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.
Edward Wormley Captains Chair for Dunbar, Model 5480
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in San Francisco, CA
Edward Wormley Captain's Chair for Dunbar Furniture, Model 5480. Elegant looking armchair perfect for a desk or bedroom corner. Made from oak with brass feet and a cane backrest, jus...
Cane, Oak
5480 Captain's Chair designed by Edward Wormley for DUNBAR
By Edward Wormley
Located in High Point, NC
A chair is an argument about how to sit—and more broadly, how to live. The Captain's Chair by Edward Wormley makes its case with understated eloquence: that American furniture tradit...
Brass
$12,000
H 33 in W 22.5 in D 19.5 in
Completely Original Alexandria Chair Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare opportunity. All original example of the Alexandria Chair designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Retains the original, high quality black leather seat with attractive wear. This...
Mahogany, Leather
Edward Wormley Swivel Chair
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley Swivel Chair, laminated flat spindles, seat and crest rail with, X base with solid mahogany tapered legs. Newly upholstered button tufted seat with Spinneybeck leather...
Leather, Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Captain Chairs
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Discover one of Edward Wormley's most famous and elegant chairs. A timeless masterpiece, The Captain Chair. We have fully restored this iconic piece to its original splendor, highlighting the beautiful polished brass, cane back, and curved wood frame. The seat has been meticulously reupholstered in Holland & Sherry performance fabric, ensuring both durability and sophistication. Elevate your space with a piece that embodies the essence of mid-century modern luxury. Edward Wormley for Dunbar Captain...
Brass
Armchair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A sculptural and finely detailed armchair in walnut having a floating seat and back cushions that retain their original textured wool upholstery.
Upholstery, Walnut
A-frame Armchair by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An architectural and substantial armchair having an exposed walnut "A"-shaped frame supporting an upholstered seat and generous floating and curving back.
Upholstery, Walnut
Edward Wormley Dining Armchair for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Walnut dining armchair with splayed back legs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, USA, c.1960s. The seat cushion has been newly reupholstered in a Pierre Frey textured fabric - a perfect t...
Upholstery, Cane, Walnut
Edward Wormley Dunbar Horseshoe dining or desk chair model 935
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Ferndale, MI
Edward Wormley design for Dunbar furniture Horsehoe chairs model 935 . This is a first generation chair . Backrest and arm are laminated wood as opposed to later version of solid wo...
Leather, Wood
$6,500
H 29.75 in W 18 in D 21 in
Rare Edward Wormley for Dunbar Model 5522 Cane Swivel Vanity Chair 1950s
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Troy, MI
Rare model 5522 desk chair or vanity stool from the First Lady Series Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar circa 1950s Laminated wood and cane molded backrest with round seat on a ...
Brass
Dunbar Mid Century Slipper Chair by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very well crafted Mid Century upholstered slipper chair with button back seat cushion and dark ebony finished wood framed legs with rounded tips . Having a smaller matching back lu...
Upholstery, Wood
Rare IB Kofod Larsen Danish Lounge Chair for Selig Denmark (B)
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A lounge chair with sculptural winged arms and very well crafted frame , finished in a dark walnut with brass hardware and upholstered in a oatmeal toned fabric with a bit of lighter...
Upholstery, Wood
Rare IB Kofod Larsen Danish Lounge Chair for Selig Denmark (A)
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A lounge chair with sculptural winged arms and very well crafted frame , finished in a dark walnut with brass hardware and upholstered in a oatmeal toned fabric with a bit of lighter...
Upholstery, Wood
Rare George Nelson Pretzel Chair for ICF Italy
By George Nelson
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A sculptural bentwood Pretzel chair # 5890 with elegant, curved arms having a dark chocolate brown leather seat. Designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller in the early 1950's and p...
Leather, Bentwood
Rare T.H. Robs John Gibbing Wing Lounge Chair for Widdicomb
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very rare and hard to find wing lounge chair named because of the unique and stunning arm rests. This very well-crafted solid mahogany framed chair has been reupholstered in a luxurious tightly woven cream-colored fabric with buttoned back cushion. Designed by the iconic Mid-Century designer T.H. Robs John Gibbings...
Upholstery, Mahogany
Mid Century Rocking Chair in the style of Hans J. Wegner Denmark
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Cincinnati, OH
An elegant Mid Century rocking chair with sculptural contoured dark walnut toned wood frame with medium blue tight woven upholstery. This very comfortable chair with springs and padd...
Upholstery, Wood
