Directional Lounge Chairs
A brand known to vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors everywhere, Directional Furniture opened its doors after American furniture designer Paul McCobb created the high-end Directional Modern line of sofas distributed by the New York–based Modernage Company.
In his pivotal introduction of postwar modernism to the mass market, the revered Massachusetts-born McCobb had established several lines, from the affordable and refined Planner Group for Winchendon to the swooping and unexpected arms of the Symmetric Group for Widdicomb, a Shaker-inspired collection that included a sofa and a lounge chair. Like all of McCobb’s designs, the Directional pieces for Modernage are defined by a sleek aesthetic in which the focus is on elegant functionality, frequently using fine materials such as brass and walnut. In 1949, in partnership with New York furniture salesman B.G. Mesberg, McCobb set up the Directional Furniture Company.
The pair’s first pieces were upholstered chairs, intended to harmonize with the modular Multiplex pieces designed by Martin Feinman. McCobb then designed an array of furniture including storage, dining, seating, desks and other pieces with details such as leather tops, wood finishes and Roman Travertine surfaces. While Directional stopped production of McCobb’s work in the early 1960s, it still released numerous pieces by leading designers manufactured by a variety of companies.
Designer Paul Evans led the factory for a time after joining in 1964. His provocative work for the company often reflected his understanding of materials from his early training as a silversmith, such as the popular Cityscape series — a milestone in brutalist design — with its blocky forms accented with brass and chrome. At his shop in Lambertville, New Jersey, he collaborated with a design team to clad furniture pieces in metallic surfaces, like the Argente line that began production in 1968 and involved an acetylene torch to give its aluminum material a textural quality. He also worked on the Sculpted Bronze series with hand-formed resin shaped over plywood or steel that was then coated with atomized bronze.
Other Directional designers included Vladimir Kagan, who contributed biomorphic sofas and swivel chairs; Milo Baughman, who created tables and dressers inspired by Scandinavian modernism; and Jack Lenor Larsen, who covered sofas in dynamically patterned fabric.
Find authentic Directional Furniture seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets from top sellers around the world on 1stDibs.
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Chrome
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Ultrasuede
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Chrome
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Alpaca
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Leather, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Metal
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Fabric
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood, Suede
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Velvet, Cane, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Wool, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Bouclé, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Wool, Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1990s American Post-Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Bouclé
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Velvet
1990s American Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Directional Lounge Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century North American Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Wood, Fabric
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Leather
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Velvet
1990s American Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Fabric
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Steel, Chrome
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Metal
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Stainless Steel
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Bouclé, Upholstery
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Chrome
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Walnut, Upholstery
1950s American Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Bouclé, Upholstery
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Metal
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Bouclé
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Velvet, Wood
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Fabric
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Metal
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Bouclé, Upholstery
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Cane, Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Ultrasuede
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery
20th Century American Post-Modern Directional Lounge Chairs
Textile
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Upholstery
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Directional lounge chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Directional
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021While a pear-shaped ring can be worn either way, most commonly it is worn with the tip of the diamond facing upwards to look like a falling teardrop when the hand is raised. This also helps create the impression of longer fingers.