Asked on Jul 21, 2014

Does anyone know about Lane furniture?

Tony
by Tony
Someone was throwing this table out the other day. It had a few coffee stains and was a little worn down, but overall in good shape. I just started sanding it and realized that it's extremely well built. Never heard of the brand, and just wondering how much it's worth..... I'll take some ideas of what to do with it also. I'm probably just gonna restain it, but I'm open to something more creative.
  32 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Jul 22, 2014
    Lane furniture is highly sought after by midcentury enthusiasts, but I'm afraid you've probably diminished the value by refinishing it, unless it was in really bad shape.
  • Dorothy Dorothy on Jul 22, 2014
    They have been around for along time. I am 78 and have a Lane cedar chest that I was given for my 16th birthday. I think that is what they started out making.
  • Mcgypsy9 Mcgypsy9 on Jul 22, 2014
    I too have a Lane Cedar Chest that I was given for my 16th birthday. Lane has been around for many many many years! And Dorothy...yes I do believe that is what they started out making. Very well made furniture for sure!
  • Sandy Sandy on Jul 22, 2014
    It is a Lane Acclaim coffee table. Mid-century modern. With the original finish it is worth $300-$500. I suggest that you stain it as close to the original finish as possible. Great find.
  • Sandy Pudoff Sandy Pudoff on Jul 22, 2014
    I have a Lane bedroom set from when we first got married (37 yrs ago). Nice straight lines, no carving, no do dads, nothing that dates it. It weighs a ton and it still looks great. Quality that can't be bought off the floor these days.
    • Donna W Donna W on Dec 29, 2014
      @Sandy Pudoff True, Sandy. If you have old well built wood furniture, keep it in good repair and KEEP it. The wood comes from Asia now (called Asian hardwood) and it's weak and cracks. My husband is a furniture repair expert. He says it isn't worth repairing.
  • Mary Bryant Mary Bryant on Jul 22, 2014
    Lane furniture is well built. I can't understand why someone would throw this table out. This is what I would call modern style.
  • Lisa Johnson Lisa Johnson on Jul 22, 2014
    I wish I would have found it in my neighborhood. Gorgeous!! Don't paint it!
  • Rebecca Brockway Rebecca Brockway on Jul 22, 2014
    Gorgeous! Do what you want with it. Would be nice to stain it as close to the original as possible but I can see it painted, too. It's a great piece.
    • Donna W Donna W on Dec 29, 2014
      @Rebecca Brockway If you change your mind and want to return to natural wood color again, don't paint it. Paint can seep deep into the grain making it impossible to make it look good again.
  • Angela Bello Angela Bello on Jul 22, 2014
    My Grandma had that exact table, then my mother, and I even used it until I traded it for another with a friend. I regretted that the very next day! Lane is popular and sought after. Very well made furniture.
  • Chris aka monkey Chris aka monkey on Jul 22, 2014
    @Tony i normally am a paint it person but i would not paint this she is gorgeous i would just give her a polycrylic coat to let that wood shine through xx
  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jul 22, 2014
    Considering that it was going to the dump, basically, I say do whatever you want with it, as you probably grabbed it for yourself, instead of to sell. I'm sure the advice for trying for an original type finish is good, if you do want to sell it. I do know Lane furniture is very well made and high quality, so this is a great find!
  • Shannon Grayson-Martin Shannon Grayson-Martin on Jul 22, 2014
    I have a few pieces of Lane furniture and i must say that it is very well built. Enjoy your beautiful table.
  • Z Z on Jul 22, 2014
    That's exact coffee table my folks had. They also had the step end tables. My niece now has them. My folks bought them in the mid sixties, but the were manufactured from late fifties to mid to late sixties. I'm drawing a blank on the exact years. Those that said they are highly sought, after are correct. You can find loads of info on them by Googling Lane Acclaim. Here's a starter link for you. I have the first coffee table shown and the desk that's about a third of the way down the page. http://retrorenovation.com/2013/05/17/vintage-lane-acclaim-catalog-48-designs/ Since you already have sanded it and want it to look closer to it's original beauty I searched and found a link that I think will be very helpful to you. Scroll down to where you see a paragraph that starts with "I figured I could apply a stain and go directly into a lacquer and be done." If you follow along from there he gives a detailed description of what he did. It's looks very close to the original look. http://modernwoodworking.blogspot.com/2012/10/refinishing-classic-lane-acclaim-coffee.html Here's some more eye candy in the Lane Acclaim line. https://www.google.com/search?q=lane+acclaim&rlz=1C1CHWA_enUS582US582&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=FfbOU_P9IaOR8gGw4oDgDA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1600&bih=732
  • Z Z on Jul 22, 2014
    Just to let you know, the darker wood is Walnut veneer. The dove tales are Ash Veneer. The trim around the edge, decorative bars and legs are solid Ash. I can't imagine anyone throwing this away, but gosh, lucky you for finding it!
    • Debe Debe on Aug 09, 2022

      Do you have any idea of what the original would have been. I have an end table 1960 same walnut and ash pattern. I had to sand down the top of mine because it was damaged and I really would like to use the original stain but I have no idea what color that would’ve been. any help you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

  • JUDY.P JUDY.P on Jul 24, 2014
    oh my gosh what an awesome find ... Lane makes beautiful furniture well built very sturdy, great variety of woods ... lucky you
  • Mars Mars on Jul 24, 2014
    Depends where you live on what it is worth. I agree with Sandy on her pricing, but again, it's where you live. Love that table, try and get to the original color. Good find. Good eye.
  • MaryStLouis MaryStLouis on Dec 28, 2014
    Lane has excellent furniture and I love this table. What did you end up doing with it?
  • FULLAIT FULLAIT on Dec 29, 2014
    Lane has been around for many years. My wife's "HOPE CHEST" is a Lane cedar chest from 1959. Still looks as it did in 59 with minimal upkeep.
  • Linda J Linda J on Jan 21, 2015
    I think maybe it was going to the dump because some poor person didn't know what they had. The piece is mid century modern, circa about 1960. We had one in our living room. It is made of walnut probably. If you clean it with TSP and do as little as possible to it, you may have a table worth a tidy amount. Check around before you do anything drastic. After that, do what the heck you want to do!!! It's your table!
  • Jonathan Ellis Jonathan Ellis on Oct 28, 2017

    Great table! I had refinished one for a customer a few years ago, though it had no stain on it, unless it was extremely light. Clear coated it with wipe on poly. This was only one piece amongst other interesting pieces.

  • Cindy Hagemann Cindy Hagemann on Oct 29, 2017

    I refinished this same table a few years ago and the end tables that matched it and sold them in my antique booth. I used Restor-A-Finish on mine and a polycrylic top coat - came out beautiful.

  • Mike Weber Mike Weber on Feb 27, 2019

    The serial number is the date of manufacture, only backwards - so, the serial number 469280 translates to 08/29/64.

    • See 2 previous
    • HALEY SEIDL HALEY SEIDL on Jun 16, 2019

      I’m new to this but I’ve been researching Lane furniture recently. From what I found the answer is 01/10/69 and the four is the plant it was made in .

  • Elizabeth Swanson Elizabeth Swanson on Feb 27, 2019

    Lane is a top brand of really nice/ good furniture. Win!

  • Jeff Phillips Jeff Phillips on Jan 07, 2020

    I was in an antique store in Columbus Ohio about 3 days ago I seen the exact same table in their refinished for $400.

  • Robert Ingram Robert Ingram on Mar 02, 2020

    i need help on a older lane please. Here is serial number-277130. Iam re doing it now and like to know more about it. The year and what was used on it from when it was mad. .? Just ask if needing and other questions about it thinks .

  • Joe Meyers Joe Meyers on May 04, 2020

    It was made in 1964, read the serial numberIn reverse for the date. As far as lookin up the serial number I’m still trying to grind that out.

  • Sharon Sharon on Dec 09, 2020

    Nice table, I would oil it myself with some Danish oil.,,, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDiN9TCZkHk

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jan 14, 2021

    Hi! Lane furniture is often expensive and always well made. I would stain and seal it. It has lovely detail. Good luck and stay safe!

  • Phyllis Rogers Turgiss Phyllis Rogers Turgiss on Jan 14, 2021

    "Lane is the company that used to male most of the "Hope Chests" that your mother and grandmother had. Sometimes called cedar chests. They branched into furniture too. Their furniture was always very well made, and mid-priced.

  • Andrea Miller Peeples Andrea Miller Peeples on Aug 03, 2021

    I read on the Lane website that cedar chests production dates can be identified by reading the serial number backwards and if there is an extra digit (from their example it would be the far left) then that is the plant number.


    Nothing in the FAQs state if this applies to other furniture items besides cedar chests.


    A different website (not related to Lane) states if there are even more numbers in a Lane's furniture item besides the date and plant number that can be the style number. This is not confirmed in Lane's FAQs.


    The best option is to use the Lane website contact form and ask. I have a mid century modern end table with a hexagonal cabinet and a circular drum top with serial number 218317 so reading it backwards does not follow that date pattern. The style number is 1060 53. If anyone has an idea of the date or anything else about this piece please let me know.


    Here is what the Lane page FAQs state regarding CEDAR CHESTS only

    https://www.lanefurniture.com/page/faqs

    "Usually Lane cedar chests have serial numbers that are stamped or applied to the bottom of the chests.

    You can read the serial number BACKWARDS to determine the production date.

    For example: serial number 753150 would have been produced on 05/13/57.

    Some chests may also have an extra digit which denotes the plant location.

    For example: serial number 2557121 would have been produced on 12/17/55 in plant #2.

    If your model does not have a serial number we will be unable to provide you with a production date."

  • Gary Blackwell Gary Blackwell on Feb 19, 2022

    Find mine for $30. Had been in a cabin, most likely for most of its life thus far. It's flawless! I've had a 1/4" glass made for it to protect its beautiful finish. Here's some photos...