Sofa Designed by Edward Wormley and Produced by Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Stamford, CT
A newly upholstered sofa made by Dunbar and designed by Edward Wormley, circa 1965.
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Walnut
As the longtime director of design for the Dunbar furniture company, Edward Wormley was, along with such peers as George Nelson at Herman Miller Inc., and Florence Knoll of Knoll Inc., one of the leading forces in bringing modern design into American homes in the mid-20th century. Not an axiomatic modernist, Wormley deeply appreciated traditional design, and consequently his vintage seating, storage cabinets, bar carts and other work has an understated warmth and a timeless quality that sets it apart from other furnishings of the era.
Wormley was born in rural Illinois and as a teenager took correspondence courses from the New York School of Interior Design. He later attended the Art Institute of Chicago but ran out of money for tuition before he could graduate. Marshall Field hired Wormley in 1930 to design a line of reproduction 18th-century English furniture; the following year he was hired by the Indiana-based Dunbar, where he quickly distinguished himself. It was a good match.
Dunbar was an unusual firm: it did not use automated production systems; its pieces were mostly hand-constructed. For his part, Wormley did not use metal as a major component of furniture; he liked craft elements such as caned seatbacks, tambour drawers, or the woven-wood cabinet fronts seen on his Model 5666 sideboard of 1956. He designed two lines for Dunbar each year — one traditional, one modern — until 1944, by which time the contemporary pieces had become the clear best sellers.
Many of Wormley’s signature pieces — chairs, sofas, tables and more — are modern interpretations of traditional forms. His 1946 Riemerschmid Chair — an example is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art — recapitulates a late 19th-century German design. The long, slender finials of his Model 5580 dining chairs are based on those of Louis XVI chairs; his Listen-to-Me Chaise (1948) has a gentle Rococo curve; the “Precedent” line that Wormley designed for Drexel Furniture in 1947 is a simplified, pared-down take on muscular Georgian furniture. But he could invent new forms, as his Magazine table of 1953, with its bent wood pockets, and his tiered Magazine Tree (1947), both show. And Wormley kept his eye on design currents, creating a series of tables with tops that incorporate tiles and roundels by the great modern ceramicists Otto and Gertrud Natzler.
As the vintage items on 1stDibs demonstrate, Edward Wormley conceived of a subdued sort of modernism, designing furniture that fits into any decorating scheme and does not shout for attention.
Sofa Designed by Edward Wormley and Produced by Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Stamford, CT
A newly upholstered sofa made by Dunbar and designed by Edward Wormley, circa 1965.
Walnut
Edward Wormley Model 4907 Sofa by Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Highland, IN
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Brass
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Upholstery, Mahogany
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Wool, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Four Seat Sofa in the Dunbar style
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
A refined four-seat sofa in beige bouclé upholstery on dark stained base with square legs. In the style of Edward Wormley / Dunbar. USA, circa 1950. Unsigned. Reupholstered at a la...
Fabric, Wood
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Located in Freamunde, PT
Rivaro is a refined piece of contemporary design that blends modern minimalism with organic curves. Its uniqueness lies in the sculptural quality of its form — soft, rounded edges co...
Brass
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By PLYUS Furniture
Located in Geneve, CH
Beige Memory Sofa by Plyus Furniture Dimensions: D 90 x W 240 x H 85 cm Materials: Wood, HR foam, polyester wadding, fabric upholstery “Memory” sofa. Collection "Memory" inspired b...
Upholstery, Wood

Flexform Feel Good Ten Alto Three Seater Sofa by Antonio Citterio
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Introducing the ultimate in luxury and comfort - the Feel Good Ten Alto Three Seater Sofa by Flexform. This stunning piece features a sleek and modern design, crafted with the highes...
Metal

Flexform Feel Good Ten Alto Two Seater Sofa
By Flexform
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Introducing the Feel Good Ten Alto Sofa by Flexform, a luxurious addition to any living space. Crafted with the highest quality materials, this sofa boasts a sleek and modern design ...
Metal

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Introducing the Eddy Sofa by Nube Italia, a stunning addition to any modern living space. This luxurious sofa features a sleek design with clean lines and a plush, comfortable seat. ...
Leather

Camerich Three Seater Freetown Sofa
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Located in Rochester, England
The Three Seater Freetown Sofa by Camerich combines contemporary design with luxurious comfort. Defined by clean lines and a modern silhouette, it features deep seating and plush cus...
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B&B Italia Charles Corner Sofa by Antonio Citterio
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Metal
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Leather