Lane "Tower Suite" Pecan and Rosewood Modern Dresser

Restoration of this Lane 9 drawer dresser was just completed. As with other Lane pieces this is well constructed using mitered joinery, dovetailed drawers and metal and bearing bottom mount drawer guides. Lane used classic modernist design features with a deep set picture frame edge around the case perimeter. The case rests on a set back espresso colored pedestal base that disappears in the shadows to give the dresser a "floating" appearance. The case and drawer fronts use pecan veneer that has been stained to a walnut color. The case has 10 rosewood squares inlaid on the top that match the rosewood slats on the center door. The drawer pulls use solid, rosewood handles with chrome supports. The design is very reminiscent of Milo Baughman's casework; low profile orthogonal design with luxurious details like chrome, rosewood, etc.

I normally reserve staining for matching dis-similar woods (like legs to match a case).  When possible I like to let the natural color and variation of the wood show.  However, pecan doesn't show well with the finish schedule I use with walnut, teak and rosewood.  Pecan ends up looking yellow with this formula and doesn't look very "current" and would not have done the rosewood accents any favors on this piece.  Pecan does have a pronounced difference in its hardwood vs sapwood in density and openness.  By layering 2 different stain colors I was able to utilize this to good effect.  The harder wood doesn't take the 2nd stain as well as the softer.   The result is a deeper coloring effect with the stained pieces having some color variation, much like natural wood.  It is more subtle than a figured walnut but it also avoids the one dimensional look used with a single stain or toner color.

I find many references to this line as being walnut and rosewood.  There is certainly a possibility that Lane made some with walnut and some with pecan.  This original ad from 1971 describes it as pecan and rosewood.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19710924&id=uENRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0ywNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2655,4219672&hl=en
This one is definitely not walnut and is easy to spot with the finish stripped.  Here is one on 1st dibs.  I believe this one is pecan also.
https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/storage-case-pieces/dressers/lane-tower-suite-walnut-dresser/id-f_1150472/  I see many pieces with incorrectly identified wood species.  It isn't always easy to tell, even with a trained eye.  Especially if the piece has a toned finish that hides the wood's real color.  Maybe this is a potential subject for a future post??

Dimensions: 66"W x 29"H x 19"D

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