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.
Very Large Octagonal Glass Top Leather Strapped Bamboo McGuire Dining Table
By McGuire, Ficks Reed
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very large 80" round octagonal beveled glass top leather strapped bamboo McGuire dining table.
Leather, Bamboo, Glass
McGuire Organic Modern Round Rattan Oak Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand McGuire organic modern round dining table crafted from oak with a reeded rattan finish. The large table features an oak pedesta...
Iron
McGuire Organic Modern Blonde Bamboo Hexagonal Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous McGuire organic modern hexagonal base dining table featuring a large round glass top. This is an early McGuire model #MCBA17 crafted with a geometric iron frame hand-wrapped...
Iron
Large Glass Top Bamboo & Leather Straps Frame Dining Conference Table by McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Large rectangle glass top bamboo & leather straps frame dining conference table by McGuire.
Leather, Bamboo, Glass
Danish Large Dining or Conference Table in Oregon Pine
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Conference or large dining table, Oregon pine, Denmark, 1960s Impressive in its size, this Danish table can be used in multiple settings. As a very large dining table to fit many r...
Pine
Contemporary Glass Top Chrome Dining or Writing Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The chrome supports square shaped with T shaped tops and bases. With a long clear glass top. Useful as a Dining or Writing table. Dimensions: L. 72", W. 36", H. 29 1/2' Condition...
Chrome
$2,200
H 27 in Dm 54 in
Mid Century Dining Conference Table with Round Solid Walnut Top on Chrome Base
By Ward Bennett, Knoll
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional dining, or conference table, having a thick solid walnut top, which is supported by a bright chrome pedestal base with four chrome legs which radiate from the center pole...
Chrome
McGuire Organic Modern Bamboo Glass Top Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Genuine McGuire dining table or breakfast table made in the California coastal organic modern style. The stylish table features an iron frame base painted golden gate orage for authe...
Iron
$16,269Sale Price|60% Off
H 29.93 in W 82.68 in D 41.74 in
Rare Pietro Chiesa Large Glass Dining Table for Fontana Arte, circa 1940
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Rome, IT
Large glass dining table designed by Pietro Chiesa and manufactured by Fontana Arte, Milano, circa 1940 extremely rare and important monument...
Bronze
$8,000
H 28 in W 77.75 in D 46.75 in
Restored Vintage Florence Knoll Oval Top Rosewood Dining or Conference Table
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in St. Louis, MO
Restored Mid-Century Modern vintage Florence Knoll oval top dining table / conference or desk in rare book matched rosewood veneer on chrome star...
Chrome
$3,295
H 29.25 in W 96 in D 42.5 in
Modern Oak Large Trestle Style Dining or Conference Table Bullnose Edges
Located in Topeka, KS
Gorgeous modern oak veneer large trestle style dining or conference table with bullnose edge top and slab style legs. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. We have noticed a few minor nicks and dings on the top and along the edges. The top also has an overall raised grain texture. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Late 20th Century. This is a TITANIC of a table!!! Lol… It’s super large!! It is comprised of gorgeous oak veneer with solid oak applied to both ends… kind of a modified trestle style dining table with slab legs, and beautiful bullnose edge on said top and legs. The added solid oak ends are separated from the veneered top by a narrow-blackened groove which sets this detail off nicely. It is absolutely stunning!! It is a colossal 96 inches long and seats eight comfortably, but you may fit ten if the chairs are a bit narrower or you straddle the legs. The legs are recessed 6.5 inches, so straddling is not a large obstacle. In addition, although the natural oak is beautiful, we can also see this being ebonized with a little black dye. Incredible!!! It will be fabulous in your dining room or as a lovely conference table at the office! It is modern in style, but it will host oodles of options of dining or office chairs! We have LOTS of chairs...
Oak
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.5 in W 20 in D 48 in
Ginormous Burl Top Conference Dining Table after Baughman
By Milo Baughman
Located in New York, NY
Extraordinary large burl top dining / conference table having a rectangular top, supported by rectangular plinth base, base upholstered in faux suede, base shows some discoloration. ...
Upholstery, Burl
$4,500
H 28 in W 45 in D 45 in
McGuire Organic Modern Hexagonal Bamboo Dining Table Base for Round Glass Top
By John McGuire, McGuire
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Stunning organic modern spotted bamboo dining table base for glass top designed by John McGuire. The dining table base, crafted entirely by hand, features bamboo poles lashed in place with McGuire's signature leather rawhide laces and has an iron frame. Horizontal bamboo members radiate from a center support of bundled bamboo and join six outer bamboo supports with a series of bamboo stretchers to create its attractive geometric form. Genuine McGuire bamboo tables...
Iron
McNichols Dining Table
By Anton Maka
Located in Shelby Twp, MI
The McNichols dining table is made of a solid walnut board top that has been hand-selected to show off the natural beauty and character of the black walnut. The tabletop is set on so...
Walnut
Mid Century Rattan Dining Table attributed to McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Atlanta, GA
Mid Century Rattan Dining Table, attributed to The McGuire Company, Asian, circa 1960s. Please see our Gabriella Crespi dining chairs on 1stdibs t...
Leather, Rattan, Glass
$4,495
H 29.13 in W 141.25 in D 46.25 in
Drexel Heritage Mid-Century Modern Oak and Burl Wood Dining Table, Refinished
By Drexel
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern Hollywood Regency extension dining table By Drexel Heritage USA, Circa 1970s Carved oak, with bur...
Oak, Burl
Monumental McGuire Bamboo Glass Rectangular Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
20th century monumental sized genuine McGuire dining table featuring a 102 inch long rectangular beveled glass top. The base is constructed from an iron frame painted golden gate ora...
Brass, Iron
Monumental McGuire Bamboo Rattan Rectangular Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Bespoke monumental McGuire rectangular dining table made in the organic modern style. Authentic, genuine McGuire table with an iron frame painted golden gate orange...
Iron
Palazzo Walnut Dining Table by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy for McGuire
By Orlando Diaz-azcuy, McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Chic modern walnut Palazzo dining table with two extending leaves designed by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy for McGuire. The table features an extending rectangular ...
Metal, Brass
McGuire California Modern Octagonal Bamboo Rattan Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Large octagonal bamboo rattan dining table made in the California organic modern style by McGuire. Features an iron frame 62 inches wide completely wrapped with bamboo poles. The bam...
Iron
McGuire California Modern Bamboo Rattan Oval Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning McGuire bamboo rattan large oval dining table made in the organic California Modern style. Features a large hexagonal iron frame (44 inches wide by 21.5 inches deep) completely wrapped with blonde bamboo rattan poles. Reinforced with cream colored leather rawhide laces and topped with a thick beveled oval pane of glass. The large glass oval...
Leather, Bamboo, Rattan, Glass
McGuire Asian Style Ebonized Hardwood Extending Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Extraordinary round ebonized hardwood dining table with three 18 inch extending leaves. Produced by McGuire with an Asian influence design. Constructed from hardwood, probably oak wi...
Hardwood, Lacquer
Sheaf of Bamboo Wheat Round Dining Table Base McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern sheaf of bamboo or wheat round dining table base. We offer a 48-54" round 3/4" top separately. Or it may be used as a pedest...
Bamboo
McGuire Large Bamboo Glass Top Dining Conference Table Modern
By McGuire
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Rare find excellent vintage condition bamboo and leather dining room table by McGuire.
Bamboo, Leather