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.
Edward Wormley Dunbar End Side Table with Gertrud and Otto Natzler Ceramic Tiles
By Dunbar Furniture, Gertrud and Otto Natzler, Edward Wormley
Located in Studio City, CA
This very rare and absolutely stunning Edward Wormley designed end/ occasional table for Dunbar Furniture for their "Janus" collection, circa 1956-1957 comes with inlaid, glazed tile...
Ceramic, Wood
$10Sale Price / item|33% Off
H 3.94 in W 3.94 in D 1.19 in
Talavera Mural Azulejo Tile Folk Contemporary Mexican Ceramic Blue White Mosaic
By Cesar
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
This contemporary azulejo tile forms a mosaic perfect for kitchen decorations or any exterior space. Made with the Talavera technique. Artist, Cesar Torres portraits the colonial art of Mexico, but this time with a contemporary touch. This wall decoration can be arranged to fit specific spaces or simply hanged as a painting on the wall. The Talavera is not just a simple painted ceramic: its exquisite decoration is the product of a delicate process of alchemy that translates into fine enamels. In Puebla, Mexico few people still produce using Talavera with the ancestral techniques. One of those few is Cesar Torres, Don Cesar learned his art in the workshop of the Uriarte family, an excellent workshop where his grandfather worked. In his creations he uses the black and white mud that is obtained from the nearby hills of Loreto and Guadalupe, and colors of mineral origin that he creates in his workshop with recipes from his grandfather. All the pieces are modeled in a traditional way and go through a production process that usually takes from one to two months, between drying, burning, and painting. Being surrounded by a living tradition, Cesar Torres Jr., learned from his father since childhood. Architect by profession, Cesar Jr. has come to revolutionize and modernize with new designs and ideas of the current world, nevertheless always respecting the tradition of the processes and materials that make Talavera a Creole art...
Ceramic, Clay, Majolica
Roger Capron, Tile Set, Fresco., Vallauris, circa 1960
By Roger Capron, Vallauris
Located in Mouscron, WHT
"Roger Capron" tile set, Vallauris. Measures: 30x60 fresco. 8 Tiles of 15x15cm. In a perfect state. Beautiful thickness almost 1 cm.
Ceramic
$79Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 7 in Dm 5 in
Moroccan Ceramic Urn with Lid, Blue and Copper, Bohemian Style, 1999
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan ceramic urn with lid, blue with copper color. Modern form with clean lines, textured design. Great to use in the kitchen or in the bath...
Ceramic
$12Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 3.94 in W 3.94 in D 1.19 in
Talavera Mural Azulejo Tile Folk Mexican Ceramic Burnt Orange Ivory Mosaic
By Cesar
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
This contemporary Talavera azulejo tile creates a striking geometric mosaic that can be used as a kitchen backsplash, architectural wall surface, or decorative wall installation. Whe...
Ceramic, Clay, Majolica
Large Mid 20th Century Gertrud and Otto Natzler Signed Gunmetal Bowl
By Gertrud and Otto Natzler
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Stunning large (11" x 5.5") gunmetal bowl by Gertrud and Otto Natzler circa 1960 This piece is wheel-thrown glazed earthenware. It is signed on the bottom.
Pottery
Modernist Large Mosaic Tile Top Cocktail Table by David Holleman
By David Holleman
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist large mosaic tile top cocktail table by David Holleman, stunning mosaics,,colors ,,composition.. Classic mid century modern design,, ...
Ceramic, Wood
Antique Glass Bell with Ceramic Birds
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful German ceramic birds set up under an antique glass dome.
Ceramic, Glass
$319Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 5.12 in W 3.55 in D 0.79 in
Elegant Set of Tiles with Mysterious Winged Creature Relief
Located in Leuven , BE
Made of earthenware, this set of tiles (5) depicts a beautiful but mysterious winged creature. Chimera, like and placed on a pedestal, this creature sh...
Earthenware, Terracotta
Jerilyn Babroff Whimsical 2 Part Glazed Ceramic Figural Side Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A glazed ceramic art vessel in two parts. Decorated as a female head, the pedestal has eyes, cheek dimples and lips all glazed while the pedestal has moulded undulating polka dot dec...
Ceramic
Flapjack Handmade Ceramic 3D Tile by MAKHNO
By MAKHNO PRODUCT
Located in Jõe tn 2-2 korrus, Tallinn
The FLAPJACK tile from MAKHNO Product is a truly innovative and versatile piece of design that offers both functionality and beauty. This multifunctional wall tile is a true master...
Ceramic
$18 / item
H 3.94 in W 3.94 in D 1.19 in
Talavera Mural Azulejo Tile Folk Mexico Ceramic Green Wall Mosaic Pyramid Relief
By Cesar
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
This contemporary Talavera azulejo tile creates a striking geometric mosaic that can be used as a kitchen backsplash, architectural wall surface, or decorative wall installation. Whe...
Ceramic, Clay, Majolica
Moroccan Ceramic Vase from Fez Blue and White with Silver Filigree
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Fabulous handcrafted antique Moroccan ceramic vase in Moorish style adorned with Fine filigree silver nickel work overlaid. The color of...
Ceramic