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.
In its inaugural days, iconic mid-century modern furniture brand Craft Associates was largely the work of founder and forward-thinking designer Adrian Pearsall and his wife, Dorie. The pair assembled sexy, stylish furniture in their Pennsylvania basement that they later sold from the back of a truck to the era’s marquee department stores in Philadelphia and New York City.
The New York–born Pearsall (1925–2011) served in the Navy before earning his architectural engineering degree from the University of Illinois in 1950. He abandoned architecture after only a couple of years and turned instead to furniture design, opening Craft Associates in 1952 to sell his sophisticated living room seating, dining room furnishings and more. Flush with dynamic angles and clean lines, Pearsall’s sculptural, expressive designs — coffee tables, luxurious lounge chairs and more — helped define the style of the Atomic Age. With the help of Dorie and working in partnership with his brother Richard, Pearsall oversaw the expansion of Craft Associates into a leading employer of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, with popular furniture including architecturally striking tables as well as plush beanbag chairs.
From Craft, there was Pearsall’s low-slung Gondola sofa, which embraces the sitter with its enveloping, geometrically rich form, his range of glass-topped tables — most boasting provocatively shaped wood slabs that serve as bases — as well as his skinny, high-backed upholstered walnut armchairs. Pearsall drew on his background in architecture for the organic and eye-catching structures of these pieces in addition to his larger scale work. One of his biggest projects was the complete design of his family’s 10,000-square-foot Pennsylvania home in Forty Fort, which boasted an indoor pool, sauna, tennis court and ice cream bar.
After growing his business to 800 employees, Pearsall sold Craft Associates in 1968 to Lane Furniture, which continued producing his pieces into the late 1970s before halting production. With business partner John Graham, Pearsall established a new company, Comfort Designs, in the 1970s, while also devoting time to his lifelong hobbies of sailing and restoring classic yachts.
A company called New Craft Associates revived Pearsall’s brand’s name, referencing mid-century-era furniture design in its current projects while not formally associated with Pearsall or his family. Restoration Hardware has also reissued some of his Craft Associates designs, with Pearsall and his company’s distinctive furniture remaining popular statement pieces adaptable to any home.
Find a range of vintage Craft Associates furniture on 1stDibs.
CraftAssociates Dining Chairs, Lawrence Peabody Walnut Dining Chair
By Craft Associates, Lawrence Peabody
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
CraftAssociates Dining Chairs, Lawrence Peabody Walnut Dining Chair These Lawrence Peabody Dining Arm Chairs in walnut for Craft Associates Furniture are expertly hand crafted and u...
Wood, Walnut
Modern "Bonnie" Dining Chair for Craft Associates Furniture
By Craft Associates, Laura Trenchard
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Laura Trenchard Manufacturer: Craft Associates Furniture Period/model: Mid-Century Modern Specs: Solid walnut, leather, cane Modern "Bonnie" dining chair, for Craft Associates Furniture are expertly handcrafted in solid walnut and cane. Each chair base is constructed by hand from solid wood and hand caned backs. The chairs are finished with a commercial grade matte finish. Craft Associates Furniture is proud each piece is made in the US. They strive to Craft a product that will Stand the test of time. They use the best materials and have the best craftsman in the business. We Stand 100% behind this product. All pieces are available in: Teak, walnut or ziricote "Modernism means freedom - freedom to mix, to choose, to change, to embrace the new but to hold fast...
Cane, Walnut
Lawrence Peabody Dining Chairs P-1708, 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, leather These Lawrence Peabody dining armchairs P-1708 are expertly handcrafted and upholstered. These Peabody chairs are licensed reintroductions for Craft Associates®. Chairs are solid walnut with each frame hand steamed and bent. The price includes our standard leather seat. Craft Associates® Furniture is proud each modern piece is made in the US. We strive to craft a product that will stand the test of time. We use the best materials and have the best craftsman and upholstery in the business. We stand 100% behind our product. dimensions H: 29.5" (74.93cm) W: 23.75" (60.325cm) D: 21" (53.34cm) Seat Height: 18" (45.72cm) Seat Width: 19" (48.26cm) Seat Depth: 17.5" (44.45cm) Arm Height: 27" (68.58cm) "The U.S. would profit by the example of the Danes, whose great work in furniture design is the result of combining proficient craftsmanship, fine design and technical skill. The Danes do more than sell arts and crafts in their distinguished work, they sell Denmark." - Lawrence Peabody, 1957 history Lawrence “Larry” Peabody (1924-2002) was an architect, interior designer, and furniture designer. As an American born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, his distinctive design were often influenced by his Scandinavian roots. Lawrence studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Denmark and at the Rhode Island School of Design. His early career with Selig Mfg. Co. was prolific and helped put both himself and Selig on the map for modern furniture. He then started Lawrence Peabody & Associates in 1955, a design firm in Boston which included a vast client list (Sears, Roebuck & Co., Kohler, Regal Rugs, Boyd Lighting, Chapman Lamps, and Richardson Brothers). In 1961, Mr. Peabody won a Citation for Merit for his Peabody Collection for Richardson/ Nemschoff. Winner of the 1962 International A.I.D. design award for his wood frame rattan cradle...
Leather, Walnut
Peabody Modern Dining Chairs
By Lawrence Peabody, Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Lawrence Peabody modern white dining chairs for Craft Associates furniture These Lawrence Peabody modern white dining chairs for Craft Associates furniture are expertly handcrafted and upholstered. These Peabody chairs are licensed reintroductions for Craft Associates. These chairs are solid maple with each frame hand steamed and bent. The price includes our standard leather or fabric seat. The wood is finished with a beautiful matte lacquer in white. Craft Associates furniture is proud each modern piece is made in the US. We strive to craft a product that will stand the test of time. We use the best materials and have the best craftsman and upholstery in the business. We stand 100% behind our product. "The U.S. would profit by the example of the Danes, whose great work in furniture design is the result of combining proficient craftsmanship, fine design and technical skill. The Danes do more than sell arts and crafts in their distinguished work, they sell Denmark." - Lawrence Peabody, 1957 Designer: Lawrence Peabody Manufacturer: Craft Associates furniture Period/Model: Mid-Century Modern Specs: Maple, leather or fabric History: Lawrence “Larry” Peabody (1924-2002) was an architect, interior designer and furniture designer. As an American born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, his distinctive design were often influenced by his Scandinavian roots. Lawrence studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Denmark and at the Rhode Island School of Design. His early career with Selig Mfg. Co. was prolific and helped put both himself and Selig on the map for modern furniture. He then started Lawrence Peabody & Associates in 1955, a design firm in Boston which included a vast client list (Sears, Roebuck & Co., Kohler, Regal Rugs, Boyd Lighting, Chapman Lamps, and Richardson Brothers). In 1961, Mr. Peabody won a Citation for Merit for his Peabody collection for Richardson/ Nemschoff. Winner of the 1962 International A.I.D. design award for his wood frame rattan cradle...
Maple
Lawrence Peabody Dining Side Chair P-1709 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, leather These Lawrence Peabody dining side chairs P-1709 are expertly handcrafted and upholstered. These Peabody chairs are licensed reintroductions for Craft Associates. Chairs are solid walnut with each frame hand steamed and bent. The price includes our standard leather seat. Craft Associates furniture is proud each modern piece is made in the US. We strive to craft a product that will stand the test of time. We use the best materials and have the best craftsman and upholstery in the business. We stand 100% behind our product. dimensions H: 29.5" (74.93 cm) W: 20.5" (52.07 cm) D: 21" (53.34 cm) Seat Height: 18" (45.72 cm) Seat Width: 18" (45.72 cm) Seat Depth: 17.5" (44.45 cm) "The U.S. would profit by the example of the Danes, whose great work in furniture design is the result of combining proficient craftsmanship, Fine design and technical skill. The Danes do more than sell arts and crafts in their distinguished work, they sell Denmark." - Lawrence Peabody, 1957 history Lawrence “Larry” Peabody (1924-2002) was an architect, interior designer, and furniture designer. As an American born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, his distinctive design were often influenced by his Scandinavian roots. Lawrence studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Denmark and at the Rhode Island School of Design. His early career with Selig Mfg. Co. was prolific and helped put both himself and Selig on the map for modern furniture. He then started Lawrence Peabody & Associates in 1955, a design firm in Boston which included a vast client list (Sears, Roebuck & Co., Kohler, Regal Rugs, Boyd Lighting, Chapman Lamps, and Richardson Brothers). In 1961, Mr. Peabody won a Citation for Merit for his Peabody Collection for Richardson/ Nemschoff. Winner of the 1962 International A.I.D. design award for his wood frame rattan cradle...
Leather, Walnut
Lawrence Peabody Dining Chairs for Craft Associates
By Lawrence Peabody, Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Lawrence Peabody dining chairs for Craft Associates - quick ship. All show samples are in excellent condition. This set includes four side chairs and six armchairs in high grade leat...
Leather, Walnut
The Carol Dining Chair in Bent Wood with book-matched seat by Jonathan Field
By Jonathan Field
Located in London, GB
The Carol Dining Chair. The Carol chair is handmade using bent walnut with the seat of book-matched English walnut. "I wanted to create a chair with a lightweight frame that has a ...
Walnut
Bentwood Slim Carol Dining Chair by Jonathan Field
By Jonathan Field
Located in London, GB
The Slim Carol Dining Chair is a narrower version of the original chair first launched in 2021. This version was completed at the start of 2024. The Carol Chairs are crafted by hand ...
Walnut
Customizable Modern Dining Armchair Lago, Solid wood, handcrafted natural fiber
By Comité de Proyectos
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Palm woven armrest dining chair. Ideal for headboards or a large dining room, the hand-woven palm back and seat give a twist to the classic, understated design of this chair making i...
Natural Fiber, Hardwood
American Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner's Dining Chair
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
David N. Ebner's early dining chair in the style of Danish modern, walnut and curly maple dining room chair. Leather seat (your fabric of choice) crafted to order; one or more. No...
Oak
Dining Room Chair in solid wood, Contemporary Brazilian Design
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
This armchair, made to order as a dining room set, is is part of the Arrow chair collection which carries the concept of precision and the figurative arrow...
Leather, Textile, Hardwood
Customizable Modern Dining chair Lago, Solid wood, handcrafted natural fiber.
By Comité de Proyectos
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Palm woven dining chair. Ideal for a dining room, the hand-woven palm back and seat give a twist to the classic, understated design of this chair making it a relaxed yet elegant piec...
Natural Fiber, Hardwood
