The Sturdy & Stylish 1940s Furniture Brand You Might Be Able To Score At The Thrift Store

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There are some true thrift store gems out there, and you might be walking right past them without even realizing it. McGuire furniture is exactly that kind of hidden treasure that collectors are always on the hunt for. The brand is well known for its unique rattan designs because no one does it quite like them. Their pieces manage to be both light and strong, with intricate designs made of natural materials. Incorporating rattan in every room of your home is a wonderful way to add personality to your space, especially with stunning vintage finds like McGuire furniture. 

The McGuire Furniture Company was founded by a couple in San Francisco who were true innovators of mid-century design. Since the 1940s, McGuire has been transforming simple natural materials like rattan, leather, or bamboo into furniture that feels elevated. The brand designed and produced furniture for decades, with some of its most well-known pieces produced in the 1960s and 1980s. Today, vintage McGuire furniture often sells for thousands of dollars a piece. 

While the company worked with different materials, rattan is one of their signatures. We're not talking about your typical patio furniture, but more sophisticated and intricate pieces that can be used indoors, too. Whether you're looking for vintage armchairs, a dining set, or a table, McGuire has it all. Once you know how to spot a McGuire design at the thrift store, you'll start looking for these unique and stunning pieces that combine upholstery, rawhide, bamboo, and metal at all antique markets you visit. 

Rattan has been used since Ancient Egyptian times, but it became especially popular across the world during the Victorian era. It's known for being both durable and lightweight, which allows furniture to have a natural and organic feel while being long-lasting. However, it's costly and takes a ton of labor to make furniture out of rattan. The palms have to be imported from Asia, Australia, and Africa, and then carefully turned into pieces. This tends to make rattan furniture more expensive, and it makes vintage pieces more valuable as well.

Because McGuire was so prolific, there isn't just one typical piece you can easily spot. As a rule of thumb, look for unique rattan designs that incorporate other materials, like laced rawhide, leather, or upholstery. You'll find different types of dining chairs with upholstered backs and seats, sofas with twisted rattan armrests, and swivel bar chairs. They also created some simple rattan lounge chairs and ottomans, but don't get fooled by their simplicity; these pieces are still worth a pretty penny. 

There are obvious signs that antique furniture may not be authentic, but to be sure, it's best to ask the seller for a serial number. Compare this number to old McGuire catalogs to make sure that the piece you're buying is authentic. And if the high price of McGuire furniture isn't for you, consider looking for "McGuire Era" or "McGuire Style" pieces, which retail for far less. Some might say that buying replicas is a styling mistake that instantly devalues your antiques, but it's always an option if you're working on a budget.