Kiel Furniture Company, Catalogue no. 28, 1918 -- J. B. Laun's own copy
Kiel & Milwaukee, WI: Kiel Furniture Co., 1918. Oblong quarto (12.5 x 10 inches), in full black cloth with "J. B. Laun" stamped in gilt on front cover. 63 (1) pp, illustrated throughout, images printed in slight browntone, with inserts including "New Kiel Table Designs, Supplement to Catalogue 28," and some price lists, circulars, and flyers. Products include dining room suites, tables, library tables, desks, stools, tabourettes, pedestals and "novelties." The Kiel Furniture company was founded in 1882 and employed German-American immigrants in the small town of Kiel and has been in business ever since, now under the name A. A. Laun Furniture Company, named for the younger brother of J. B. Laun, one of the original presidents of the company, who took over as vice president and general manager in 1916. The types of products featured in these catalogs reflects both the tastes of their clientele, mainly middle-income Midwestern households, but also reflects the Stickleyesque influence of Arts & Crafts and Mission style aesthetics. No copies of this particular catalog located in any institution. This is the president of the company's own copy! Near Fine. Item #H16554
Price: $375.00