Lane Acclaim: 60 years old and still going strong

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The Lane Acclaim line of furniture is a favorite of our customers (and us), and it’s enjoying sustained popularity as collectible yet functional furniture decades after its introduction in 1959.

 

Designed by Andre Bus, it was created to straddle the allure of modernity with the comfort of traditio

n. Lane pulled off that balancing act with sleek, Danish-leaning lines and the deft use of walnut and fruit wood. The dovetailing of the two woods on the top of each piece has become iconic.

Lane positioned the mainstream modern line cleverly: craftsman quality at furniture store prices. And their marketing worked well, with untold pieces sold during its run. It became a bona fide bestseller in 1963 and endures in its appeal all these years later.

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Some of those pieces are easily found (finding them in excellent condition can be another matter), while others like the pivoting coffee table are more rare. Among our customers, the three-sided “guitar pick” accent table and any version of a record cabinet are popular. Even the standard rectangular coffee table is a best-seller.

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At MidModMen+friends, we’ve rescued and restored multiple pieces of furniture from the Acclaim series. Here are just a few of them.
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Among the more rare pieces is the Plateau coffee table. It’s oversized – presumably the inspiration for the name – and has a pull-through drawer that opens from either side. The one shown here underwent a complete restoration and was part of our inventory. It was made in April 18, 1959, early in Acclaim’s production history.

Here’s a list of further reading about the Lane Acclaim collection of furniture:

If you’re shopping for restored Lane Acclaim furniture, be sure to check the showcase section at MidModMen.com. Or visit us in the store:

MidModMen+friends, 2401 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55114 | store hours Thursday-Sunday from 11 AM-5 PM | 612.234.1201 | Facebook.com/MidModMen | Instagram.com/MidModMen |

7 Comments Add yours

  1. Regina Ottaviani says:

    I have a lovely Lane Acclaim large coffee table that will need refinishing because it has some water spots. Any suggestions on how to do this? Thanks so much.

    1. I’d recommend searching for restoration videos on YouTube. I know there are some specifically for Lane Acclaim.

  2. Pamela Hughes says:

    I found a coffee table and two end tables. The table needs restoring. It was on the covered patio for a year and it last its shine and color. The end tables just need a little polish. Do you have any suggestions? I am afraid to apply anything for fear of devalue?

    1. Please send a picture of the coffee table so we can determine the wood and possibly the existing finish. Email it to midmodmen@gmail.com.

  3. David says:

    I was lucky enough to run across a table 6 chairs (4) side and (2) arm….and the matching hutch. The chairs were recovered ….the family did it because the chairs were “hard” couldn’t have been better…I removed the 60 year covering to the original black vinyl ( NO wear at all) BEAUTIFUL…

    1. That was lucky. We’ll often find three or four layers of fabric and lots of staples each layer. Congrats on the great find.

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