Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
American, 1907-1995
As the longtime director of design for the Dunbar furniture company, Edward Wormley was, along with such peers as George Nelson at Herman Miller Inc., and Florence Knoll of Knoll Inc., one of the leading forces in bringing modern design into American homes in the mid-20th century. Not an axiomatic modernist, Wormley deeply appreciated traditional design, and consequently his vintage seating, storage cabinets, bar carts and other work has an understated warmth and a timeless quality that sets it apart from other furnishings of the era.
Wormley was born in rural Illinois and as a teenager took correspondence courses from the New York School of Interior Design. He later attended the Art Institute of Chicago but ran out of money for tuition before he could graduate. Marshall Field hired Wormley in 1930 to design a line of reproduction 18th-century English furniture; the following year he was hired by the Indiana-based Dunbar, where he quickly distinguished himself. It was a good match.
Dunbar was an unusual firm: it did not use automated production systems; its pieces were mostly hand-constructed. For his part, Wormley did not use metal as a major component of furniture; he liked craft elements such as caned seatbacks, tambour drawers, or the woven-wood cabinet fronts seen on his Model 5666 sideboard of 1956. He designed two lines for Dunbar each year — one traditional, one modern — until 1944, by which time the contemporary pieces had become the clear best sellers.
Many of Wormley’s signature pieces — chairs, sofas, tables and more — are modern interpretations of traditional forms. His 1946 Riemerschmid Chair — an example is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art — recapitulates a late 19th-century German design. The long, slender finials of his Model 5580 dining chairs are based on those of Louis XVI chairs; his Listen-to-Me Chaise (1948) has a gentle Rococo curve; the “Precedent” line that Wormley designed for Drexel Furniture in 1947 is a simplified, pared-down take on muscular Georgian furniture. But he could invent new forms, as his Magazine table of 1953, with its bent wood pockets, and his tiered Magazine Tree (1947), both show. And Wormley kept his eye on design currents, creating a series of tables with tops that incorporate tiles and roundels by the great modern ceramicists Otto and Gertrud Natzler.
As the vintage items on 1stDibs demonstrate, Edward Wormley conceived of a subdued sort of modernism, designing furniture that fits into any decorating scheme and does not shout for attention.
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Creator: Edward Wormley
Dunbar Rosewood High Chest with Brass Ring Drop Pulls
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern five drawer Dunbar chest by Ed Wormley. Rosewood mahogany two-tone combination. Brass ring drop pulls.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Pair of Fine Edward Wormley Chest of Drawers / Dressers for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture, Harvey Probber
Located in Chicago, IL
A Fine Pair of Edward Wormley Chest of Drawers or Dressers for Dunbar. Leather wrapped designer handles. Dovetailed Drawers. Incredible detailed craftsmanship. Note the fine edged ou...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Display Shelf/ Room Divider Super-Structure Model 5223
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Versatile Room Divider/ Display Shelf, Super-Structure Model number 5223 Designed to be used on top of a cabinet, or on the floor. This simple elegant Pie...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany, Glass
Floating Cabinets by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, C. 1950s
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Westport, CT
Elevate your interior with these exquisite mid-century floating cabinets, masterfully designed by the iconic Edward Wormley for Dunbar in the 1950s and meticulously restored to their...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood, Walnut
Chest of Drawers on Hairpin Legs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Ferndale, MI
Chest of drawers on hairpin legs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Scarce Wormley Design. Measures: 45" wide also available.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Birch, Walnut
$5,000 Sale Price
26% Off
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture Woven Front Dark Brown Mahogany Credenza
By Edward Wormley
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century (1950s) mahogany credenza with woven design front panels that slide to reveal a blond wood interior with a large central cabinet and two drawer Sets on either si...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Lacquer
Pair of Seven-Drawer Dressers by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, United States
By Edward Wormley
Located in New York City, NY
A prominent American furniture designer for over four decades, Edward J Wormley struck a balance between modern trends and historical influences. Speaking to this idea, he is quoted:...
Category
1950s American Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar Matching Dresser Set in Mahogany Wood
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar matching dresser set in mahogany wood, model 5272 triple dresser 12-drawer storage with matching smaller companion four dr...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Bar Cart
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A walnut bar cart with laminated sliding drop top. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
27.5 closed
53.25 open
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Pair of Edward Wormley Mid-Century Walnut and Leather 7-Drawer Chests
By Edward Wormley
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of American Mid-Century 7-drawer chests with walnut veneer, and drawers in graduating size with thin plywood drawer pulls on the sides of each drawer front, resting on a brown l...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Desk with Drop Leaves and File Cabinet in Dark Finish
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in St. Louis, MO
Uncommon Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley model no.301-A designed compact desk for Dunbar, with two drop leaf extensions and model no.302-A pedestal file cabinet on wheels. Desk has...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar American Mid-Century New World 5 Drawer Wooden Chest
By Edward Wormley
Located in Queens, NY
American mid-century wooden chest of drawers with 5 drawers with oval cutout drawer pulls, resting on a pedestal base. (EDWARD WORMLEY FOR DUNBAR FURNITURE COMPANY NEW WORLD COLLECTION)
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Edward Wormley for Dunbar American Mid-Century Slate and Wood Dry Bar Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in Queens, NY
"American Mid-Century dry bar cabinet with a walnut case featuring a left-hand closed cabinet next to an open shelf compartment topped with a gray slate serving area, all resting on ...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Metal, Brass
Edward J Wormley for Dunbar Furniture Co. Two Section Walnut Chest
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century walnut cabinet comprised of two adjacent sections with two roll doors, the left with 4 larger pull out drawers, and the right with 8 dra...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Bentwood
Rosewood Roll Top Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A rosewood tambour roll top desk with brass feet and leather trim. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture Co. Walnut Low Chest of Drawers
By Edward Wormley
Located in Queens, NY
American mid-century walnut low chest of drawers with three sets of four drawers, one set wider and central, flanked on either side by two narrower sets of drawers. (EDWARD WORMLEY F...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Credenza
By Edward Wormley
Located in Pasadena, TX
Elegantly crafted credenza made of walnut. Credenza features distinctive half moon drawer and door pulls.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
$4,560 Sale Price
22% Off
Edward Wormley Precedent Dresser for Drexel, stunning custom hardware / finish
By Edward Wormley, Drexel
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning chest of drawers from Drexel’s notable Precedent line, one of the few collections Edward Wormley produced outside of his work with Dunbar. The stately collection comprised over 100 pieces for each room of the home, featuring proprietary curled bar...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Restored Bachelor Chest by Edward Wormley, 1940
s
By Edward Wormley, Drexel
Located in Dallas, TX
Wonderful bachelor's chest by Edward Wormley for his "Precendent" Collection designed for Drexel in 1947. One of the few collections Wormley produced outside of his work with Dunbar. The stately collection comprised over 100 pieces for each room of the home, featuring proprietary curled bar...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Pair of Dunbar Tambour Cabinets by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of cerused tambour door serpentine cabinets designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
$18,000 / set
Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A mahogany desk with brass hardware and floating glass shelf. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
Restored Nighstand Chests by Edward Wormley, 1940
s
By Edward Wormley, Drexel
Located in Dallas, TX
Wonderful bachelor's chest by Edward Wormley for his "Precendent" Collection designed for Drexel in 1947. One of the few collections Wormley produced outside of his work with Dunbar. The stately collection comprised over 100 pieces for each room of the home, featuring proprietary curled bar...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Pair of Edward Wormley Rosewood and Walnut Chests
By Edward Wormley
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of American mid-century 7-drawer chest with graduated drawer sizing, thin plywood drawer pulls on the sides of each drawer front, all in rosewood and walnut veneer, resting on f...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Walnut
$16,500 / set
Vintage Edward Wormley for Dunbar Chest of Drawers
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Iconic Mid-Century Modern chest of drawers by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Crafted with timeless elegance, this piece boasts clean lines, rich wood grain, and sleek brass accents. Perf...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Edward Wormley case pieces and storage cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.
Edward Wormley case pieces and storage cabinets are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Edward Wormley case pieces and storage cabinets, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original case pieces and storage cabinets by Edward Wormley were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider case pieces and storage cabinets by Dunbar, George Nelson, and Widdicomb Furniture Co.. Prices for Edward Wormley case pieces and storage cabinets can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,499 and can go as high as $30,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $8,000.
Creators Similar to Edward Wormley
Questions About Edward Wormley Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024Edward Wormley used a variety of materials over the course of his career. Among them were laminated wood, brass, marble and silk. Not an axiomatic modernist, Wormley deeply appreciated traditional design, and consequently, his vintage seating, storage cabinets, bar carts and other work have an understated warmth and a timeless quality that sets them apart from other furnishings of the era. On 1stDibs, explore a diverse assortment of Edward Wormley furniture.
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