Dunbar Furniture
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
Dealer: CONVERSO
Bert England for Dunbar Executive Office Chairs – 1980s, Set of Eight
By Bert England, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Bert England for Dunbar Executive Office Chairs – 1980s, Set of Eight or Sold Individually
Elegant and exceptionally comfortable, these executive swivel chairs were designed by Bert ...
Category
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Leather
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Executive Chair 1965
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Executive Chair 1965
This stunning executive chair designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar features a solid oiled walnut...
Category
1960s American Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Edward Wormley Dunbar Tuxedo Sofa in Great Plains Wool Velvet
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley Dunbar Tuxedo Sofa in Great Plains, Wool Velvet "Dreamer Marigold" Sofa was stripped down to frame with new foam and reupholstered.
Dimensions:
94" length
34" deep
29"...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Mohair
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Desk Chair (1960's)
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Desk Chair (1960's)
Base: Solid walnut with Shepard double-wheel casters
Features: Tilt, swivel, and lock mechanism
Design Details: Button-tufted leather...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Swivel Lounge Chair 1965
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Swivel Lounge Chair (1965)
Reupholstered in Pierre Frey "Bridget," a high-performance linen, wool, viscose, and polyamide blend.
Solid lacquered mahogany ba...
Category
1960s American Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Bouclé, Mahogany
Roger Lee Sprunger for Dunbar – Double Pedestal Dining or Conference Table
By Roger Sprunger, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Roger Lee Sprunger for Dunbar – Double Pedestal Dining or Conference Table
A striking 120" long table designed by Roger Lee Sprunger for Dunbar, ideal for dining or executive setting...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Extension Dining Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Extension Dining Table. One-inch thick top with edge banding and a slight upward reveal or lip design detail shown in pictures. The table is 48" round in di...
Category
1950s American Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Brass
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 Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Cain Front Mahogany Sideboard on a Plinth Base
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Cain front mahogany sideboard on a Plinth Base, Features: Two drawers and one double drawer with removable dividers, Four sliding doors with 3 storage compa...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Occasional Table with Murano Mosaic Tiles
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Occasional Table with Murano Mosaic Tiles, model 5425, Mahogany wood base, glass tiles with brass edge.
Label on underside [Du...
Category
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Pair of Slipper Chairs 1950's
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Slipper Chairs (Pair), Model 5000A, 1950s
Details: Solid mahogany bases, tapered backs, button-tufted, reupholstered in Great Plains boucle. Includes knife-...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Bouclé, Mahogany
Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Pair of Lounge Chairs 1965c.
By Dunbar Furniture, Roger Sprunger
Located in Chicago, IL
Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Pair of Lounge Chairs, c. 1965
Solid mahogany vertical wood slats with sloped arms and curved back.
Upholstery: Newly reupholstered cushions with down-fille...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Bouclé, Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Extension Dining Table Seats 6 To12
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar extension dining table seats 6 to12, This special piece custom for the Los Angeles Showroom (tag underside).
Etimoe African Rosewood top with cross grain e...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Rosewood
Set of Six Edward Wormley for Dunbar Curved-Back Dining Chairs
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Set of Six Edward Wormley for Dunbar Curved-Back Dining Chairs, Model 4580 without arms and Model 4581 arm chairs, Features solid mahogany frames with cane backs and original leather...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Leather, Cane, Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Dining Chairs , 1965 Model 935 "Horseshoe Chairs"
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Dining Chairs, 1965 Model 935 "Horseshoe Chairs"
Material: Lacquered mahogany, rosewood spine, new upholstery.
Manufacturer: Dunbar, Berne, Indiana (signed ...
Category
1960s American Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany, Rosewood
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Extension Coffee Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar, custom cocktail table, 3 positions with polished stone inside brass framed extension leaves. Solid crisscross oiled walnut frame and top.
Width without ex...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Stone, Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Triple Dresser in Mahogany Wood
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar triple dresser in mahogany wood,1952 Model 5272 features 12-drawer storage with solid turned tapered legs and curved pulls.
Labe...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Edward Wormley Primavera Mahogany Commode
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar 5-drawer cabinet, mahogany wood with tapered brass legs.
[metal tag Dunbar].
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Brass
Edward Wormley Tawi Extension Dining table for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley Tawi Dining table for Dunbar, model 5461 Tapered Mahogany legs with solid brass shoes. Features three cross-grain 12-inch leaves; table mea...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Janus Group, Pair of End Tables on Casters 1958
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar - Janus Group Pair of End Tables on Casters, 1950s
Model: 5811
Materials: Solid walnut with offset box joints, oil-finished exterior, brass key, and Dunbar ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Parson End Tables by Edward Wormley for Dunbar with hand painted tiles
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Parson End Tables by Edward Wormley for Dunbar with hand-painted tiles by Artist Maire Linna Wood frame with six hand-painted inset tiles depicting gnarled trees.
This is the...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar "A" Frame Arm Chair
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar "A" Frame Arm Chair, Horseshoe curved back with original leather-covered armrests, solid mahogany frame, brass exposed screws...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Edward Wormley Executive Office Chair
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley Executive Office Chair for Dunbar “In Clover” 932 Executive chair button tufted leather, solid walnut base, brass casters, tilts and sw...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Slipper Chairs
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Early Edward Wormley for Dunbar slipper chairs. Lacquered mahogany legs with newly reupholstered button tufted seat and back. ...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar Pull-Up Lounge Chairs
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar pull-up lounge chairs. Model 971 Jansus line collection.
Wormley's Boutique line. Original chocolate brown leather with...
Category
1950s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Leather
Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Desk Chair
By Dunbar Furniture, Roger Sprunger
Located in Chicago, IL
Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Desk Chair, reupholstered with Spinneybeck Leather.
High quality structure and mechanisms, tilt swivels and is adjustable, Label on underside Metal "D" Dunb...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Edward Wormley Mr. and Mrs. Tambour Chests
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley Mr. and Mrs. Tambour Chests, models 4723 and 4724, bleached mahogany cases on leather wrapped plinth bases.
One case features 16 drawers ...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Tufted Cantilevered Desk Chair in Spinneybeck Saddle L
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar tufted cantilevered desk chair in spinneybeck saddle leather, reupholstered.
Also features solid walnut wood base and ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Credenza
By Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Roger Sprunger for Dunbar credenza, bronze sides with two file drawers and 3 pencil drawers.
(Dunbar label inside drawer).
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Edward Wormley Swivel Chair
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley Swivel Chair, laminated flat spindles, seat and crest rail with, X base with solid mahogany tapered legs.
Newly upholstered button tufted seat with Spinneybeck leather...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar Matching Dresser Set in Mahogany Wood
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar matching dresser set in mahogany wood, model 5272 triple dresser 12-drawer storage with matching smaller companion four dr...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Roger Lee Sprunger for Dunbar Pair of Cantilever Lounge Chairs
By Dunbar Furniture, Roger Sprunger
Located in Chicago, IL
Roger Lee Sprunger for Dunbar pair of cantilever lounge chairs, model 480, oakwood and Mahogany two-toned base structures, oil finish, reupholstered with spi...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Leather, Oak
Roger Lee Sprunger for Dunbar Rosewood Bench 1965
By Roger Sprunger, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Roger Lee Sprunger for Dunbar Rosewood Bench 1965
This elegant plank bench designed by Roger Sprunger for Dunbar features extended vertical sides that allow for cushion placement, ad...
Category
1960s Minimalist Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Bouclé, Rosewood
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Lounge Chair and Ottoman on Casters 1965
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Lounge Chair and Ottoman on Casters 1965 Reupholstered
Classic lounge chair and ottoman designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, featuring original brass Shep...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Furniture
Materials
Brass
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.
Creators Similar to Dunbar
Questions About Dunbar Furniture
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024To 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.
- 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.