Dunbar Shelves
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
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mid Century Étagère Shelf
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Countryside, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mid Century Étagère Shelf
This etagere measures: 20 wide x 20 deep x 79 inches high
All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restored vintage co...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Shelves
Materials
Glass, Wood
Edward Wormley Cerused Oak Cabinet for Dunbar, 1950s USA
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous oak cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Made in the 1950s and still a beautiful and practical piece today. Newly refinished in a cerused Oak, making the wood maintain its ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Dunbar Shelves
Materials
Leather, Oak
Edward Wormley Cerused Oak Cabinet for Dunbar, 1950s USA
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Absolutely stunning cerused Oak cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Made in the 1950s USA. The bottom of cabinet is a plinth base wrapped in black leather.
Two wavy sliding plank...
Category
1950s American Vintage Dunbar Shelves
Materials
Leather, Oak
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Display Shelf/ Room Divider Super-Structure Model 5223
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Versatile Room Divider/ Display Shelf, Super-Structure Model number 5223 Designed to be used on top of a cabinet, or on the floor. This simple elegant Pie...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Shelves
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Mahogany Dresser by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1950s USA
By Dunbar Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handsome mahogany cabinet/dresser by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Two shelves flank each side with 5 drawers running down the middle. 2 thick wave panels on...
Category
1950s American Vintage Dunbar Shelves
Materials
Mahogany, Leather
Dunbar Cabinet
By Dunbar Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handsome walnut cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Three shelves with bottom of cabinet wrapped in tan leather. Newly refinished in grey. Great color and per...
Category
1950s American Vintage Dunbar Shelves
Materials
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1970's Edward Wormley for Dunbar Wall Shelving Unit Cabinet
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Burbank, CA
Vintage Mid-century Modern shelf for sale. It was manufactured in the 1970's by Dunbar, and designed by Edward Wormley. It has a lower credenza with cabinets and a drawer and shelves...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar Shelves
Materials
Glass, Burl
Dunbar Magazine Tree #5336 Designed by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Denton, TX
Edward Wormley for Dunbar magazine tree in walnut with four cantilevered shelves that get deeper as the order descends from top to bottom. A rare model introduced in 1953 and was onl...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dunbar Shelves
Materials
Walnut
1960s Sculptural Pair Étagère Roger Sprunger for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Roger Sprunger
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents
1960s Mid Century Sculptural Étagères Set of 2 by Roger Sprunger
for Dunbar Indiana
79.25, 79x 20.25 x 20.25
One Étagère is .5 inch...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dunbar Shelves
Materials
Wood
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Seize the opportunity to own a slice of design history with this exquisite vintage mid-century modern credenza, masterfully designed by the legendary Edward Wormley for Dunbar, hailing from the creative zenith of the 1960s. This credenza is a testament to Wormley's philosophy that functional furniture should not forsake beauty. Having received a meticulous restoration, the rich walnut wood displays a lustrous finish, with even the backing revitalized to showcase its full glory from every angle.
This svelte case piece stretches 72 inches in width, stands 28 inches high, and reaches 15 inches in depth—a refined and slim profile that distinguishes it from its more robust counterparts. It features a trio of leather off-white doors that slide with satisfying precision to reveal a trio of adjustable shelves, offering versatile storage solutions for the discerning collector or design enthusiast.
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Previously Available Items
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By Dunbar Furniture, Roger Sprunger
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1950s Burled Wall Console by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
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A burled Finnish birch demilune wall shelf with single drawer. Mirror sold separately.
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Edward Wormley 'Magazine Tree' Shelves for Dunbar
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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.
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Edward Wormley Dunbar Table
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Dunbar shelves for sale on 1stDibs.
Dunbar shelves 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 shelves, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original shelves by Dunbar were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider shelves by Edward Wormley, Herman Miller, and Frederic Weinberg. Prices for Dunbar shelves can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,425 and can go as high as $19,495, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $6,800.
Creators Similar to Dunbar
Questions About Dunbar Shelves
- 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.
- 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.