Mid-Century American Collection
Mid-Century Modern Furniture Collection (UNITED STATES, ca. 1933–65)
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe mid-century modern American furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
Postwar American architects and designers were animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist “International Style” architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the ’30s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale, in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for, respectively, pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair. George Nelson and his design team created Bubble lamp shades using a new translucent polymer skin. Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were re-purposed: the Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs that used surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century designers caught the spirit.
Classically-oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb — who designed holistic groups of sleek, blonde-wood furniture — and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
As the pieces on 1stDibs demonstrate, the mid-century modern American period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
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Creator: Edward Wormley
Floral Print Sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A sofa of English inspiration, retaining the original dark olive, coral, brown and beige mock-Asian floral print linen upholstery, on straight dark walnut legs.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Low Lounge Chair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A low slipper chair with the original faux alligator texture yellow upholstery.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Upholstery
Drop Tambour Front Cabinet by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An innovative and uncommon drop tambour front cabinet of bleached walnut having recessed finger pulls, the cabinet with drawers, shelves and vert...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Walnut
Square Raffia Mirror by Edward Womley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A square mahogany wall mirror with a woven raffia boarder.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Mahogany, Glass, Raffia
A Walnut Sideboard by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A walnut server with central compartment having a removable glass-bottom serving tray & one adjustable shelf, flanked by two banks of four drawers over one long drawer all with brass...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Brass
Drop-Leaf Table by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A mahogany drop-leaf table with ebonized gate-leg base. Measures: Console table depth of 16.5" deep when closed.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Mahogany
Dining Set for Six by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A drop-leaf console table opens to seat, six (6) for dining. Set complete with two banquette chairs and four side chairs.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Walnut, Upholstery
Tambour Door Console by Edward Wormley
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.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Mahogany
A-Frame Armchair by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A horseshoe back armchair with white leather upholstery and ebonized mahogany frame.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Headboard by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An innovative and elegant king size headboard in darkened mahogany having channeled upholstery, adjustable back rests and two pairs of drop-down arms.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Mahogany, Upholstery
Rare Woven Front Credenza by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rare woven front credenza with walnut strips interlacing unique rectangular rods. Four (4) drawers with brass pulls over four sliding doors with interior drawers and shelves.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Brass
World Globe by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
The ultimate world globe designed by Edward Wormley for Rand McNally, USA, circa 1950. Features a rotating globe mounted on a walnut base with brass capped legs. Marked "Rand McNally...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Parsons End Table by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rare low Dunbar "Parson's" end table with the original yellow-orange lacquered frame and a black epoxy top with a constellation of random walnut doy inlays.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Walnut
Low Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An ebonized mahogany low table with a lower shelf and singe drawer on cylindrical dowel legs.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Drexel Drop-Leaf Precedent Dining Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in Pasadena, TX
A Mid-Century Modern dining table designed by Edward Wormley for Drexel's Precedent collection. The drop leaf table measures 50" x 28" when folded and 70" x 50" when fully extended.
Category
1950s Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Ash
Coffee Table with Faceted Olive Burl Pedestal Base by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Coffee table No. 6302G with faceted olive burl pedestal base and thick glass top by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, American, 1963 (Dunbar metal tag on base).
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Glass, Burl
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.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Walnut
Table and Stool by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An ebonized and polished dark mahogany telephone cabinet or vanity table having a storage drawer and an innovative fold-out bench.
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Mahogany
Walnut Low Table by Edward Wormley
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rectangular dark walnut low table having a black laminate top and distinctive triangular legs.
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Walnut
Chest of Drawers by Edward Wormley
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant and well proportioned eight (8) drawer cabinet in ebonized mahogany, having distinctive laminated end pulls, on tapered dowel legs.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Mahogany
Highback Lounge Chair by Edward Wormley
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A high backed, button-tufted lounge chair in the original black leather upholstery with mahogany legs and side stretchers.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Lounge Chair by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An architectural and substantial armchair having an exposed walnut "A"-shaped frame supporting an upholstered seat and generous floating and curving back.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Related Items
Pair Edward Wormley for Dunbar Lounge Chairs
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Fraser, MI
Please feel free to reach out for accurate shipping to your location.
Pair Edward Wormley for Dunbar Lounge Chairs. Wedge side profile. Slight Pie shape top profile with generous cu...
Category
1950s Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
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Danish Teak Vintage Drop Leaf Dining Table by Borge Mogensen
By Børge Mogensen
Located in London, GB
A stunning and rare vintage Danish drop leaf dining table in teak. This was designed by Borge Mogensen for Soborg Mobelfabrik, it...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Teak
Danish Teak Vintage Drop Leaf Dining Table by Bernhard Pedersen
By Bernhard Pedersen & Son
Located in London, GB
A fantastic and very rare vintage Danish drop leaf dining table in Teak. This was made in Denmark by the high end manufacturer Be...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
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Set of Matching Mirrors by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1950s
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Westport, CT
Rare set of matching mirrors designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, circa 1950s. Mahogany framing and caning fully restored. Original mirrors i...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Cane, Mahogany
Unique Antique 4 Drawers Drop Leaf Table, Circa 1920s
Located in Germantown, MD
Very unique Antique 4 drawers drop leaf table, lot of storage space with 4 deep drawers on two sides of table.
May be use in any room in your home. Many even use it as kitchen isla...
Category
Early 20th Century American American Colonial Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Wood
Antique Fruitwood Drop Leaf Dining Table
Located in Port Chester, NY
A beautiful warm fruitwood with lovely grain and patina. This oval country farm table has classic tapered legs for a simple and elegant look, and the top has good color. Some early d...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Fruitwood
Mid-Century Heritage-Henredon Walnut Drop Leaf Dining Table
By Heritage-Henredon
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful walnut gateleg dining table by Heritage-Henredon, circa 1960s. Featuring tapered legs and two folding leaves which expand the tab...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Sofa
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Sofa, early design with great scale, spring seating system, reupholstered and rebuilt reupholstered with wool ...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Upholstery
Square ceramic mirror Mithé Espelt
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, Ile-de-France
Square ceramic mirror by Mithé Espelt
The broad glazed ceramic frame is decorated with white and yellow daisies and foliage on a light brow background.
This type of design is rare...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Ceramic
Swedish Drop Leaf Gate Leg Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic Swedish style gate leg table with one drop leaf. The top can be separated from the base by pulling out a peg on each end. Table is 28.5" tall, 40" long and 36" wide when open...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Pine
Edward Wormley for Drexel Drop-Leaf Precedent Dining Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in Pasadena, TX
A Mid-Century Modern dining table designed by Edward Wormley for Drexel's Precedent collection. The drop leaf table measures 50" x 28" when folded and 70" x 50" when fully extended.
Category
1950s Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Ash
Sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dorchester, MA
This elegant sofa is a classic 1950s design by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. It features a tufted back and a long bench seat resting on tapered walnut fee...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Mid-Century American Collection
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
