Thos. Moser, Handmade American Furniture, www.thosmoser.com, with showrooms in Washington, DC, Freeport, Maine, Boston, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, California, plus a workshop in Auburn, Maine, just released two new designs— the Bates Bed and the Bates Side Table. Both honor the rich heritage of Maine manufacturing and the heirloom quality and craftsmanship that can only be achieved by something made by hand.
The new Bates Bed is Thos. Moser’s ode to the hardworking individuals who have made Maine a place to be proud to call home. The piece reflects a commitment to the quality of American-made craftsmanship and is shown with the revitalized Martha Washington bedspread handmade by Bates Mill Company, a brand of Maine Heritage Weavers. The Bates Bed pays homage to the bobbin and spool beds of the early 1800s. Challenging the expectations of solid wood, the Bates Bed’s rounded corners are carved from a solid block of wood and joined to the leg with an interlocking mortise and tenon joint.
The Bates Side Table was designed to complement the Bates Bed with its beveled top and a rounded radius on each corner. Overall, the collection is united through the tapering of the legs and the gently curved details.
Maine has a strong legacy of craft goods and services, including the home of Bates Manufacturing Company, established by American textile tycoon and philanthropist Benjamin Bates in 1852. The Bates Mill produced cotton goods including tent cloth and backpacks for the Union Army during the Civil War, and later produced bedding, including the famous Martha Washington bedspread. These iconic pieces marked the beginning of a legacy in America textiles and integrity of Maine manufacturing.
The beauty of the landscape and the authenticity of the Maine people charmed Tom and Mary Moser, who founded Thos. Moser more than 50 years ago in Gloucester, Maine. Tom had held the position of Associate Professor of Speech and Debate Coach and the African American Society Advisor at Bates College. Bates College was founded initially as the Maine State Seminary in 1855 and was renamed in honor of Benjamin Bates in 1863. In 1971, Tom took a leave of absence to pursue his interest in furniture building. In the fall of 1972, Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers, now known as Thos. Moser, Handmade American Furniture, was established.
More info, including ordering and pricing details about the new Bates Bed and Bates Side Table and all other furniture, can be found at www.thosmoser.com.
