American designer Lawrence Peabody imbued his mid-century modern furniture with flair and style. His vintage lounge chairs, side tables and credenzas feature sleek silhouettes and chic curves. At the same time, every piece has an easy and comfortable appeal reflective of a designer known to be humble and pragmatic.
Peabody was born in 1924 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. As a young man, the story goes, he joined the Navy partly because he found the uniforms aesthetically appealing. After World War II, Peabody used the benefits offered by the G.I. Bill to attend the Rhode Island School of Design. There, he studied under Austrian designer Ernst Lichtblau, who introduced Peabody to the Bauhaus style.
After completing his studies in America, Peabody moved to Denmark and attended the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Here, he met his wife, Bette, who he married in 1952. By 1955, Peabody had moved back to America and settled in Boston, where he created Danish-inspired seating for the Selig furniture company and opened a design firm called Lawrence Peabody & Associates.
One of the firm's earliest designs was a walnut and rattan cradle chair for Richardson Nemschoff, which earned the 1962 International Design Award. Peabody became known for using walnut in his work and drew on Scandinavian modernist influences in his designs.
For the next three decades, Lawrence Peabody & Associates developed an extensive client list that included names like Kohler, Richardson Brothers, Chapman Lamps and Boyd Lighting.
Throughout his life and career, Peabody also developed a love of Haiti and Haitian art. On one trip to Port-Au-Prince, he met and befriended a man named Dewitt Peters, founder of Le Centre d'art, a haven for local artists. Peabody and Dewitt collaborated to promote handcrafted Haitian art and furniture at overseas museums. Peabody even became one of the organization's directors. He eventually purchased a home in Port-Au-Prince and spent much time there later in life.
Today, Craft Associates Furniture holds the license to produce Peabody designs.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Lawrence Peabody seating, tables, storage cabinets and other furniture.
$4,320Sale Price|40% Off
Contour Chaise by Lawrence Peabody for Selig
By Lawrence Peabody
Located in Dallas, TX
This is an original Lawrence Peabody contour chaise designed for Selig. "Ideal for relaxing," we upholstered the chaise in a Sandra Jordan Alpaca Wool b...
Alpaca, Walnut
$5,750 / item
H 29.5 in W 28.75 in D 30.5 in
Lawrence Peabody Wicker Lounge Chair for Craft Associates Furniture
By Lawrence Peabody
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Lawrence Peabody Manufacturer: Craft Associates® Furniture Period/Model: Mid-Century Modern Specs: Walnut, leather Lawrence Peabody wicker lounge chair...
Teak
Lawrence Peabody Mid Century Captains Chair
By Lawrence Peabody
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Lawrence Peabody Mid Century captains chair This chair measures: 21.5 wide x 19.5 deep x 30 inches high, with a seat height of 17.5 and ...
Upholstery, Wood
$6,595 / set
H 27 in W 30 in D 32 in
Yellow Leather Lawrence Peabody for Selig Danish Modern Danish Lounge Chairs
By Selig, Lawrence Peabody, Folke Ohlsson, Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Imagine a pair of iconic Mid-Century Modern masterpieces, whose elegant silhouettes speak to a golden era of Danish design: these are the Number 596 lounge chairs, conceived by the v...
Leather, Upholstery, Beech
$3,800
H 29 in W 53 in D 36 in
Architectural Wave Chaise Lounge Chair by Lawrence Peabody for Selig, c. 1960s
By Selig, Lawrence Peabody
Located in Deland, FL
A contoured build sure to be the statement piece in your living space. Found in the original upholstery and set on maple tapered legs. Buy in it's original state or if the fabric isn...
Fabric
Lawrence Peabody Wing Chair for Craft Associates
By Craft Associates, Lawrence Peabody
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Lawrence Peabody Manufacturer: Craft Associates Furniture Period/Model: Mid-Century Modern Specs: Walnut, velvet Yardage: 6 yards This Lawrence Peabody wing chair for Craft Associates...
Velvet, Walnut
Kofod Larsen for Selig Mid Century Walnut Chaise Lounge Chair
By Selig, Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Kofod Larsen for Selig Mid Century Walnut Chaise Lounge Chair This chair measures: 24 wide x 61 deep x 29 high, with a seat height/chair clearance of 14 inches Good Vintage Conditi...
Upholstery, Walnut
CraftAssociates Chaises, Contour Modern Chaise, Mohair
By Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
CraftAssociates Chaises, Contour Modern Chaise, Mohair This modern chaise lounge is expertly crafted and upholstered. The chaise boasts hand cut high-density foam and thick weave fa...
Upholstery, Wood, Walnut
Lawrence Peabody Modern Sofa for Craft Associates Furniture
By Craft Associates, Lawrence Peabody
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Lawrence Peabody Manufacturer: Craft Associates Furniture Period/Model: Mid-Century Modern Specs: Walnut, thick weave fabric This Lawrence Peabody modern sofa for Craft Associates Furniture is expertly handcrafted and upholstered. This Peabody sofa is a licensed reintroduction for Craft Associates. The sofa is shown here in solid walnut and thick weave, but each is hand built and made to order so wood species and fabric can be customized. Craft Associates has a full fabric program available. Craft Associates Furniture is proud each modern piece is made in the US. They strive to craft a product that will stand the test of time. They use the best materials and have the best craftsman and upholstery in the business. We stand 100% behind our product. Dimensions: H 31.5" (80.01cm) L 88" (223.52cm) D 30" (76.2cm) Arm height 22.25" (56.52cm) Seat height 17.5" (44.45cm) Seat width 80" (203.2cm) Seat depth 21.5" (54.61cm) "The U.S. would profit by the example of the Danes, whose great work in furniture design is the result of combining proficient craftsmanship, Fine design and technical skill. The Danes do more than sell arts and crafts in their distinguished work, they sell Denmark." - Lawrence Peabody, 1957 History Lawrence “Larry” Peabody (1924-2002) was an architect, interior designer, and furniture designer. As an American born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, his distinctive design were often influenced by his Scandinavian roots. Lawrence studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Denmark and at the Rhode Island School of Design. His early career with Selig Mfg. Co. was prolific and helped put both himself and Selig on the map for modern furniture. He then started Lawrence Peabody & Associates in 1955, a design firm in Boston which included a vast client list (Sears, Roebuck & Co., Kohler, Regal Rugs, Boyd Lighting, Chapman Lamps, and Richardson Brothers). In 1961, Mr. Peabody won a Citation for Merit for his Peabody Collection for Richardson/ Nemschoff. Winner of the 1962 International A.I.D. design award for his wood frame rattan cradle chair...
Fabric, Walnut
$1,500
H 29.5 in W 27 in D 31.88 in
Mid-Century Vintage "Rocker 952" by Lawrence Peabody for Nemschoff
By Nemschoff, Lawrence Peabody
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-century modern small rocking chair with wicker back. Walnut wood frame with two thick cushions. Please confirm location NY or NJ
Walnut
$2,200Sale Price|44% Off
H 30.75 in W 36 in D 33 in
Sculptural Lounge Chair by Lawrence Peabody for Selig with Brass Legs
By Lawrence Peabody
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Sculptural lounge chair by Lawrence Peabody for Selig with brass legs.
Velvet
Lawrence Peabody Style Mid Century Wave Chaise
By Lawrence Peabody
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Lawrence Peabody Style Mid Century Wave Chaise This chaise measures: 30 wide x 52 deep x 30.5 high, with a seat height of 16.5 and arm height/chair clearance 20.75 inches Great Vin...
Upholstery, Wood
Lawrence Peabody Lounge Chair for Craft Associates
By Craft Associates, Lawrence Peabody
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Lawrence Peabody Manufacturer: Craft Associates Furniture Period/Model: Mid-Century Modern Specs: Ziricote, Velvet This Lawrence Peabody lounge chair is expertly handcraf...
Velvet, Ziricote
Sold
H 29 in W 30 in D 48 in
Mid Century Chaise Lounge in White Boucle by Lawrence Peabody for Selig C 1950's
By Lawrence Peabody, Selig
Located in New York, NY
Chic, voguish mid century chaise designed by Lawrence Peabody, for Selig. The chaise is newly reupholstered in white boucle fabric, with painted black wood legs, making this piece e...
Upholstery
Mid-Century Modern Chaise Lounge Chair by Lawrence Peabody
By Lawrence Peabody
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A gorgeous sleek chaise lounge from the 1950s. Newly reupholstered in a textured white velvet with walnut legs refinished in a lovely medium color.
Fabric, Wood