Meet&CoHIGH POINT — Rowe Furniture is marking its 80th anniversary with a limited-edition reissue of its Gondola sofa, a design originally introduced in 1966.
Source: https://www.furnituretoday.com/
The Gondola has remained popular among collectors and design enthusiasts over the years. Vintage examples can command prices of $7,000 to $9,000, depending on condition. The sofa was originally introduced during the height of the Mid-Century Modern era.
For its 80th anniversary, Rowe will produce just 25 Gondola sofas for High Point Market. Each piece will be individually numbered and signed by the Virginia craftspeople who build it.
The limited edition will be offered in two textile compositions, Atelier and Archive. Atelier gives the design a contemporary direction, combining its walnut frame with a dimensional textile from Kravet Couture. Archive references the upholstery of the original Gondola with a wool-blend covering on the body, paired with a softly colored plaid on the seat cushion and button-tufted back.
The anniversary edition will not return to regular production, according to Rowe.
“The Gondola has become an important part of Rowe’s history, and it’s been rewarding to see the appreciation it has developed in the vintage community,” said Bobby Robinson, president of Rowe Furniture. “For our 80th anniversary, we wanted to honor that history thoughtfully. We’re making just 25, and each one will have its own provenance.”
The new Gondola keeps the silhouette of the original design while updating its exposed wood frame with American walnut. The wood is locally milled in High Point to Rowe’s specifications and individually hand-finished.
For the Atelier version, the textile was selected to complement the sofa’s strong silhouette without competing with it, according to Laura Mabe, vice president of creative. The Archive composition uses plaid upholstery as a reference to the period when the original Gondola was introduced, paired with a quieter wool-blend body.
Creating Provenance for the Anniversary Edition
Rowe is working with some of its most experienced craftspeople to produce the 2026 Gondola sofas. Each piece will feature a vintage-inspired deck label using Rowe’s 1960s logo and the designation “80th Anniversary Edition.”
Every sofa will be numbered from 01 through 25, and the craftspeople who build each piece will sign its label. Each sofa will also come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
These details are intended to establish the provenance of the anniversary pieces while distinguishing them from original vintage Gondola sofas.
“We have tremendous respect for the people who discovered these pieces, restored them and kept the Gondola relevant decades after it was first made,” Robinson said. “An original Gondola should always remain an original. The anniversary piece needed to honor that history while being unmistakably its own.”
Founded in 1946, Rowe Furniture is an American upholstery manufacturer based in Elliston, Va.
