Our recent post, Vintage furniture — 10 of our favorite midcentury designs and brands inspired Pam to contact Furniture Brands — the folks who produce some of our favorite longtime furniture brand names, including Broyhill, Lane, Drexel Heritage — to see if they had any archived catalogs to share with us vintage furniture loving folks. Sure enough, Lisa Hanly, Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Relations, was super receptive and was kind enough to dig through the archives for us. Her first find: These great catalog pages showcasing Broyhill Brasilia and Sculptra furniture. It’s great to see more of these beautiful designs in their native midcentury catalog habitats.
Broyhill Brasilia
Look at this giant master bedroom filled to the brim with Broyhill Brasilia pieces — including a king size headboard. It’s interesting to see how well the bold colors — in this case, red — coordinate with the lines of this furniture design.
Above: The front page of this vintage catalog shows photos of the inspiration for the Brasilia line — the unusual and characteristic architecture found in the city of Brasilia itself in Brazil. Fun fact: Pam has been to Brasilia. In around 1987 — on a business trip to visit Ford operations in South America. She said, “I remember pretty clearly driving into the city. I knew this was a special place. But… I was way too young to truly appreciate it.”
The catalog pages showcase some interesting pieces from the Brasilia dining and living room furniture collection.
I have this buffet base — with the top hutch piece in my dining room! For sure, this is one of our Hall of Fame vintage furniture designs.
That’s a pretty cool dining set.
I had no idea the Brasilia collection had such an array of coffee and end tables.
The Broyhill Brasilia commode above is one of my favorites — I think it was originally meant to go in the living room, but I have two of them that I use as nightstands. I like the enclosed storage they provide.
Broyhill Sculptra
This Broyhill Sculptra bedroom set looks a little less extravagant than the Brasilia setup — oh how I’d love to get my hands on the long dresser and mirror for this set.
There are two variations of the Broyhill Sculptra triple dresser — I’m partial to the one above — with the paneled doors in the center.
This Broyhill Sculptra double dresser is smaller than the triple dresser — a size that may be very appealing to folks with smaller bedrooms.
I have a soft spot for the Broyhill Sculptra Magna dresser because it was the first retro dresser I scored on Craigslist — and let me tell ya — this guy really holds a lot.
There is a wide array of Broyhill Sculptra coffee and side tables to choose from.
This has to be a woddity — a Broyhill Sculptra cigarette table. I had no idea such a thing existed — a special table for cigarettes? Surely a sign of the times.
Mega thanks to Lisa for taking the time to look through the archives to unearth these catalog pages to share with our Retro Renovation Nation. 🙂
CarolK says
We have my in-laws vintage Spectra sideboard. I have offered it to my daughter for their new house, but I think it might be too large for their dining room. I will keep it or at least keep it in the family. We used to have the table and chairs, too, IIRC, but they needed to be refurbished and repaired. I don’t know why we didn’t repair them. Drat!
Liaise says
I just purchased a Sculptra dining set – 2 arm chairs, four chairs and a table with three leaves. While I didn’t get it for the steals I see here, I thi k it’s worth it since a new table (a good maker) would have been double, I think. The seller recommended Feed n Wax. Can’t wait to give the beautiful wood a drink. I’m in love!
Todd says
When we have purchased Brasilia in the past, we have dealt with these people – http://www.brasiliaconnection.com/index.html (apologies if this has been posted previously)
They are (or were the last time I visited them) located in Northern Virginia. Very lovely couple that have been collecting these pieces for many years. Quite fair prices and always friendly, in our experience.
Definitely worth a visit 🙂
Todd says
whoopsie – apparently they have relocated to Florida. My apologies 🙂
Ada says
Just scored a Sculptra dining set off Craigslist for $150! Table, five side chairs, 1 captain’s (and they’re the lovely, spindly ones with the eye shaped back rest), plus the buffet/hutch! Picking them up tomorrow!! So stoked! One day I’ll work my way up to Brasilia…or maybe find some on the cheap on CL!
pam kueber says
Wow, lucky score! Hey, Sculptra just as lovely as Brasilia — just different!
Scott says
I agree wholeheartedly, Brasilia is stunning, but the Sculptra and Emphasis lines are every bit as beautiful, at least to me.
Ada says
I’ll have to admit that, after living with this Sculptra for a few days, I’m in sooooo much love it hurts! LOL! The cat’s eye drawer pulls and back rests on the chairs are pulling me in! Brasilia who? 😉
pam kueber says
🙂 “Love the furniture you’re in”
Scott says
Wow, how did I miss this! Awesome catalog!
I have my bedroom fitted out with Broyhill Emphasis pieces and would give my eye teeth to find a catalog for those. So far as close as I’ve come is a vague reference in the 1968 “Anvil of Adversity: Biography of a Furniture Pioneer, James Edgar Broyhill” book by William Stevens which mentions Brasilia and Emphasis as being two of the company’s top sellers at that time. By the way if anyone is interested, alot of this book is dry reading but there are some fun parts diehard Broyhill fans will appreciate along with a few pictures. And the book can be had for literally peanuts.
Can anyone tell me what that stunning red/blue/yellow/red thingy is on the wall near the top right hand corner of the lead photo? Whatever it is, I love it and I want one! 🙂
Deborah H says
I have a dining table and chairs set by Drexel. It’s oval with 2 drop sides and I think there are 3 leaves or so. It has 4 chairs. Bottom of table is stamped: BY DREXEL 2/60 BASQUE PROVINCIAL so I know they were made February 1960, but nowhere in my extensive internet searching can I find anything about the “Basque Provincial” style/line of their furniture. If someone is willing to help me out I can get you some photos of the set also.
Donna says
I have the Sculptra Broyhill China Cabinet that I am trying to find out how much its worth. I looked at all of the above pics but did not find the piece I have. It looks very similar to the Brasilla line but the Sculptra design.
Curtis Chambers says
I love the thin legs on the furniture – today, furniture is all so oversized.
Todd says
There used to be a fella in Northern Virginia that dealt in this furniture. We saw a craigslist ad offering The Brasilia dining room furniture for not too terrible a price. Ended up with a dining room table with three leaves, ten chairs, two buffet bases (one in the entry hall and the other with a matching hutch top), and a server with the original flying bird blue tiles intact. Absolutely beautiful furniture!
DParker says
Has anyone ever heard of the Broyhill Invitation Classic line of furniture?
It was first advertised in 1957. It doesn’t seem to be as popular as some other lines but it is mid century in a light cherry. Would appreciate any input.