Like so many artists and designers, husband and wife John McGuire (1920–2013) and Elinor Stevenson (1914–2005) became masters in their trade by accident. For the founders of McGuire Furniture Company, well, furniture wasn’t actually in the plans.
The couple met just before the start of World War II (during which John was in the U.S. Navy and Elinor was a navigation instructor) and got married after it ended. They settled down in San Francisco where John held a couple of jobs — among them selling newspaper ads for the San Francisco Examiner while Elinor worked for Boeing Aircraft. Soon, an old Navy buddy of John’s asked him to help sell a bunch of rattan furniture and, needing the money, John agreed. His side business became so successful that John decided to quit his ad-sales job and work full-time in design.
In 1948, McGuire Furniture Company was born. Alongside the mid-century modern furniture designs then gaining popularity in the United States, John introduced an unconventional idea: traditional armchairs, stools and tables made of natural materials such as bamboo, which was strong yet could be rendered pliable when steamed, that were intended for the indoors rather than the front porch.
The brand’s first success was the now famous Director’s X-Chair by Leonard Linden. The military-campaign-style solid oak folding chair launched in 1956 and saw rattan binded with rawhide strips and a high-grade leather slug seat and back that eliminated the need for a plush cushion. Elinor, too, designed some of the brand’s popular pieces, such as 1968’s Cracked Ice chair. With its rattan oval back a dazzling celebration of geometric forms that give it its charming moniker, the Cracked Ice chair was an instant classic and is one of the brand’s most recognizable designs.
Today, McGuire and another American furniture manufacturer, Baker Furniture Company, comprise Baker Interiors Group. McGuire remains true to the founders’ ideals and commitment to crafting the kind of organic modern furnishings that are synonymous with the warm and relaxed feel of California design. The company has collaborated with interior designers Steven Volpe, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy and Nicole Hollis, and, as of 2019, its luxury furnishings share a 16,500-square-foot showroom with Baker’s in San Francisco. Some of the earliest McGuire Furniture Company designs are part of the permanent collection at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City.
Find a range of McGuire Furniture on 1stDibs.
McGuire Organic Modern Blonde Bamboo Hexagonal Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous McGuire organic modern hexagonal base dining table featuring a large round glass top. This is an early McGuire model #MCBA17 crafted with a geometric iron frame hand-wrapped...
Iron
Very Large Octagonal Glass Top Leather Strapped Bamboo McGuire Dining Table
By Ficks Reed, McGuire
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very large 80" round octagonal beveled glass top leather strapped bamboo McGuire dining table.
Leather, Bamboo, Glass
McGuire Organic Modern Round Rattan Oak Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand McGuire organic modern round dining table crafted from oak with a reeded rattan finish. The large table features an oak pedesta...
Iron
Large Glass Top Bamboo & Leather Straps Frame Dining Conference Table by McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Large rectangle glass top bamboo & leather straps frame dining conference table by McGuire.
Leather, Bamboo, Glass
$8,000
H 28 in W 77.75 in D 46.75 in
Restored Vintage Florence Knoll Oval Top Rosewood Dining or Conference Table
By Knoll, Florence Knoll
Located in St. Louis, MO
Restored Mid-Century Modern vintage Florence Knoll oval top dining table / conference or desk in rare book matched rosewood veneer on chrome star...
Chrome
$6,800Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 29.5 in W 42 in D 96 in
Contemporary Solid White Oak Dining or Conference Table
By Klein Agency
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dinners are our favorite. We love having them, hosting them, laughing around during them, cleaning up after them. This is what our dining table is and means to us. The solid white oak...
Wood, Oak
$17,500
H 30 in W 89 in D 43 in
Maison Jansen Huge Octagonal Brass Dining Table or Desk Smoked Glass Top, France
By Maison Jansen
Located in Miami, FL
Impressive octagonal brass dining table by Maison Jansen. Floating top with smoked Glass. Can be also used as a desk. Seats easily 12 people comfortable.
Brass
Contemporary Glass Top Chrome Dining or Writing Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The chrome supports square shaped with T shaped tops and bases. With a long clear glass top. Useful as a Dining or Writing table. Dimensions: L. 72", W. 36", H. 29 1/2' Condition...
Chrome
$3,295
H 29.25 in W 96 in D 42.5 in
Modern Oak Large Trestle Style Dining or Conference Table Bullnose Edges
Located in Topeka, KS
Gorgeous modern oak veneer large trestle style dining or conference table with bullnose edge top and slab style legs. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. We have noticed a few minor nicks and dings on the top and along the edges. The top also has an overall raised grain texture. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Late 20th Century. This is a TITANIC of a table!!! Lol… It’s super large!! It is comprised of gorgeous oak veneer with solid oak applied to both ends… kind of a modified trestle style dining table with slab legs, and beautiful bullnose edge on said top and legs. The added solid oak ends are separated from the veneered top by a narrow-blackened groove which sets this detail off nicely. It is absolutely stunning!! It is a colossal 96 inches long and seats eight comfortably, but you may fit ten if the chairs are a bit narrower or you straddle the legs. The legs are recessed 6.5 inches, so straddling is not a large obstacle. In addition, although the natural oak is beautiful, we can also see this being ebonized with a little black dye. Incredible!!! It will be fabulous in your dining room or as a lovely conference table at the office! It is modern in style, but it will host oodles of options of dining or office chairs! We have LOTS of chairs...
Oak
$3,295
H 29.75 in W 71 in D 48 in
Modern Hollywood Regency Art Deco Lucite Sculptural Dining Table Oval Glass Top
Located in Topeka, KS
Gorgeous vintage modern Lucite sculptural dining table with oval shaped glass top. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and...
Glass, Lucite
$845Sale Price|68% Off
H 29.5 in W 73 in D 41 in
1980s Coastal Style Glass Top Rattan Dining Table in the Ficks Reed's Manner
By Ficks Reed
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage palm beach regency coastal style oval glass top rattan dining table in the Ficks Reed's Manner. Circa 1980s Features a Double Y shaped tan natural color wicker pedestal bas...
Wicker, Rattan, Glass
$7,500 / item
H 30 in W 84 in D 36 in
Bookmatched Walnut Dining Table with Black Steel Legs "Lafayette Dining Table"
By Anton Maka
Located in Shelby Twp, MI
The Lafayette dining table is made of a book-matched claro walnut top with a blackened steel base with walnut inserts. This piece has been finished in an extremely durable matte conv...
Steel
$15,868Sale Price|60% Off
H 29.93 in W 82.68 in D 41.74 in
Rare Pietro Chiesa Large Glass Dining Table for Fontana Arte, circa 1940
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Rome, IT
Large glass dining table designed by Pietro Chiesa and manufactured by Fontana Arte, Milano, circa 1940 extremely rare and important monument...
Bronze
John McGuire Organic Modern Bamboo Dining Table Base for Glass Top
By John McGuire, McGuire
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Stunning organic modern bamboo dining table base for glass top designed by John McGuire. The octagonal dining table base, crafted entirely by hand, features bamboo poles lashed in pl...
Iron, Brass
McNichols Dining Table
By Anton Maka
Located in Shelby Twp, MI
The McNichols dining table is made of a solid walnut board top that has been hand-selected to show off the natural beauty and character of the black walnut. The tabletop is set on so...
Walnut
$10,800 / item
H 30 in W 102 in D 36 in
Contemporary Dining Conference Table "Overpass" in White Oak by Casey Lurie
By Casey Lurie
Located in Chicago, IL
Overpass is a contemporary table inspired by the simple forms and robust construction of freeway interchanges. Foregrounding the natural beauty of solid wood, a blackened steel chass...
Steel
Monumental McGuire Bamboo Glass Rectangular Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
20th century monumental sized genuine McGuire dining table featuring a 102 inch long rectangular beveled glass top. The base is constructed from an iron frame painted golden gate ora...
Brass, Iron
Monumental McGuire Bamboo Rattan Rectangular Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Bespoke monumental McGuire rectangular dining table made in the organic modern style. Authentic, genuine McGuire table with an iron frame painted golden gate orange...
Iron
Palazzo Walnut Dining Table by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy for McGuire
By McGuire, Orlando Diaz-azcuy
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Chic modern walnut Palazzo dining table with two extending leaves designed by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy for McGuire. The table features an extending rectangular ...
Metal, Brass
McGuire California Modern Octagonal Bamboo Rattan Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Large octagonal bamboo rattan dining table made in the California organic modern style by McGuire. Features an iron frame 62 inches wide completely wrapped with bamboo poles. The bam...
Iron
McGuire California Modern Bamboo Rattan Oval Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning McGuire bamboo rattan large oval dining table made in the organic California Modern style. Features a large hexagonal iron frame (44 inches wide by 21.5 inches deep) completely wrapped with blonde bamboo rattan poles. Reinforced with cream colored leather rawhide laces and topped with a thick beveled oval pane of glass. The large glass oval...
Leather, Bamboo, Rattan, Glass
McGuire Asian Style Ebonized Hardwood Extending Dining Table
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Extraordinary round ebonized hardwood dining table with three 18 inch extending leaves. Produced by McGuire with an Asian influence design. Constructed from hardwood, probably oak wi...
Hardwood, Lacquer
Sheaf of Bamboo Wheat Round Dining Table Base McGuire
By McGuire
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern sheaf of bamboo or wheat round dining table base. We offer a 48-54" round 3/4" top separately. Or it may be used as a pedest...
Bamboo
McGuire Large Bamboo Glass Top Dining Conference Table Modern
By McGuire
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Rare find excellent vintage condition bamboo and leather dining room table by McGuire.
Bamboo, Leather