The History of Virginia Craftsmen

Founded in 1927 by Walter Zirkle, Sr., Virginia Craftsmen,  manufactures and retailed high-quality antique reproduction furniture.
Each Virginia Craftsmen antique reproduction is crafted by hand. The artisans work from carefully preserved and irreplaceable original patterns, as well as precise drawings of the actual historic pieces.

Only the finest solid, kiln-dried hardwoods- primarily cherry, walnut and mahogany-are used. Where historical style dictates, the finest crotched veneers are used. All inlays are hardwood, no plastics or softwoods.
Virginia Craftsmen employs traditional techniques to assure complete authenticity. The dovetail and mortise and tenon are our basic forms of joinery. The turnings are done on a lathe with hand-held chisels that cut sharper detail than automatic machine production. The satin smooth finishes are the result of countless hours of hand rubbing. The glass panes in the cabinets are individually set, and all cabinet backs are made of solid wood completely finished on both sides. Even in places most people would not examine-like the backs and undersides of drawers- all surfaces are completely finished, with the most meticulous detail carefully rendered.

We invite you to rekindle the tradition of sublime quality in handmade antique reproduction furniture.
Virginia Craftsmen has been building furniture the same way for three quarters of a century, without compromise.  Through the years we have gathered one of the largest collections of precise plans and patterns in the world.  Many of these were hewn by the master cabinetmakers themselves.

Each and every piece of Virginia Craftsmen furniture is carefully and painstakingly created through literally hundreds of steps by the hands of master craftsmen.  Join the Tradition!  Here is furniture that has withstood the test of time; furniture that will be as cherished in 100 years as is today.  There can be no substitute for quality.

Virginia Craftsmen furniture may be seen at these historic locations and restorations:

In Colonial Williamsburg . . .
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg, Va.
Providence Hall; Campbell Coffee House; Kings Arms Tavern; Chowings Tavern; Guest Houses; The Williamsburg Inn; Carters Grove; Shields Tavern; The Williamsburg Lodge.

Other Locations. . .
Monticello, Charlottesville, Va.
The Rotunda, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
The Boars Head Inn, Charlottesville, Va.
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.
Figgie International, Richmond, Va.
Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Va.
Piedmont Community College, Charlottesville, Va.
Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia, Wise, Va.
Chagrin Valley Hunt Club, Gates Mills, Ohio
Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, Va.
Sigma, Sigma, Sigma National Headquarters, Woodstock, Va.
Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Harrisonburg, Va.
Wren Building, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Va.
Farmington Country Club, Charlottesville, Va.
McCormick Library, Washington & Lee University, Lexington, Va.
Gadsbys Tavern, Alexandria, Va.
Marylands First Capitol, St. Marys, Md.
Wells Memorial Library, Newington, Conn.
Pierson College, Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, Mass.
Scarsdale Library, Scarsdale, N.Y.
Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie, Pa.
Mercersburg Academy, Mercersburg, Pa.
Delaware State Capitol Building, Dover, Del.
Baltimore Country Club, Baltimore, Md.
Medical College of Virginia Hospital, Richmond, Va
Library, Virginia State College, Petersburg, Va. Country Club of Virginia, Richmonds, Va.
Library, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, Va.
Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Ind.
First National Bank of Shreveport, Shreveport, La.
Pioneer Hall, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.
Dearborn Inn, Detroit, Mich.
Union Camp Corporation, Franklin, Va.