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.
Vintage Tomlinson "Sophisticate Collection" Fluted Dining Chair
By Tomlinson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful mid-century modern dining chair by Tomlinson for the "Sophisticate Collection". A unique blend of modern form and classical inspiration, combining refined craftsmanship wit...
Teak
Tomlinson Mid Century Walnut and Burlwood Dining Chairs - Set of 8
By Tomlinson
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Tomlinson Mid Century Walnut and Burlwood Dining Chairs - Set of 8 Each armless chair measures: 20.5 wide x 18.5 deep x 43 high, with a seat he...
Upholstery, Walnut, Burl
$3,080Sale Price / set|20% Off
Stylish Sophisticates Walnut Desk and Chair Lubberts & Mulder for Tomlinson
By Tomlinson, John Lubberts and Lambert Mulder
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Stunning 1950s walnut desk by John Lubberts & Lambert Mulder for Tomlinson, from the Sophisticates collection. We love the stylish curved front with a built-in bookcase along with the five side drawers and a center drawer. Beautiful figured light walnut. . The original chair is included and adds to the total...
Walnut
Pair of Curvaceous Caned Slipper Chairs by Lubberts & Mulder for Tomlinson
By Tomlinson, John Lubberts and Lambert Mulder
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of curvaceous caned slipper lounge chairs designed by John Lubberts and Lambert Mulder for Tomlinson, American, circa 1960s. They are currently being refinished and reupholstere...
Upholstery, Cane, Wood
1 Vintage Walnut Johnson Furniture Dining Chair
By Johnson Chair Company
Located in Pasadena, TX
Vintage dining chairs by Johnson Chair Co Chicago reminiscent of Jens Risom design with solid walnut wood frame construction. Johnson Chair Co is the...
PVC, Walnut
Mid-Century Set of High Back Dining Chairs
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stylish set of four matching dining chairs offer a shapely vinyl covered seat, with comfortable high backs. Hardwood walnut frames with tapered legs and clean modern lines add t...
Wood
Tomlinson Sophisticate Collection Faux Tambour Door Walnut Side Table
By Tomlinson
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Beautiful Mid-Century Modern faux tambour split door walnut side table with great lines and details, rippled faux tambour design, brass hardware, butterfly ...
Brass
Kem Weber Trimline for Heywood Wakefield Desk and Chair
By Heywood-Wakefield Co., Kem Weber
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A very cool looking desk and matching chair designed by Kem Weber for Heywood Wakefield’s Trimline group. The desk has a great green laminate top. The matching chair is wood and stee...
Steel
$1,650 / set
H 38 in W 18 in D 20 in
4 American Modern Tomlinson Sophisticate Tall Back Dining Chairs Mid-century
By Tomlinson
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Stylish set of 4 tall back American modern Tomlinson Sophisticate dining chairs. I love the round seat pads and sexy tall backs.
Upholstery
Set of 6 Mid Century Dining Chairs with Green Seats
Located in New York, NY
Set of 6 chairs, green painted seats Green, fixed seat with springs in need of recovering as they have original materials. seat height 19 in. Painting has chips and scrapes but in...
Wood
Set of Six Mid-Century Tomlinson Dining Chairs, Walnut
By Tomlinson
Located in Trenton, NJ
This distinguished set of six dining chairs by Tomlinson Furniture Company of High Point, North Carolina represents the finest tradition of American mid-century modern furniture-maki...
Wood
Vintage Walnut Desk
Located in London, GB
A stylish and very practical vintage walnut desk, made in England and dating from the 1960’s. The quality is superb, this is beautifully designed with ...
Walnut
1960s Vintage Iron Garden Dining Chairs - 4 Available
By Mario Papperzini, John Salterini, Salterini
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This is a great set of vintage Iron garden chairs. The chairs feature nice woven metal seats, ladder backs and arched legs, their details are exquisite. They are similar in style t...
Iron
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Desk in Tawi Walnut & Steel
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional and rare drop leaf desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar in Tawi Walnut & Steel. USA, circa 1950. Mid-Century Modern Dunbar Desk Hardwood veneers Berne, Indiana Angular...
Metal
Leather and Walnut Writing Desk
By Provasi
Located in Milan, IT
Clean and modern sophistication define this marvelous writing desk, best arranged near or under a large and luminous window in a refined interior. Handcrafted of walnut wood, it is e...
Wood
MidCentury Walnut Desk Kipp Stewart for Drexel Declaration
By Drexel, Kipp Stewart & Stewart MacDougall
Located in Baltimore, MD
A mid-century desk designed by Kipp Stewart and Stewart MacDougall for Drexel’s Declaration Collection, circa 1960’s with incredible form and presence. The desk features a solid, bea...
Porcelain, Walnut
Tomlinson Sophisticate Slipper Chairs, a Pair
By Tomlinson
Located in Raleigh, NC
An incredible pair of vintage slipper chairs in excellent restored condition. These have been rejuvenated with a satin black lacquer to contrast the original cane. New boucle upholst...
Upholstery, Cane, Hardwood
Mid Century Cane Lounge Chairs by Tomlinson
By Tomlinson, John Lubberts and Lambert Mulder, Tomlinson/Erwin-Lambeth Furniture Company
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Pair of exquisite cane lounge chairs by Tomlinson. The chairs are in beautifully patinaed condition with some slight wear to the cane and wood, they have been reupholstered with ...
Cane, Wood
Sold
H 33.5 in W 21 in D 20.5 in
Jens Risom Style Tomlinson MCM Walnut and Leather Strap Dining Chairs - Set of 6
By Tomlinson, Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom style Tomlinson Mid Century walnut and leather strap dining chairs - Set of 6. Each chair measures: 21 wide x 20.5 deep x 33.5 high, with a seat height of 17.75 inches an...
Leather, Walnut
Pair of Sculptural Fret Back Chairs by Tomlinson
By Tomlinson
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Sculptural fret back chairs, design attributed to John Lubberts and Lambert Muller, and made by Tomlinson, American, circa 1960s. These chairs...
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of Tomilson Sophisticate Line Slipper Chairs
By Tomlinson
Located in St. Louis, MO
Pair of midcentury slipper chairs with sculptural legs from Tomlinson's Sophisticate Line, c. 1958.
Wood, Cane, Upholstery
Set of 6 Leather Strap Dining Chairs by Tomlinson
By Tomlinson
Located in Long Island City, NY
These are a rarely seen design from a late 1950s Tomlinson line, "Sophisticate." The leather has worn well. Two arm chairs, four side chairs, labeled. Shown with an ebonized wood tab...
Leather