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Dunbar Desks

American

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.

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Creator: Dunbar
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mid Century Walnut and Rosewood Executive Desk
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Countryside, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mid Century Walnut and Rosewood Executive Desk This desk measures: 84 wide x 40 deep x 29 high, with a chair clearance of 25 inches All pieces of furnitur...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks

Materials

Rosewood, Walnut

Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Mid Century Executive Oak Desk
By Dunbar Furniture, Roger Sprunger
Located in Countryside, IL
Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Mid Century Executive Oak Desk This desk measures: 84.25 wide x 33 deep x 29.25 inches high, with a ch...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks

Materials

Oak

Vintage 7ft 1970s Mid-Century Modern Rosewood & Oak Executive Desk by Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture
Located in Lafayette, IN
This beautifully-made executive desk features a design reminiscent of Roger Sprunger and the unparalleled build-quality for which Dunbar is renowned. The clean, Minimalist lines are...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks

Materials

Oak, Rosewood

Dunbar Contract Division Mid Century Executive Desk
By Dunbar Furniture
Located in Countryside, IL
Dunbar contract division Mid Century executive desk Desk measures: 72 wide x 36 deep x 28.5 inches high All pieces of furniture ca...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks

Materials

Plexiglass, Wood

Edward Wormley for Dunbar MCM Model 452 Rosewood Tambour Door Executive Desk
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Countryside, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar mid century Model 452 Rosewood Tambour door executive desk This desk measures: 74.5 wide x 28 deep x 35 high, with a chair clearance of 24 inches All ...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks

Materials

Brass

Rosewood and Polished Aluminum Desk by Roger Sprunger for Dunbar. Restored.
By Roger Sprunger, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Kansas City, MO
Brazilian rosewood and aluminum floating top desk by Roger Sprunger for Dunbar. Three shallow drawers are carved out of the desk top: two side drawers and one wide center drawer. I...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks

Materials

Aluminum

Partners Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A mahogany partners desk with original leather top and base and brass hardware. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category

1950s Vintage Dunbar Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Desk with Drop Leaves and File Cabinet in Dark Finish
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in St. Louis, MO
Uncommon Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley model no.301-A designed compact desk for Dunbar, with two drop leaf extensions and model no.302-A pedestal file cabinet on wheels. Desk has...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks

Materials

Brass

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Desk and Return
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in St. Louis, MO
1960s Edward Wormley desk and ensuite return, label, currently being refinished, desk. Measures: 72 W x 36.5 D x 29 H. Return 60 W x 30.5 D x 29 H.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks

Materials

Wood

Dunbar Exceptional Mahogany Desk with Inset Leather Top 1960s 'Signed'
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully crafted desk in dark mahogany with inset leather top and sculpted oval chrome and brass pulls as well as brass feet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, American 1960's (signed ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks

Materials

Brass, Chrome

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Previously Available Items
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Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Mid Century Desk
By Roger Sprunger, Dunbar Furniture
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Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Mid Century desk This desk measures: 84.25 wide x 36.25 deep x 30 high, with a chair clearance of 24.25 inches All p...
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Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Mid Century Desk
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Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mid Century Executive Desk
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Dunbar desks for sale on 1stDibs.

Dunbar desks are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Dunbar desks, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original desks by Dunbar were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks by Florence Knoll, Knoll, and Harvey Probber. Prices for Dunbar desks can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,499 and can go as high as $12,995, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $6,148.
Questions About Dunbar Desks
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Dunbar furniture is made in High Point, North Carolina. The original location of the company was Berne, Indiana. Its relocation occurred after Currey & Co. bought Dunbar from founder James Wormley in 1970. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Dunbar furniture.

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