Skip to main content

Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

American

Few 20th-century designers had influential furniture that regularly flew at 30,000 feet, but Warren McArthur did. His work — and the work of his company, the Warren McArthur Corporation — on seating for military aircraft came near the end of his career, following decades of Machine Age furniture shaped from tubular forms and made of steel, chrome and aluminum.

Warren McArthur Jr. graduated with an engineering degree from Cornell University in 1908. After moving to Los Angeles in 1929, he founded the Warren McArthur Corporation a year later. His initial output of sleek, metal designs were popular in offices and hotels. 

At the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, Americans witnessed a new “Streamlined America” campaign, which included everyday furniture made from metal, opening the door for McArthur and other Machine Age designers to a residential audience. With this increase in demand for metal furniture, the Warren McArthur Corporation relocated to Rome, New York, and sold their aluminum furnishings out of a showroom on Park Avenue in New York City. 

Actors Marlene Dietrich, Fredric March and Clark Gable were among his A-list clientele. McArthur also produced furniture for the dining cars on the Union Pacific Railroad and the Chrysler Headquarters. His designs were featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 1934 exhibition “Contemporary American Industrial Art.”

During World War II, McArthur pivoted production after a ban on the private use of aluminum. McArthur made an estimated three-quarters of all American military aircraft seating, including adjustable seats for the Beechcraft C-45 and revolving seats for navigators aboard the Grumman HU-16 Albatross. 

Warren McArthur closed his business in 1948. He died in 1961.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Warren McArthur armchairs, tables and other seating.

2
to
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
2
2
1
1
1
12
26
26
22
22
Creator: Warren McArthur Corporation
Warren McArthur for Warren McArthur Corporation Table or Desk
By Warren McArthur Corporation, Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McArthur for Warren McArthur Corporation Table or Desk from the Virginia State Library, Richmond V.A. Aluminum base, wood top with laminate surface Dimensions: 30¼"high 50½" w...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Aluminum

Warren McArthur for Warren McArthur Corporation Table or Desk

Warren McArthur for Warren McArthur Corporation Table or Desk

Rare Warren McArthur Two-Tier Desk with Drawers, Reversible, Machine Age 1930s
By Warren McArthur Corporation, Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McArthur two-tier desk with drawers Aluminum and black lacquered wood Warren McArthur Corporation, 1930s Measures: 48" x 24" x 30" desk height Desk is reversible, and ca...
Category

1930s Machine Age Vintage Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Aluminum

Rare Warren McArthur Two-Tier Desk with Drawers, Reversible, Machine Age 1930s

Rare Warren McArthur Two-Tier Desk with Drawers, Reversible, Machine Age 1930s

Related Items
Rustic Country Pine Farmhouse Desk or Writing Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Country style farmhouse desk or writing table made of pine featuring a natural rustic patina on the finish. The table has a plank top with dark pine kno...
Category

20th Century American Country Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Pine

Rustic Country Pine Farmhouse Desk or Writing Table
Rustic Country Pine Farmhouse Desk or Writing Table

Rustic Country Pine Farmhouse Desk or Writing Table

H 30 in W 48 in D 25.5 in
1980s Space Age Desk
Located in Brecht, BE
A unique piece made in Belgium during the 1980s, this funky space age desk, never reproduced because to expensive.
Category

Late 20th Century Belgian Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Polyester

1980s Space Age Desk
1980s Space Age Desk

1980s Space Age Desk

H 32.68 in W 84.65 in D 42.52 in
Desk or Conference Table by Lehigh Leopold
By Lehigh Leopold
Located in South Charleston, WV
71 5/8 x 35 5/8 x 28.75". Lehigh Leopold circa 1970. May be used as a conference table or executive desk. An exceptional piece of furniture, over engineered and industrial strengt...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Desk or Conference Table by Lehigh Leopold
Desk or Conference Table by Lehigh Leopold

Desk or Conference Table by Lehigh Leopold

H 28.75 in W 71.63 in D 35.63 in
Italian 1980s Mid Century Style Black Lacquer and Brass Desk with Two Drawers
Located in London, GB
An Italian 1980s mid century style black lacquer and brass desk with two drawers with brass handles.
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Brass

Italian 1980s Mid Century Style Black Lacquer and Brass Desk with Two Drawers
Italian 1980s Mid Century Style Black Lacquer and Brass Desk with Two Drawers

Italian 1980s Mid Century Style Black Lacquer and Brass Desk with Two Drawers

H 31.89 in W 55.12 in D 27.56 in
Antique Art Nouveau Vanity or Desk
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Antique Art Nouveau Vanity (Desk) 43" wide, 16" deep and 30" tall. The desk is very light and is placed on coasters. It has 4 drawers that open and close freely.
Category

Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Wood

Antique Art Nouveau Vanity or Desk
Antique Art Nouveau Vanity or Desk

Antique Art Nouveau Vanity or Desk

H 30 in W 43 in D 16 in
Rare 1980s Mid Century Art Deco Executive Table Desk by Pierre Paulin for Baker
By Pierre Paulin, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Lafayette, IN
Rare Art Deco executive desk designed in 1984 by Pierre Paulin for Baker Furniture. Desk features bird's-eye maple with walnut inlays, chocolate-brown, leather-top writing surface an...
Category

1980s American Art Deco Vintage Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Leather, Maple, Walnut

Rare 1980s Mid Century Art Deco Executive Table Desk by Pierre Paulin for Baker
Rare 1980s Mid Century Art Deco Executive Table Desk by Pierre Paulin for Baker

Rare 1980s Mid Century Art Deco Executive Table Desk by Pierre Paulin for Baker

H 29 in W 72 in D 36 in
Oryx Desk Table by Parigi and Prina for Molteni
By Vittorio Parigi
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian Plastic and Steel Orix Desk by V. Parigi & N. Prina for Molteni, 1970s Moulded ABS plastic with chrome base, and hinged glass writing surface. In impeccable original conditi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Chrome

Oryx Desk Table by Parigi and Prina for Molteni
Oryx Desk Table by Parigi and Prina for Molteni

Oryx Desk Table by Parigi and Prina for Molteni

H 32.29 in W 39.38 in D 25.6 in
Warren McArthur Desk
By Warren McArthur
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Black lacquered top and drawers in aluminium tube base, with aluminum handles. Original lacquer finish.
Category

1930s American Machine Age Vintage Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Aluminum

Warren McArthur Desk
Warren McArthur Desk

Warren McArthur Desk

H 29 in W 48 in D 24 in
Hollywood Regency Maison Jansen Desk, Ebony, Bronze, Leather, France, 1930s
By Maison Jansen
Located in Stamford, CT
A Hollywood Regency ebony and bronze mounted desk, writing table or vanity A stunning example of this highly sought after designers work. Bronze sabots and capitals shine on the sleek tapering legs with flame bronze mounts on the reeded centers leading to a knee hole, 18.5 by 24 inch wide, center having finished sides. The three over two drawers all having bronze framing and keyholes, the center lock missing. Each side with bronze framing and the reversed fully finished so this finely constructed desk can sit center stage in any setting. The writing or computer table...
Category

1930s French Hollywood Regency Vintage Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Bronze

Hollywood Regency Maison Jansen Desk, Ebony, Bronze, Leather, France, 1930s
Hollywood Regency Maison Jansen Desk, Ebony, Bronze, Leather, France, 1930s

Hollywood Regency Maison Jansen Desk, Ebony, Bronze, Leather, France, 1930s

H 30 in W 48 in D 25.5 in
Art Deco Machine Age International Style Chrome & Black Desk Attr Gilbert Rohde
By Gilbert Rohde, Troy Sunshade Company
Located in Topeka, KS
Fabulous Art Deco, Machine Age, Streamline Modern, Art Moderne, International style, Bauhaus desk or vanity in chrome, black painted wood with red faux leather insert possibly Fabrik...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Aluminum, Steel, Chrome

Art Deco Machine Age International Style Chrome & Black Desk Attr Gilbert Rohde
Art Deco Machine Age International Style Chrome & Black Desk Attr Gilbert Rohde

Art Deco Machine Age International Style Chrome & Black Desk Attr Gilbert Rohde

H 30 in W 42 in D 16 in
Very Fine Edwardian Satinwood Writing Desk or Dressing Table
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine Edwardian satinwood writing desk or dressing table, the moulded cross banded top raised over shaped frieze with reeded ebonised deta...
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Brass

Very Fine Edwardian Satinwood Writing Desk or Dressing Table
Very Fine Edwardian Satinwood Writing Desk or Dressing Table

Very Fine Edwardian Satinwood Writing Desk or Dressing Table

H 30 in W 48 in D 22.75 in
Campaign Style Desk or Credenza
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout vintage desk or credenza crafted in mahogany and satinwood with multiple components having a wide profile with four drawers on one side and a cabinet with two shelves on the...
Category

20th Century American Campaign Warren McArthur Corporation Desks

Materials

Satinwood

Campaign Style Desk or Credenza
Campaign Style Desk or Credenza

Campaign Style Desk or Credenza

H 30.5 in W 90 in D 19 in

Warren Mcarthur Corporation desks for sale on 1stDibs.

Warren McArthur Corporation desks are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Warren McArthur Corporation desks, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Prices for Warren McArthur Corporation desks can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $6,400 and can go as high as $6,400, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $6,400.

Recently Viewed

View All