Revered for its handcrafted and highly collectible mid-century modern sofas, coffee tables and other furnishings, Dunbar Furniture was founded in 1910 in Berne, Indiana, but it didn’t gain widespread recognition until the ’30s, following the introduction of its president to a designer who would leave an indelible mark on the company’s legacy: Edward Wormley.
After a stint at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Oswego, Illinois-born Wormley worked as an interior designer for Marshall Field’s before joining Dunbar in 1931. Initially focused on developing the company’s cheapest furniture line, which could be bought with soap coupons, he was soon leading Dunbar Furniture into a new era of residential furniture for modern American homes. He would serve as the company’s design director for over three decades, designing about 150 pieces each year.
During that time, he oversaw the production of designs in a wide range of materials, with influences ranging from Scandinavian modernism to Art Deco. There were modern upholstery pieces, like swiveling lounge chairs and low-slung sofas, and experiments with textural wood on bar carts and cabinets as well as minimal, sculptural tables and functional office furniture. A passionate collector of Tiffany Studios lamps, Wormley used their glass tiles in Dunbar tables in 1956. He also worked on the reproduction of pieces by designers such as Jean-Michel Frank and Richard Riemerschmid.
One standout Dunbar Furniture collection was Janus, introduced in the 1960s, with Austrian-born ceramicists Otto and Gertrud Natzler. These pieces see the Natzlers’ uniquely artful ceramic tiles set into several styles of wooden tables. They remain some of the most sought-after mid-century modern Dunbar pieces on the vintage market today. During the peak of his design career and, indeed, the height of Dunbar Furniture’s history, Wormley amassed a whopping 30 Good Design awards between 1950 and 1955 through the “Good Design” exhibition, hosted by the Chicago Merchandise Mart and the Museum of Modern Art. Dunbar today produces a limited selection of archival Wormley designs, but many sales of original Dunbar pieces are through the resale market.
Find a collection of authentic vintage Dunbar Furniture today on 1stDibs.
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Three-Bay Walnut & Brass Shelving System, 1952
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Three-Bay Walnut & Brass Shelving System, 1952 Wall-mounted modular shelving system designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, circa 1952, executed in walnu...
Brass
Edward Wormley Long John Shelf for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Long John Shelf can be used as shelf or console. Walnut wood with great sapwood striped details.
Walnut
Large Wall Hanging Shelving Unit in Solid Walnut by Elliott Marks
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Solid walnut shelving unit that hangs from wall. Hand selected premium hardwood finished in durable natural hard wax/ oil finish. The vertical frames attach to the wall and have slot...
Maple
$4,667Sale Price|50% Off
H 88.59 in W 102.76 in D 16.93 in
Modular Wall Mounted Storage System by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset
By Michel Ducaroy
Located in Rochester, England
The Modular Wall Mounted Storage System by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset is a versatile and modern storage solution. Designed by the renowned Mic...
Metal
$8,923 / set
H 120.87 in W 79.53 in D 12.8 in
Large 1950s Italian Mid Century Teak Maple Freestanding Shelving System 18 Piece
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
Recently imported from Italy, this is a good example of post war Italian Avant Garde design. Measuring an impressive 3-metres from floor to ceiling – a common height in Italian apartments – with opportunity to arrange the shelves to suit. This impressive freestanding storage...
Brass
Tambour Door Storage Console with Drawer by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rare curved front console in rich grained rosewood with a single drawer and slatted tambour storage.
Mahogany
$3,150
H 78.75 in W 64.57 in D 13 in
Poul Cadovius Freestanding Modular Wall Unit System for Royal System, 1960s
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in The Hague, NL
Original freestanding wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, model Royal, in the 1960s for Royal System, Denmark. Freestanding wall unit consists 3 black metal uprights, one cabinet an...
Metal
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Modular Console Table Circa 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Beautiful set of tables designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Architectural and Mid Century Modern in design. Tables have a simple elegant design. Both tables are marked. One long short console table...
Formica, Ash
$2,200
H 13.5 in W 71 in D 19 in
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Style "Long John" Walnut Bench, Coffee Table, 1950s
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Long Edward Wormley for dunbar style walnut "long john" Bench. Coffee Table. Bed End. Featuring a longer rectangular slat-style Walnut surface, turned edge...
Walnut
$8,936
H 66.93 in W 60.24 in D 19.69 in
Børge Mogensen Danish Modern Large Wall Shelving System in Oak & Teakwood, 1956
By Erhard Rasmussen, Børge Mogensen
Located in Odense, DK
Important large wall shelving system in oak and teakwood designed by Børge Mogensen in 1956. This rare and early edition was made at cabinetmaker ...
Oak, Teak
$8,795 / set
H 95 in W 129.5 in D 18 in
George Nelson for Herman Miller Mid Century Walnut Omni Wall Unit - 4 Bay
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Franklin Park, IL
George Nelson for Herman Miller mid-century walnut omni wall unit - 4 bay This wall unit measures: 129.5 wide x 18 deep x 95 inches high. All piec...
Metal
Pair of Shell Console Tables by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A matching pair of bleached mahogany, hand carved shell console tables designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Mahogany
Ed Wormley for Dunbar Ash and Laminate Console Table
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in New Windsor, NY
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Ash and laminate modular console table. Two white laminate shelves and solid ash open frame low console table. Circa 1960. Signed with gold metal tag, Dunba...
Laminate, Ash
Customizable Color USM Shelving R2 Storage System
By Fritz Haller, Usm Haller, Paul Schaerer
Located in New York, NY
Offered by M2L. With two drop down doors and two drawers. Designed by Swiss architect Fritz Haller and Paul Schaerer in 1963. Made from powder coated steel and chrome plated stee...
Chrome, Steel
Cado Danish Modern Teak Wall-Mounted Shelving System with 3 Shelves
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Danish Modern wall-mounted teak shelving system by Cado, featuring three adjustable wooden shelves supported by slender metal brackets and two vertical wall rails. Combining ...
Teak
$15,079 / item
H 72 in W 65 in D 24 in
Amuneal’s Collector's Hanging 2 Bay Brass and Glass Shelving Unit
By Amuneal
Located in New York, NY
This Wall Hanging Brass and Glass Shelving Unit is part of Amuneal’s Collector’s Shelving System and features our precision machined brass fittings ...
Brass
Urio Three-Section Bookcase by Ico Parisi for MIM, Roma
By Mobili Italiani Moderni (MIM), Ico Parisi
Located in North Miami, FL
Parisi revisited a project done in 1946 for Arte Casa Cantù, updating materials and production technology for Industrial production required in the late 1950s. The bookcase is compr...
Metal, Aluminum
Floating Wall Console Demilune by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Floating wall console demilune by Edward Wormley for Dunbar A early designed wall-mounted floating shelf with pull-out drawer, model No. 4903.(f...
Burl
Pair of Floating Wall Console Demilunes by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of floating wall console demilunes by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Early designed wall-mounted pair of floating shelfs with pull-out drawers, model No. 4903 and 4905 (fastens to w...
Burl
Floating Wall Console Demilune by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Floating wall console demilune by Edward Wormley for Dunbar A early designed wall-mounted floating shelf with pull-out drawer, model No. 4903.(fa...
Burl
1950s Burled Wall Console by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A burled Finnish birch demilune wall shelf with single drawer. Mirror sold separately.
Birch
Dunbar 'Long John' Wall Shelf by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An Edward Wormley designed shelf in solid walnut supported by two (2) laminated mahogany brackets in the original black lacquer finish. Manufactured by Dunbar in the 1960s. Shelf is ...
Walnut
Stunning 1940s Dunbar Mahogany Demi-Lune Wall Console by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Hudson, NY
Stunning hard to find wall mounted console in original finish. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Mahogany
Edward Wormley Floating Cabinet
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Wormley for Dunbar Four Door Cabinent-Can be used as a Buffet, featuring Brass notch pulls, adjustable shelves and 2 pull-out drawers.
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar "Long John" 72in Hanging Shelf
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Amarillo, TX
Edward Wormley Long John hanging shelf in original condition. Matching "Long John" coffee table available. Dunbar model 5234 USA , 1946 sap-grain walnut 72 w x 13 d x 11.5...
Walnut
Wall Shelf by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A finely crafted, substantial and elegant wall shelf in rich walnut having three laminated continuous loop wood brackets supporting a slatted shelf with a beveled edge.
Walnut
Floating Demilune by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Here we have an all original wall Bracket No. 4905 in Finnish birch burl with a single drawer & gold Dunbar badge within.
Wood
Edward Wormley Floating Wall Shelf
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Wormley for Dunbar Cantilevered Wall Shelf model No. 6346 (Bracket) Features slate top with slight reveal, shallow flush drawer ( 20"wide) with continuous laminated walnut apron.Atta...
Slate
