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Warren McArthur Sofas

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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Creator: Warren McArthur
Warren McArthur Style No. 977L AUR 3 Seater Sofa Celadon Mohair 1938
Warren McArthur Style No. 977L AUR 3 Seater Sofa Celadon Mohair 1938

Warren McArthur Style No. 977L AUR 3 Seater Sofa Celadon Mohair 1938

By Warren McArthur, Warren McArthur Corporation

Located in Camden, ME

Rare and early Warren McArthur Style No. 977L AUR three-seat sofa, circa 1938. This example represents a transitional phase in McArthur’s production, preceding his later work designing aircraft seating during the 1940s. Constructed with McArthur’s patented system of precision-engineered anodized aluminum tubing, the frame exemplifies his mastery of structural lightness and visual clarity. The softly contoured seat and back reflect his ergonomic sensibility and his pursuit of mechanical elegance in domestic furnishings. Distinctive black rubber “donuts” at both the feet and armrests are original design features, later replaced in subsequent production with smaller fittings. This early detail, combined with the elongated frame geometry, firmly situates the piece within McArthur’s pre-war output. Reupholstered in celadon green mohair with contrasting ivory piping, the sofa presents a refined interplay of color and texture — industrial yet luxurious. The aluminum retains a subtle, even patina consistent with age. This example is both labeled and cataloged, underscoring its authenticity within McArthur’s documented oeuvre. It is only the second 977L AUR I have handled; the last example was acquired in 2013. A superb and historically significant work from one of America’s foremost machine-age designers, bridging the evolution from streamline moderne furniture...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Warren McArthur Sofas

Materials

Aluminum

Warren McArthur Slat Back Sofa, Anodized Aluminum, Art Deco, 1933
Warren McArthur Slat Back Sofa, Anodized Aluminum, Art Deco, 1933

Warren McArthur Slat Back Sofa, Anodized Aluminum, Art Deco, 1933

By Warren McArthur

Located in Camden, ME

A slat back three-seat sofa, an early design by Warren McArthur manufactured in Rome, New York in 1933-1934. The slat back seating of Warren McArthur is his first seating design intr...

Category

1930s American Machine Age Vintage Warren McArthur Sofas

Materials

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Warren McArthur Pair of Matched Sofas Style No. 917-3 C. 1938
Warren McArthur Pair of Matched Sofas Style No. 917-3 C. 1938

Warren McArthur Pair of Matched Sofas Style No. 917-3 C. 1938

By Warren McArthur, Warren McArthur Corporation

Located in Camden, ME

A Warren McArthur Corporation matched pair of Style No. 917-3 3-seater sofas from the late 30s. A stunning example of Art Moderne or Machine Age design, this pair of Warren McArthur...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Machine Age Warren McArthur Sofas

Materials

Aluminum

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Warren Mcarthur sofas for sale on 1stDibs.

Warren McArthur sofas 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 sofas, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original sofas by Warren McArthur were created in the modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider sofas by Lawrence Peabody, Drexel, and Ralph Lauren. Prices for Warren McArthur sofas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $12,000 and can go as high as $24,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $16,900.