Like so many artists and designers, husband and wife John McGuire (1920–2013) and Elinor Stevenson (1914–2005) became masters in their trade by accident. For the founders of McGuire Furniture Company, well, furniture wasn’t actually in the plans.
The couple met just before the start of World War II (during which John was in the U.S. Navy and Elinor was a navigation instructor) and got married after it ended. They settled down in San Francisco where John held a couple of jobs — among them selling newspaper ads for the San Francisco Examiner while Elinor worked for Boeing Aircraft. Soon, an old Navy buddy of John’s asked him to help sell a bunch of rattan furniture and, needing the money, John agreed. His side business became so successful that John decided to quit his ad-sales job and work full-time in design.
In 1948, McGuire Furniture Company was born. Alongside the mid-century modern furniture designs then gaining popularity in the United States, John introduced an unconventional idea: traditional armchairs, stools and tables made of natural materials such as bamboo, which was strong yet could be rendered pliable when steamed, that were intended for the indoors rather than the front porch.
The brand’s first success was the now famous Director’s X-Chair by Leonard Linden. The military-campaign-style solid oak folding chair launched in 1956 and saw rattan binded with rawhide strips and a high-grade leather slug seat and back that eliminated the need for a plush cushion. Elinor, too, designed some of the brand’s popular pieces, such as 1968’s Cracked Ice chair. With its rattan oval back a dazzling celebration of geometric forms that give it its charming moniker, the Cracked Ice chair was an instant classic and is one of the brand’s most recognizable designs.
Today, McGuire and another American furniture manufacturer, Baker Furniture Company, comprise Baker Interiors Group. McGuire remains true to the founders’ ideals and commitment to crafting the kind of organic modern furnishings that are synonymous with the warm and relaxed feel of California design. The company has collaborated with interior designers Steven Volpe, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy and Nicole Hollis, and, as of 2019, its luxury furnishings share a 16,500-square-foot showroom with Baker’s in San Francisco. Some of the earliest McGuire Furniture Company designs are part of the permanent collection at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City.
Find a wide range of vintage John and Elinor McGuire furniture on 1stDibs.
Blonde Bamboo Console Table by John McGuire w/Optional Stone Top, Two Available
By John and Elinor McGuire, McGuire
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Blonde Bamboo Console Table by John McGuire with Stone Top, Two Available. Genuine McGuire organic modern rectangular console table, designed by breakthrough innovator John McGuire f...
Stone
McGuire Sculptural Rattan & Bamboo "Sheaf of Wheat" Oval Console Table
By McGuire, John and Elinor McGuire
Located in Chicago, IL
McGuire Sculptural Rattan & Bamboo “Sheaf of Wheat” Oval Console Table Base An exceptional example of Organic Modern design, this authentic vintage McGuire sculptural table base—mode...
Bamboo, Glass
McGuire Organic Modern Oval Bamboo Rattan Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Genuine McGuire bamboo rattan dining table made in the California coastal organic modern style. The table features a large elongated...
Iron
$980
H 17 in W 40 in D 17 in
Vintage Coastal Style McGuire Sheaf of Wheat Rattan Coffee Table. Circa 1980s
By McGuire
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Mid Century Hollywood Regency / Coastal Style McGuire Sheaf of Wheat Rattan Coffee Table. Circa 1980s Features a highly decorative and organically stylish elliptical hourgla...
Rattan
McGuire Rattan Coffee Table with Glass Top
By McGuire, John and Elinor McGuire
Located in Highland, IN
Elinor McGuire designed coffee table for McGuire of San Fransisco, the company she started with her husband John. McGuire furniture is made to last generations. Not only is the desig...
Leather, Rattan
McGuire Organic Modern Octagonal Blonde Bamboo Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A monumental bespoke organic modern octagonal dining table crafted in the California coastal style by McGuire artisans in San Francisco, California. The table features a large and sculptural iron base painted Golden Gate orange for authenticity. The base is constructed with eight leg columns of bundled bamboo, each comprised of multiple poles lashed together ending with a height adjustable foot. The table is crafted in a octagonal configuration linked by diagonal stretchers radiating inwards, creating a mandala-like wheel geometry when viewed from above. The joinery is hand-tied with an attractive cream toned leather rawhide lacing at every joint. The table is very heavy and sturdy having excellent joinery and craftsmanship. The bamboo itself is has a rich variegated tortoiseshell finish in rich tones of light brown, blonde, and amber with a desirable aged patina. The table is topped by a rare large, and thick piece of McGuire octagonal...
Iron
$2,350Sale Price|43% Off
H 29 in W 72 in D 35.75 in
Lyda Levi x McGuire Company Gate Leg Console Table
By McGuire
Located in Astoria, NY
Lyda Levi for McGuire Company Gate Leg Console Table, the rectangular oak wood flip-top above bamboo and rattan base. Closed: 29.5" H x 72" W x...
Bamboo, Rattan, Oak
$2,850
H 28.75 in Dm 48 in
Vintage McGuire Rattan Sheaf of Wheat Form Dining Table, Original White Lacquer
By John and Elinor McGuire, McGuire
Located in St. Louis, MO
Vintage Hollywood Regency McGuire rattan sheaf of wheat form glass top dining table or breakfast table designed in the 1960s. Beveled edge glass top has few minor scratches. Glass i...
Rattan
John Richard Two-Tiered Inlaid Console Table
By John Richard
Located in Dallas, TX
A John Richard "European Crossroads" two-tiered console table with full gallery tops on both tiers and banded and marquetry inlaid wood shelves. 36in tall x 43in wide x 17-3/4in deep.
Brass
Vintage Sheaf of Wheat Table by John and Elinor McGuire
By McGuire, John and Elinor McGuire
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The "Sheaf of Wheat" dining table by McGuire Furniture is an iconic piece featuring a round glass top and a pedestal base made of bundled rattan poles. The base is cinched at the cen...
Glass, Bamboo
Round Wheat Bamboo Sheaf Base Coffee Table Mid-Century Modern McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern white wash finish bamboo sheaf base coffee table by McGuire.
Bamboo
"John" Console Table by Stephane Ducatteau
By Stephane Ducatteau
Located in London, London
"John" console table by Stephane Ducatteau, Signed by Artist, France, 2010. All Ducatteau pieces are available exclusively from Decoratum and are To Order only. Please allow 6-8 w...
Steel
McGuire Furniture Wheat Sheaf Rattan Glass Top Side Table
By McGuire
Located in Bridgeport, CT
This Mid Century side or cocktail table is made of many pieces of bent and cut rattan that fit together to form a classic sheaf of wheat shape. Interesting tied rattan design and bra...
Rattan, Glass
Bamboo Frame Glass Top Console Table w/ Figurative Brass Supports
By Ficks Reed, McGuire
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern bamboo console table with glass top.
Brass
Monumental McGuire Ming Altar Table with Ivory Crackle Finish
By John and Elinor McGuire, McGuire
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Monumental McGuire altar table with ivory crackle finish. This altar table is McGuire’s interpretation of classic Chinese design. The Ming-inspired table has a hardwood frame that wa...
Hardwood
Sold
H 30.71 in W 59.06 in D 13.78 in
Mcguire 70s console with opening shelf in black lacquered rattan
By John and Elinor McGuire
Located in Roma, RM
Mcguire Console with Flip-Top opening in matt black lacquered rattan Closed console dimensions: 148cm width x 78cm height x 35cm depth Open console dime...
Rattan
Organic Modern Rattan Bamboo, Iron and Leather Console Table by McGuire
By John and Elinor McGuire
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Vintage 7 feet narrow sofa/console table by McGuire Furniture. It is formed of natural split bamboo wrapped with leather straps around an iron frame. Toppe...
Iron