Heywood-Wakefield was a furniture manufacturing firm started by the Heywood family in Gardner, Massachussetts in 1826. Initially they specialised in chairs and other seat furniture with caned seats. By the end of the nineteenth century they were producing a wide variety of furniture forms for domestic and institutional use. After the Second World War the firm took a conscious decision to move away from its traditional forms of caned and bentwood furniture in favour of more up-to-date styles. This dining cabinet is from their 'Home-Planned Modern' range of blonde, or pale wood, furniture for the home. It is of plain, simple design, and was aimed at first-time home owners who were furnishing on a budget. The firm encouraged buyers to acquire pieces from the range a few at a time, promising them that such was the design of the 'Modern' range that future purchases would blend seamlessly with earlier ones.