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Dunbar

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.

Average Sold Price
$5,175
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Edward Wormley for Dunbar - Mid Century Angled Sofa - Model 5305
Edward Wormley for Dunbar - Mid Century Angled Sofa - Model 5305

Edward Wormley for Dunbar - Mid Century Angled Sofa - Model 5305

By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture

Located in Decatur, GA

Large angled sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, circa 1950s. Model 5305. White oak legs with brass sabots. New foam and taupe linen blend upholstery. Excellent condition.

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Linen, Oak

Edward Wormley for Dunbar “Tête-à-Tête” Sofa, Model 5009, circa 1955 Mid Century
Edward Wormley for Dunbar “Tête-à-Tête” Sofa, Model 5009, circa 1955 Mid Century

Edward Wormley for Dunbar “Tête-à-Tête” Sofa, Model 5009, circa 1955 Mid Century

By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture

Located in Philadelphia, PA

An elegant and sculptural Tête-à-Tête sofa designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, circa 1955. This iconic mid-century design exemplifies Wormley’s mastery of proportion and his abili...

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dunbar

Materials

Brass

Pair Restored Edward Wormley for Dunbar Walnut & Leather 8-Drawer Cabinets
Pair Restored Edward Wormley for Dunbar Walnut & Leather 8-Drawer Cabinets

Pair Restored Edward Wormley for Dunbar Walnut & Leather 8-Drawer Cabinets

By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture

Located in Philadelphia, PA

This pair of dressers was designed by decorated design icon Edward Wormly for equally revered manufacturer Dunbar Furniture. Known for hundreds of successful designs and exceptional ...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Oak and Cane Back Dining Chairs, Set of Four
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Oak and Cane Back Dining Chairs, Set of Four

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Oak and Cane Back Dining Chairs, Set of Four

By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture

Located in New Windsor, NY

A set of four distinct oak and cane back dining chairs designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Berne, Indiana. Each chair still retains the gold metal tag on the underside of each sea...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Upholstery, Oak, Cane

Expertly Restored - Edward J. Wormley Night Stands with Bookshelves for Dunbar
Expertly Restored - Edward J. Wormley Night Stands with Bookshelves for Dunbar

Expertly Restored - Edward J. Wormley Night Stands with Bookshelves for Dunbar

By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, and we take this journey with passion and precision. With over 17 years of artisanal exper...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Walnut

Midcentury "Quinn" Chair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Model 1170, Walnut + Wool
Midcentury "Quinn" Chair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Model 1170, Walnut + Wool

Midcentury "Quinn" Chair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Model 1170, Walnut + Wool

By Edward Wormley, Gunlocke, Jens Risom, Dunbar Furniture

Located in Decatur, GA

"Quinn" chair, Model no. 1170 by Edward Wormley for Dunbar circa 1965. Sculpted walnut arms transition seamlessly to the upholstered back creating a wonderful silhouette. Frame is so...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Wool, Upholstery, Walnut

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Stained Mahogany Cube Three Tiered Side / End Table
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Stained Mahogany Cube Three Tiered Side / End Table

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Stained Mahogany Cube Three Tiered Side / End Table

By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Side/end/occasional table in mahogany with caramel finish (model #4776) designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar (ca. 1950, Indiana, USA). Practical, stylish design composed of a cube-f...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Mahogany

Gorgeous Set of 10 Vintage Klismos Cane Dining Chairs by Wormley for Dunbar
Gorgeous Set of 10 Vintage Klismos Cane Dining Chairs by Wormley for Dunbar

Gorgeous Set of 10 Vintage Klismos Cane Dining Chairs by Wormley for Dunbar

By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture

Located in Atlanta, GA

The rarest of the rare, an exceptional, meticulously restored set of ten (10) cane back Klismos dining chairs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture, circa 1948. The set consists of ...

Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Cane, Walnut

Browse all Furniture from Dunbar
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Dunbar Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMaterialCreation Year
2026$5,250Dining Room TablesChrome, Oak1970s
2026$3,505Coffee and Cocktail Tables, TablesWoodUnknown
2026$1,950CabinetsChrome, Oak, Walnut1962
2026$2,800Coffee and Cocktail TablesBrass, Walnut, Granite1970s
2026$3,780Coffee and Cocktail Tables, BenchesWalnut1950
2026$7,500Coffee and Cocktail TablesBrass, Glass, Rosewood1950's
2026$7,100Side Tables, End TablesRosewoodcirca 1970s
2026$5,000CredenzasBrass, Mahogany, Walnut, Burlcirca 1960's
2026$4,950BenchesBouclé, Rosewood1965
2026$2,850Console TablesWood, Walnut1950s
2026$2,070Benches, StoolsWood1949
2026$3,195StoolsBrass, Cane, Mahogany1950s
2025$3,750Conference Tables, Dining Room TablesStainless Steel, Walnut1960s
2025$2,560GlobesBrass, Glass, Mahogany, Papercirca 1958
2025$7,920Credenzas, CabinetsBrass, Walnut20th Century
2025$3,700End Tables, Side TablesBurl1960s
2025$2,300StoolsFaux Leather, Fruitwood1910
2025$6,300Coffee and Cocktail TablesMarble, Mahogany1940
2025$7,250Commodes and Chests of DrawersBrass, RosewoodUnknown
2025$1,620Side TablesAsh, Walnut2003
$5,175
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$225-$66,150
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Creators Similar to Dunbar

Dunbar furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Dunbar furniture 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 furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture 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 furniture by Edward Wormley, Paul McCobb, and Milo Baughman. Prices for Dunbar furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $225 and can go as high as $119,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,998.
Questions About Dunbar
  • 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024
    To identify Dunbar furniture, search your piece for maker's markings. Some pieces feature a D-shaped metal tag, while others bear a metal plaque with the brand name etched on its surface, with or without the company's location: Berne, Indiana. Dunbar also branded its name onto the wood frames of certain furnishings. Upholstered pieces will most likely have the brand name on a label sewn onto a cushion. If you have difficulty locating a maker's mark, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer will assist you. Shop a variety of Dunbar furniture on 1stDibs.