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.
Danish Executive Desk in Rio Rosewood, Mid-Century Modern, c1950s
Located in San Francisco, CA
Danish executive desk in richly grained Rio rosewood, made in the 1950s or 1960s. The front includes a central drawer and two cupboards with interior pull-out trays, all key-operated...
Rosewood
Mahogany Desk by T H Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in San Francisco, CA
A mahogany desk with seven drawers, original brass ring pulls, hidden casters. Finished on all sides. Widdicomb manufacturer's tag present.
Brass
Milo Baughman Rosewood & Chrome Writing Desk, USA, c.1969
By Milo Baughman
Located in San Francisco, CA
A small writing desk by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin. Rosewood top with three storage drawers sit atop contemporary bases of chromed steel. Overall in very good condition. The ro...
Chrome
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Walnut & Brass Dining Table, Mid-Century Modern
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in San Francisco, CA
A dining table in Italian walnut with two end-mounting leaves sitting atop four slightly sabred legs in spun brass. Widdicomb decal label and stenciled numbers. Two leaves each 16"....
Brass
Mahogany End Tables by John Keal for Brown Saltman
By John Keal, Brown Saltman
Located in San Francisco, CA
A beautifully restored pair of mahogany end tables by John Keal for Brown Saltman. Each features a single drawer and four tapered legs with round resin feet on patinated brass posts....
Brass
Large Elm Wood Desk by Bernt Petersen for Worts Mobler, 1960s
By Worts Mobler, Bernt Petersen
Located in San Francisco, CA
A substantial elm wood desk by Bernt Petersen for Henrik Worts featuring 2 locking drawers.
Elm
1950s Walnut and cane executive desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Cedar Falls, IA
Walnut, cane, brass, and rosewood executive desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture, circa 1950s. Massive desk with executive proportions. Large 72"x38" desktop surface with imp...
Brass
Mid-Century Walnut Desk by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Circa 1960s
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Queens, NY
American mid-century walnut desk with a top squared on the left over a set of four drawers in graduated heights with wooden bar drawer pulls, and rounded on the right, supported by a...
Walnut
Mid-Century Executive Walnut Desk by Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Wonderful mid-century executive walnut desk designed by Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar in the United States, circa 1950s. This desk is made with a timeless design that has been profess...
Brass
American Walnut Ed Wormley for Dunbar Double Pedestal Desk w/ Folding Return
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Rockaway, NJ
American walnut Ed Wormley for Dunbar double pedestal desk w/ folding return. Uniquer folding return desk feature, nice architectural design back, beautiful amber honey tone finish.
Walnut
Mid-Century Walnut and Rosewood Executive Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Edward J. Wormely for Dunbar executive desk in walnut with deeply sculpted inset rosewood drawer pulls, brass shoes, and removable woven cane privacy screen (ca. 1950s, Indiana, USA)...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Executive Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1950s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and ultra rare Mid-Century Modern executive desk. Design by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture United States. Striking American design from the 1950s. Solid walnut base ...
Walnut
