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.
Expertly Restored - Edward J. Wormley Woven Front Cabinet for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designer: Edward J Wormley Manufacturer: Dunbar Materials: Walnut-Stained Mahogany Wood, Metal Accents Designed by Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar in the 1950s, this exceptional cabi...
Metal
Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar Cabinet with Asian Hardware
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in St. Louis, MO
Mid-Century Modern Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar cabinet with brass Asian hardware. All original dark had rubbed finish on ribbon mahogany, top will be polished and touched up prior t...
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Cabinet with Brass Hardware, 1950s
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful sideboard cabinet designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, made of sandalwood with solid brass hardware. Cabinet has drawers on each side, center Lucite pull out shelf and on...
Brass
Edward Wormley, Cabinet, Mahogany, Brass, USA, 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in High Point, NC
A mahogany and brass cabinet designed by Edward Wormley and produced by Dunbar, Berne, Indiana, USA, c. 1950s.
Mahogany
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 ...
Leather, Walnut
Floating Cabinets by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, C. 1950s
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Westport, CT
Elevate your interior with these exquisite mid-century floating cabinets, masterfully designed by the iconic Edward Wormley for Dunbar in the 1950s and meticulously restored to their...
Rosewood, Walnut
$8,100Sale Price|55% Off
Edward Wormley Woven Front Chest by Dunbar, Mahogany & Nickel, 1956
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Edward Wormely for Dunbar woven front chest, mahogany and brushed nickel, signed. Medium scale commode, No. 4465, with two woven front sliding doors,...
Nickel
Dunbar Cabinet in Burl, Brass Mahogany and Yellow / Gold Lamartine Marble
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare Dunbar cabinet designed by Edward Wormley with burl wood case, mahogany frame and legs with gold / yellow Lamartine Marble top. The two doors lock with the original key and open...
Marble, Brass
$24,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
Two Midcentury Ebonized Walnut Woven Front Credenzas, Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Two signed Edward Wormley for Dunbar ebonized walnut woven front credenzas with brass fittings. One is a darker walnut than the other so they are not exactly matching in coloration. ...
Walnut
Expertly Restored Roger Sprunger Dunbar Model #7111 Maple Burl Cabinet Sideboard
By Dunbar Furniture, Roger Sprunger
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Made in the early 1970s by prestigious American furniture maker Dunbar, this piece was designed by Roger Sprunger, who spent the better part of three decades at Dunbar. Many of Dunba...
Brass
Edward Wormley Dunbar Walnut Showcase Curio Display Cabinet Bookcase
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dayton, OH
This impressive showcase / room divider was a Custom order designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Features a rectangular walnut case raised over large silver tapered metal legs The c...
Glass, Walnut
Edward Wormley, Cabinet, Mahogany, USA, 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in High Point, NC
A bleached mahogany cabinet designed by Edward Wormley and produced by Dunbar, Berne, Indiana, USA, c. 1950s.
Mahogany
Tall Tambour Cabinet with Drawers by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A simple and refined ebonized mahogany wardrobe having tambour doors with integrated handles a top two (2) drawers with cut out handles.
Mahogany
$10,000Sale Price|20% Off
Edward Wormley Walnut and Olive Ash Burl Tall Cabinet for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Described in Dunbar catalogs as "#6027 High Piece" this incredible curved front cabinet is constructed of walnut with olive ash burled lower cabin...
Brass
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].
Brass
Edward Wormley Walnut Cabinet by Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Highland, IN
Simple, clean-lined and versatile, this Ed Wormley cabinet by Dunbar features two bi-fold doors concealing one compartment with two shelves. Subtle ...
Brass
Edward Wormley, Dunbar, Mid-Century Modern, Rosewood, Chinese Cabinet, 1960s
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Stamford, CT
Edward Wormley, Dunbar, Mid-Century Modern, Rosewood, Chinese Cabinet, 1960s A tall cabinet designed by Edward Wormley (American, 1907-1995) for Dunbar showcasing antique Chinese pr...
Rosewood, Walnut
Drop Tambour Front Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
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...
Walnut
Edward Wormley Dunbar Tambour Door Mahogany Walnut Brass Credenza Cabinet
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Forest Grove, PA
A Mid-Century tambour front cabinet or credenza designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture of Bernie, Indiana. Mahogany frame with walnut doors and top. The tambour doors have a...
Brass
Edward Wormley Dunbar Double Sliding Door Cabinet
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Edward Wormley solid walnut cased cabinet with two sliding doors supported on four legged brass frame with walnut caps on the feet. Original Dunbar label on the back.
Walnut
Dunbar Modernist Cabinet Model # 4724
By Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Mahogany with curved tambour doors with sixteen interior drawers in two banks, resting on hairpin legs.
Mahogany
Dunbar Walnut Two Part Sideboard Credenza Breakfront Carved Slate Inserts MINT!
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Dunbar Walnut Two Part Sideboard Credenza Breakfront Carved Slate Inserts MINT! Lots of storage cabinets superior quality mid century modern cabinet.
Stone
Dunbar Gentleman’s Chest from Wyeth
By Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Gentleman's Chest, a mid-century modern dressing cabinet. USA, circa 1950. Crafted of dark stained walnut with the rectangular top centering a lifting...
Mirror, Wood
Cinnabar Laquered Cabinet w/ antique Japanese print by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A two-level cabinet having fantastic storage and scale, with a rich custom cinnabar lacquer. The lower level has bi-folding doors concealing a bank of drawers; the upper section features doors with inset antique Chinese printing blocks.
Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Bi-fold Cabinet #815 in Walnut
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Fraser, MI
Please feel free to reach out for efficient shipping quote to your zip. Edward Wormley for Dunbar Bi-fold Cabinet #815 in Walnut.
Walnut
Table Top Jewelry Chest, Walnut, Brass Pulls Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Signed
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare table top jewelry case / cabinet designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Signed with the brass Dunbar metal tag. Walnut case and brass pulls. Two drawers...
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Tambour Door Chest
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Not often seen, a fully restored tambour door chest by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. The cabinet features two tambour doors with brass pulls and loads of interior storage. There are fou...
Brass
Dunbar Rosewood High Chest with Brass Ring Drop Pulls
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern five drawer Dunbar chest by Ed Wormley. Rosewood mahogany two-tone combination. Brass ring drop pulls.
Brass
$10,500 / set
Pair of Night Stands by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A pair of ebonized 'French polish' mahogany nightstands with adjustable inner shelf and opposing hinges.
Brass
Telephone Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
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.
Mahogany
$11,500 / item
Janus Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1960s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An rectilinear light walnut two-door cabinet having Chinese-influenced hardware and open and adjustable shelves, the form sitting on a plinth base.
Brass
Flatware Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant rectilinear light walnut two-door cabinet having Chinese-influenced hardware and a rare configuration of twelve cushioned flat drawers.
Brass