E.J. Victor Reintroduces English Country with an Expanded Assortment of Caroline Faison

A sustained demand for comfortable English reproduction furniture polished with deep, casual, slightly distressed finishes has prompted E.J. Victor to reintroduce its English County collection in April 2003 with some unique pieces and expanded displays.

Among the introductions is the distinctive Colchester Settle Bench, a high-backed bench crafted from solid English Oak, offered with two finish options (Ruddied Oak or Aged Amber), styled with an abundance of raised panels, open English arms and ample storage beneath the lift-up seat. The bench measures 53 inches wide, 23 3/4" inches deep and 51 1/2" inches tall.

Customers can accessorize the Colchester Settle Bench with an upholstered seat and choose from any of E. J. Victor's in-house fabrics or specify their own.

"It's a great hall piece," said company President and CEO John V. Jokinen. "And a fantastic beside a breakfast table."

Initially launched eight years ago, English County has been a successful collection of furniture that was manufactured entirely in Europe and sold under the E.J. Victor brand. Jokinen recently shifted manufacture of the group to Asia to capture and pass to consumers the inherent value of those offshore processes.

"We enjoyed a successful run with the collection until the English Pound relative to the US Dollar became untenable and we had to raise prices," Jokinen said. "And then our English manufacturer ceased operations and we had to seek other sources for production."

"The demand for English Country items is, thankfully, sustained," he said. "And we are very happy with the results from our Asian factories. Therefore this is the most extensive display of the collection in years."

A critical component of English Country's success has been three fold: style; highly disciplined craftsmanship, and finish with a lot of personality and character. Jokinen's team has instituted steps to ensure that the shift of production to Asia has not diminished these elements.

"We still institute all product design; we use the same construction technique - mortis and tenon; we specify here; we supervise sampling and production of goods; we constantly inspect quality and consistency," he said. "So the furniture is made to our specifications."

"Not only is the depth of the finish and the durability of the finish important," he said, "but so is the hand of the finish. Comfortable, casual finishes with durable looks that have some basis of traditional design are still accepted by the public. A lot of hand-waxing is used with this collection."

"We're even buying the English Oak and in Europe and shipping it to Asia for production," he said.

E. J. Victor will display English County side-by-side with its Caroline Faison collection; a stunning assortment of authentically reproduced, hand-painted occasional furniture influenced from carefully selected European antiques.

Three key items will highlight Caroline Faison's April 2003 introductions: A colorful, hand-painted Arezzo Corner Cabinet that offers adjustable shelves behind a single door; the Verese Chest, a hand-painted, three-drawer Italian-reproduction item, and the St. James Chest, a French reproduction finished in a deep, bright fruitwood finish and appointed with some of the most majestic and elaborate solid brass hardware found in High Point.

This collection was initially launched in October 2003. Faison bases operations in Greensboro, NC. She travels Europe extensively in constant search for one-of-a-kind antiques.

Edward W. Phifer, III, Joseph B. Manderson and John Victor Jokinen founded E.J. Victor in 1990 in Morganton, NC. Together, the founders created a corporate culture that maintains an unwavering commitment to preserving time-honored, local construction methods used to create exquisite furniture for the home.