American designer Lawrence Peabody imbued his mid-century modern furniture with flair and style. His vintage lounge chairs, side tables and credenzas feature sleek silhouettes and chic curves. At the same time, every piece has an easy and comfortable appeal reflective of a designer known to be humble and pragmatic.
Peabody was born in 1924 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. As a young man, the story goes, he joined the Navy partly because he found the uniforms aesthetically appealing. After World War II, Peabody used the benefits offered by the G.I. Bill to attend the Rhode Island School of Design. There, he studied under Austrian designer Ernst Lichtblau, who introduced Peabody to the Bauhaus style.
After completing his studies in America, Peabody moved to Denmark and attended the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Here, he met his wife, Bette, who he married in 1952. By 1955, Peabody had moved back to America and settled in Boston, where he created Danish-inspired seating for the Selig furniture company and opened a design firm called Lawrence Peabody & Associates.
One of the firm's earliest designs was a walnut and rattan cradle chair for Richardson Nemschoff, which earned the 1962 International Design Award. Peabody became known for using walnut in his work and drew on Scandinavian modernist influences in his designs.
For the next three decades, Lawrence Peabody & Associates developed an extensive client list that included names like Kohler, Richardson Brothers, Chapman Lamps and Boyd Lighting.
Throughout his life and career, Peabody also developed a love of Haiti and Haitian art. On one trip to Port-Au-Prince, he met and befriended a man named Dewitt Peters, founder of Le Centre d'art, a haven for local artists. Peabody and Dewitt collaborated to promote handcrafted Haitian art and furniture at overseas museums. Peabody even became one of the organization's directors. He eventually purchased a home in Port-Au-Prince and spent much time there later in life.
Today, Craft Associates Furniture holds the license to produce Peabody designs.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Lawrence Peabody seating, tables, storage cabinets and other furniture.
Lawrence Peabody Dining Chairs for Craft Associates
By Lawrence Peabody, Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Lawrence Peabody dining chairs for Craft Associates - quick ship. All show samples are in excellent condition. This set includes four side chairs and six armchairs in high grade leat...
Leather, Walnut
Set of 4 Vintage Dining Chairs by Louis Van Teeffelen, 1960s
By Louis Van Teeffelen
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid-century dining chairs designed by Louis van Teeffelen. Beautifully crafted curved teak frames with a black leatherette upholstery. The chairs are in a good original conditi...
Faux Leather, Teak
Mid-Century Dining Chairs by Johannes Andersen - Set of Six
By Johannes Andersen
Located in Raleigh, NC
Mid-century Danish set of six dining chairs designed by Johannes Andersen. Crafted from sculpted teak wood. The teak frames are sturdy, streamlined, and create a fantastic side profi...
Wood, Teak
$1,750 / item
H 29.5 in W 20.5 in D 21 in
Lawrence Peabody Dining Side Chair P-1709 Craft Associates Furniture
By Lawrence Peabody, Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Lawrence Peabody Manufacturer: Craft Associates furniture Period/Model: Mid-Century Modern Specs: Walnut, leather These Lawrence Peabody dining side chairs P-1709 are expertly handcrafted and upholstered. These Peabody chairs are licensed reintroductions for Craft Associates. Chairs are solid walnut with each frame hand steamed and bent. The price includes our standard leather seat. Craft Associates furniture is proud each modern piece is made in the US. We strive to craft a product that will stand the test of time. We use the best materials and have the best craftsman and upholstery in the business. We stand 100% behind our product. dimensions H: 29.5" (74.93 cm) W: 20.5" (52.07 cm) D: 21" (53.34 cm) Seat Height: 18" (45.72 cm) Seat Width: 18" (45.72 cm) Seat Depth: 17.5" (44.45 cm) "The U.S. would profit by the example of the Danes, whose great work in furniture design is the result of combining proficient craftsmanship, Fine design and technical skill. The Danes do more than sell arts and crafts in their distinguished work, they sell Denmark." - Lawrence Peabody, 1957 history Lawrence “Larry” Peabody (1924-2002) was an architect, interior designer, and furniture designer. As an American born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, his distinctive design were often influenced by his Scandinavian roots. Lawrence studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Denmark and at the Rhode Island School of Design. His early career with Selig Mfg. Co. was prolific and helped put both himself and Selig on the map for modern furniture. He then started Lawrence Peabody & Associates in 1955, a design firm in Boston which included a vast client list (Sears, Roebuck & Co., Kohler, Regal Rugs, Boyd Lighting, Chapman Lamps, and Richardson Brothers). In 1961, Mr. Peabody won a Citation for Merit for his Peabody Collection for Richardson/ Nemschoff. Winner of the 1962 International A.I.D. design award for his wood frame rattan cradle...
Leather, Walnut
$3,995 / set
H 31 in W 20.5 in D 19.5 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Mid-Century Modern Dining Chairs, Set of Four
By Winchendon, Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional set of four iconic Mid-Century Modern solid birch spindle back dining chairs By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group" USA, 1950s Measures: 20.5"W x ...
Birch
A set of chairs, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Chorzów, PL
Chairs from Denmark, around 1960. The chairs have a high, ladder-shaped backrest, tapered upwards, which, due to its openwork, gives lightness to the entire form. The backrest is ad...
Leather, Teak
$2,795 / set
H 31.5 in W 19.5 in D 19.5 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Mid-Century Modern Spindle Back Dining Chairs, 4/Set
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Southampton, NJ
An exceptional set of iconic Mid-Century Modern solid Maple spindle back dining chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group" USA, 1950s. Dimensions: 19.5"W x 19.5...
Maple
$2,824 / set
H 29.53 in W 21.66 in D 22.05 in
A set of chairs by Kai Kristiansen from the 1960s, Denmark, model 31.
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Chorzów, PL
Set of 4 iconic teak chairs model 31 designed by Kai Kristiansen. Manufactured in Denmark in the 1960s. Excellent condition after renovation and replacement of upholstery. Wooden el...
Walnut
$41,600 / set
H 31.04 in W 20 in D 18.51 in
Mid-Century Modern Set of 4 Dining Chairs by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1954
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, these cane chairs were produced by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte in the 1950s. While Hauner and Eisler are known for their iron-fr...
Cane, Wood
$4,000 / set
H 34 in W 18.5 in D 18.5 in
Douglas Snelling Dining Chairs for Functional Products Pty Ltd, Pair, c. 1950s
By Douglas Snelling
Located in Chicago, IL
Douglas Snelling Dining Chairs for Functional Products Pty Ltd, Pair, c. 1950s Pair of dining chairs designed by Douglas Snelling for Functional Products Pty Ltd, Australia, circa 19...
Cotton, Wood
