Four Piece Cubo Sectional Sofa by Harvey Probber, circa 1972

About the Item

Introducing the iconic 4 Piece Cubo Sectional by Harvey Probber, originally designed in 1972. This stunning piece exudes timeless elegance and sophistication, making it a must-have addition to any modern living space. Crafted from high-quality materials, this sectional boasts a sturdy construction that is built to last. This Deep Tuft sectional seating was designed by Harvey Probber in 1972. Recognized as a pioneer in sectional seating, Probber developed the concept from the 1940s. Fascinated by automotive interiors, Probber used proprietary urethane foam to create an exaggerated version of the tufted seating often found in luxury cars. This modular seating system features the proprietary urethane foam used in Probber’s original pieces. Featuring a sleek and stylish design, the Cubo Sectional is upholstered in a beautiful blue fabric that adds a touch of luxury to your home. The sectional comes in four pieces, allowing you to configure it in any way you desire, making it perfect for entertaining guests or relaxing with your loved ones. The sectional is designed to provide maximum comfort, with deep tufted plush cushions and backrest that will keep you cozy for hours. The 4 Piece Cubo Sectional by Harvey Probber is a true masterpiece of furniture design, and it is sure to make a statement in any room. Order yours today and experience the ultimate in comfort and style. The piece retains the original label: 128 inches wide x 32 inches deep x 27 inches high x 16 inches seat height About the artist. Harvey Probber: 1922-2003 Harvey Probber was born in 1922 in Brooklyn, New York. The autodidact was already leaning towards design during his years in school. A much-quoted anecdote says that he designed his first sofa at the age of 16 – and sold the sketch for the respectable amount of ten dollars. Right after graduating from high school, Probber started working as a designer for an upholstery manufacturer; in 1945, he founded his own company. Probber had his decisive breakthrough as a designer when he developed various approaches to sitting furniture. For Probber, the concept of designing modern furniture that would not only be aesthetically convincing but also provide its users with the greatest possible spatial flexibility stood in the foreground. He finally found the key in the details and individual elements of geometrical forms. They became the templates for his successive sofa series that can be flexibly combined. Relating to the concept and its individual elements, Probber spoke of a modular system – and thereby became the pioneer and inventor of the modular sofa. This concept has remained highly topical to this day. During his lifetime, Probber considered himself a representative of Modernism. Interestingly, his use of materials clearly differed from what was considered avant-garde at the time: the exotic woods that he appreciated, lacquered or manually polished to a high-gloss, as well as opulent upholstery were completely out of line with the more radical, Bauhaus-inspired design scene. Generally, the New Yorker, with his wide range of interests, did not necessarily fit in with precast patterns. Probber once even played with the idea of making a career as a pop singer and songwriter. He finally became a manufacturer and industrialist with a factory and hundreds of employees; however, art was always the top priority for him. He even traded his much loved car for a Picasso.

Creator:
Harvey Probber (Designer)
Design:
Cubo Sofa
Dimensions:
Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 128 in (325.12 cm)Depth: 32 in (81.28 cm)Seat Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Chrome,Foam,Upholstery
Period:
1970-1979
Date of Manufacture:
1972
Condition:
Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. The sofa is newly refinished and the chrome bases newly polished.
Seller Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU881734766582
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Shop All Harvey Probber

Harvey Probber

A popular designer who had his heyday from the late 1940s into the 1970s, Harvey Probber is one of the post-war American creative spirits whose work has been recently rediscovered by collectors. His designs are by-and-large simple and elegant, but his signal achievement was to pioneer one of the key innovations of mid-20th century furniture: sectional, or modular, seating.

Even as a teenager, the Brooklyn-born Probber was making sketches of furniture designs — and selling them to Manhattan furniture companies. He began working as a designer for an upholsterer once he finished high school and, apart from a few evening classes he took as an adult at the Pratt Institute, he was self-taught about design and furniture making.

After wartime service — and a stint as a lounge singer — Probber founded his own company in the late 1940s. A lifelong familiarity with the needs of New York–apartment dwellers doubtless sparked his most noteworthy creation: a line of seating pieces in basic geometric shapes — wedges, squares, half-circles — that could be arranged and combined as needed. Modular furniture remained the core idea of Probber’s business throughout his career.

As a self-trained designer, Probber was never wed to any particular aesthetic. He preferred simple lines for their inherent practicality, but often used hardware to enliven the look of his pieces, or added elements — such as a ceramic insert in the center of a round dining table — that was visually interesting and could serve as a trivet. He gravitated toward bright fabrics with attractive, touchable textures that might be satin-like or nubbly. Above all, Probber insisted that the products that came out of his Fall River, Massachusetts, factory be built to last.

“The quality of aging gracefully,” Probber once told an interviewer, is “design's fourth dimension.” This quality he realized: Probber furniture is just as useful and alluring now as it was when made — and maybe even more stylish.

Find a collection of vintage Harvey Probber side tables, sectional sofas, chairs and other furniture on 1stDibs.