The purpose of this guide is to share information about a remarkable furniture manufacturing company that managed to thrive and diversify for over 100 years!

In the process of researching four, heavy, solid walnut, bentwood, captain's chairs that I rescued from a Winston-Salem, NC office that closed in 1990 (after 50 years of operation), I contacted the historical society and a library in North Carolina.  A Reference Librarian was kind enough to assist me and found a small book in the Siler City, NC Library in 2001 to help me identify the manufacturer's company history.  The book was called "Boling: The Story of a Company and Family" by John Harding (1979).  According to this book, the company started in 1901 as Siler City Bending Co. and made things like traces for carriage harnesses.  On Jan 9, 1904, it became High Point Bending and Chair Company with founder Captain Malvola Jackson Boling.  It was named High Point because of the heavy investment in the furniture industry from a nearby city of that name.  In 1956 it became Boling Chair Company.  In the year 2001 it was still in existance in Siler City and known as "Boling Group".  Further research has led me to believe that the chairs I have are probably from 1926.  I have supplied a photo of one of them in this guide.  They are still in excellent condition and they continue to be well-loved and appreciated for their beauty, comfort and many years of service.

NOTE:  Other than the remarkable workmanship and style of chairs made by this company, the only identifying markings I've seen were 1.5" by 3.5" heavy paper labels, nailed or stapled to the bottom of the chair seat.  The label gives the company name as the manufacturer, the city and state (Siler City, NC), the wood type (walnut, oak, etc.) and sometimes a pattern (model) number.  Although the quality furniture made by High Point Bending and Chair Company was made to last several lifetimes, the identifying paper labels have deteriorated over the years.  But, most often you will still find the two, flathead nails or two, staples that were used to hold the label to the chair (sometimes with remnants of the yellowed, paper label).

For some reason, furniture by this company is not very easy to find.  Few pieces show up in auctions (possibly because they have not been identified properly for the market).  I like to think that the pieces are so beautiful, timeless and sturdy that people tend to keep them in their families; as opposed to selling them.  But, I can promise you that the search is well worth the effort!

Happy Hunting!