Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
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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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Creator: Edward Wormley
Carpathian Elm Coffee Table Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Stamford, CT
A burled triangular top coffee table rising from three walnut legs tipped with brass caps. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, circa 1955.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Elm, Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar MCM Expandable Lacquered Hunter Green Coffee Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in St. Louis, MO
Edward Wormley for Dunbar coffee table with pull-out extensions (expands 12" on each end). Lacquered in hunter green, hand rubbed finish. Extended is 67-7/8.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Lacquer
Stunning Dunbar Edward Wormley Burled Olivewood Octagon Drum Coffee Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Stunning Dunbar Edward Wormley burled olivewood octagonal columnar table base supporting a thick round glass top.
This table measures: 42 in diameter x 17 in height, glass .75 inch ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Glass, Burl
Mid-Century Modern Asian Edward Wormley for Dunbar Long Rosewood Coffee Table
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Wilmington, DE
Offered is a pair of midcentury Asian modern end tables, designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. These tables have ebonized mahogany bases and rosewood tops. They're in good vintage c...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Rosewood
Edward Wormley Dubar off White Leather Top Dark Walnut Cocktail Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Westport, CT
Edward Wormley for Dunbar large round off-white leather too dark walnut base cocktail table, with gold metal tag to underside. Model 5219 Dunbar catalog.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Model 5309 Coffee Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Denton, TX
Model 5309 rare coffee table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Combination of rosewood and brass with the original glass top.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Brass
Edward Wormley Coffee Table for "Dunbar", 1950s
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Large scale, round coffee table by Edward Wormley for "Dunbar", produced in 1950s in Burne, Indiana.
Newly refinished mahogany base with original cork top. Label underneath.
Great ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Cork
Trapezoid Top Wormley for Dunbar Coffee Table
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural trapezoid coffee table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Figured Maple and Rosewood Cocktail Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
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 Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Rosewood
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Model 3374 Square Cocktail Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Hanover, MA
Late 1950s Edward Wormley for Dunbar model number 3374 square walnut cocktail table with distinctive three-sided legs and black micarta to...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Formica, Walnut
Edward Wormley Precedent Line Coffee Table for Drexel
By Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
An early, modernist Wormley form for Drexel. This vintage item should go to a refinisher.
Edward Wormley executed designs for both Dunbar and Drexel.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Wood
Edward Wormley "Long John" Coffee Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Long John" bench/table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar with slat-style top, turned edge and great curved legs. This is the long version.
(Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - wit...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Teak
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Pentagonal Coffee Table
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Kansas City, MO
All original, signed, Dunbar pentagonal coffee table designed by Edward Wormley. Beautiful patina on the original finish.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Grand Scale Edward Wormley for Dunbar Parsons Tables in Dark Mahogany
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Hudson, NY
Beautiful pair of Dunbar Parsons tables designed by Ed Wormley. Both tables retain the original Dunbar badge on the underside.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Trapezoid Top Wormley For Dunbar Coffee Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
Original finish Dunbar trapezoid coffee table. We are also separately offering the end tables from this set if you are interested in a full original ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Wood
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Janus Coffee Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Janus coffee table. The table is walnut with a geometric shape and the centre has five, round, Tiffany Studios glas...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Walnut, Glass
Custom Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mahogany Library Table with Brass Stretcher
By Edward Wormley
Located in Stamford, CT
A mahogany library table with brass stretcher bar designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. The table retains both is Dunbar label and its Dunbar label referring to its custom elements ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Table or Bench with Magazine Display
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
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 Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Coffee Table with Faceted Olive Burl Pedestal Base by Edward Wormley
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Coffee table No. 6302G with faceted olive burl pedestal base and thick glass top by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, American, 1963 (Dunbar metal tag on base).
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Glass, Burl
Asymmetrical Coffee Table by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A low console or table with a spare mahogany frame that supports an asymmetrical top with brass capped feet.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Brass
Walnut Low Table by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rectangular dark walnut low table having a black laminate top and distinctive triangular legs.
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Walnut
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 Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Mahogany
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 Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Walnut, Mahogany
Cork Low Table by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A simple and elegant square low table with a raised cork top on a mahogany 'Parsons' base.
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Cork
Dunbar Natzler Coffee Table
By Gertrud and Otto Natzler, Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
A rare low 1950s sculptural walnut cocktail table with inset Natzler tiles. Measures: 18" H x 30" W x 22" W x 60" L.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Ceramic, Walnut
Early Edward Wormley Dunbar Long Oriental Cork Coffee Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Early Edward Wormley Dunbar long oriental cork coffee table. Early green rectangular label attached. This version of this table is rarer in the longer length.
Measures: 62" x 14.7...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Cork
Low Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An ebonized mahogany low table with a lower shelf and singe drawer on cylindrical dowel legs.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Burl Olive Wood Glass Top Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar # 6302G
By Edward Wormley
Located in Stamford, CT
A faceted burl olive wood pedestal base with glass top, coffee or low table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar model # 6302G. Metal tag & paper label on bottom of base. Photo to be added...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Glass, Olive
Occasional Table by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An interesting and uncommon occasional table on casters having a cruciform structure intersected by two circular planes, the top of the table surfaced with leather.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Brass
Bold Coffee Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Bold mahogany coffee table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. USA, circa 1950. Signed with Dunbar tag. U-shaped legs supporting...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Low Table or Bench by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A low table or bench with an ebonized walnut frame which rises slightly above the table surface and can hold a loose cushion if used as a bench.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Walnut
Edward Wormley Long John Bench for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in San Diego, CA
The iconic Long John bench designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Features a solid walnut construction with bent hairpin plywood legs. The edge of the table has a slight raised edge....
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Walnut, Plywood
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Rosewood Cocktail Table, Newly Refinished
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern cocktail table, occasional side table, or tea table
By Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture
USA, 1950s
Book-matched rosewood top, with ebonized ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Edward Wormley coffee and cocktail tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Edward Wormley coffee and cocktail tables 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 coffee and cocktail tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original coffee and cocktail tables 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 coffee and cocktail tables by Dunbar, Knoll, and Paul McCobb. Prices for Edward Wormley coffee and cocktail tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,400 and can go as high as $23,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,850.
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