Like this:

Trolling the furniture section the past few months, I kept seeing these vintage tables that had an awesome dovetail inlay design pop up every so often.

Turns out they are from the Acclaim line manufactured by Lane Furniture Company.  By no means did we need any more tables in the Alabama Avenue house, but I decided that we’d have to make room.  A few clicks through Google later, I came across this article that the Acclaim was a patent by Lane in 1959 and designed by Andre Bus.  The Acclaim line wasn’t just living room tables though, you could dovetail your whole house.  I’ve seen several really cool “boomerang” coffee tables on various city Craigslists.  This piece is essentially two coffee tables on a hinge, with the smaller one having the ability to stow underneath the larger one when not in use.  The cool factor pretty much takes it out of my price range.

Lucky for me, Gabe is in Asheville this summer and we were able to coordinate a transaction that was only slightly sketchy (but did involve a happy chocolate lab).  We now just need to figure out how to get these tables back to Durham when there is constantly a dog in tow.

Just to keep things interesting, I also scored a simple square Acclaim side table in Chapel Hill on Saturday.  It’s in decent condition and I’ve already caught Deacon hanging out on the bottom shelf.

Now I know from Antiques Roadshow that I shouldn’t mess with the original finish, but Lane used some sort of varnish that has yellowed over time and contrast between the walnut and oak has dulled over time.  I’m still not certain if I’ll refinish them.  I’ve jokingly told Gabe that when he returns home at the end of the summer our front room is going to be filled with Lane Acclaim.  Fingers crossed.

Check out the awesome dovetail.  What’s not to love?

Advertisement