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 range of McGuire Furniture on 1stDibs.
$2,400 / set
McGuire Furniture Faux Bamboo Table Lamps, Pair
By McGuire
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Vintage pair of faux bamboo table lamps by McGuire Furniture. These large exotic metal lamps feature a warm dark bronze tone matte finish. Each lamp is configured for two (100-Watt...
Metal
Blue And White Ceramic Faux-Bamboo Table Lamp
Located in Bruton, GB
A delightful vintage ceramic table lamp designed in the form of a faux bamboo lantern, combining Chinoiserie-inspired structure with soft botanical decorations. The hexagonal body ...
Ceramic
Monumental South Pacific Bamboo 1940s Table Lamp Tiki Rattan McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Peoria, AZ
MONUMENTAL BAMBOO & WALNUT POLYNESIAN STYLE TABLE LAMP In the Manner of McGuire & Wakefield Circa 1947-1950 At the very beginning of the Post-War Polynesian or South Pacific craze which took over America during the late forties and fifties, there were precious few importers of fine bamboo furnishings. John & Elinore McGuire set up shop in California to do just that and their works are legendary for quality and durabiity. The time required to cut, soak, bend and shape bamboo into permanently sculpted forms was substantial and the exotic material was only available in quantity in the South Pacific. This lamp is an extremely rare, early example of a Bamboo lamp done in Polynesian (later Tiki) style. You seldom see any of these lamps, because they were very scarce new and even fewer have survived the past 70 years since their manufacture. It was likely created & imported in very small numbers around 1950 and sold through an early importer such as McGuire. Many bamboo importers were direct-to-decorator importers who advertised in Interiors or House & Garden magazine. The shape is based on the style of bamboo work used to create thatched huts and housing in the South Pacific islands - bamboo, cut, soaked and shaped and then tied with cane binding. This one has a double stacked oversized walnut base to provided stability to this enormous lamp...
Metal
$595 / set
H 32 in W 7.5 in D 7.5 in
Vintage Hollywood Regency Yellow Ceramic Faux Bamboo Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Hollywood Regency Yellow Ceramic Faux Bamboo Table Lamps - a Pair. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 32" H (to finial) x 21" H (to light socket) x 7.5" W x 7.5" D. {3-Way...
Ceramic
Pair of Ingo Maurer Faux Bamboo Table Lamps, German 1970s
By Ingo Maurer, M Design
Located in München, BY
Beautiful set of two brass bamboo table lamps model "ML 1". Design by Ingo Maurer, 1968 for Design M, Germany. The lamps are equipped with the original cables with on/off switch and...
Brass
Pr. Faux Bamboo Brass Table Lamps by Stiffel
By Stiffel
Located in New York, NY
Stately and impressive pair of faux bamboo, Hollywood regency, Campaign style table lamps by the noted American manufacturer, Stiffel. The lamps are in very good, original, clean an...
Brass
Laurel Faux Bamboo Lamp with Table
By Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice quality faux bamboo floor table lamp combination.
Chrome
Gilt Faux Bamboo Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Gilt Faux Bamboo Lamp in the Hollywood Regency Style. Made of metal and wood. 25.5" to top of socket. Good overall condition with some wear to finish from age and use. Newly rewired ...
Metal
Pair of Table Lamp in Faux Bamboo and Brass, Italy, 1960s
Located in Rome, IT
Pair of table lamps featuring a squared brass faux bamboo base and a single light bulb at the end. They both perfectly work, as shown in the pictures.
Metal, Brass
$894Sale Price / set|44% Off
H 15.75 in W 7.09 in D 5.52 in
Faux Bamboo French Ceramic Table Lamp Pair , French 1970
Located in La xara, VC
Hollywood Regency style, faux bamboo French ceramic table lamp Pair with green painted faux-bamboo trim circa 1970s. Please note of wea...
Ceramic
Pair of French Faux Bamboo Table Lamps from a Design by Jacques Adnet
By Jacques Adnet
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Pair of French Mid-Century Modern Faux Bamboo Table Lamps from a Design by Jacques Adnet. These exquisite objects possess a pure, sober form in combination with the luxury of...
Metal, Brass, Enamel
Pair of Mid Century Faux Bamboo Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
In vogue pair of table lamps composed of hardwood turned rods, probably ash, burned like bamboo and banded with brass string.
Brass
Gilt Faux Bamboo Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Gilt faux bamboo lamp, rewired. Shade not included. Measurement is to top of socket.
Gold Leaf
Robert Kuo for McGuire Copper Diva Floor Lamp
By Robert Kuo, McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Sculptural Robert Kuo for McGuire signed copper repousse diva floor lamp. Constructed with a hand-hammered repousse finish having a dramatic flared form on top and bottom. The lamp i...
Brass, Copper
Sold
H 18 in W 13.5 in D 5.5 in
Signed / Numbered Carved Ice Table Lamp by Robert Kuo for McGuire 3/19
By Robert Kuo, McGuire
Located in Toledo, OH
A splendid carved ice table lamp by Robert Kuo for McGuire, signed and numbered 3/19. This beautiful lamp features a hand-carved natural rock crystal on...
McGuire Hammered Bronze Lamps
By McGuire
Located in New York, NY
Pair of midcentury heavy bronze lamps with a hammered textured body sitting on blackened disc bases. Rewired for use in the USA. 100W max bulbs.
Bronze
McGuire Table Lamp Hammered Brass Silvertone Patina
By McGuire
Located in Toledo, OH
Mc Guire table lamp with a silvertone decorative hammered finish. Large baluster shaped base, two sockets and good wiring. The Shade Is Not Included.
Brass