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.
1950s Edward Wormley for Dunbar no. 4756 wing shaped sofa in Mohair and Brass
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A rare offering from Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture. This wing shaped sofa, model 4756, was reupholstered in a moss colored mohair and sits on 10" solid brass stiletto legs. Ele...
Brass
$15,600Sale Price|20% Off
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Bracket Back Sofa in Dijon Colored Mohair
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautifully updated and restored. The iconic bracket back sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. This has been reupholstered in a stunning high-quality mohair. Color is listed as "Dijon"...
Mohair, Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mid Century Bracket Back Sofa
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mid Century Bracket Back Sofa This sofa measures: 91 wide x 32 deep x 28 inches high, with a seat height of 16 and arm height of 23 inches Great Vintage C...
Metal
1950s Edward Wormley for Dunbar Bracket Back Sofa Mid Century Modern
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Exceptional 1950s Mid-Century Modern bracket back sofa designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, ( it has no label or maker’s mark). This iconic piece showcases Wormley’s timeless sophi...
Fabric, Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Model 495 Sofa, Mahogany, Mid-Century
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
This sofa has beautiful lines and a gently curved back. A true classic. The fabric is original and in very good condition. It is a rich and high-quality texture that looks like embro...
Upholstery, Mahogany
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.
Velvet
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Model 5407 Mid Century Black Leather Party Sofa
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Model 5407 Mid Century Black Leather Party Sofa This sofa measures: 100 wide x 36 deep x 23.5 inches high, with a seat height of 14.5 and arm height of 23....
Leather, Wood
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Sofa / Daybed
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A one arm sofa / daybed with brass legs. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Fully restored.
Fabric
$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
Handsome Edward Wormley for Dunbar Sofa Model 4906 Mid-Century Modern
By Edward Wormley
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Handsome even arm sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar with brass legs. Model 4906. This piece retains its original fun fur teddy bear fabric in usable condition. The foam in cushions ...
Brass
Large Limited Edition Sofa "La Gondola" by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Stamford, CT
A limited edition "La Gondola" Sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Berne, Indiana, produced in 1957. Model 5719 is part of the Janus Collection, seen by man...
Mahogany
Edward Wormley Channel Back Sofa, Brass Legs, Blue Upholstery, c1940s
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...
Brass
Sofa Designed by Edward Wormley and Produced by Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Stamford, CT
A newly upholstered sofa made by Dunbar and designed by Edward Wormley, circa 1965.
Walnut
Edward Wormley Open Frame Sofa, Dunbar, USA, 1950s
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A very rare two-seat Edward Wormley open frame sofa, made by Dunbar, in the USA, 1950s. Newly reupholstered in high quality fabric. Fast shipping worldwide.
Fabric, Wood
Rare Slightly Curved Sofa by Wormley for Dunbar with Brass Legs
By Milo Baughman, Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley, Harvey Probber
Located in Chicago, IL
Seldom seen curved sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Supported by 6 Brass legs. Sofa requires reupholstery. When reupholstering there is a wood stretcher that needs replacement. ...
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Model 486 Bracket Back Sofa
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare bracket back model 486 sofa designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Fully restored and reupholstered.
Walnut
Dunbar Sofa by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A Dunbar sofa with mahogany stretchers designed by Edward Wormley. Fully restored and reupholstered in Zinc / Roccapina / Sagone Racing fabric.
Bouclé
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Curved Sofa
By Edward Wormley
Located in Great Barrington, MA
The highest level of craftsmanship. Dunbar. It's all in the subtleness of this sofa. The curved frame. The lines. The proportions.
Linen
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...
Leather
Ed Wormley for Dunbar Sofa
By Edward Wormley
Located in Southampton, NJ
Sofa designed by Ed Wormley for Dunbar model 4906 reupholstered in Maharam Kvadrat grey wool textured hopsack. Backrests are down & seat is high quality foam with hand tied frame spr...
Wool, Wood
Sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Beautiful Original Condition, Tan Silk Fabric
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Kansas City, MO
Tufted seat and back sofa designed by Edward Wormley. Dark stained African mahogany cross stretcher base with floating ends. The silk blend original fabric is in amazingly good condi...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$7,120Sale Price|20% Off
Midcentury #5526 Wormley Dunbar Armless Sofa
By Edward Wormley
Located in Pasadena, TX
Wormley has pioneered in a broad field of design, he was one of those unique designers who was sensitive to the interplay involved in selling modernism and still preserving the nostalgic touch of intimacy, warmth, and detail. Wormley attended the Art Institute of Chicago in 1926. After attending there he worked for Marshall Field`s Design Studio in 1930, and then a year later he began working for Dunbar. His collaboration with Dunbar made him a household name for decades. His first Dunbar chairs, produced in 1932, were reproductions of antique designs, but when they became popular Wormley augmented the set with new pieces to form a full line of furniture for almost every room in the house. He was given a contract under which he would produce two lines of furniture each year, one traditional and one modern 5526 Knowland vintage 6 ft midcentury Dunbar armless sofa...
Wool
Edward Wormley Slipper Sofa for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Denton, TX
Edward Wormley slipper sofa for Dunbar with off white upholstery and ebonized bentwood legs. Older restoration.
Bentwood, Upholstery
Edward Wormley Mid-Century Three-Seat Sofa in Brown Tufted Fabric
By Edward Wormley
Located in Queens, NY
American mid-century 3-seat sofa with brown button tufted fabric upholstery, and two removable seat cushions resting on a floating wooden base. (EDWARD WORMLEY FOR DUNBAR FURNITURE C...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Edward Wormley Sofa, Edward Wormley Estate Weston Ct
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Westport, CT
Edward Wormley, three-seat sofa polished brass leg from Wormley Weston Ct estate. Chenille fabric, model 5512.
Brass