Another product of the novelty phase was perhaps the best known sewing stand of the 20th century. No, not the Martha Washington. It was the priscilla, the small stand with the peaked top that opened on both sides below the handle. This little stand first appeared early in the century and gained prominence during the dark days.

  But the prize of all the novelties was the smoking stand. This multi-purpose stand came into use just after World War I and was popular until after WWII even though it slipped a little in the 1930s. The stand focused initially on the pipe smoker, providing an enclosed humidor space, complete with moisture pad, in the interior. Many of the "humidors" appeared to be made of copper or brass but were in reality just sheet metal that had been painted or coated. Brass and copper were much too expensive for smoking stands. The smoker or smoking stand became the object of decorative fancy, utilizing the most outrageous woods possible. Zebra striped "zebrano" veneer was a common material as was Oriental walnut, the striped Australian wood. Applied decals and exotic paint schemes decorated many of the affordable stands.

  One well known novelty maker outside of Chicago was the H. T. Cushman Company of Bennington, VT. Founded in 1864 making corks Cushman diversified into "novelties" that led to such items as the pencil with an eraser on it, the first ink eraser and some of the earliest roller skates. Cushman introduced its first smoking stand in 1913 and it was the cause for factory additions in 1919, 1922 and 1926. In the early 1930s Cushman expanded the line to include articles that fell in with the Colonial Revival movement of the day and became a major manufacturer of "Colonial" furniture. Over the years it updated its lines and eventually was acquired by General Interiors Corporation. The factory facility was used by Green Mountain Furniture to construct inventory for Ethan Allen from 1972 to 1978.

  Many modern furniture manufacturers today owe their existence to the survival mode adopted during the Depression and a large part of that mode was the design, construction and sale of "novelty" furniture to the American public.

This hanging wall shelf was made by Butler Specialty Company of Chicago in the 1930s. The same shelf can be seen in a display of Butler products on page 308 of "Chicago Furniture - Art, Craft & Industry 1833-1983" by Sharon Darling.
 

  Send your comments, questions and pictures to me at P0 Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423 or info@furnituredetective.com.

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