Diminutive Mahogany Window Cabinet by Hungerford Furniture, Co.

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A stylish, compact storage unit designed to fit seamlessly beneath a window, or even to function as a tall bench. … Read more A stylish, compact storage unit designed to fit seamlessly beneath a window, or even to function as a tall bench. Crafted by the HUNGERFORD FURNITURE COMPANY of Memphis, from, as the pictured label attests, “solid, genuine mahogany.” A pair of deep, functional drawers featuring the dovetail construction typical of HUNGERFORD is cleverly concealed behind a faux four-drawer facade. Complete with the original brass ring-pulls and feet. Ready for placement.

S.R. HUNGERFORD FURNITURE COMPANY was a family-owned manufacturer based in Memphis, Tenn., recognized mainly for its premium solid wood bedroom furniture—produced in cherry and, most notably, in Honduras mahogany. Founded by Simeon Rice (S.R.) Hungerford, Jr., and active during the mid-20th century, the company earned a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship. Some of its designs showcased a classic, traditional style, whereas others embodied the streamlined aesthetics of the mid-century period.

HUNGERFORD gained some notoriety for a 1956 marketing campaign featuring Elvis Presley that was ultimately scrapped. RCA had arranged the photoshoot with its star to help the company promote an upcoming line of furniture that included a new at-home stereo. However, HUNGERFORD executives ultimately decided that Elvis fans would generally not be in the market for expensive furniture, and the campaign was abandoned. The photos were never released during Presley’s lifetime.

Vintage HUNGERFORD pieces are often found at online retailers and consignment shops, frequently marked with an “S.R. Hungerford, Memphis TN” label. The company is generally believed to have ceased operations sometime between the late ’60s and the mid-’70s. Its decline was part of a larger trend in the American furniture industry. Multi-story urban factories were no longer competitive with the more efficient, large single-story rural facilities that had become standard. Companies were also facing efforts to unionize their workforces. Additionally, HUNGERFORD suffered competition from furniture manufacturers based in other parts of the US, particularly the Carolinas. Its closure, along with others like that of the much larger Memphis Furniture Manufacturing Company, represented the end of a major era for furniture production in Tennessee. See less