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.
Dunbar Snack Table Floor Lamp, Model 4856, Designed by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Hanover, MA
Rare Dunbar floor lamp/snack table combo, Model 4856, designed by Edward Wormley circa 1948. Original Dunbar tag on underside. Slender tapered walnut leg and lamp stem. Round top, 25...
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Floor Lamp
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Floor lamp designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Features a "snack" table base consisting of brass legs, walnut stem, carpathian elm burl wood table top trimmed in walnut. Light com...
Brass
Ettore Sottsass Callimaco Floor Lamp for Artemide
By Artemide, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Glendale, CA
Ettore Sottsass 'Callimaco' floor lamp for Artemide. Originally created in 1982, Ettore Sottsass’ “horn” of light creates the remarkable illusion of an oversized musical instrument...
Aluminum
Early Edward Wormley for Dunbar Step End Table
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three-tiered step up side table designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, circa 1950. This table is in wonderful condition and can be used as an end ...
Walnut
Mid-Century Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture Occasional Table
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Forney, TX
A beautiful mid-century custom ordered occasional table, model 426A, designed by Edward Wormley (American, 1907-1995) for Dunbar Furniture; Berne, Indiana. The two-tier Modernist...
Brass
4947 Golightly Table designed by Edward Wormley for DUNBAR
By Edward Wormley
Located in High Point, NC
A table gathers light, defines intimate space, creates a moment of pause. The Model 4947 Golightly Table by Edward Wormley understands this fundamental truth through its deceptively ...
Wood, Ash, Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mid Century Nightstand
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mid Century nightstand This nightstand measures: 23 wide x 18 deep x 23.75 inches high All pieces of furniture can b...
Brass
$1,743Sale Price|55% Off
H 19 in W 13 in D 13 in
Dunbar Tripod Table Edward Wormley Constellation Group
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Fraser, MI
Please feel free to reach out for efficient shipping to your location. Tripod Table designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Ebonized Walnut, Ash Legs, Black Formica Top.
Brass
Edward Wormley For Dunbar Sheaf of Wheat Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in San Francisco, CA
Edward Wormley design side Table for Dunbar Furniture, Berne Indiana. Named the "Sheaf of Wheat" table line which was a best seller for Dunbar in the mid to late 1950's. A Travertine...
Travertine, Brass
Edward Wormley Travertine Wedge Side Table for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wedge shaped side table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, c.1950s, USA. This end table features a trapezoidal travertine top, which sits atop dark contrasting mahogany base with horizont...
Travertine
'Timberline' Floor Lamp for GUBI
By Gubi
Located in Glendale, CA
'Timberline' Floor Lamp for GUBI Originally designed by Mads Caprani in the 1970s, this authorized GUBI re-edition is executed in oak, birch, canvas on a cast-iron base. Like the or...
Iron
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Model 6302E Olive Burl Pedestal Table with Dry Bar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
A refined and highly functional design by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, this Model 6302E pedestal table exemplifies the designer’s masterful balance of organic materiality and architect...
Slate
Carlo Nason for Mazzega, "Birillo" Floor Lamp
By Carlo Nason, Mazzega
Located in Chicago, IL
c.1960s, Pop Art Light Bulb"design, two white glass sections with a chromed steel joining band, 42"h x 13"dia. This is an iconic lamp and a striking example of Italian modern design....
Steel, Chrome
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Walnut Magazine Tree Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Utrecht, NL
Magazine tree, model 4765 by American designer Edward Wormley executed in birch and sap grain walnut, designed in 1947 for Dunbar Furniture USA. A very special, functional and aesth...
Birch, Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Wedge Form Lamp Table
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Hanover, MA
Edward Wormley for Dunbar trapezoidal form side table made of mahogany with fitted brass lamp stem and original linen shade. This item is with our ...
Brass
Sold
H 54.5 in Dm 25 in
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Bird's-Eye Maple and Mahogany Lamp Table, circa 1950
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Camden, ME
An exceptional example of Edward Wormley's lamp table for Dunbar complete with cast bronze base and finial. A striking combination of Mahogany and Birdseye Maple. The lamp ta...
Brass, Bronze
Dunbar Globe Lamp by Edward J. Wormley
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dunbar Globe Lamp by Edward J. Wormley
Walnut