Pennsylvania House Furniture: Finding the Good Stuff

Pennsylvania House Furniture: Finding the Good Stuff has gotten complicated with all the conflicting advice flying around. As someone who researched and evaluated dozens of options in this space, I learned everything there is to know about what actually matters versus what’s just marketing. Today, I’ll share the real insights.

My shop teacher had a Pennsylvania House dining set in his home. I remember being sixteen and not caring at all about furniture, but those chairs stuck with me. Solid cherry, hand-rubbed finish, the kind of build quality you could feel just by sitting down. Thirty years later Im still looking for chairs that nice.

The History That Matters

Pennsylvania House started in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania back in 1887. Small operation, local hardwoods, traditional techniques. They did things the slow way because that was the only way.

What set them apart early on was their stubbornness about materials. Solid cherry, oak, and maple. No shortcuts. If youve ever tried to work with cherry – and I mean real cherry, not cherry veneer over particleboard – you know its not cheap and its not easy. But the results speak for themselves.

How They Actually Built This Stuff

Ive taken apart a few Pennsylvania House pieces over the years. Repair work mostly. What I found inside impressed me every time.

That’s what makes this endearing to us furniture makers — understanding these details helps make better decisions.

Mortise-and-tenon joints on the chairs. Not dowels, not pocket screws, proper mortise-and-tenon. Dovetailed drawers on the dressers. Hand-fitted components that still moved smoothly after fifty years. This is the kind of construction I aim for in my own work.

The finish work was equally careful. Multiple coats, hand-rubbed, allowed to cure properly between applications. You can tell because the finish feels different from spray-and-bake jobs. Theres a depth to it.

Design That Doesnt Date

Pennsylvania House stuck with Colonial, Georgian, and Federal styles. Trendy? No. Timeless? Absolutely. Their furniture looks right in a 1960s ranch house and it looks right in a modern farmhouse. Thats the advantage of classic American design.

I get why some people want the latest looks. But furniture is expensive and youll live with it for decades. Pennsylvania House understood that. Their pieces werent designed to look good next year – they were designed to look good forever.

Probably should have led with this section, honestly.

The Peak Years

Mid-20th century was when Pennsylvania House really hit their stride. Middle-class families could actually afford well-made furniture, and Pennsylvania House delivered. Complete bedroom sets, coordinated living room collections, dining tables that could seat the whole extended family at Thanksgiving.

Department stores carried the line. Major retailers wanted the brand on their floors. For a furniture company from rural Pennsylvania, that was a big deal.

What Went Wrong (Sort Of)

La-Z-Boy acquired Pennsylvania House in the late 1990s. This happens to a lot of heritage brands. Corporate ownership brings resources but also brings pressure to cut costs and increase margins.

Some Pennsylvania House lines stayed true to the original quality. Others… lets just say Id pass on them. The brand still exists but its not the same company that impressed my shop teacher.

If youre hunting for Pennsylvania House furniture, pre-merger pieces are what you want. Earlier is generally better.

How to Spot the Real Thing

• Check for the stamp. Pennsylvania House should be burned or stamped inside drawers or on the back of case pieces. No stamp is suspicious.
• Look at the joinery. Real Pennsylvania House has dovetailed drawers and proper wood-to-wood joints. If you see staples, particle board, or cheap hardware, walk away.
• Feel the finish. Their hand-rubbed finishes have a different feel than spray finishes. Its subtle but noticeable once you know what youre looking for.
• Check the wood. Solid cherry, oak, or maple. Not veneer over mystery wood. Real Pennsylvania House is heavy because its solid wood throughout.

Taking Care of What You Find

Pennsylvania House furniture is tough but it still needs basic care. Dust regularly – I use a soft cotton cloth. Polish occasionally with a good paste wax, not spray furniture polish. That spray stuff builds up and actually damages finishes over time.

Keep pieces away from heating vents and direct sunlight. Wood moves with humidity changes and strong light fades finishes. Common sense stuff, but worth mentioning.

For older pieces with worn finishes, Id suggest consulting a professional restorer before doing anything drastic. These pieces have value, both monetary and sentimental. Dont mess them up with amateur stripping and refinishing.

Why It Still Matters

Pennsylvania House doesnt manufacture like they used to. But those old pieces are still out there – estate sales, antique shops, grandparents attics. Theyre worth finding because they represent something weve mostly lost: furniture made to last generations, not years.

Every time I work on one of these pieces, I learn something about how furniture should be built. Thats the real legacy of Pennsylvania House.