I regret it now though. I still think about it often and now seeing it in this catalog…I wish I had just spent the money!!!
blair kooistra says
The Acclaim line was soooo popular in the US in the early 60s–I’m sure if you watched old episodes of game shows that Wink Martindale would get the contestants all atwitter by telling them they could win an Acclaim Living room set!
A friend of about my age, who doesn’t understand my interest in this stuff, visited the house and recalled that his parents owned the exact same tables. “Hated them then, hated them now.” Of course, he’s a fan of Restoration Hardware-type furniture, so go figure!
blair kooistra says
Being a bit of an numbers-and-dates kinda guy, what I find cool about the Acclaim–in addition to the great styling, of course–is that the pieces all have a “Builder’s Date.” The series of numbers underneath the pieces can be read in backwards order to determine their manufacturing date. Our pieces are all from 62-63-64–Kennedy and Johnson era. Kinda cool (and a bit anal compulsive on my part) to determine what was going on in the country on the day my furniture was built!
Scott says
I had no idea this line was so extensive you could pretty much furnish your entire house with it.
Probably buying any piece from this series would be like buying a piece of Broyhill Emphasis, Scuptura, or Brasilia. Once you get it home and look at a few days, you’ll start foaming at the mouth until you can find more. 🙂
Scott says
PS Thanks for including and emphasizing the care tips too. Especially that point about the rubber feet of things like telephones, a great common sense thing we should know but probably never think of until something went wrong.
Jamie D. says
SO true. I found an Emphasis credenza at Salvation Army and am now obsessed with ALL the Broyhill. I’ve since added a tall dresser, headboard, pair of nightstands, a Sculptra twin bed, and a Brasilia credenza and commode. I’m trying to talk myself out of a Saga commode because I seriously do not have any more room.
Kinda like Lay’s chips…betcha can’t have just one.
Nate says
Jamie, if you find a Saga commode somewhere at a decent price and do decide that you don’t have room, I’ve been looking for one, if not two, for a while. Please keep me in mind. Also, I would LOVE to find a pair of Saga end tables and a coffee table. I’ve got a hutch (one piece) and the larger hutch base that I use for my TV. I have Emphasis in my bedroom and Sculptra in my guest room. My Acclaim is for my lounge.
Jamie D. says
Nate, I’m not sure where you’re located, but the Saga commode was at a local used furniture shop the last time I was there, about a month ago.
The shop is BK Trading Post in Shillington, PA – http://bktradingpost.com/
Their website doesn’t even come close to covering everything that they have and their inventory changes quickly, although it seems that their MCM stuff hangs around for a while. They’re on Facebook too, there are more photos there but again, they don’t update it very regularly. You could always try contacting them – I know they ship anywhere and I believe they have stuff on eBay too.
I might stop out there later this week when they’re open – I can scout it out and see if it’s still there.
Nate says
I’m in Houston, TX. I’m so jealous of the NE because that’s where most of the stuff I collect tends to show up. I just purchased an Emphasis headboard recently from that area. If you would be willing to ship, I’m sure we could come to an agreement for your troubles. 🙂
Jamie D. says
My Emphasis headboard was $25. 🙂 An extremely lucky find – I already had the $30 buffet from Salvation army and was looking for either a headboard to match that, or a headboard to match another Danish Mod dresser I already had. Our bedroom furniture could go either way so the entire suite would end up being whatever I found first.
I was just about to settle on a nice, but boring, Danish mod headboard that needed some TLC and when I went looking for someone to help complete the sale, they were unloading stuff at the dock. Lo and behold, the guy was carrying in the Emphasis headboard. SOLD!!!
Let’s not talk about how difficult it was to find the matching nightstands.
Nate says
Yes, it can be difficult (and expensive) to try to piece together a set. My first piece of Emphasis was my 9 drawer dresser found locally on CL. I looked at it and made an offer that was refused. 2 weeks later the seller contacted me and we made a deal. After that, I caught the bug and had to have more. So, I found a pair of nightstands in FL (thanks FurnishMeVintage), a small server/hutch base in CO (for my TV) and recently my headboard from NJ. I’m still looking for a small table. Not sure if they made one since I don’t have the brochure.
I happened upon a pair of Sculptra commodes at an estate sale. They didn’t know what they were so I got a good deal on them. I decided to use those in my spare. Again, I had to have more. I found a 6 drawer dresser and a mirror in Austin and worked a deal. Now I just need a headboard.
Saga is in the living room and it seems to be the hardest to come by. I only have two pieces. I’ve found an end table in CO but the seller won’t ship. Quite disheartening.
Jamie D. says
Nate, I’m so sorry for the tease! I went over there today and the Saga commode is gone!
Nate says
Oh well. Thanks a lot for checking it out! I do appreciate it.
Jamie D. says
I’ll keep an eye out and let you know if I find one – I’ve come across a surprising amount of Broyhill in thrift & used furniture shops.
Bluejay says
Scott, many of the Broyhill lines you mentioned were the same way, you could furnish an entire house. And most styles compliment each other, so you could do one room in each style! Personally, I prefer the Perception line over the Acclaim line; I find the basketweave to add more visual interest. Lane put out quite a few cool looking lines in the late 50s-mid 60s (there’s one with different types of veneer in a square pattern which is fantastic) . And the furniture is so solidly built! The Perception end table I have is oak and walnut, with a walnut veneer over hardwood for the table tops! People really believed in quality back then!
Lisa says
I was lucky enough to score the swivel boomerang coffee table at the local flea market for $40! I had only seen them on ebay before and they were way out of my price range on ebay. How lucky am I. Needs only a little refinishing, and then it will be the center piece of my living room.
This week I spotted the round cocktail table and the “triangular” table they call the wedge table on Dallas craiglist. First time I’ve ever seen either one.
El Kev says
This is a great find! I myself have two pieces of the acclaim series that I hadn’t seen elsewhere. The drum table and nightstand from this catalog. I had helped a friend who’s sister in-law had moved out of state. She was already gone and had left some things for us to take to goodwill. I saw the tables and asked if I could have them. They were in poor shape with some scrapes and varnish was flaking off in places My friend thought I was crazy. I took them and after a weekend of sanding and refinishing (the original finish was too far gone) they turned out great. What has been said about the veneer is true, it is thin – just use some care and you should be fine (I did mine by hand, no power tools)! A footnote to my little story – that same friend came over a few months later and asked me where I got the tables from. He didn’t even recognize them!
Thanks for the awesome post!
Eric McGrew says
Love these old brochures. I also collect the mcm do-it-yourself wood working books. They are so cool to have around the house. This brochure would be dangerous for me to have. It might just inspire me to buy wood and build something from their catalog. If I’m not mistaken, my parents had a piece or two from this line. Beautiful line.
Laura Moon says
Love this line! One of the most exciting days of my life was when I walked into St. Vinnie’s and spotted two Acclaim step tables for 5 bucks each and the medium length coffee table for 10 bucks. Somehow I got them all in my tiny car and giggled all the way home. I did a little research and learned that they were the number one most popular furniture line in 1963….when “furniture lines” mattered.