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.
Davis Allen Square Chair and Ottoman by McGuire
By McGuire, Davis Allen
Located in Highland, IN
This strikingly handsome Davis Allen design for McGuire of San Fransisco is the model RW-12A "Square Chair" and RW-51P ottoman. It is a cube chair executed in rattan and cane wicker ...
Upholstery, Cane, Rattan
Pair of McGuire Rattan Wicker Lounge Chairs and Ottoman
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Amazing pair of barrel back form rattan wicker lounge chairs or club chairs made in the California coastal organic modern style by McGuire artisans. The rare chairs feature a strong ...
Fabric, Wicker, Rattan
1980s McGuire Rattan Green Beige Chair Ottoman, Set of 2
By McGuire
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated 1980s with this exquisite rattan set in vibrant bamboo print upholstery. The ultra rare set exudes an air of luxury and refinem...
Leather, Upholstery, Rattan
Apollo Chair and Ottoman by Svend Skipper for Skippers Mobler
By Svend Skipper, Skipper Mobler
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Apollo chair by Svend Skipper for Skippers Mobler, and ottoman. Ottoman 22" wide x 19" deep x 13.5" high This 'Apollo' model easy chair is made of a black bent plywood frame and black leather upholstery. Produced by Skippers Furniture in Denmark during the 1970s, the piece looks similar to the “Kroken” chair...
Leather, Bentwood
$4,400
H 38 in W 33 in D 30 in
Mid-Century Modern Tan Leather Egg Style Wide Back Lounge Chair & Ottoman
By Arne Jacobsen, De Sede
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Chrome star base swivel tan leather lounge chair and ottoman probably Scandinavian. Jacobsen style, vintage circa 1960s. Ottoman dimensions: 16 x 22 x 16.
Chrome
Brown Vintage Look Squared Ottoman
Located in IT
Brown vintage look squared ottoman Size to be confirmed: 120 x 120 cm H 40 cm.
Leather
McGuire Organic Modern Bamboo Rattan Lounge Chair With Ottoman
By McGuire
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional mid-century Organic Modern style lounge chair with ottoman By McGuire USA, Circa Early 21st Century Bamboo rattan form hardwood frame, with upholstered seat and bac...
Upholstery, Rattan, Bamboo
McGuire Umbria Rattan and Wicker Lounge Chair with Ottoman
By McGuire
Located in Franklin Park, IL
McGuire Umbria Rattan and Wicker Lounge Chair with Ottoman The chair measures: 33 wide x 43 deep x 38 high, with a seat height of 19 inches and arm height/chair clearance of 23.5 in...
Upholstery, Wicker, Rattan
$36,000 / set
H 43 in W 29 in D 36 in
Staggering Pair of Organic Grasshopper Chairs in Cane and Oak by McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Atlanta, GA
An unforgettable pair of large-scale Organic Modern Grasshopper style club chairs by Steven Volpe for McGuire. Heavy, masterfully conceived solid oak fram...
Cane, Oak
$3,995 / set
H 33 in W 27.75 in D 30.75 in
McGuire Mid-Century Hollywood Regency Bamboo Rattan Lounge Chairs, Pair
By McGuire
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of mid-century Hollywood Regency Organic Modern club chairs or lounge chairs By McGuire of San Francisco USA, 1980s Bamboo rattan frames, with upholstered seat and...
Leather, Upholstery, Bamboo, Rattan
$1,750 / set
H 42 in W 32.5 in D 30 in
Ekornes Stressless Adjustable Sandstone Leather Recliner Ottoman Norway Medium
By Ekornes Stressless
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Scandinavian style recliner and ottoman by Ekornes, their Stressless brand. With teak wood bases and metal frame and genuine leather upho...
Metal
Beige Suede Leather Lounge Chair with Matching Ottoman
By Knoll, B&B Italia
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice Mid-Century Modern swivel lounge chair with matching foot stool. 25 x 20 x 38 - ottoman.
Leather, Suede
Pair of McGuire Wicker Rattan Lounge Chairs and Ottoman
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous pair of rare, woven wicker rattan lounge chairs made in the California coastal organic modern style by McGuire artisans. The large chairs feature a pole rattan frame complet...
Fabric, Wicker, Rattan
Pair of McGuire Organic Modern Rattan Lounge Chairs + Ottoman
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A beautifully crafted pair of bent pole rattan Organic Modern lounge chairs and matching ottoman made by artisans at McGuire in San Francisco, CA. The distinctive oversized chairs fe...
Leather, Fabric, Upholstery, Rattan, Oak
McGuire Lounge Chair and Ottoman Set with Leather Weave
By Mcquire
Located in Toledo, OH
McGuire lounge chair with matching ottoman in a leather weave, excellent condition , no stains, with removable cushions. Chair: 30" Wide x 34" Deep x 29" High; 27" Seat Width x 19" S...
Leather
$8,305 / set
H 35 in W 33 in D 31 in
DS-163 Dark Grey Leather Swiveling Lounge Chair & Ottoman by de Sede
By De Sede
Located in Chicago, IL
de Sede has its origins in a small but skilled saddler's workshop in Klingnau, Switzerland. The craftsmen there committed themselves to transforming the best possible leather into se...
Leather
Sold
H 13.78 in W 25.6 in D 16.93 in
Pair of rattan and rush poufs with leather bindings, Prod. McGuire San Francisco
By McGuire
Located in Roma, RM
Pair of rattan and rush poufs with leather bindings, Prod. McGuire, San Francisco 1970 Product details Dimensions: 65 W x 35 H x 43 D Production: McGuire, San Francisco 1970 Sold as ...
Rattan, Rush
Restored Leather Wrapped Rattan Footstool Pair Signed by McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Set of two restored rattan footstools featuring an "X" base with unique leather corner wrappings and original blue floral print cushions. Each ottoman is signed with a brass tag unde...
Fabric, Rattan
Bamboo and Lucite Ottoman Made by Four Seasons for McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Mid-Century Modern bench made by Four Hands for McGuire circa 1970s. These are rare and hard to find. Solid sturdy condition with newer upholstered cushion on top. See ...
Fabric, Bamboo, Acrylic, Lucite
McGuire Organic Modern Cerused Rattan Footstool
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Lacquered bamboo rattan footstool featuring a cerused or whitewashed finish made by McGuire. Beautifully crafted in the California organic modern style with rattan poles lashed toget...
Leather, Fabric, Rattan
Associated Pair of McGuire Bamboo Rattan Footstools
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Near match associated pair of McGuire bamboo rattan stools or footstools. Made in the organic modern style crafted from rattan with leather rawhide laces on the exposed joints. The t...
Leather, Fabric, Bamboo, Rattan
Pair of McGuire Bamboo Rattan Upholstered Ottomans
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Classic pair of McGuire bamboo rattan upholstered ottomans. Featuring thick padded cushions and McGuire's leather rawhide strapping, maker'...
Leather, Fabric, Rattan, Bamboo