Pay a visit to the town of High Point, North Carolina — long the capital of American-made furniture — and, from nearly any location in the city, you’ll see a tall smokestack bearing the name Tomlinson. It’s a name with deep roots there: In 1901, Sidney Halstead Tomlinson, Sr., and his brother founded the Tomlinson Chair Manufacturing Co., producing adaptations of 19th-century European antiques for an enthusiastic American audience. Later the Tomlinson Furniture Company grew rapidly over the ensuing decades, becoming a significant contributor to High Point’s thriving manufacturing economy.
Although Tomlinson began with a focus on antique-style furniture, by the middle of the century the company had adopted aesthetics from the modern style that was rapidly growing in popularity around the world.
Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Tomlinson Furniture produced coffee tables, storage cabinets and seating in the low-slung, sleek silhouettes that were typically characteristic of what we now know as mid-century modern designs.
Working with designers like John Lubberts and Lambert Mulder, the company experimented with materials like woven cane and unique styles such as neoclassical lounge chairs in cherrywood that were seen as thoughtful modern interpretations of Biedermeier furniture.
During the mid-1950s, Tomlinson Furniture introduced its dramatic and decorative Sophisticate line, a collection of case pieces, seating, tables and more, available in a variety of woods. Today, designs that originated in the collection, such as its pecan-framed chairs with seats and backs of woven leather straps, are increasingly sought after by collectors.
Find vintage Tomlinson furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Pair of Carved Bases & Arms Striped Upholstery Fire Side Arm Lounge Chairs MINT!
By Baker Furniture Company, Henredon, Tomlinson
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of Carved Bases & Arms Striped Upholstery Fire Side Arm Lounge Chairs MINT! TOMLINSON
Cotton, Polyester
Set of Four Lubberts and Mulder for Tomlinson Walnut and Cane Bak Armchair
By Tomlinson, John Lubberts and Lambert Mulder
Located in Germantown, MD
Set of Four (4) John Lubberts and Lambert Mulder for Tomlinson Sophisticate Collection Walnut and Cane Back Armchairs. Measures 20" in width, 22" in depth and 30.5" in height. Seat h...
Cane, Fruitwood
$2,200 / set
Pair of Pavane Tomlinson Arm Chairs
By Tomlinson
Located in Pasadena, TX
Pavane Tomlinson Arm Chairs 28x28x37
Mahogany
Vintage Rattan & Cane Armchairs, Set of 2
Located in Denver, CO
Midcentury bent bamboo Rattan and Cane Armchairs, Set of 2 Minor flaking of the clear coat in a few places on each chair (see images) No structural damage A few small spots ...
Bamboo, Wicker, Cane
Louis XVI Style Carved Mahogany Striped Upholstered Arm Chair
Located in Germantown, MD
Acanthus leaves carvings. Cannelured legs. Striped upholstery in very good vintage condition. Measures 24"W x 24"W x 40.5"H. Seat height is 19"H. Arm Height is 28". Seat interior ...
Upholstery, Mahogany
Pair of English Regency Serpentine Painted Arm Chairs. Circa 1815
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English Regency serpentine splat back hand painted arm chairs with floral ribbon, swags, tassels, and medallion motif. Pair has scrolled ar...
Beech, Paint, Upholstery
Set Of Four Flemish Baroque Walnut Armchairs
Located in Essex, MA
With a square back and seat upholstered in 17th century distressed needlepoint. Barely twist arms and legs with female bust arm terminals. H form conforming stretchers.
Tapestry, Walnut
$695
H 26 in W 23.125 in D 24.5 in
1960s Martin Visser Lounge Chair Enameled Metal Wood Arms White Upholstery
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum Bergeijk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Martin Visser lounge chair combines industrial design with refined comfort through its distinctive material palette. The black enameled metal frame creates geometric lines and struct...
Metal, Enamel
Set of Four Italian Walnut Savonarola Armchairs
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Set of four Italian walnut Savonarola armchairs ORIGIN : FLORENCE, ITALY PERIOD : LATE 15TH CENTURY - EARLY 16TH CENTURY Measures: height : 102 cm 40.15 inches, height : 93 cm 36.61 inches length : 68 cm 26.77 inches, length : 68 cm 26.77 inches depth : 55 cm 21.65 inches, depth : 50 cm 19.68 inches Walnut Very good condition This movable Italian seat from the late 15th century descents from the roman curule seat. It took the name of sedia Savonarola...
Walnut
$5,450 / set
H 35.44 in W 36.62 in D 35.44 in
Theo Ruth for Artifort Pair of Lounge Chairs in Original Striped Upholstery
By Artifort, Theo Ruth
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Theo Ruth for Artifort, pair of easy chairs, in original black and white fabric, wood, The Netherlands, 1950s. This armchair is an iconic example of an Artifort piece furniture de...
Fabric, Wood
McGuire Pair of Arm Lounge Dining Chairs, Custom Finish
By McGuire
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of McGuire Rattan arm chairs. 3 pairs available. Note the beautiful custom finish and embroider upholstery.
Upholstery, Rattan
$8,500 / set
H 33 in W 31 in D 34 in
Pair of Onda Lounge Arm Chairs with Bronze Bases by Giovanni Offredi Saporiti
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of Onda lounge chairs by Giovanni Offredi, edited by Saporiti. The upholstered seats rest on bronzed metal bases. The modern cantilevered design makes the chairs super comfort...
Upholstery
$3,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 29 in W 24 in D 24 in
Pair of Edward Wormley Walnut Open-Arm Lounge Chairs
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Two architectural open arm lounge chairs in walnut by Dunbar, with green and blue horizontal stripe upholstery.
Walnut
$2,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 33.5 in W 21.5 in D 24 in
Pair Of Jack Lenor Larsen Lounge Arm Chairs
By Jack Lenor Larsen
Located in Pasadena, TX
A pair of chairs designed by Jack Lenor Larsen. Walnut frames with rich mohair upholstery.
Fabric, Walnut
$7,400
H 29 in W 101.75 in D 33 in
Mid-Century Modern Curved Walnut Sofa by Erwin Lambeth and Tomlinson, 1950s
By Erwin Lambeth, John Lubberts and Lambert Mulder, Tomlinson
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A rare example of 1950s American mid-century modern design, this walnut sofa was designed by John Lubberts and Lambert Mulder for Erwin-Lambeth and Tomlinson as part of the Sophistic...
Fabric, Walnut
Pair of Baker High Back Arm Chairs
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Pasadena, TX
A pair of highback armchairs made by Baker. Walnut frames with brown herringbone upholstery.
Fabric, Walnut
$12,000
H 40.56 in W 30.71 in D 36.23 in
Berga Mobler Highback Lounge Chair in Green Striped Upholstery
By Berga Mobler
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Berga Mobler, highback armchair, fabric, beech, Denmark, 1940s This bold and curvy armchair is based on a solid construction with a tender touch due to the soft texture of a green s...
Fabric, Beech
$995 / set
H 28 in W 26.5 in D 26.5 in
Pair of Mid-Century Lounge Chairs Walnut Open Arm Lounge Chairs #1
Located in Wilmington, DE
PPair of Mid-Century Lounge Chairs Walnut Open Arm Lounge Chairs #1 offered are two Walnut Open Arm Chairs by High Point. This set includes 2 open arm walnut lounge chairs. The chai...
Walnut
Sold
H 30.25 in W 20 in D 22.5 in
Tomlinson Sophisticate Mid-Century Modern Walnut and Cane Armchairs, Set of Four
By Tomlinson
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous set of four Mid-Century Modern walnut armchairs By Tomlinson "Sophisticate" Collection USA, circa 1960s Sculpted walnut + cane + upholstery Measures: 20" W x 2...
Upholstery, Cane, Walnut
Pair of Modern French White Velvet Light Wood Tomlinson Lounge Chairs
By Tomlinson
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of gorgeous modern French lounge chairs with light /natural wood and freshly upholstered in white velvet Kravet Crypton fabric as part of the Tomlinson "Sophisticate" line.
Velvet
Pair of Tomlinson Rams' Heads and Hoofed Legs Empire-Style Armchairs
By Tomlinson
Located in Chicago, IL
Empire style barrel back armchairs by Tomlinson. Each chair has a pair of hand-carved ram's heads at the peak of the front legs which are dramatically shaped similar to actual ram hi...
Cane, Leather, Walnut
Neoclassical Carved Ram's Head Club Chairs
By Tomlinson
Located in New York, NY
Ultra chic pair of burnt orange leather club chairs with carved, dark brown stained solid Walnut ram heads at arms and cloven front feet. Br...
Bronze
Pair of Regency Style Cane and Walnut Club Chairs by Tomlinson
By Tomlinson
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Mid-Century Regency style club chairs of solid walnut with carved ram's heads at the arms' handholds, cloven front feet and saber style back legs. The barrel back features th...
Cane, Upholstery, Walnut
Sold
H 29.5 in W 27 in D 22.5 in
Stylish Set of Three American Custom-Made Corner Chairs by Tomlinson Furniture
By Tomlinson
Located in San Francisco, CA
A stylish and rare set of 3 American mid-century custom made corner chairs; by Tomlinson Furniture Co (PRICED INDIVIDUALLY); each with incurved back with x-form splats raised on reed...
Pair of Tomlinson Arm Chairs with Expanded Metal and Original Upholstery
By Tomlinson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Thomlinson Arm Chairs with Expanded Metal and Original Upholstery.
Pair of Bleached Mahogany Ram's Head Chairs by Tomlinson
By Tomlinson
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional pair of carved bleached Mahogany ram's head club chairs with carved hoof motif front legs with new robin's egg blue silk upholstered seat and back with satin nickel nailh...
Mahogany, Silk, Upholstery
Pair Empire Style Animal Leg & Rams' Heads Armchairs
By Tomlinson
Located in Chicago, IL
Empire style barrel back arm chairs. Each chair has a pair of hand carved ram's heads at the peak of the front legs which are dramatically shaped simil...
Leather