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.
New Upholstery High Dowel Legs McCobb Lounge Chair
By Harvey Probber, Paul McCobb
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern dowel cone legs McCobb lounge chair newly upholstered in linen like fabric.
Upholstery, Walnut
New Upholstery Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair
By Paul McCobb, Adrian Pearsall
Located in Rockaway, NJ
New upholstery Mid-Century Modern lounge chair.
Upholstery
Large Lounge Chair on Walnut Frame Base by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber, Paul McCobb
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Nice large Harvey Probber lounge chairs on walnut base. Good upholstery condition.
Upholstery, Walnut
Dunbar Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair Restored
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Dunbar Mid-Century Modern lounge chair on solid brass cone shape legs by Edward Wormley.
Brass
New Upholstery Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair by Selig on Walnut Legs
By Selig
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Nice Mid-Century Danish Modern selling lounge chair upholstered in Flax like fabric.
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair John Lubberts and Lambert Mulder for Tomlinson
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Harvey Probber
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern lounge chair John Lubberts and Lambert Mulder for Tomlinson.
Upholstery, Beech
Lawrence Peabody High Back Lounge Chair P-1714 for Craft Associates Furniture
By Lawrence Peabody, Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
This Lawrence Peabody High Back Lounge Chair - P-1714 - Craft Associates® Furniture is expertly hand crafted and upholstered. This Peabody chair is licensed reintroduction for Craft...
Fabric, Walnut
Vintage High Dowel Leg Danish Style Lounge Chair Attributed to Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in Madison, WI
Incredibly beautiful time capsule mid century lounge chair. Statement piece. In excellent vintage condition throughout. Extremely stylish.
Upholstery, Wood
CraftAssociates Lounge Chair, Peabody Mid Century Modern Lounge Chair, Walnut
By Lawrence Peabody, Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
CraftAssociates Lounge Chair, Peabody Mid Century Modern Lounge Chair, Walnut This modern lounge chair by Lawrence Peabody : Holiday Series for Craft Associates Furniture is expertl...
Wood, Walnut
Edward Wormley Lounge Chair #4796 for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in New York, NY
Edward Wormely lounge chair model #4796 produced by Dunbar Furniture Company "Dunbar For Modern" Line, production date of 8/2/1950 - 10/23/1950. Rare hard to find Early Dunbar for M...
Velvet, Wood
Stylish Pair Lawrence Peabody Barrel Back Tub Chair Selig, Mid-Century Modern
By Lawrence Peabody
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Gorgeous pair of Lawrence Peabody barrel back tub chairs by Selig. Both chairs will need to be reupholstered but that's what you designers are looking for anyway-right? We love the l...
Upholstery, Wood
Mid Century Lounge Chair designed by Lawrence Peabody for Craft Associates
By Craft Associates, Lawrence Peabody
Located in New York, NY
Mid Century lounge chair designed by Lawrence Peabody for Crafts Associated, as part of the Holiday series, circa 1950's. The chair is structurally sound and sturdy, the fabric show...
Fabric, Wood
