Broyhill Brasilia Walnut Credenza: Identification & Value

The Broyhill Brasilia Walnut Credenza is a credenza made by Broyhill (Broyhill Premier), part of the Brasilia line. The line is named for Brasilia, the modernist capital city of Brazil, whose civic architecture inspired the line's arches and colonnades. It is built from solid pecan and walnut with rosewood accents.

It was manufactured by Broyhill (Broyhill Premier). It belongs to the Brasilia line. Its factory model number is 6140-13 (the "Credenza Buffet"), 60 x 19 x 31 in.; 3 drawers, 4 doors.

Brasilia was introduced by Broyhill in 1962 as part of its upper-tier Broyhill Premier range. Its designers drew directly on the architecture of Brazil's then-new capital, Brasilia -- the Palace of the Dawn and the city's civic buildings -- translating those arches and colonnades into the line's panels, pulls, and silhouettes.

The line's signature elements were formally protected. Seven U.S. design patents -- all filed the same day, April 15, 1963, all naming Melbourne F. Smith, Jr. as inventor and assigned to Broyhill Furniture Factories of Lenoir, North Carolina -- cover the recessed arch pull (Des. 196,833), the single- and double-arch panels (Des. 196,731 and 196,732), the arched headboard (Des. 197,207), two table forms including the Cathedral pedestal base (Des. 199,315 and 199,316), and the room-divider deck (Des. 199,317).

Look for these Brasilia hallmarks:

• Recessed "knifed" arch door pulls; on some forms the raised arch panels themselves act as integrated pulls
• Repeating arch-and-colonnade panel motif drawn from the architecture of Brasilia, Brazil
• Tapered solid-wood legs
• Warm walnut and pecan tone with rosewood accents

Original 1960s Brasilia pieces use recessed ("knifed") pulls; the later Broyhill "Mardella" reissue uses surface-mounted pulls (per Broyhill's own account).

Confirm the piece from its label or stamp — see Marks, labels, and stamps below.

Broyhill pieces carry a paper label, foil badge, ink stamp, and branded/burned mark on the back panel, the underside, drawer bottoms, and inside or on the side of the top drawer.

• Upper-line pieces read "Broyhill Premier"
• A style/group number is usually present (the credenza is 6140-13)

The word "Brasilia" often does not appear on the label; the line is identified from the arch carving, not the tag.

The primary 1963 Broyhill Premier catalog lists finishes by descriptive name and shows no encoded date or plant code. The collector reading that "the first two digits are the year" is interpretation, not a documented Broyhill key.

In our own transaction history we have handled 2 examples of this piece, so what follows is our experience, not a market-wide appraisal. As restored retail, results were in the range of about $4,246–$5,744. A fast, as-is dealer offer for a comparable piece typically sits well below that, nearer $500 — the gap reflects restoration value-add and the speed of a quick sale. Condition, originality, and restoration quality move these figures substantially.

Exposed woods are solid pecan and walnut, accented with rosewood. Case surfaces use walnut veneer over hardwood cores. Drawers run on metal "Broy-Glides" drawer glides and nylon floor glides. Original and refinished surfaces both appear; refinishing can affect value versus an all-original example.

Introduced to market in August 1962 (documented at the Hecht Co., Washington, D.C.); production is reported to have continued until about 1970, when Broyhill changed ownership. It was made in Lenoir, North Carolina.

The Credenza Buffet (6140-13) measures 60 in wide, 19 in deep, and 31 in high. Brasilia was a broad line, so related forms (dressers, credenzas, tables, room dividers) share the motif at different sizes; measurements can vary slightly across production runs.

Period advertising documents original retail prices for the line (Julius Lansburgh Furniture, Evening Star, July 24, 1963, p.26):

• Credenza, 60 x 19 x 31 in.: $169.95 (1963)
• 9-drawer triple dresser: $155.95 (1963)
• Dining side chair: $27.95 (1963)

Advertised retail prices from period Washington, D.C. newspaper advertisements. These are historical figures for context, not a current valuation.

Demand is generally driven by condition, originality, and overall presentation. Refinishing, replaced hardware, and structural repairs tend to reduce desirability.

In curated retail, comparable pieces have taken around 9 days to sell on average. A quick dealer sale typically closes in days to a couple of weeks. Local marketplaces (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist) usually take weeks to months. Curated ecommerce (1stDibs, Chairish) can take weeks to a year or more. Price, presentation, location, and demand all affect speed.

Originality drives value on pieces of this age. Veneer chips, water rings, and sun-fading of the wood are common and worth checking for. Because case surfaces are veneered, inspect edges and tops for lifting or evidence of prior refinishing. Original hardware and drawer glides help confirm an all-original example; replaced hardware and refinishing both affect value.