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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Creator: Edward Wormley
Recognized Seller Listings
Pair of Armchairs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare pair of ash and rosewood armchairs designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Matching set of four side chairs available separately.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Ash, Rosewood
Dunbar Surfboard Coffee Table by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
An early surfboard coffee table designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood
Set of Four Dining Chairs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare set of four ash and rosewood dining / game chairs designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Matching pair of archairs available separately.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Ash, Rosewood
Set of Three Barstools by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A set of three swiveling barstools designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Original lacquer finish. Reupholstered in vintage Dunbar fabric.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Lacquer
Alexandria Chair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare Dunbar Alexandria chair designed by Edward Wormley.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Rosewood Side Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
An Edward Wormley for Dunbar sculpted rosewood table with glass top.
Category
1970s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
Edward Wormley Mr. lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Edward Wormley
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mr Chair and Ottoman
Tapering steel legs
ottoman is 13"h x 25" x 29"
Category
1950s American Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Upholstery
Travertine Coffee Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A low coffee table with three legged mahogany base, brass feet and travertine top. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Travertine
Heart Stool by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare and early heart stool designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1940s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Edward Wormley, Slipper Chair, Aluminum, Fabric, USA, 1950s
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in High Point, NC
An aluminium and white bouclé fabric slipper chair designed by Edward Wormley and produced by Dunbar, Berne, Indiana, USA, 1950s.
17" seat height
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
Edward Wormley 'New York' Sofa
By Edward Wormley, Dux of Sweden
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture / DUX of Sweden, sofa model 5316, faux leather, metal, wood, United States, design 1952
This three-seat sofa was designed by Edward Wormley for D...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Metal
Dunbar Angle Sofa #4756 on Aluminum Legs
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A gutter back armless sofa on aluminum legs. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Fully restored and upholstered in Holly Hunt, Lush, Foggy velvet.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Velvet
Channel Back Sofa by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in San Francisco, CA
An early channel back sofa with brass legs and covered in blue fabric by Edward Wormley. Model #4757 designed in 1947. The fabric is tired and should...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Dunbar Tambour Cabinets by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of two toned tambour door serpentine cabinets designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Edward Wormley Exhibition Catalog
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
76-page catalog from the exhibition "Edward Wormley: The Other Face of Modernism," held at the Lin Weinberg Gallery in 1997. The exhibit helped re-introduce Wormley's work to the mar...
Category
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Paper
Four Swivel Stools / Chairs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A set of four Edward Wormley for Dunbar swiveling stools / chairs with mahogany legs and chrome sabots. Fully restored and upholstered in Holly Hun...
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Fabric
Dunbar Bar Cart by Edward Wormley in Rosewood, Cork and Slate
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A sculpted rosewood bar cart with single drawer, cork shelves and slate top. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1970s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Slate
Rare Olive Burl Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare and beautiful two-door cabinet with solid brass knockers and Spanish marble top. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Has two adjustable shelves and the original 'D' key.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Marble
Octagonal Gaming Table by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An octagonal gaming or entry table with a leather wrapped cruciform base with brass levelers, and the solid walnut top having an inlaid rosewood Starbur...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Dunbar Tambour Cabinets by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of cerused tambour door serpentine cabinets designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Cabinet with Chinese Printing Blocks
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A walnut cabinet with brass cleats, rosewood drawers and antique Chinese printing blocks. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Rosewood, Walnut
Edward Wormley Elegant Game Table with Red Leather Top 1940s 'Signed'
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Rare game table in mahogany with gently curving legs and sides with inset red leather top by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, American 1940's (signed with green metal tag on bottom ”DUNBAR...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
American Modern Brass /Wood/Glass Coffee Table, Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
American Modern Brass /Wood/Glass Coffee Table, Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Wooden Frame Caned Panel Full-Size Bed Headboard
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
American Mid-Century full-sized headboard with a dark stained wooden frame with curved top rail and central caned panel. (EDWARD WORMLEY FOR DUNBAR FURNITURE COMPANY).
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood
Edward J Wormley for Dunbar Green Leather Top Game Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
American mid-century game table with a wooden frame and a square inset green leather top, resting on four square wooden legs. (EDWARD J WORMLEY FOR DUNBAR...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood, Leather
Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A walnut cabinet with leather wrapped handles and spruce sliding doors. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Pair of Dunbar Thebes Stools by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautifully restored pair of Dunbar Thebes stools designed by Edward Wormley.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Party Sofas by Edward Wormley for Dunbar in Original Leather
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful pair of party sofas designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar in original buttery soft light tan leather.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Leather
Four Dining Chairs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A set of four Edward Wormley for Dunbar high back dining chairs with mahogany bases. Fully restored and reupholstered.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Swivel Chair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
An early swivel chair designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar with oak base and plush mohair upholstery.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mohair, Oak
Edward Wormley, Lounge Chairs, Beech, Fabric, Drexel, United States, 1940s
By Drexel, Edward Wormley
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of beech, and white fabric lounge chairs designed by Edward Wormley and produced by Drexel, United States, 1940s.
Measure: seat hei...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Beech
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Medium Brown Wooden Three Tier End / Side Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
American mid-century three-tier medium brown finished wooden end table with a rectangular top and two shelves below, with rectangular supports on either side, resting on a pedestal b...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood
Magazine Tree by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An olive green stained walnut magazine tree with cantilevered shelves.
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Edward Wormley Coffee Table with Italian Travertine Top 1952 'Signed'
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Parsons style coffee table model No. 5206, base in dark mahogany with inset Italian travertine top, by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, American 1952 (metal and paper labels on bottom). Ed...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Travertine
Set of Six Cane Back Dining Chairs by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant and unusual set of six dining chairs with a cane wrapped barrel back and an upholstered seat atop four slender legs.
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Upholstery
Pair of Lounge Chairs on Brass Legs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A classic pair of Dunbar high back lounge chair on brass legs designed by Edward Wormley. Fully restored and upholstered in a deep blue chenille fabric.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar Wooden Single Drawer Nightstands
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of American Mid-Century wooden nightstands with a single drawer. (EDWARD WORMLEY FOR DUNBAR)(PRICED AS PAIR)
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood
Tawi Wood Dining Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A ten foot dining table designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar with expressively grained Tawi wood top and mahogany base with brass cleats. The table has th...
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Set of 6 Edward J Wormley Gray Fabric Upholstered Dining Side Chairs
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
SET of 6 American Mid-Century dining side chairs with gray textured fabric upholstered backs and seats, resting on four walnut square tapered legs. (EDWARD J WORMLEY)(PRICED AS SET).
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
Pair of Slipper Chairs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of slipper chairs with mahogany bases. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Channel Back Lounge Chair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
An unusual and early design by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. This channel back lounge chair has mahogany trim and aluminum legs. Fully restored and reupholstered in Designtex / Lambert ...
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
Twelve Dunbar Greene & Greene Dining Chairs by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
An extremely rare set of twelve dining chairs designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Known as the Greene & Greene chair for it's crafted look with exposed tenon crest rail, rosewood ...
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Rosewood, Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Woven Front Cabinet
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A large mahogany cabinet with woven bleached rosewood sliding doors on brass legs. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Edward Wormley Pair of Rare Twin Headboards in Sculpted Walnut 1957, 'Signed'
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Pair of rare twin headboards model no. 5731 in sculpted walnut from the Janus Series by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, American 1957 (with original metal labels signed “DUNBAR Berne, Ind...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar Steam Bent Wooden Paddle Form Twin Bed Headbo
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Pair of American Mid-Century twin-sized bed headboard with a steam bent wooden paddle-form panel above a brown painted wooden frame. (EDWARD WORMLEY FOR ...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Paint, Wood
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar 3-Tiered Wooden Rectangular End / Side Tables
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of American Mid-Century wooden end tables with a rectangular top and two identical lower shelves supported by four square legs. (EDWARD WORMLEY FOR DUNBAR)(PRICED AS PAIR)
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood
Set of 6 Edward Wormley for Dunbar 'Riemerschmid' Black and Green Dining Chairs
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
SET of 6 American Mid-Century 'Riemerschmid' dining armchairs with black painted wooden frames and bright green upholstered slip seats. (EDWARD J WORMLEY FOR DUNBAR FURNITURE COMPANY...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Paint, Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar Steam Bent Wooden Wave Form Twin Sized Bed He
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Pair of American Mid-Century twin-sized bed wooden headboard with an inset steam bent wave form design and light brown painted finish. (EDWARD WORMLEY FOR DUNBAR FURNITURE COMPANY) (...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Set of 4 Edward Wormley for Dunbar Patterned Mauve Upholstered Dining Side Chair
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Set of 4 American mid-century dining / side chairs with square backs featuring a brass central handle, geometrically patterned mauve seat and back cushions, resting on four square ta...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar Dark Wood Louver Front Commodes / Chests
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Pair of American mid-century dark lacquered wooden commodes / chests with 6 louver-front drawers in descending height. (EDWARD WORMLEY FOR DUNBAR FURNITURE COMPANY)(PRICED AS PAIR)
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood
Edward Wormley Executive Office Chair
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Wormley for Dunbar “In Clover” 932 Executive chair button tufted leather, solid walnut base, brass casters, tilts and swivels with adjustable seat height.
Dunbar
Un...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar Wooden Open Frame End / Side Tables
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Pair of American mid-century medium finish wooden end / side tables with rectangular tops with rounded corners, pedestal bases, and an open frame design. (EDWARD WORMLEY FOR DUNBAR F...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar Square Wooden Double Shelf End / Side Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of American Mid-Century square lacquered wooden end / side tables with an open shelf below the square top, resting on a solid stepped base that creates as a taller lower shelf. ...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Edward Wormley Lacquered Dark Wood Two Shelf End / Side Tables
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of American Mid-Century end / side tables with lacquered dark wooden frames with a square top and lower shelf supported by four square legs. (EDWARD...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar Wooden Single Drawer End / Side Tables
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Pair of American mid-century wooden end / side tables with a rectangular table top above an open shelf containing a single drawer below with a curved brass tab drawer pull, resting o...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Circular Wooden Stretcher Shelf End / Side Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
American mid-century circular wooden end / side table with a circular top with shallow lip above an identical stretcher shelf supported on the exterior b...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar Dark Wooden Open Frame End / Side Tables
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of American Mid-Century dark wood end / side tables with rectangular tops with rounded corners, pedestal bases, and an open frame design. (EDWARD ...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood
Edward Wormley Round Wooden End / Side Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
American Mid-Century round wooden side / end table with a circular top with beveled edge resting on three vertical rectangular supports connected to a triangular scooped side base. (...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Furniture
Materials
Wood
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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