Designer : Edward J. Wormley

Edward J Wormley (1907 - 1995)

Born outside of Chicago, Illinois, Edward J Wormley always aspired to be a decorator.  In high school he took a correspondence course from the New York School of Interior Design and after graduation attended the esteemed Art Institute of Chicago for three terms before training as an interior designer at Marshall Field & Company. After three years Wormley was designing eighteenth-century English reproductions for Marshall Field, which provided him with a valuable apprenticeship studying antiques at various museums.  

The Depression curtailed Wormley’s job in 1931, so he traveled to Europe where he arranged to meet both the architect Le Corbusier and Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, a sure sign of his broadening tastes in design.  Upon his return Wormley was hired to be the marquee designer at Dunbar Furniture Company, a leading producer of furniture in America from the 1940s through the ’60s, where he remained until his retirement in 1968.

Dunbar was known for fine hand-rubbed finishes and quality materials, and its non-automated production.  Without up-to-date mechanization they were able to customize each piece of furniture per the client’s request, but still managed to release two lines a year with an average of one hundred pieces per annum for thirty-seven years. Through his long-term association with Dunbar, Wormley demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of handicraft that inspired other American manufacturers to aim for a higher level of production.

Wormley also succeeded as an interior designer, opening his own design studio in New York City in 1945.  Independently, he also produced lighting for Lightolier, cabinets for RCA, globe stands for Rand McNally, and carpet for Alex Smith & Sons. In 1948 Schiffer Prints selected him to create textiles as one of the six renowned designers in the Stimulus Collection that also included Salvador Dali, Ray Eames, and George Nelson.

Wormley’s pieces were featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s Good Design exhibitions from 1950 to 1952. He taught at Parsons School of Design starting in 1955, lectured at the Architectural League, and was a world traveler. In 1962 he was awarded the distinguished Elsie de Wolf award, named after the “mother of interior decorating.”  His Riemerschmid chair is currently in the permanent collection in the Museum of Modern Art’s Architecture and Design department.

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more pictures   print item   send item by email	item name : Nine Foot Sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar designers : Dunbar,  Edward J. Wormley Era : Circa 1950's Country of Origin : USA item description : Nine Foot Sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Spectacular nine foot sofa by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Expansive sofa floats gracefully on six nickeled feet. Two loose button tufted seat cushions and four loose back cushions. Upholstered in ivory boucle fabric. Model number 4907A. Documented in Dunbar Fine Furniture of the 1950s by L.Pina, ppg 31-32, 172-173 Very good original condition 33 H 108 L 37 D seat height 16.5 item # : TMF1164 price : Request Price
more pictures   print item   send item by email	item name : Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Edward Wormley designers : Dunbar,  Edward J. Wormley Era : Circa 1960's Country of Origin : USA Materials : Wood > Walnut,  Textile > Leather item description : Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Edward Wormley for Dunbar USA, c 1960 A finely crafted Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, c 1960.  The chair features a wide, tufted back with elongated, shallow wings; a wide, low seat and a dark stained walnut frame and matching ottoman.  Newly upholstered in ivory leather. A similar chair can be seen in Edward Wormley: The Other Face of Modernism, Gura, pg 41.   Excellent restored condition   37.75H  31W  29D Chair 17.5H  30.5W 20.25D Ottoman item # : TMF1136 price : Request Price
more pictures   print item   send item by email	item name : Pair of Janus Armchairs by Edward Wormley designers : Dunbar,  Edward J. Wormley Era : Circa 1950's Country of Origin : USA Materials : Wood,  Textile > Wool item description : Pair of Janus Armchairs by Edward Wormley USA, ca 1957 A Pair of Janus Armchairs by Edward Wormley, ca 1957.  Each with a serpentine shaped seat, rounded back and exposed walnut frame.  Each is with tufted upholstery in a wool boucle style fabric.  Two pair available. Excellent Original Condition 32.5H x 27.5W x 26D seat height 18.5H item # : TMF1064 price : SOLD
more pictures   print item   send item by email	item name : Bar Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar designers : Dunbar,  Edward J. Wormley Era : Circa 1950's Country of Origin : USA Materials : Wood > Walnut,  Wood > Rosewood,  Technique > Marquetry item description : Bar cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, c.1959. Beautiful rosewood case with lacquered composite top and doors. Three doors with walnut cruciform marquetry. Top slides open to reveal bottle storage and built in ice bucket and garnish holder. Case with three doors, two with adjustable shelves and one pull out drawer. Very good original condition. 32"H x 48"L x 20"D item # : TMF893 price : Request Price
more pictures   print item   send item by email	item name : Janus Side Tables by Edward Wormley for Dunbar designers : Dunbar,  Edward J. Wormley Era : Circa 1950's Country of Origin : USA Materials : Wood > Walnut item description : A rare pair of Tiffany Studios Favrile tile inset burled walnut side tables, from the Janus collection, both with metal Dunbar tag, c.1957. 19"H x 24"L x 24"D Excellent original condition. item # : TMF603 price : $24,000.00 for the pair