The Lane Company, of Alta Vista, VA was known most famously for its "Cedar Chests," which became popular in the early 20th Century.  After World War II, Lane emerged as a design leader in terms of production furniture by introducing the emerging "middle / upper-middle class" demographic to contemporary and modern designs.  Some Lane groups were exceedingly outlandish, such as "Mozambique," a near-brutalist interpretation probably arriving in the very early 1970's. Mozambique, Perception, Tuxedo, Grand Prix and many other innovative groups were introduced by Lane in the second half of the century.  Acclaim was by far the most successful.

Acclaim, designed in 1959 by Andre Bus, is an Americanized version of Danish modern.  Much of what became the Acclaim group was developed directly from a much less successful earlier collection named "Copenhagen," with its explicit nod to Danish Modern styling in the very name.  This earlier Copenhagen series did not include the signature Acclaim decorative dovetails.  These large, non-functional, veneer crafted imitation dovetails are fabulously American in their exaggeration.  Baker Furniture was the first American company moving into this category.  Baker's 1951 "Modern" collection, designed by Danish design great Finn Juhl, shows a strong influence on the Acclaim line.

We believe "Manufactured Mass Modern" is an interesting design category that often bears exceptional value.  We're pleased to be presenting more than 40 examples of Acclaim in our exhibit.