Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
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
Dunbar Large Walnut Executive Desk with Return
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Solid chrome legs walnut Dunbar desk with return.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
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...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Rosewood Roll top Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Model 452. All Original
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Kansas City, MO
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Model 452 Rosewood Tambour Door Executive Desk in very good completely original condition. Two rolltops, one on each side and three drawers. Large work se...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
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 and Writing Tables
Materials
Plexiglass, Wood
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mid-Century Modern Walnut Writing Desk, Refinished
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern writing desk
By Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture
USA, 1950s
Patchwork bleached walnut top, with solid walnut legs and brass-capped feet....
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar MCM Model 452 Rosewood Tambour Door Executive Desk
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
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 and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Rosewood and Mahogany Receptionist Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, circa 1960
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This spectacular fully restored and sought-after model #452 'Roll Top' desk was designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar and features beautifully grained Rosewood and Ebonized Mahogany, designed and made in the 1960s. Most examples of this design are regular desk height however this example was custom made to be a receptionist desk...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Rosewood
Petite Vanity/Writing Table with Stool Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage mahogany vanity/writing table with corresponding naugahyde stool designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar (ca. 1950s, Indiana, USA).
Angu...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Naugahyde, Laminate, Mahogany
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 and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Edward Wormley Executive Tambour-Door Rosewood Desk for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rosewood executive desk by Edward Wormley c.1950s, USA, for Dunbar. The desk has three shallow drawers that run the length of the desk. The top of the desk features two roll top tamb...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
English Oak and Chrome Desk by Roger Sprunger for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Roger Sprunger
Located in Dorchester, MA
Designed for Dunbar by Roger Sprunger, this modern, clean-lined desk places a top of now rare English oak on two slab supports in chrome. Three shallow drawers each have a well for p...
Category
1970s American Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Roll Top Writing Desk by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A stately and elegant rosewood and mahogany campaign desk having three drawers and two rosewood roll-top compartments flanking a central writing surface with a flip-down back splash,...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
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.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Clean Lined Console Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Atlanta, GA
Clean lined console table, designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, American, circa 1960s. This table is a versatile size and can be used as a console or so...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Walnut
Floating Edward Wormley for Dunbar Executive Extending Desks, 1970s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Antwerp, BE
A rare and sleek Mid-Century Modern executive desks by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture. The desks features stunning solid walnut grain and sleek midcentury design. The desk is fi...
Category
1970s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Nutwood
1950s Demilune Vanity or Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A solid wood double pedestal desk or vanity with demilune curve to accommodate seating and vertically stacked dowel drawer pulls.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Stunning Rare Rosewood and Brass Platform Desk by Roger Sprunger for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Roger Sprunger
Located in Pemberton, NJ
A stunning sleek rosewood desk with three minimal drawers that disappear into the apron. This wonderful desk has the very rare brass pedestal legs. Dunbar metal tag is inside the lef...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Walnut Lectern by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A unique and elegant lectern in walnut with a roll top cover and a single drawer.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Mahogany Writing Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An octagonal mahogany writing desk designed by Edward Wormley with a single drawer. Made by Dunbar in the USA, circa 1957.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Walnut
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The desk featured in the 1960s in the New York Times and The Sunday Times. It became even more famous when it was in some of the first James Bond films: ‘From Russia with love’ & ‘You only live twice’. The desk also appeared prominently in BBC election broadcasts.
Literature: Mobilia, June 1961.
Young executives that Bodil Kjær encountered in her work in architecture and design in the late 1950es were open, creative and flexible in their way of working. So, she reasoned that it would be counter-productive for them to be offered traditional office furniture, and set out to design a system of office units...
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Previously Available Items
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Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Mid Century desk
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Dunbar Desk in Brazilian Rosewood & English Oak, See Photos, Stunning, Signed
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Rosewood Floating Executive Desk by Roger Sprunger for Dunbar, c 1970, Signed
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The Rosewood top and drawers were refinished in a French Polish, the most expensive and laborious finish available due to the numerous hand applied coats of lacquer but provides the most protective surface to protect against regular daily use and increases the depth and vividness of the exotic Rosewood grain. Such incredible use of luxury materials and quality craftsmanship as you would expect from Dunbar and exemplifies the saying 'they don't make them like they used to'.
This large sized desk for executives features six drawers, three integrated into the floating top with pen and pencil storage and three in the lower flanking drawers which include a larger drawer for files. No key for the locks are present but can be rekeyed if desired.
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Approximate Measurements in Inches
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Dunbar desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Dunbar desks and writing tables 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 and writing tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original desks and writing tables by Dunbar were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks and writing tables by Edward Wormley, Knoll, and George Nelson. Prices for Dunbar desks and writing tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,800 and can go as high as $21,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $8,500.
Creators Similar to Dunbar
Questions About Dunbar Desks and Writing Tables
- Where is Dunbar Furniture made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Dunbar 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.