Devilishly Delightful, and Dunbar!! This is a fabulous coffee or end table with a rosewood-colored finish and a gorgeous newly painted sultry black top with lovely brass inlaid detail. It is DEFINITELY by Dunbar, AND although not marked as such, we suspicion that it was designed by renowned designer for Dunbar, Edward Wormley. He designed for Dunbar Furniture from 1931 through 1970 during which time he urged Dunbar to make reproductions of some of the best examples of European modernist and Art Deco furniture by designers like Jean-Michel Frank of Paris and Richard Riemerschmid of Munich. And not-so-coincidently… this Dunbar coffee table is also Parsons’s style!! Parsons’s style is such a classic design that dates to 1930 when French designer Jean-Michael Frank decided he was going to design a table that was simple enough that it could fit into any home regardless of style preference. This coffee or end table is just that, very versatile. It would be beautiful with Contemporary, Art Deco, Bauhaus, Hollywood Regency, Industrial, traditional, mid-century modern, or modern décor. Parson’s style tables just work anywhere. This coffee table bares a timeless design by a premier manufacturer. It is definitely sought after and sure to be your favorite new piece.
Edward J. Wormley was born in 1907 in Oswego, Illinois and passed away an icon of mid-century design in 1995. He began his career in the interior design studio of Marshall Field & Company department store after having attended the Art Institute of Chicago from 1926-1928. In 1931 he was recruited by Dunbar. He quickly became the Design Director and remained so for the next three decades making Dunbar a name to be reckoned with in mid-century furnishings. This partnership is considered one of the most historically meaningful between a designer and a manufacturer. A quote from Wormley sums up the mid-century modern movement wonderfully as well as today’s design ethics: “Modernism means freedom-freedom to mix, to choose, to change, to embrace the new but to hold fast to what is good.”
Horse drawn carriages and furniture seem to be an odd combination, but it worked for Dunbar. They began as a manufacturer of custom horse drawn buggies for the gentry class. When autos took over the roads, Dunbar wisely switched to manufacturing fine furniture and became one of America’s premier fine furnishings companies. In 1931 destiny brought young designer Edward J. Wormley to Dunbar and the rest as they say, is history. Wormley brought a global presence and design to Dunbar ushering them into the mid-20th century and making the Dunbar name synonymous with high quality and good design. Together they became icons of 20thcentury winning numerous awards and accolades. Dunbar today continues this legacy.
The original Parson’s table was designed in New York City at the Parson’s School of Design by French designer Jean-Michael Frank in the 1930’s. There is an article that states, “Frank challenged students to design a table so basic that it would retain its integrity whether sheathed in gold leaf, mica, parchment, split straw or painted burlap, or even left robustly unvarnished. What grew out of Frank’s sketches and the students’ participation was initially called the T-square table. Parsons tables are often intended for use as modern or contemporary furniture, and their striking design has made them popular as coffee tables, dining tables, side tables, and occasional tables.
Versatility? Check! Timeless Design? Check!! Iconic notoriety? CHECK!! This Parson’s style brass inlaid coffee table by Dunbar has it all!! Don’t wait!! Make it yours!!
