Cessna Mid Century Dresser

By Jennifer Cahill, Owner at Trillium Park Designs, Olympia WA

Winning Category

I was surprised to learn that early airplane builder, Cessna, turned to building furniture during the lean years after the war. Their furniture was commissioned by the US government to furnish base family housing. Employees of Cessna were also allowed to purchase the furniture. This 1948 Cessna dresser has a most interesting build. The frame and drawer fronts are wood, but the entire interior is metal - including the dresser back and metal tapered legs. The metal drawer construction provides for precision drawer closing and fit.

I fully sanded the wood surfaces and refinished the drawer fronts with General Finishes Java Gel. The body of the dresser was hand painted with five coats of Verdant by Sherwin Williams, sanding between each coat for a smooth, modern finish. Both drawer fronts and painted surfaces where sealed with multiple coats of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal Oil & Urethane topcoat finish and brass hardware stripped and polished for a shiny new lease on life

Products Used

  • Java Gel Stain
  • Arm-R-Seal
  • Sherwin Williams Verdant Green

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