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.
Vintage Bamboo Bench with Leather Lashing by McGuire Furniture Co.
By McGuire
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage espresso colored bamboo bench with leather lashing by McGuire Furniture of San Francisco, circa 1970s. The piece has a solid wood seat with bamboo legs and trim and is quite ...
Bamboo, Wood, Leather
Pair of Laura Kirar for McGuire Rattan Raffia King Benches
By Laura Kirar, McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stylish pair of lacquered rattan and raffia grass cloth benches or diminutive daybeds designed by Laura Kirar for McGuire. Known as ring benches they feature an oak frame with rattan clad borders and inset with raffia grasscloth...
Velvet, Raffia, Rattan
Mid Century Wood Bench, Winchendon Furniture Co.
By Winchendon
Located in Riverdale, NY
Elegant Mid Century Wood Bench by the Winchendon Furniture Co. with shaped lobed back rest on a simple, sleek design with faceted and tape...
Wood, Cherry
Linear Bench in Natural Wanut Series 72 by Stamford Modern
By Stamford Modern
Located in Westport, CT
Inspired by Mid-Century Modern legend Edward Wormley, "The Linear Bench" embodies modern minimalism with clean lines and a sturdy metal stretcher. Explore...
Brass
Cloud Day Bed/Bench by Naoto Fukasawa for B&B italia
By Naoto Fukasawa, B&B Italia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing the Cloud Day Bed/Bench by Naoto Fukasawa for B&B Italia - the perfect addition to any modern living space. This sleek and stylish piece of furniture is designed to provi...
Chrome
Bronze and Leather Daybed or Bench by Nicos Zographos
By Nicos Zographos
Located in Atlanta, GA
Bronze and caramel color leather daybed or bench, designed by Nicos Zographos, American, circa 1960s. Retains warm original patina to the bronze.
Metal, Bronze
All Black Cowhide Fur Upholstery Custom Daybed Large Bench
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Stylish custom made all black cowhide upholstery sofa daybed.
Cowhide
$1,496Sale Price|25% Off
H 18.5 in W 50 in D 16.5 in
Vintage Chinoiserie Ming Style Bench by Raymond Sobota for Century Furniture
By Century Furniture, Raymond K. Sobota
Located in Topeka, KS
Wonderful vintage Chinoiserie Ming style black lacquered bench by Raymond Sobota for Century Furniture, needs reupholstered. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage...
Fabric, Wood
Bodil Kjaer Bench
By Bodil Kjaer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Denmark, Bodil Kjaer bench in leather (Re-Edition).
Chrome
Contemporary Goddard Bench in Gray Leather with Steel Legs
By Michael Felix
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Smaller than a sofa, but bigger than a bench, the Goddard daybed functions as both when needed. It takes its form from 1950s French Industrial design, maintaining a sense of lightnes...
Metal
Dark Rattan and White Boucle Daybed by McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Glamorous 1970’s dark stain rattan bamboo with rawhide and white boucle daybed by McGuire Furniture. The frame is in original condition, the cushions h...
Hide, Bouclé, Bamboo
19th Century Serpent Carved Walnut Daybed/Bench
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A whimsical carved walnut daybed from the estate of Merv Griffin, of entwined serpents supporting an upholstered bench. Small scale is ideal child size daybed.
Walnut
Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Painted Bench
Located in San Angelo, TX
Here is an absolutely stunning early 19th century rococo Swedish bench. This beautiful piece has been dry scrapped to the original paint. It features a white color palette throughout...
Wood, Paint
$4,200
H 20 in W 57 in D 24.25 in
1 of 2 Modern Brueton Industries Silver Gray Bouclé Fabric Wave Daybed Bench 90
By Brueton
Located in Miami, FL
1 of 2 Custom made Modern Brueton Industries silver grey Bouclé fabric upholstery daybed, sofa or bench in wave design. Very comfortable and sturdy mounted on 4 chrome legs. Has a gr...
Chrome
Sold
H 20.5 in W 31 in D 16.5 in
Late 20th Century Coastal Style Bench Rattan & Rawhide Wrapped by McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Topeka, KS
Awesome vintage Coastal Style bench comprised of rattan & rawhide wraps by McGuire with a removeable blue herringbone tweed cushion. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear even if it has been refinished or restored. Specifically, One rung & one leg were repaired, & one joint wrap was repaired & replaced, & the cushion has been shampooed. Please see photos, zoom in for details, and see long description as they are part of the condition report. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Late 20th Century. This bench by McGuire is absolutely…. FIRE!!! That’s right!! A Bougee spot for your BOOTY!!! This is a vintage bench with a frame comprised of rattan with rawhide wrapped joints… it’s a signature combination used by McGuire. It has a loose or removeable blue herringbone tweed cushion that is zippered & has Velcro wraps underneath so it’s very easily cleaned, changed, or reupholstered! Just imagine all of the fun fabric possibilities!! It bears many styles including Coastal, Island, Organic Modern, and Chinoiserie so it is extremely versatile. It will be beautiful in your Lanai or sunroom, at the end of a bed in your bedroom, or in an entry way! It’s basically an ANYWHERE you want it bench!! Magnificent presentation, phenomenal comfort, and a well-known McGuire quality!! McGuire Furniture, whose name is synonymous with style and elegance, was founded in 1948 in San Francisco by husband-and-wife team John and Elinor McGuire. The history of McGuire is best told by a quote from Town and Country magazine which said…” The story of John and Elinor McGuire and the success of McGuire is a singularly American saga. It tells of how a young couple’s imagination, determination, hard work, and mutual dedication to values of taste and quality transformed a small firm into a large international business…” McGuire uses the best of materials and designers to create their masterpieces of functional, beautiful, and long-lasting furniture for inside and outside the homes and businesses worldwide. This extraordinary rattan and rawhide wrapped bench...
Fabric, Rattan
McGuire Furniture, Bench, Bamboo, Leather, Rattan, USA, 1970s
By McGuire
Located in High Point, NC
A bamboo, leather and rattan bench designed and produced by McGuire Furniture, United States, 1970s.
Leather, Bamboo, Rattan
McGuire Organic Modern Double Caned Rattan Sofa Settee Window Bench
By McGuire
Located in Southampton, NJ
Organic modern McGuire of San Francisco double caned rattan sofa settee or window bench. Features include custom sunflower goldenrod finish & raw silk cushions, bamboo rattan pole fr...
Brass
McGuire Bamboo Rattan Organic Modern Gondola Settee Bench
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Genuine McGuire organic modern Gondola settee or bench crafted from bamboo rattan poles by McGuire. Designed by Elinor McGuire and inspired by Venetian gondolas in Italy. The frame h...
Leather, Fabric, Bamboo, Wood, Rattan
McGuire Organic Modern Caned Rattan Bench Settee
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Lacquered organic modern style rattan bench seat or settee by McGuire. The small bench features a rattan frame that has been lacquered with a caned bac...
Leather, Fabric, Bamboo, Cane, Rattan
McGuire Rattan Bench
By McGuire
Located in New York, NY
McGuire rattan bench seat. Two-seat bench in very good condition. Lightly used.
Rattan
Classic Bamboo Bench by McGuire
By McGuire
Located in San Diego, CA
Classic espresso colored bamboo bench by McGuire Furniture of San Francisco, circa 1970s. The piece has a solid wood seat with bamboo legs and trim and is quite sturdy; it measures: ...
Bamboo, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Long McGuire Rattan Bench with Fabric Upholstery
By McGuire
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern long McGuire brown rattan bench with beige fabric upholstery. Retains the original makers mark underneath. Measures: Seat height 17.5 inches. Great in front of a q...
Fabric, Wood, Bamboo
McGuire Caned Mahogany Bench with Saber Legs
By McGuire, Eleanor Forbes
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Handsome mahogany bench with cane seat panels featuring a reeded frame and legs. The legs are saber splayed form and the frame has a rich finish. Designed by Eleanor Forbes for McGuire.
Cane, Mahogany
Bassam Fellows Queen Bench Daybed for McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Chic slatted daybed bench designed by Craig Bassam and Scott Fellows for a limited edition series for McGuire. Handcrafted of bleached reclaimed wood and r...
Hide, Rattan, Wood
Wonderful Bamboo Zebra Bench
By McGuire
Located in Houston, TX
Great, small scale bamboo bench. Bamboo base is in excellent condition. Cushion is upholstered in a zebra print fabric which could use updating.
Bamboo