Well-Crafted

Well-Crafted: The History of the Western North Carolina Furniture Industry
by Richard Eller (Author), G. Leroy Lail (Introduction)

Furniture holds a unique place in our lives. When you go into almost any room, it is there. Its look defines our tastes. Its utility defines our lifestyle. In many ways furniture is an extension of who we are. Selection of the right pieces is not one to be taken lightly, although I see so many people know what they want as soon as they see it. But whether furniture is bought through the process of long study or snap judgment, we all know that it makes a statement.

Well-Crafted: The History of the Western North Carolina Funiture Industry reflects the many personalities that went in to establishing a business that is known the world over for the product it makes. It is a fascinating epic of how such a collection of companies came to be, what happened to them as they grew and prospered, along with the ones who are no longer around. Step by step this narrative tells the stories, some of them long forgotten, about what it took to make furniture a viable commodity. It was not easy.

Walk into almost any room. What do they all have in common?

Furniture. There to adorn, there to function, there to reveal.

These appliances of comfort and usefulness create a distinct atmosphere, sending messages to all who enter. It’s as if furniture serves as a personal extension of the room, well beyond its utility. How we rest, work, and entertain shapes and is shaped by our selection of furniture, making a revealing statement about who we are.

Not everyone puts overwhelming thought into those preferences. Most make quick judgements based on what we like, then act upon those whims. But out of either studied intent or snap decisions, the style of furniture selected says a lot. For anyone making furniture, it becomes a big responsibility to anticipate what people want and craft from that idea, representing the buyer’s likes in a tangible way.

The furniture makers of western North Carolina have been building a product that has been met with our approval for almost three centuries. For the first half of that period, pieces were crafted by hand, in the last half, mass produced. While the beauty and artistry of the first period cannot be denied, the output of the latter period dwarfed the first in terms of quantity. Both have found a place in rooms all over the world. An examination of this regional industry, its origin and history is long overdue. To disregard the collective effort of all that spurred development would be the same as saying the hard work of the people who made it happen didn’t matter, when quite the opposite is true.

Published 2023; Paperback, 670 pages