Donald Deskey Art Deco Skyscraper Dressers in Highly Figured Avodire 1940s Pair

Extraordinary pair of tall “skyscraper” gentleman’s chests crafted by the Holland Furniture Company in the 1940s. Executed in highly figured ribbon Avodire, the dramatic golden grain is carefully oriented across the façades, accentuating the strong verticality and architectural character of the design.
Each chest features five spacious lower drawers with integrated wood pulls and an upper cabinet opening to reveal additional storage, including a pull-out tray and divided accessory drawer. The remarkably clean exterior conceals a thoughtfully designed and highly functional interior.
These chests were produced during an important period for furniture design in western Michigan. Baker had relocated its operations to Holland, while Widdicomb was located nearby in Grand Rapids; Donald Deskey designed furniture for both companies during this era. The sophisticated simplicity of these chests reflects this broader regional movement away from the decorative vocabulary of the 1930s toward a distinctly American modern aesthetic.
With their dramatic skyscraper proportions, restrained detailing and exceptional use of exotic Avodire, the pair beautifully bridges late Art Deco and postwar Modernism. Their combination of architectural presence, luxurious materials and straightforward functionality feels remarkably contemporary more than eighty years after their creation.
A matching vanity with monumental round mirror and stool, as well as a coordinating nightstand from the same series, are also available separately.