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.
Large-Scale Mad Men Roger Sprunger Executive Desk Dunbar, Mid-Century Modern
By Roger Sprunger
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Large-scale Mid-Century Modern executive desk designed by Roger Sprunger for Dunbar. Gorgeous walnut with stainless steel double pedestal base. Four drawers including one file, two r...
Chrome
Rare Flush Front Burled Walnut Campaign Desk in the syle of Milo Baughman
By West Michigan Furniture Co., Milo Baughman
Located in Pemberton, NJ
A very fine Campaign desk by West Michigan Furniture, in the style of Milo Baughman, in burled walnut, X-base legs with bronze finish. Unlike other models, this design features drawe...
Bronze
Excellent Harvey Probber Curved Slim Walnut Desk Mid-Century Modern
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Sculptural modern "Advent" model walnut desk, designed by Harvey Probber, American, circa 1960s. Beautiful graining to the wood. This particular desk is in wonderful vintage condit...
Walnut
Excellent Rosewood Roll Top Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mid-Century Modern
By Edward Wormley
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Classic roll top desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar with leather footrest. This stately executive desk is beautifully constructed of rosewood and mahogany. With two sliding roll-tops,...
Brass
Sexy Slim Rosewood and Chrome Desk by Ste. Marie and Laurent Mid-Century
By Andre Laurent
Located in Pemberton, NJ
This sexy slim Ste-Marie and Laurent desk has beautiful rosewood grain and a black faux leather top. This Mid-Century desk floats on a modern chrome cantilever base and is finished o...
Chrome
Milo Baughman Style Dyrlund Mid Century Danish Rosewood, Maple and Teak Coffee
By Drylund
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Elevate your living space with the timeless charm of this Danish Drylund Mid-Century wood striped cube coffee table. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this exquisite piece...
Maple, Rosewood, Teak
Mid Century Roger Sprunger for Dunbar Walnut Executive Desk with Plinth Bases
By Edward Wormley
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
A monumental and sophisticated executive desk manufactured by Dunbar Furniture of Berne, Indiana. Designed during the Roger Sprunger era, this piece embodies the transition from mid-...
Mahogany
Large Rosewood Executive Desk on Metal Base Denmark 1960's
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful large Danish modern executive desk with metal base made probably around the late 1960's in Denmark. Unmarked and we are not sure of the Designer nor Maker. Great large work...
Steel
Mid-Century Italian Rosewood Sales Counter Table, Circa 1950-1960
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A rectangular, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian sales counter table made of hand crafted polished Rosewood, in good condition. The large buffet serving table is composed with its o...
Metal, Brass, Iron
Mid-Century Modern Walnut and Brass Expanding Dining Table by Milo Baughman
By Milo Baughman, Thayer Coggin
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mid-century modern expanding walnut dining table designed by the legendary Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin, United States, circa 1970s. This striking table embodies Baughman’s signat...
Brass
Gio Ponti Singer & Sons Model 2134 Walnut & Brass Flip Top Dining Console Table
By Gio Ponti, M. Singer & Sons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by Italian architect Gio Ponti, this table embodies the very soul of Italian Mid-Century Modern. Italian descends from many important historical movements, such as the rich ...
Brass
7ft Dunbar Roger Sprunger Rosewood Chrome Writing Desk
By Roger Sprunger
Located in Pasadena, TX
Vintage midcentury Roger Sprunger rosewood chrome table writing desk by Dunbar 1970s Executive desk in rich rosewood veneer with three drawers over legs in polished chrome. We als...
Chrome
