Skip to main content

Dunbar

American

Revered for its handcrafted and highly collectible mid-century modern sofas, coffee tables and other furnishings, Dunbar Furniture was founded in 1910 in Berne, Indiana, but it didn’t gain widespread recognition until the ’30s, following the introduction of its president to a designer who would leave an indelible mark on the company’s legacy: Edward Wormley.

After a stint at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Oswego, Illinois-born Wormley worked as an interior designer for Marshall Field’s before joining Dunbar in 1931. Initially focused on developing the company’s cheapest furniture line, which could be bought with soap coupons, he was soon leading Dunbar Furniture into a new era of residential furniture for modern American homes. He would serve as the company’s design director for over three decades, designing about 150 pieces each year.

During that time, he oversaw the production of designs in a wide range of materials, with influences ranging from Scandinavian modernism to Art Deco. There were modern upholstery pieces, like swiveling lounge chairs and low-slung sofas, and experiments with textural wood on bar carts and cabinets as well as minimal, sculptural tables and functional office furniture. A passionate collector of Tiffany Studios lamps, Wormley used their glass tiles in Dunbar tables in 1956. He also worked on the reproduction of pieces by designers such as Jean-Michel Frank and Richard Riemerschmid.

One standout Dunbar Furniture collection was Janus, introduced in the 1960s, with Austrian-born ceramicists Otto and Gertrud Natzler. These pieces see the Natzlers’ uniquely artful ceramic tiles set into several styles of wooden tables. They remain some of the most sought-after mid-century modern Dunbar pieces on the vintage market today. During the peak of his design career and, indeed, the height of Dunbar Furniture’s history, Wormley amassed a whopping 30 Good Design awards between 1950 and 1955 through the “Good Design” exhibition, hosted by the Chicago Merchandise Mart and the Museum of Modern Art. Dunbar today produces a limited selection of archival Wormley designs, but many sales of original Dunbar pieces are through the resale market.

Find a collection of authentic vintage Dunbar Furniture today on 1stDibs.

Cabinet 6026 by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful and very elegant cabinet model # 6026 designed by Edward Wormely for Dunbar. This cabinet was purchased for the Neptune Gift Shop in New Jersey in 1963 and is constructed o...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dunbar

Materials

Brass

Cabinet 6026 by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Cabinet 6026 by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
H 66.5 in W 65.5 in D 18.75 in
Pair Edward Wormley Lounge chairs model 4872A for Dunbar, 1948. Gray, Brass Legs
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Kansas City, MO
Beautiful pair of lounge chairs designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1948. Expertly reupholstered in a light gray wool blend fabric. The original legs are made of solid brass. T...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Brass

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Bench, 1960
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Bench, 1960. Restored and reupholstered in gray mohair.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Mohair, Walnut

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Bench, 1960
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Bench, 1960
H 15.25 in W 33 in D 18.5 in
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Walnut Flip Top Dining or Game Table, Newly Refinished
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern flip top game table or dining table By Edward Wormley for Dunbar USA, 1950s Walnut, with original brass hinges, leather wrapped feet, and velvet ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Swivel Chairs in Mohair, Pair
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring a distinctive look with this pair of Dunbar Furniture Revolving Television Chairs model no. 4626 designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, circa 1940's. The look is clean and soph...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Mohair, Wood

Side Table Model 5309 by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Rovereta, SM
Model 5309 rare coffee table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Combination of Wood and brass with the original glass top.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Brass

Dunbar For Modern: Market Notes, January 8 to January 19, 1951
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Small format brochure published in January 1951 showcasing 39 Edward Wormley designs for Dunbar Furniture, presented at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. Highlights include the Sleepy Hollow chair...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Paper

Rectangular Walnut Coffee Table by Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Grand Rapids, MI
USA, 1950s Walnut coffee table signed with Dunbar label. The top is in a faux walnut laminate, the frame in walnut. It has a shelf below the top surface, great for storing or display...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Dunbar

Materials

Laminate, Walnut

Browse all Furniture from Dunbar
Shop Now

Creators Similar to Dunbar

Dunbar furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Dunbar furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Dunbar furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Dunbar were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Edward Wormley, Paul McCobb, and Milo Baughman. Prices for Dunbar furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $225 and can go as high as $119,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,998.
Questions About Dunbar
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Dunbar furniture is made in High Point, North Carolina. The original location of the company was Berne, Indiana. Its relocation occurred after Currey & Co. bought Dunbar from founder James Wormley in 1970. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Dunbar furniture.

Recently Viewed

View All