Exhibit 4(f)


                                                       EXECUTION COPY


             AMENDMENT NO. 4 OF PURCHASE AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT 

          AMENDMENT NO. 4, dated as of January 1, 1998, to the Purchase and
     Contribution Agreement, dated as of November 15, 1994, as amended and
     restated as of December 29, 1995, and as further amended as of June
     27, 1996, as of September 6, 1996 and as of June 27, 1997 (the
     "Agreement"), among THE LANE COMPANY, INCORPORATED, ACTION INDUSTRIES,
     INC., BROYHILL FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. and THOMASVILLE FURNITURE
     INDUSTRIES, INC., as sellers (the "Sellers"), and INTERCO RECEIVABLES
     CORP., as purchaser (the "Purchaser") (the "Amendment").

                     PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

          1.    Terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the
     meanings assigned thereto in the Agreement.

          2.    On or before January 1, 1998, Furniture Brands
     International, Inc. will organize a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Lane
     Furniture Industries, Inc., under the laws of the State of Delaware
     (hereinafter "New Lane Holdings").  New Lane Holdings is intended to
     be a holding company and not an operating company.

          3.    On or before January 1, 1998, Furniture Brands
     International, Inc. will transfer to New Lane Holdings all of the
     issued and outstanding capital stock of The Lane Company,
     Incorporated, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
     Virginia ("Lane-VA").  Also on or before January 1, 1998, Lane-VA will
     organize a new wholly-owned subsidiary under the laws of the State of
     Mississippi (such subsidiary to be referred to hereinafter as "Action
     Merger Sub Inc.").

          4.    Action Industries, Inc., a corporation organized under the
     laws of the State of Virginia ("Action-VA"), is a wholly-owned
     subsidiary of Lane-VA.  On or before January 1, 1998, Lane-VA will
     transfer all of the issued and outstanding stock of Action-VA, as a
     contribution of capital, to Action Merger Sub Inc.

          5.    On or before January 1, 1998, and pursuant to resolutions
     of the boards of directors and shareholders of Action-VA and Action
     Merger Sub Inc., Action-VA intends to transfer all of the right, title
     and interest to all of its tangible and intangible properties, assets
     and businesses, subject to all existing liens and encumbrances
     (collectively, the "Action Assets") to Action Merger Sub Inc. (such
     transfer hereinafter called the "Liquidation") in exchange for the
     surrender by Action Merger Sub Inc. of all its shares of Action-VA and
     the simultaneous cancellation of such shares by Action-VA. <PAGE>


          6.    Immediately following the Liquidation, and pursuant to
     resolutions of the boards of directors and shareholders of Lane-VA and
     Action Merger Sub Inc., Lane-VA intends to transfer to Action Merger
     Sub Inc. all of its right, title and interest in all of the tangible
     and intangible properties, assets and businesses, subject to all
     existing liens and encumbrances, of the Royal Division of Lane-VA (the
     foregoing transfer is hereinafter called the "Contribution"). 
     Following the Contribution, all of the businesses and contracts of the
     Royal Division of Lane-VA will be continued by Action Merger Sub Inc.

          7.    Immediately following the Contribution, pursuant to various
     resolutions of the Board of Directors of Lane-VA, Lane-VA intends to
     declare a dividend consisting of all of the issued and outstanding
     capital stock of Action Merger Sub Inc. (the "Dividend").

          8.    Following the Liquidation, the Contribution and the
     Dividend, Action Merger Sub Inc. shall change its name to "Action
     Industries, Inc."

          9.   On or before January 3, 1998, the Board of Directors of
     Thomasville Upholstery, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws
     of the State of Delaware, and Thomasville, as the sole shareholder of
     Thomasville Upholstery, Inc., intend to vote to liquidate and dissolve
     Thomasville Upholstery, Inc. and simultaneously therewith, Thomasville
     Upholstery, Inc. will transfer all of its right, title and interest in
     all of its tangible and intangible properties, assets and businesses,
     subject to all existing liens and encumbrances, to Thomasville, with
     the result that Thomasville shall continue in the businesses and
     contracts of Thomasville Upholstery, Inc.

          10.  On or before January 1, 1998, the Board of Directors of
     Gordon's, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware,
     and Thomasville, as the sole shareholder of Gordon's, Inc., intend to
     vote to liquidate and dissolve Gordon's, Inc. and simultaneously
     therewith, Gordon's, Inc. will transfer all of its right, title and
     interest in all of its tangible and intangible properties, assets and
     businesses, subject to all existing liens and encumbrances, to
     Thomasville, with the result that Thomasville shall continue in the
     businesses and contracts of Gordon's, Inc.

          11.  The Sellers have requested that the Purchaser  waive
     compliance with certain provisions of the Agreement in order to enable
     the Sellers to effectuate the transactions described in paragraphs 2
     through 10 of these Preliminary Statements (collectively, the
     "Reorganization"), and the Purchaser is willing to agree to amend the
     Agreement as hereinafter set forth as of the date on which (i) each of
     the transactions constituting the Reorganization has occurred, and
     (ii) each of the terms and conditions in this Agreement (including
     without limitation the conditions precedent in paragraph 3A and the
     conditions subsequent in paragraph 3B) has been met (such date, the
      Effective Date ).<PAGE>



          NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt
     and sufficiency of which are hereby expressly acknowledged by all
     parties, the parties agree as follows: 

          1.   Acknowledgment of Waiver.  In reliance on the Sellers'
     representation in the following sentence, the Purchaser, as of the
     Effective Date, hereby consents to the Reorganization and waives any
     and all violations of the Agreement resulting solely from actions
     taken by the Sellers to effectuate the Reorganization, including but
     not limited to, actions required to be taken or prohibited under
     Section 5.01, concerning preservation of corporate existence, and
     Section 5.03(e), concerning changes in corporate names.  Each of the
     Sellers represents and warrants, as of the date hereof and as of the
     Effective Date, that the Reorganization will not materially and
     adversely affect its Contracts or the collectibility of Transferred
     Receivables originated by it.

           2.   Amendment of Agreement.  The Agreement shall be and is
     hereby amended, as of the Effective Date, as follows:

           A.   Action-VA shall cease to be a party to the Agreement, and
     Action Merger Sub Inc. shall be added as a party to the Agreement. 
     Action Merger Sub Inc. hereby agrees to assume and perform, and to be
     bound by, all of the obligations of Action-VA under the Agreement. 
     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Action Merger Sub
     Inc. acknowledges that pursuant to Section 5.05 of the Agreement, it
     grants a security interest to the Purchaser in all of its right, title
     and interest now or hereafter existing in, to and under all
     Receivables which do not constitute Transferred Receivables, the
     Related Security and all Collections with regard thereto.  From and
     after the Effective Date, all references in the Agreement to "Action"
     shall be deemed to be a reference to Action Merger Sub Inc., and all
     of the covenants, representations, warranties, entitlements and
     agreements of Action-VA shall become the covenants, representations,
     warranties, entitlements and agreements of Action Merger Sub Inc..

          B.   The definition of "CP Rate" is hereby amended and restated
     in its entirety as follows:

               "CP Rate" means, at any time, the weighted 
               average of the rates paid by the Purchaser 
               as "Yield" with respect to all "Receivable 
               Interests" outstanding under the CL Sale 
               Agreement during the preceding calendar month, 
               as such rate is determined by the Purchaser 
               from time to time.

          C.   Section 6.01(b) is hereby amended and restated in its
     entirety as follows:

                 (b)  Until the Purchaser gives notice (the 
               "Successor Notice") to any Seller of a 
               designation of a new Servicer for such Seller's 
               Transferred Receivables, Action is hereby <PAGE>

               designated as Servicer for Transferred 
               Receivables originated by Action, Broyhill 
               is hereby designated as Servicer for 
               Transferred Receivables originated by Broyhill, 
               Lane is hereby designated as Servicer for 
               Transferred Receivables originated by Lane and 
               Thomasville is hereby designated as Servicer for 
               Transferred Receivables originated by Thomasville.  
               Action, Broyhill, Lane and Thomasville each hereby 
               agrees to perform the duties and obligations of 
               the Servicer for such Transferred Receivables 
               pursuant to the terms hereof.  The Successor Notice 
               may only be given following the occurrence and 
               during the continuation of a Servicer Default.  
               Any Servicer other than such Seller shall execute 
               any confidentiality agreement reasonably requested 
               by such Seller in connection with the designation 
               of a new Servicer.

          D.   Section 6.01(c) is hereby amended by inserting "Action,"
     immediately following the reference to Lane in the first line thereof.

          E.   Schedule II to the Agreement is hereby amended by changing
     the parenthetical at the end of the address of the first bank listed
     therein as follows:  "(With respect to Receivables originated by
     Lane)."

          F.   Schedule II to the Agreement is hereby amended by adding an
     additional Bank and Lock-Box Account No. as follows:

                Bank                           Lock-Box Account No.
                ----                           --------------------
        First Union National Bank              60015 (Lock-Box Number)
        301 South College St.                  2020000105514 (Lock-Box
        Charlotte, NC 28288                    Account Number)


          3.   A.  Conditions Precedent.  The effectiveness of the waiver
     and the amendments set forth in Sections 1 and 2 are subject to the
     conditions precedent that the Purchaser and the Purchaser's assignee
     shall have received each of the following, in form and substance
     satisfactory to the Purchaser and the Purchaser's assignee:

          (i)  Certified copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of
     (x) Action-VA, Lane-VA, New Lane Holdings, Action Merger Sub Inc. and
     Thomasville approving each of their actions with respect to the
     Reorganization and (y) each of the Sellers (including Action Merger
     Sub Inc.) approving this Amendment;

          (ii)  A certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of
     Action Merger Sub Inc. certifying the names and the signatures of the
     officers authorized on its behalf to sign this Amendment and the other
     documents to be delivered by it hereunder;<PAGE>


          (iii)  Financing Statements (Form UCC-1) naming Action Merger Sub
     Inc. as the debtor and the Purchaser as the secured party, as may be
     necessary or, in the opinion of the Purchaser, advisable under the UCC
     of all appropriate jurisdictions or other applicable law to perfect
     the Purchaser's ownership of and security interest in the Receivables
     originated by Action Merger Sub Inc. and Related Security and
     Collections with respect thereto;

          (iv)   A Lock-Box Agreement in respect of each Lock-Box Account
     of Action Merger Sub Inc., duly executed by the Lock-Box Bank holding
     such Lock-Box Account;

          (v)    The Amended and Restated Agreement of Furniture Brands
     International, Inc;

          (vi)   Copies of all agreements entered into by the Sellers and
     their affiliates to effectuate the Reorganization;

          (vii)  The Articles of Incorporation of Action Merger Sub Inc.,
     duly certified by the Secretary of State of Mississippi, as of a
     recent date acceptable to Purchaser, together with a copy of the By-
     Laws of Action Merger Sub Inc., duly certified by its Secretary or
     Assistant Secretary; and

          (viii)  Favorable opinions of counsel for each of the Sellers and
     Furniture Brands International, Inc. as to such matters as the
     Purchaser may reasonably request.

                  B.   Conditions Subsequent. The effectiveness of the
     waiver and the amendments set forth in Sections 1 and 2 are subject to
     the conditions subsequent that the Purchaser and the Purchaser's
     assignee shall have received each of the following, in form and
     substance satisfactory to the Purchaser and the Purchaser's assignee:

          (i)   Written notice from the chief executive officer or chief
     operating officer of each of Lane-VA and Action Merger Sub Inc. or its
     successor to the effect that the transactions described in paragraphs
     6, 7 and 8 of the Preliminary Statements hereof have been completed.

          (ii)   A true and complete copy of the Credit and Collection
     Policy (the  Policy ) adopted by Action Merger Sub Inc. or its
     successor, which Policy shall require that Action Merger Sub Inc. or
     its successor shall originate and/or service any and all Transferred
     Receivables in accordance with standards of origination and servicing
     customary for prudent originators or servicers of similar receivables
     in the industry and, in any event, in accordance with standards of
     origination and servicing acceptable to the Purchaser or its assignee.

          (iii)   A certificate of the chief executive officer or chief
     operating officer of Action Merger Sub Inc. or its successor
     certifying that Action Merger Sub Inc. has adopted and effectively
     implemented such Credit and Collection Policy (including without
     limitation employment of personnel having adequate experience in<PAGE>


     origination and servicing and the implementation and maintenance of
     adequate computer and data management systems).

          4.    Representations and Warranties.  Each of the Sellers
     (including Action Merger Sub Inc.) confirms that each of the
     representations and warranties made by it in Section 4.01 of the
     Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, is correct on and as of the
     date hereof and will be correct as of the Effective Date as though
     made on and as of this date or the Effective Date, as the case may be. 
     Each of the Sellers (including Action Merger Sub Inc.) further
     represents and warrants that (a) this Amendment has been duly
     authorized, executed and delivered by it pursuant to its corporate
     powers, and (b) after giving effect to this Amendment, no Event of
     Termination, or event that would constitute an Event of Termination
     but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both,
     will exist.

          5.     Execution in Counterparts, Etc.  This Amendment may be
     executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed
     shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together
     shall constitute one and the same amendment.  The delivery of a signed
     signature page to this Amendment by telecopy transmission shall
     constitute due execution and delivery of this Amendment for all
     purposes.

           6.    Agreement in Full Force and Effect.  Except as amended by
     this Amendment, all of the provisions of the Agreement are ratified
     and confirmed in all respects and shall remain in full force and
     effect in accordance with their terms.

           7.    References to Agreement.  From and after the date hereof,
     (a) all references in the Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereof",
     "herein", or similar terms and (b) all references to the Agreement in
     each agreement, instrument and other document executed or delivered in
     connection with the Agreement, shall mean and refer to the Agreement,
     as amended by this Amendment.

           8.    Further Assurances.  The parties hereto agree to execute
     and deliver any and all further agreements, certificates and other
     documents reasonably necessary to implement the provisions of this
     Amendment.

           9.    Governing Law.  This Amendment shall be governed by, and
     construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York without
     giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Sellers and the Purchaser have caused
     this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective officers
     thereunto duly authorized as of the day and year first above written. 

     SELLERS:                           THE LANE COMPANY, INCORPORATED


                                        By: Lynn Chipperfield  
                                           ----------------------------
                                        Name:  Lynn Chipperfield
                                        Title: Vice President

                                       ACTION MERGER SUB, INC. 
                                       (a Mississippi corporation)

                                       By:  Lynn Chipperfield
                                          ----------------------------
                                       Name: Lynn Chipperfield
                                       Title: Vice President


                                       ACTION INDUSTRIES, INC. 


                                       By:  Lynn Chipperfield
                                          -----------------------------
                                       Name:  Lynn Chipperfield
                                       Title: Vice President


                                       BROYHILL FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                       By:  Lynn Chipperfield
                                          -----------------------------
                                       Name:  Lynn Chipperfield
                                       Title: Vice President


                                     THOMASVILLE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                     By:  Lynn Chipperfield
                                        -------------------------------
                                     Name:  Lynn Chipperfield
                                     Title: Vice President


     PURCHASER:                      INTERCO RECEIVABLES CORP.


                                     By:  Lynn Chipperfield
                                        -------------------------------
                                     Name:  Lynn Chipperfield
                                     Title: Vice President
      <PAGE>