Mid Century Jan Kuypers Wave Front Birch dresser by Imperial of Canada with 12 drawers.
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Imperial Furniture and Jan Kuypers*
Imperial Furniture began in 1905 as the Imperial Rattan Company, a producer of rattan furniture for indoor and outdoor spaces. In 1941 the company launched a line of furniture designed by famous Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen and described as “modern with a purpose.” Made of “good Canadian birch,” the line was designed with mass production in mind. The pieces were also completely interchangeable so homeowners could mix and match but still have a cohesive look throughout their home. (Wright, p. 74) By 1949 the company had changed its name to Imperial Furniture Manufacturing Company. Two years later, it hired Dutch-born designer Jan Kuypers as an in-house designer and assigned him the task of designing contemporary furniture. (Hodges)
Kuypers’ designs gave Imperial the opportunity to enter and compete successfully in the growing market for Scandinavian-inspired furniture. His designs “introduced a precise, efficient minimalism previously absent from Canadian furniture.” (Wright, p. 142).
With Kuypers heading up design, Imperial Furniture won four NIDC Awards. Kuypers left the company in 1955 to study industrial design, then started a business designing office furniture in Toronto.
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*https://vintagehomeboutique.ca/blogs/vintage-home-boutique/great-mid-century-designers-canadian-edition-part-three