John McGuire “Sheaf of Wheat” End Table 1975c.

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Vintage Mid Century Modern “Sheaf of Wheat” Side Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Style This classic and timeless mid century modern piece was styled like Edward Wormley for Dunb...

John and Elinor were the much loved founders of the iconic San Francisco based McGuire Furniture. They launched the business as a couple in 1948 and their lifelong creative partnership resulted in a signature look combining natural materials like rattan and hide with clean, Asian inspired shapes. This is a wonderful dining table which exemplifies their work. Dating to the latter part of the 20th century, the bamboo frame is very typical of McGuire’s work. The table is topped with a round bevelled glass in perfect condition and the base has a lovely warm colour which would look fantastic in any modern interior giving it that warm, relaxed feel of California design. Like so many artists and designers, husband and wife John McGuire (1920–2013) and Elinor Stevenson (1914–2005) became masters in their trade by accident. The couple met just before the start of World War II (during which John was in the U.S. Navy and Elinor was a navigation instructor) and got married after it ended. They settled down in San Francisco where John held a couple of jobs, among them selling newspaper ads for the San Francisco Examiner while Elinor worked for Boeing Aircraft. Soon, an old Navy buddy of John’s asked him to help sell a bunch of rattan furniture and, needing the money, John agreed. His side business became so successful that John decided to quit his ad-sales job and work full-time in design. In 1948, McGuire Furniture Company was born. Alongside themed-century modern furniture designs then gaining popularity in the United States, John introduced an unconventional idea: traditional armchairs, stools and tables made of natural materials such as bamboo, which was strong yet could be rendered pliable when steamed, that were intended for the indoors rather than the front porch. The brand’s first success was the now famous Director’s X-Chair byLeonard Linden. The military-campaign-style solid oak folding chair launched in 1956 and saw rattan binded with rawhide strips and a high-grade leather slug seat and back that eliminated the need for a plush cushion. Elinor, too, designed some of the brand’s popular pieces, such as 1968’s Cracked Ice chair. With its rattan oval back a dazzling celebration of geometric forms that give it its charming moniker, the Cracked Ice chair was an instant classic and is one of the brand’s most recognisable designs. Today, McGuire and another American furniture manufacturer, Baker Furniture Company, comprise Baker Interiors Group. McGuire remains true to the founders’ ideals and commitment to crafting the kind of organic modern furnishings that are synonymous with the warm and relaxed feel of California design. The company has collaborated with interior designersSteven Volpe, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy and Nicole Hollis...