Mad Men Season 4 | Sheila Zeller Interiors

Do you remember the credenza mystery I wrote about here? You know, the one in Don Draper’s office, Season 4 of Mad Men?

If you’re just catching up, here’s another look at this mystery piece.

As you know, I tried to find out more information on this interesting piece, but in spite of my searching wasn’t able to find out much on its designer influence. I speculated that the design was Powell & Evans inspired, but asked for feedback if any of you, my awesome readers, knew otherwise.

And because a very thoughtful reader responded, the mystery has been solved. And for that, thank you so much!

This credenza is in fact a rare 1960s Witco Oceanic Tiki piece. Here’s a much better look at it… take a very close look!

Source: Vintage and Modern

Do you notice anything slightly out of whack?

Here’s another photo for you to compare. Pay attention to the drawers on either side of the middle section…

Source: Modernica Props

In the first photo the sets of drawers are actually placed each on the wrong end of the credenza, skewing the carved design. If you look at the photo above you’ll see how the carved pieces fit together, and should actually look.

Thank you to Senor Amor for pointing this out in his comment here! What a keen eye Senor has both for detail, and for great pieces

Here is a close-up of the middle section.

Source: Vintage and Modern

Want to know what else I discovered?

I learned that this credenza is actually a 9-drawer dresser, and that it’s part of a whole bedroom suite. Here’s a look at a few of the matching pieces I was able to find.

Mens Chest Dresser.

Source: KRRB

Highboy Dresser.

Source: Oodle

Large Mirror (that attaches to the 9-drawer dresser).

Source: Oodle

Headboard.

Source: Oodle

I searched for bedside tables as well, but nothing came up…

Until Senor Amor’s comment. As luck would have it, Senor just happens to be selling some of the pieces to the suite, and a set of bedside tables was in the mix.

Here’s a look at the side tables!

Source: Los Angeles Craigslist

If you’re at all interested in the items Senor is selling, remember, these are rare vintage pieces that are tough to find. Here’s the link for more information:

Witco Oceanic Tiki Pieces – Los Angeles Craigslist

So there you have it! The Mad Men credenza mystery is solved. It’s from Witco and is part of the Oceanic Tiki series.

And I found this little piece of information on Witco from Retro Renovation blog:

Hi,

My name is Burke Hovde (aka…The Witco Kid on www.tikicentral.com). I’m the son of Ron Hovde, one of the Witco Co-Founders and Artists with Bill Westenhaver. I grew up with Witco everywhere. Witco wallhangings and furniture are all over my parents house and our family’s cabin. Witco started out as Western International Trading Company and imported South Pacific home furnishing items like Capishell Lamps. They also were into carvings that eventually evolved into the rough cedar chain saw carved furniture and Tikis that most people know Witco for. The artwork and production plant was in Mt. Vernon, Washington and they eventually sold $15 million worth of Witco products throughout the world over a 10 year run in the 1970′s. Through my Ebay Storefront at “intertrader2005″ you can purchase a book on “Fun and Profitable Chainsaw Carving” that Ron Hovde and Bill Westenhaver published under their company Westho (i.e. Westenhaver/Hovde) after Witco shut down. If I can answer any other questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at hovdeinternational@hotmail.com

Cheers!
Burke Hovde
Hovde International

As you can see from my blog article today, if it wasn’t for thoughtful readers sharing their knowledge by leaving a comment, I wouldn’t be any the wiser. And as you can see by the comment left on Retro Renovation blog, some of Witco’s history has also been shared.

And this is the power of leaving a comment! I am always grateful to hear from you, to learn more by what you have to say, and from the knowledge you have to share…

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY!