Edward Wormley Furniture
American, 1907-1995
As the longtime director of design for the Dunbar furniture company, Edward Wormley was, along with such peers as George Nelson at Herman Miller Inc., and Florence Knoll of Knoll Inc., one of the leading forces in bringing modern design into American homes in the mid-20th century. Not an axiomatic modernist, Wormley deeply appreciated traditional design, and consequently his vintage seating, storage cabinets, bar carts and other work has an understated warmth and a timeless quality that sets it apart from other furnishings of the era.
Wormley was born in rural Illinois and as a teenager took correspondence courses from the New York School of Interior Design. He later attended the Art Institute of Chicago but ran out of money for tuition before he could graduate. Marshall Field hired Wormley in 1930 to design a line of reproduction 18th-century English furniture; the following year he was hired by the Indiana-based Dunbar, where he quickly distinguished himself. It was a good match.
Dunbar was an unusual firm: it did not use automated production systems; its pieces were mostly hand-constructed. For his part, Wormley did not use metal as a major component of furniture; he liked craft elements such as caned seatbacks, tambour drawers, or the woven-wood cabinet fronts seen on his Model 5666 sideboard of 1956. He designed two lines for Dunbar each year — one traditional, one modern — until 1944, by which time the contemporary pieces had become the clear best sellers.
Many of Wormley’s signature pieces — chairs, sofas, tables and more — are modern interpretations of traditional forms. His 1946 Riemerschmid Chair — an example is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art — recapitulates a late 19th-century German design. The long, slender finials of his Model 5580 dining chairs are based on those of Louis XVI chairs; his Listen-to-Me Chaise (1948) has a gentle Rococo curve; the “Precedent” line that Wormley designed for Drexel Furniture in 1947 is a simplified, pared-down take on muscular Georgian furniture. But he could invent new forms, as his Magazine table of 1953, with its bent wood pockets, and his tiered Magazine Tree (1947), both show. And Wormley kept his eye on design currents, creating a series of tables with tops that incorporate tiles and roundels by the great modern ceramicists Otto and Gertrud Natzler.
As the vintage items on 1stDibs demonstrate, Edward Wormley conceived of a subdued sort of modernism, designing furniture that fits into any decorating scheme and does not shout for attention.
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Item Ships From: Dallas
Creator: Edward Wormley
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Party Sofa Model 5407 in Dark Gray Leather
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Edward Wormley's iconic party sofa for Dunbar. Reupholstered in dark gray leather. A super comfortable sofa with loads of style. A design class...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Leather
Early Dunbar Leather Curved Desk and Chair by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
An early design by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Original lilac leather and bleached mahogany curved desk with built in bookshelves. The drawers are hinged and swing open. The original ...
Category
1940s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Leather
Swiveling Stool by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of swiveling vanity stools/chairs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Reupholstered in blue velvet with maple legs and brass sabots. Priced and sold individually.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Velvet
Pair of Dunbar Slipper Chairs by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A versatile pair of slipper chairs with mahogany frames and leather/wool upholstery. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1960s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Leather
Pair of Stone Top Dunbar Wedge Tables
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of walnut wedge side tables with stone tops. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Pair of Dunbar High Back "Mr." Lounge Chairs by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A “Mr.” chair from one of Edward Wormley designs for Dunbar. The pair is upholstered in a woven fabric. Chair has a high back, sloped sides and arms, and sits on four thick legs that...
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Wormley Game Table for Dunbar, Solid Walnut & Olive Burlwood
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Edward Wormley Game Table for Dunbar, Solid Walnut & Olive Burlwood
Gorgeous Dunbar table with a four-panel bookmatched olive burl wood top and a solid...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Burl
Dunbar Wingback Chairs Designed by Edward Wormley in a Custom Cartier Textile
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of early and important wing back chairs designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Professionally restored with new foam, new springs, down-filled seat cushions and upholstered in a...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Console Cabinet
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful walnut and mahogany console with stone top. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Edward Wormley Magazine Table for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
Magazine table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1959. Table constructed of oak, brass and leather, very good original condition.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Cocktail Table with Glass Tile Top and Brass Trim
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful cocktail table designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1950s. Table has "x" pattern wooden base in mahogany, a glass tile top with a brass trim surround. A timeless piece.
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Brass
Edward Wormley "Janus" Occasional Tables with Natzler Tiles for Dunbar in Walnut
By Edward Wormley, Gertrud and Otto Natzler
Located in Dallas, TX
Extraordinary pair of oversized Dunbar occasional tables in walnut and brass with 36 inlaid glazed earthenware circular tiles executed by Gertrud and Otto Nazler.
Designed by Edw...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Brass
Travertine Dining Table / Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
An early bleached mahogany and travertine table / desk designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Travertine
Two Pairs of Solid Mahogany Stools by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
We are offering two pairs of Dunbar stools with vinyl tops and mahogany bases. They would work well as footstools for your sofa or favorite chair. There is a rectangular Dunbar label...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Dunbar Magazine Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
Triangular magazine table model 5313 by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Table consists of two mahogany magazine bins, sap grain walnut top with mahogany base, ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Rosewood Roll Top Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rosewood tambour roll top desk with brass feet and leather trim. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Cabinet with Brass Hardware, 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar 1965 Lounge Chair and Ottoman in Gray Tweed
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful and super comfortable lounge chair by Dunbar. Chair has what seems to be fairly new upholstery in a beautiful silky chenille tweed. Ottoman dimensions are 28.5" W x 23" D...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Bleached Mahogany Nightstands with Leather Bases by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Early minimalist nightstands designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Beautiful bleached mahogany cases with inset matching hardware and leather wrapped bases. Completely refinished.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Three Seat Sofa Designed by Michael Taylor for Baker
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
Early and scarcely seen three-seat sofa with fixed back cushions and flared tapering arms designed by Michael Taylor for Baker. A very comfortable sofa with incredibly clean lines. R...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Upholstery
Four Dunbar Alexandria Chairs by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
Rare set of four Dunbar Alexandria occasional chairs, model 6004, designed by Edward Wormley. Beautifully restored and upholstered in leather.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Pair of Dunbar Lounge Chairs
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of Dunbar lounge chairs designed by Edward Wormley.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Figured Maple and Rosewood Cocktail Table
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
Rare Wormley table bentwood burl maple with ebonized rosewood tapered legs. Tray style.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Rosewood
Edward Wormley Slipper Chairs for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Edward Wormley slipper chairs for Dunbar with dark mahogany bases and original black velvet upholstery. The upholstery has faded to an interesting shade of aubergine. Includes downfi...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Table or Bench with Magazine Display
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
An exceptional Dunbar coffee table or bench (Model 5933a) with built-in brass rods for suspending magazines. Another option would be to recess a glass top over the rods to use as a s...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Edward Wormley Coffee Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Coffee/cocktail Table designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1960s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Mahogany
Edward Wormley "a Chair" for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare chair in mahogany with solid brass legs. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Even Arm Sofa or Settees
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Two-piece Dunbar sofa model number 4908 designed by Edward Wormley. This low profile sofa has down-filled cushions and hand-tied springs and is one of the most comfortable modern pie...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Brass
Dunbar Console or Sofa Table by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A mahogany and walnut console table with rosewood pulls. The table features book holders on either side and three drawers. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Dunbar X-Base Table with Murano Glass Tile Top
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare form with solid rosewood base and Murano glass tile top. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Edward Wormley Expandable Coffee Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Edward Wormley designed coffee table produced by Dunbar. Solid Mahogany construction, professionally restored with the appropriate satin espresso finish.
The functionality of thi...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Edward Wormley Credenza / Server for Dunbar in Bleached Walnut and Brass
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful bleached walnut credenza / server with solid brass hardware designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. The top two drawers contain removable felt-lined silverware trays...
Category
1950s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Brass
Dunbar Janus Side Table by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Stunning tripod side table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar from the Famous 'Janus' Collection. Stunning exotic wood top and solid brass feet. Original condition. Retains brass rectangul...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Angled Sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
An angled sofa designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Beautifully restored with refinished mahogany base and reupholstered in Holly Hunt / Terazzo / Silver Blue. New down pillows.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Fabric
Dunbar Chest with Natzler Tiles by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare chest designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Solid walnut construction with exposed joinery and brass pulls with ceramic tiles by greta and Otto Natzler. Matching dresser avai...
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Eight Dunbar Greene & Greene Dining Chairs by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare set of eight dining chairs designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Known as the Greene & Greene chair for it's crafted look with exposed tenon cres...
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Desk and Chair in Matching Leather
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
An elegant and early design by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Desk model 4725 in mahogany with original green leather and matching swiveling stool.
Category
1940s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
6 Edward Wormley Dining Chairs
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of six dining chairs designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Set includes two arm chairs model No. 295W and four side chairs model No. 294W. Original Jack Lenor Larsen Upholstery....
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Edward Wormley furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Edward Wormley 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 Edward Wormley furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Edward Wormley 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 Dunbar, Paul McCobb, and Herman Miller. Prices for Edward Wormley 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 $6,846.
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