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Warren McArthur Furniture

American, 1885-1961

Few 20th-century designers had influential furniture that regularly flew at 30,000 feet, but Warren McArthur did. His work on seating for military aircraft came near the end of his career, following decades of Machine Age furniture shaped from tubular forms and made of steel, chrome and aluminum.

Warren McArthur Jr. graduated with an engineering degree from Cornell University in 1908. After moving to Los Angeles in 1929, he founded the Warren McArthur Corporation a year later. His initial output of sleek, metal designs were popular in offices and hotels. 

At the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, Americans witnessed a new “Streamlined America” campaign, which included everyday furniture made from metal, opening the door for McArthur and other Machine Age designers to a residential audience. With this increase in demand for metal furniture, the Warren McArthur Corporation relocated to Rome, New York, and sold their aluminum furnishings out of a showroom on Park Avenue in New York City. 

Actors Marlene Dietrich, Fredric March and Clark Gable were among his A-list clientele. McArthur also produced furniture for the dining cars on the Union Pacific Railroad and the Chrysler Headquarters. His designs were featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 1934 exhibition “Contemporary American Industrial Art.”

During World War II, McArthur pivoted production after a ban on the private use of aluminum. McArthur made an estimated three-quarters of all American military aircraft seating, including adjustable seats for the Beechcraft C-45 and revolving seats for navigators aboard the Grumman HU-16 Albatross. 

Warren McArthur closed his business in 1948. He died in 1961.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Warren McArthur armchairs, tables and other seating.

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Item Ships From: Chicago
Creator: Warren McArthur
Warren McArthur for Warren McArthur Corporation Table or Desk
By Warren McArthur, Warren McArthur Corporation
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McArthur for Warren McArthur Corporation Table or Desk from the Virginia State Library, Richmond V.A. Aluminum base, wood top with laminate surface Dimensions: 30¼"high 50½" w...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Warren McCarthur Lounge Chair
By Warren McArthur Corporation, Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McArthur Lounge Chairs by Warren McArthur Corporation aluminum frame , upholstery Great Plains woven wool, rubber feet Dimensions: 31"high 26" wide 30" deep
Category

1930s Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Rare Warren McArthur Two-Tier Desk with Drawers, Reversible, Machine Age 1930s
By Warren McArthur Corporation, Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McArthur two-tier desk with drawers Aluminum and black lacquered wood Warren McArthur Corporation, 1930s Measures: 48" x 24" x 30" desk height Desk is reversible, and ca...
Category

1930s Machine Age Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Pair of Warren McArthur Pull-Up Chairs, 1930's
By Warren McArthur Corporation, Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Warren McArthur pull-up chairs, 1930's Aluminum tubular frame with back-slats. Manufactured in Rome, New York Decal underside. We reupholstered with new Iron Cloth, a polye...
Category

1930s American Industrial Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Warren McArthur Pair of Chairs a Revision of The Sardi's Chair
By Rudolph Schindler, Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McArthur pair of chairs a Revision of Sardi's chair, a collaboration with Rudolph Schindler. Model #1251 AR manufactured in Rome, New York i...
Category

1930s American Machine Age Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Pair of Warren McArthur Lounge Chairs
By Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Warren McArthur lounge chairs, model 1031-A, Machine-made anodized aluminum with rubber feet. Upholstered with great plains cotton-poly fabric. Frames have natural oxidation...
Category

1930s American Machine Age Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Pair of Warren McArthur Sofas
By Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McArthur sofas, model 915 anodized aluminum, machine pressed aluminum fittings. Reupholstered with Great Plains cotton-linen fabric. Padded bolster arms. Measures: Outside ar...
Category

1930s American Machine Age Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Pair of Warren McArthur for Namco Lounge Chairs
By Namco, Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Aluminum and leather lounges by Warren McArthur for Namco. Restored with spinney back leather.
Category

1930s Australian Art Deco Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

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Pair of Heartback Hepplewhite Chairs
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Rare Stunning Atomic Age Boomerang Desk and Gemini Leather Armchair, France 1970
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France, 1970's A phenomenal Space Age boomerang desk. A beautifully elongated and angled Formica top cantilevers over a steel column with a spring-loaded compartmentalized drawer, raised on a cast iron base sheathed in original red shag carpeting. Accompanied by a sleek Gemini armchair...
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Located in Brecht, BE
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H 32.68 in W 84.65 in D 42.52 in
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Rare 1980s Mid Century Art Deco Executive Table Desk by Pierre Paulin for Baker
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Oryx Desk Table by Parigi and Prina for Molteni
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Pair of Brutalist Chairs
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Located in Brooklyn, NY
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Pair of Brutalist Chairs
Pair of Brutalist Chairs
H 36.23 in W 18.51 in D 16.93 in
Machine age Industrial Nickel Plated Steel Lounge Chairs
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Previously Available Items
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Pair of Warren McArthur Aluminium Chairs
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Pair of Warren McArthur Lounge Chairs
By Warren McArthur, Namco
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1930s Australian Art Deco Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

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Warren McArthur Console Table
By Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McArthur library table, model 1651 Intersecting triple banded aluminum with Art Deco curves and multiple fittings, showing no signs of welding. The top has high vintage wear a...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

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Warren McArthur Console Table
Warren McArthur Console Table
H 28.5 in W 66 in D 24 in
Warren McArthur Armchair
By Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Armchair in tubular aluminum with rubber feet by Warren McArthur. Please use Contact Dealer button if you have any questions.
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1930s American Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

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PVC, Upholstery

Warren McArthur Armchair
Warren McArthur Armchair
H 34 in W 20.5 in D 19.5 in
Rare McArthur Triangular Side Table
By Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
McCathur Three Tier Side table: Signed with applied manufacturer's label to underside: [Warren McArthur Furniture Los Angeles, Calif. Patents Pen...
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Early 20th Century American Art Deco Warren McArthur Furniture

Warren McArthur Lounge Chair
By Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Single Lounge, early by Warren McArthur Los Angeles: Signed with applied manufacturer's label to underside of arm: [Warren McArthur Furniture Los Angeles, Calif. Patents Pending] T...
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1930s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

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Warren McArthur Table
By Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
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1930s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

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Aluminum

Warren McArthur Table
Warren McArthur Table
H 29.5 in W 30 in D 30 in
Warren McCarthur Pair of Chairs
By Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McCarthur, Pair of Chairs. This pair can be used as occasional or dimming or desk chairs. Extremely rare. These pieces preceded McCarthur,s patens in 1934 and are possi...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Warren McCarthur Pair of Chairs
Warren McCarthur Pair of Chairs
H 34.5 in W 20.5 in D 20 in
Pair of Warren McCarthur Armchairs
By Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McCarthur Pair of Rare Armchairs, Signed with applied manufacturer's label to underside of arm: [Warren McArthur Furniture Los Angeles, Calif. Patents Pending] These pieces ...
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1930s American Art Deco Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

Pair of Warren McCarthur Armchairs
Pair of Warren McCarthur Armchairs
H 34.5 in W 22 in D 22 in
Warren McCarthur Settee
By Warren McArthur
Located in Chicago, IL
McCarthur Rare Settee, Model 295 [Warren McArthur Furniture Los Angeles, Calif. Patents Pending] These pieces preceded McCarthur,s patens in 19...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Warren McArthur Furniture

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Steel, Aluminum, Stainless Steel

Warren McCarthur Settee
Warren McCarthur Settee
H 31.75 in W 48 in D 26 in

Warren Mcarthur furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Warren McArthur furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Warren McArthur furniture, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Warren McArthur were created in the Art Deco style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Warren McArthur Corporation, Kem Weber, and Sally Sirkin Lewis. Prices for Warren McArthur furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $725 and can go as high as $24,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $7,500.

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