American designer Lawrence Peabody imbued his mid-century modern furniture with flair and style. His vintage lounge chairs, side tables and credenzas feature sleek silhouettes and chic curves. At the same time, every piece has an easy and comfortable appeal reflective of a designer known to be humble and pragmatic.
Peabody was born in 1924 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. As a young man, the story goes, he joined the Navy partly because he found the uniforms aesthetically appealing. After World War II, Peabody used the benefits offered by the G.I. Bill to attend the Rhode Island School of Design. There, he studied under Austrian designer Ernst Lichtblau, who introduced Peabody to the Bauhaus style.
After completing his studies in America, Peabody moved to Denmark and attended the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Here, he met his wife, Bette, who he married in 1952. By 1955, Peabody had moved back to America and settled in Boston, where he created Danish-inspired seating for the Selig furniture company and opened a design firm called Lawrence Peabody & Associates.
One of the firm's earliest designs was a walnut and rattan cradle chair for Richardson Nemschoff, which earned the 1962 International Design Award. Peabody became known for using walnut in his work and drew on Scandinavian modernist influences in his designs.
For the next three decades, Lawrence Peabody & Associates developed an extensive client list that included names like Kohler, Richardson Brothers, Chapman Lamps and Boyd Lighting.
Throughout his life and career, Peabody also developed a love of Haiti and Haitian art. On one trip to Port-Au-Prince, he met and befriended a man named Dewitt Peters, founder of Le Centre d'art, a haven for local artists. Peabody and Dewitt collaborated to promote handcrafted Haitian art and furniture at overseas museums. Peabody even became one of the organization's directors. He eventually purchased a home in Port-Au-Prince and spent much time there later in life.
Today, Craft Associates Furniture holds the license to produce Peabody designs.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Lawrence Peabody seating, tables, storage cabinets and other furniture.
Lawrence Peabody Modern Coffee Table for Craft Associates Furniture
By Lawrence Peabody, Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Lawrence Peabody modern coffee table for Craft Associates Furniture This Lawrence Peabody modern coffee table for Craft Associates Furniture is expertly crafted. The coffee table ...
Walnut
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
Mid century Lawrence Peabody for Nemschoff Walnut Bench or Coffee Table
By Nemschoff, Lawrence Peabody
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid century modern Lawrence Peabody for Nemschoff Walnut Bench or Coffee Table. Has lower slatted shelf. Good vintage condition. Made is USA circa 1960. Located in Brooklyn NYC. Di...
Walnut
Petrified Wood Coffee Table or Bench with Sleek Modern Metal Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
A petrified wood top modernly designed coffee table (or bench). This custom coffee table has been fashioned from a gorgeous single thick slab of smoothly polished petrified wood, wit...
Metal
$2,400Sale Price|22% Off
H 14.25 in W 60 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Modern Walnut Slatted Bench or Coffee Table, 1960s, Refinished
By Herman Miller, Maruni, George Nelson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautifully refinished Mid-Century Modern slatted wood bench in richly toned walnut, offering the perfect combination of clean architectural lines and functional versatility. Craft...
Wood
$1,350
H 15 in W 18.25 in D 18.25 in
Lawrence Peabody Walnut Side Table for Craft Associates Furniture
By Craft Associates, Lawrence Peabody
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Lawrence Peabody Manufacturer: Craft Associates Furniture Period/Model: Mid-Century Modern Specs: Walnut This Lawrence Peabody walnut side table for Craft Associate...
Walnut
$2,500
H 13.5 in W 79 in D 14.5 in
Torbjorn Afdal for Bruksbo Norway Teak "Krobo" Long Coffee Table, Bench, 1960's
By Bruksbo, Torbjørn Afdal
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Long Torbjorn Afdal solid Teak Table, Bench by Bruksbo Mellenstrands Norway. Featuring a longer lower lipped rectangular framework in smoothly grained Teak, with Steel supported legs...
Steel
$4,295
H 10 in W 78 in D 20 in
Vintage MCM Low Walnut Coffee Table or Bench by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin
By Milo Baughman, Thayer Coggin
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage MCM a.k.a. Mid-Century Modern low coffee table or bench by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin composed of solid walnut legs and walnut veneer top. Beautiful condition, ...
Walnut
$2,500
H 13.98 in W 47.25 in D 19.69 in
Swedish Modern Square Solid Pine Coffee Table by Sven Larsson, Brutalist, 1970s
By Sven Larsson
Located in Odense, DK
Large bench / coffee table in solid pine, crafted by Swedish designer Sven Larsson in 1970s. Signed underneath. Great craftmanship, perfectly suited for any interior style. A Mode...
Pine
Paul Mccobb for Calvin Mid Century Large Walnut Coffee Table
By Paul McCobb, Calvin Furniture
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Paul Mccobb for Calvin mid century large walnut coffee table This table measures: 54 wide x 32 deep x 16.5 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restor...
Walnut
$2,200
H 13.5 in W 71 in D 19 in
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Style "Long John" Walnut Bench, Coffee Table, 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Long Edward Wormley for dunbar style walnut "long john" Bench. Coffee Table. Bed End. Featuring a longer rectangular slat-style Walnut surface, turned edge...
Walnut
$6,595 / set
H 27 in W 30 in D 32 in
Yellow Leather Lawrence Peabody for Selig Danish Modern Danish Lounge Chairs
By Folke Ohlsson, Ib Kofod-Larsen, Lawrence Peabody, Selig
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Imagine a pair of iconic Mid-Century Modern masterpieces, whose elegant silhouettes speak to a golden era of Danish design: these are the Number 596 lounge chairs, conceived by the v...
Leather, Upholstery, Beech
$9,500
H 13 in W 67 in D 19 in
Majestic Restored Pagoda Coffee Table or Bench by John Wisner for Ficks Reed
By Ficks Reed, John Wisner
Located in Atlanta, GA
This magnificent coffee table is shipped as professionally photographed and described in the listing: meticulous professionally restored and completely installation ready. An exquis...
Cane, Rattan, Hardwood
Harry Bertoia for Knoll Birch & Black Iron Bench / Coffee Table
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Harry Bertoia for Knoll Light Wood Slat Bench / Table with Black Frame, Circa 1970's. Featuring an open rectangular form with Birch slats atop a geometric black enameled Iron framewo...
Iron
Lawrence Peabody, Side Tables, Walnut, USA, 1960s
By Lawrence Peabody
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of walnut side tables designed by Lawrence Peabody and produced by Richardson Nemschoff, United States, c. 1960s.
Walnut
Sold
H 17.38 in W 54 in D 30.13 in
Lawrence Peabody for Richardson Nemschoff Walnut Coffee Table with Drawer
By Richardson Nemschoff, Lawrence Peabody
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Exquisite craftsmanship abounds on this large rectangular mid-century modern coffee table. The walnut coffee table was designed by Lawrence Peabody for Richardson Nemschoff...
Walnut
Lawrence Peabody for Richardson Nemschoff Walnut Coffee Table
By Richardson Nemschoff, Lawrence Peabody
Located in South Bend, IN
A sleek and stylish Mid-Century Modern walnut coffee or cocktail table By Lawrence Peabody for Richardson Nemschoff USA...
Walnut