Nathan S. Ancell (August 22, 1908 – May 31, 1999) co-founded the Ethan Allen furniture company with his brother-in-law, Theodore Baumritter, in 1932. Together, the two men pioneered the concept of selling furniture in room-style settings and built the Ethan Allen company.[1] Today, Ethan Allen has sales of nearly $1 billion.[2]
Born Nathan Ancelewitz, Nathan S. "Nat" Ancell grew up in New York and was Jewish. In 1932, he and his brother-in-law started a small housewares company. The two bought a bankrupt furniture manufacturer in Beecher Falls, Vermont a few years later. Ancell attended Columbia CollegeinNew York City, New York and graduated in 1929.[3]
Ancell was known as the father of the gallery concept, where furniture was placed in real-life settings in furniture stores.[1] The company vision statement illustrates his viewpoint in how to conduct business: "To promote dreams not just furniture-to help consumers have the attractive homes they want, regardless of the station in life."[4][5]
The family sold the Ethan Allen company to Interco in 1980.[6] Ancell continued as manager and later as an advisor until the company was sold again in 1989.[7]
Ancell served on the board of Brandeis University for 25 years. He funded a chair in physics and a fellowship in physics, and was awarded an honorary Doctorate in 1990 and the Distinguished Community Service Award in 1988.[8][9]
