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Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE

Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.

ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS

VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.

Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively. 

Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer

Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.

The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.

As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.

Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.

As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.

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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Creator: Edward Wormley
1950s Vintage Edward Wormley for Dunbar Cabinet
Located in Boston, MA
Edward Wormely for Dunbar cabinet, circa 1950s. Presented in mahogany, showing lovely woodgrain details. Two doors open to three adjustable selves. Perfect size for various uses. Met...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

1950s Edward Wormley for Dunbar Wave Credenza
Located in Boston, MA
Edward Wormely for Dunbar credenza or sideboard, circa 1950s. Presented in mahogany, showing lovely woodgrain details. Wave form sliding doors flank the center drawers. Beautiful cra...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Restored Edward Wormley Dunbar Walnut & Leather 8-Drawer Dresser or Cabinet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This dresser was designed by decorated design icon Edward Wormly for equally revered manufacturer Dunbar Furniture. Known for hundreds of successful designs and exceptional quality, ...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Edward Wormley, Cabinet, Mahogany, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A bleached mahogany cabinet designed by Edward Wormley and produced by Dunbar, Berne, Indiana, USA, c. 1950s.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Floating Cabinets by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, C. 1950s
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 Cabinets

Materials

Rosewood, Walnut

Edward Wormley Dunbar Double Sliding Door Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Edward Wormley solid walnut cased cabinet with two sliding doors supported on four legged brass frame with walnut caps on the feet. Original Dunbar label on the back.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Edward Wormley, Dressers, Elm, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of "Precedent Line" elm dressers or chests of drawers, designed by Edward Wormley and produced by Drexel, USA c. 1950s.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Elm

Edward Wormley for Drexel Walnut Office File Cabinets
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of handsome, walnut, office, filing cabinets by Edward Wormley for Drexel roll on casters with front and top loading, drawer and hanging file storage. One cabinet is shallower a...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Edward Wormley Walnut Cabinet by Dunbar
Located in Highland, IN
Simple, clean-lined and versatile, this Ed Wormley cabinet by Dunbar features two bi-fold doors concealing one compartment with two shelves. Subtle ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Midcentury Edward Wormley Dunbar Walnut Showcase Curio Display Cabinet Bookcase
Located in Dayton, OH
"This impressive showcase / room divider was a Custom order designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Features a rectangular walnut case raised over large silver tapered metal legs The ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Walnut

Table Top Jewelry Chest, Walnut, Brass Pulls Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Signed
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare table top jewelry case / cabinet designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Signed with the brass Dunbar metal tag. Walnut case and brass pulls. Two drawers...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Tambour Door Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Model 959
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A chic and versatile cabinet with blond tamowood top and burnt almond walnut tambour doors on a dark mahogany case. Nice details like the razor-thin brass door pulls, and dappled var...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Restored Edward Wormley Dunbar White Enamel Walnut Leather Cabinet Dresser 1950s
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A stunning large double dresser in restored white enamel case, with warmly contrasting figured and book-matched walnut drawer fronts, having brown leather wrapped handles. This well-...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Enamel

Woven Front Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Expertly Restored
Located in Kansas City, MO
Mahogany storage cabinet with woven sliding doors and drawers designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. The two sliding doors have fronts woven with thin pieces of mahogany and nickel p...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Nickel

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Janus Collection Chest with Natzler Ceramic Pulls
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Model 5770 Janus Collection chest of drawers featuring brass pulls with inset purple-blue demi-lune Natzler ceramic tiles, and exaggerated dovetail knuckle joints on tops, sides, and...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

#6027 Edward Wormley for Dunbar Super Structure Display Cabinet
Located in Pasadena, TX
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Super Structure display cabinet Stunning cabinet constructed of dark walnut with a brass plated plinth base. Concave fron...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Two Signed Edward Wormley for Dunbar Ebonized Walnut Woven Front Credenzas
Located in Chicago, IL
Two signed Edward Wormley for Dunbar ebonized walnut woven front credenzas with brass fittings. One piece is a darker walnut than the other so they are not exactly matching in colora...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar Cabinet with Asian Hardware
Located in St. Louis, MO
Mid-Century Modern Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar cabinet with brass Asian hardware. All original dark had rubbed finish on ribbon mahogany, top will be polished and touched up prior t...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Edward Wormley Beautiful Pedestal Cabinet in Olive Burl, 1963
Located in New York, NY
Pedestal model 6302A in natural olive burl with hinged door and interior cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, American 1963. Comes with original D key. Original paper label on botto...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Small Mid-Century Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Dorchester, MA
Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, this trim mid-century cabinet in walnut-stained mahogany features recessed door pulls and a matching leather...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Edward Wormley, Pair of Rare Dressers, Walnut, Steel, Dunbar, America, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of rare modernist cabinets or dressers. In stained walnut, legs in steel. Designed by Edward Wormley. Produced by Dunbar, Berne, Indiana, 1950s. Other designers of the per...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Steel

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Superstructure Wall Unit or Room Divider, Restored
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional "superstructure" wall unit display cabinet or room divider By Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture USA, 1950s Concave cabinet...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Cabinet with Brass Hardware, 1950s
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful sideboard cabinet designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, made of sandalwood with solid brass hardware. Cabinet has drawers on each side, center Lucite pull out shelf and on...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Dunbar Cabinet, Mahogany and Brass, Four Doors, One Drawer, Excellent
Located in Kansas City, MO
Storage chest or cabinet designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Expertly refinished mahogany case with solid brass hardware. Two wide center drawers reveal an adjustable shelf. Two o...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Edward Wormley Primavera Mahogany Commode
Located in Chicago, IL
Edward Wormley for Dunbar 5-drawer cabinet, mahogany wood with tapered brass legs. [metal tag Dunbar].
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Edward Wormley Dunbar Woven Front Chest, Mahogany, Brushed Nickel, Signed
Located in New York, NY
Edward Wormely for Dunbar woven front chest, mahogany and brushed nickel, signed. Medium scale commode, No. 4465, with two woven front sliding doors, two top exterior drawers and a f...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Nickel

Dunbar Rosewood High Chest with Brass Ring Drop Pulls
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 Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Table and Stool by Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An ebonized and polished dark mahogany telephone cabinet or vanity table having a storage drawer and an innovative fold-out bench.
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Edward Wormley Credenza / Server for Dunbar in Bleached Walnut and Brass
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful bleached walnut credenza / server with solid brass hardware designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. The top two drawers contain removable felt-lined silverware trays...
Category

1950s Unknown Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Rare Janus Cabinet in the Style of Greene & Greene
Located in St. Louis, MO
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Rare Janus cabinet, model 5811 This Janus collection piece is highly influenced by the Greene & Greene designed Arts and Crafts period furniture...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Janus Cabinet by Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An rectilinear light walnut two-door cabinet having Chinese-influenced hardware and open and adjustable shelves, the form sitting on a plinth base.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Tall Tambour Cabinet with Drawers by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A simple and refined ebonized mahogany wardrobe having tambour doors with integrated handles a top two (2) drawers with cut out handles.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Tall Walnut and Olive Burl Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Dorchester, MA
Edward Wormley designed this elegant display cabinet, model #6027, for Dunbar. The olive burl doors of the lower case enclose shelving and a se...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Drop Tambour Front Cabinet by Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An innovative and uncommon drop tambour front cabinet of bleached walnut having recessed finger pulls, the cabinet with drawers, shelves and vert...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Cinnabar Lacquered Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A two-level cabinet having fantastic storage and scale, with a rich custom cinnabar lacquer. The lower level has bi-folding doors concealing a bank of drawers; the upper section features doors with inset antique Chinese printing blocks.
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Two-Piece Cabinet by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An ebonized mahogany secretary No. 6065 with pull-out writing desk and multiple drawers/shelves on a leather-wrapped plinth base, shown with superstructure, No. 6086, to serve as a b...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Janus Cabinet by Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant rectilinear light walnut two-door cabinet having Chinese-influenced hardware and a rare configuration of twelve cushioned flat drawers.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Pair of Nightstands by Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A pair of ebonized 'French polish' mahogany nightstands with adjustable inner shelf and opposing hinges.
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Three Storage Cabinets by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Completely Original.
Located in Kansas City, MO
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Storage cabinets / dressers. Original bleached mahogany finish with solid brass pulls. Very good completely original condition. All three for $6850! Tw...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Edward Wormley for Drexel Precedent Elm Wood Sideboard or Bar Cabinet, 1950s
Located in South Bend, IN
A sleek and stylish Mid-Century Modern elm wood sideboard server, credenza, or bar cabinet By Edward Wormley for Drexel "Precedent" Collection USA, 1950s Measures: 48"W x 19...
Category

1950s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Elm

MCM Edward Wormley for Drexel Precedent Collection Cabinet in Dark Expresso
Located in St. Louis, MO
Edward Wormley two-door cabinet in ebonized silver elm with brass hardware, circa 1948. The one shown has recently sold, but have another with slightly different hardware available, ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Mid-century Modern cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern cabinets for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage cabinets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, more furniture and collectibles, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern cabinets made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original cabinets, popular names associated with this style include Lawson-Fenning, Joe Colombo, Paul McCobb, and Edward Wormley. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for cabinets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $125 and tops out at $228,000 while the average work can sell for $4,501.

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