Paul McCobb Shovel Chair
By Paul McCobb
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage Paul McCobb shovel chair, model #1533, from his Planner Group for Winchendon Furniture
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Iron
Paul McCobb Shovel Chair
By Paul McCobb
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage Paul McCobb shovel chair, model #1533, from his Planner Group for Winchendon Furniture
Iron
Paul McCobb Shovel Chairs, Winchendon, Set of 6
Located in Raleigh, NC
A striking and unique design from Paul Mccobb. Vintage set of mid century modern chairs in very
Steel
$6,449 / set
H 33.86 in W 18.51 in D 20.48 in
Set of 4 Paul McCobb Shovel Chairs for Winchendon, 1950s USA
By Paul McCobb
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of 4 Paul McCobb Planner Group Shovel chairs in Maple for Winchendon, USA 1950s.
Metal
$3,600 / set
H 33.75 in W 18.38 in D 19 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Maple and Iron "Shovel" Chairs by Paul Mccobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Paul Mccobb Shovel Chairs model #1533 designed in the 1950s for Planner Group and produced by
Metal, Wrought Iron
$4,800
H 29 in W 66 in D 37 in
Paul McCobb Lacquered Beech Extension Dining Table For Perimeter, Winchendon
By Winchendon, Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
dining table with Paul McCobb "Shovel" chairs which are listed separately.
Beech
Paul McCobb Designed Shovel Chair for Wichendon
By Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of iconic side or desk chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon. Reffered to as The Shovel Chair
Metal
$10,000 / set
H 33.75 in W 18.75 in D 18.25 in
Paul McCobb, Maple, Lacquered Iron, Shovel Dining Chairs, USA, 1950s
By Paul McCobb
Located in Manhasset, NY
Paul McCobb, American Mid-Century Modern, Maple, Lacquered Iron, Ten "Shovel'" Dining Chairs, USA
Iron
$5,500 / set
H 34 in W 18.5 in D 21.5 in
Set of Four Vintage Mid-Century Paul McCobb Shovel Dining Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in Pasadena, TX
four Paul Mccobb Winchendon Dining Chairs American 1950s Chair is constructed in solid maple, it
Maple
Set Of Four Paul McCobb Planner Group "Shovel" Dining Chairs
By Paul McCobb, Winchendon
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Paul McCobb for his Planner Group line for Winchendon Furniture. These iconic chairs are model 1533
Wrought Iron
$1,595
H 33.25 in W 18.25 in D 23 in
Paul McCobb for Winchendon Mid Century Maple and Iron Model 1533 Shovel Chair
By Paul McCobb, Winchendon
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Paul McCobb for Winchendon Mid Century Maple and Iron Model 1533 Shovel Chair This chair measures
Iron
$2,495 / set
H 33.25 in W 18.25 in D 23 in
Paul McCobb for Winchendon MCM Maple and Iron Model 1533 Shovel Chair - Pair
By Paul McCobb, Winchendon
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Paul McCobb for Winchendon Mid Century Maple and Iron Model 1533 Shovel Chair - Pair Each chair
Iron
Paul McCobb Shovel Chair
By Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Paul McCobb maple and Iron shovel chair, circa 1950. Solid sculpted maple seat with turned spindle
Iron
Paul McCobb Shovel Chair, Planner Group Model #1533
By Paul McCobb
Located in San Francisco, CA
Paul McCobb Shovel chair for his Planner Group by Winchendon, Mass. Newly refinished and ready to
Steel
Paul McCobb Shovel chair
By Paul McCobb
Located in St. Louis, MO
Paul McCobb side chair with iron legs and birch seat and back, from the Planner Group
Iron
Paul McCobb Shovel Chair for Wichendon
By Paul McCobb
Located in San Francisco, CA
Paul McCobb design "Shovel" side chair model 1533 for Winchendon, Mass. A iconic and innovative
Steel
Vintage Paul McCobb Shovel Chair 1950s
By Paul McCobb, Winchendon
Located in Saint Paul, MN
Paul McCobb has been a bit of a dark horse in the world of Mid-Century Modern. Due to an early
Maple
Paul McCobb Shovel Chair for Winchendon Furniture
By Paul McCobb, Winchendon
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Shovel chair in maple and iron from Paul McCobb's iconic Planner Group, by Winchendon Furniture, c
Iron
Set of 8 Paul McCobb "shovel" chairs by Winchendon
By Paul McCobb
Located in Highland, IN
Designed in 1953 as part of the Planner Group, these chairs are remarkably progressive and almost
Iron
Mid Century Modern Shovel Chair by Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Paul McCobb Shovel Chair from the Planner Group series features a sleek black finish and
Wrought Iron
Set of Eight Paul McCobb "Shovel" Dining Chairs for Winchendon
By Paul McCobb
Located in Kansas City, MO
Paul McCobb Shovel Chairs for Winchendon. Set of eight. Solid maple and wrought iron construction
Iron
Sold
H 34 in W 18.25 in D 20 in
Set of Four Paul McCobb Dining Chairs Called Shovel Chairs Excellent Condition
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Kansas City, MO
Expertly refinished set of four Paul McCobb Shovel chairs. Solid maple seats and backs with wrought
Wrought Iron
Shovel Chair By Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Paul McCobb side chair is a great example of mid-century modern design becoming more of an
Set of Four Paul McCobb Mid-Century Shovel Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in San Antonio, TX
Set of four sculpted "shovel" Mid-Century Modern dining chairs designed by Paul McCobb feature a
Wrought Iron
Set of Six Paul McCobb Mid-Century Shovel Chairs
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of six refinished shovel style chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon. Great modern style with
Set of Four Paul McCobb Mid-Century Shovel Chairs
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of four refinished shovel style chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon. Great modern style with
Sold
H 30.71 in W 18.51 in D 20.87 in
Six Paul McCobb Ladder or Shovel Chairs for Winchendon Dining Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of six dining chairs designed by Paul McCobb and made by Winchendon. The chairs are maple with
Metal
Paul McCobb Shovel Seat Dining Chairs from the Planner Group
By Paul McCobb
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A set of four solid maple shovel seat or ladder back dining chairs with spindle design to the
Wood
Paul McCobb Planner Group Shovel Chairs #1533 Maple Iron
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group, Arbuck
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
have plastic feet floor protectors. These chairs are marked Paul McCobb by Winchendon Furniture Co
Steel, Iron
Paul McCobb Maple and Iron "Shovel" Chair, Newly Refinished
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern "shovel" dining chair or side chair By Paul McCobb for
Iron
Sold
H 34 in W 18 in D 23 in
Rare Pair Midcentury Paul McCobb Planner Group Shovel Chairs #1533 Maple Iron
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Pair of original rare midcentury Maple Paul McCobb planner group #1533 shovel side dining chairs
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Maple Shovel Chairs for Winchendon
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern dining chairs designed by Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture are scooped maple
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 34.25 in W 18.25 in D 21 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Maple and Iron "Shovel" Side Chair, Fully Restored
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern "shovel" dining chair, desk chair, or side chair By Paul McCobb
Iron
Sold
H 34.25 in W 18.25 in D 21 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Maple and Iron "Shovel" Side Chairs, Fully Restored
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional pair of Mid-Century Modern "shovel" dining chairs or side chairs By Paul McCobb for
Iron
Set of Ten Paul McCobb Maple and Black Iron "Shovel" Chairs, 1950s
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Set of 10 original Paul McCobb Planner Group Model 1533 Shovel Seat Chairs by Winchendon Furniture
Iron
Sold
H 33.75 in W 18.25 in D 17.5 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Black Lacquered Maple and Iron "Shovel" Chair, 1950s
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern "shovel" dining chair or side chair By Paul McCobb for
Iron
Sold
H 34.25 in W 18.25 in D 21 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Maple and Iron "Shovel" Dining Chairs, Fully Restored
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional set of four Mid-Century Modern "shovel" dining chairs By Paul McCobb for Winchendon
Iron
Sold
H 34.25 in W 18.25 in D 21 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Maple and Iron "Shovel" Dining Chairs, Fully Restored
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional set of six Mid-Century Modern "shovel" dining chairs By Paul McCobb for Winchendon
Iron
Sold
H 34 in W 18.5 in D 20.5 in
Set of Six Modern Paul McCobb Planner Group Ladder Back 'Shovel' Dining Chairs
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Houston, TX
Set of six Mid-Century Modern ladder back "Shovel" chairs by Paul McCobb from the Planner Group
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 34 in W 18 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Paul McCobb Shovel Chair, Planner Group Model #1533, Original Black
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Decatur, GA
All original black lacquer Paul McCobb Planner Group #1533 shovel side dining chair. Solid maple
Wrought Iron
1950s Vintage Paul McCobb Shovel Dining Chair
By Paul McCobb
Located in Saint Paul, MN
Vintage Paul McCobb Shovel chair, model 1533, for Winchendon Furniture (unmarked).
Metal
Paul McCobb Modern Ladder Back Shovel Chair
By Paul McCobb
Located in Washington, DC
Desirable wrought iron and solid maple ladder back "shovel" chair by Paul McCobb. Chair
Iron
Shovel Chairs by Paul McCobb
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Denton, TX
Set of four ebonized shovel chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture.
Iron
Paul McCobb Black Lacquered Shovel Chair
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Iconic, mid-century modern black lacquered, dining, side chair designed by Paul McCobb for
Wrought Iron
Paul McCobb Planner Group Shovel Chairs #1533 Maple Iron
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group, Arbuck
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
have plastic feet floor protectors. These chairs are marked Paul McCobb by Winchendon Furniture Co
Steel, Iron
Paul McCobb Planner Group Model 1533 Spindle Back Shovel Chair
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Birch and iron with honest wear.
Iron
Paul McCobb Maple and Iron "Shovel" Chairs, Newly Refinished
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional set of four mid-century modern "shovel" dining chairs or side chairs By Paul
Iron
Paul McCobb Planner Group Shovel Chairs #1533 Maple Iron Set of 4
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group, Arbuck
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Set of 4 mid-century maple and iron Paul McCobb Planner Group #1533 shovel side dining chairs
Steel, Iron
Sold
H 34 in W 18 in D 19 in
Paul McCobb Spindle Back Shovel Dining, Desk or Side Chair, Mid-Century Modern
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A super cool designed chair from one of the greats, Paul McCobb. This chair was part of his Planner
Iron
Paul McCobb Shovel Chair
By Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Paul McCobb maple and Iron shovel chair Ca. 1950. Solid sculpted maple seat with turned spindle
Iron
Paul McCobb Shovel Chair
By Paul McCobb
Located in Houston, TX
solid maple shovel seat ladder backrest enameld wrought iron frame original tobacco finish with
Maple
Paul McCobb Shovel Chair for Winchendon, 1950
By Paul McCobb
Located in Hudson, NY
Paul McCobb for Winchendon 1950s shovel chair with a sculpted maple seat, 12 horizontal spindle
Wrought Iron
Paul McCobb Shovel Chairs, Set of Four
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Vancouver, BC
A set of four iconic "shovel" chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon, circa 1950. Maple construction
Wrought Iron
Paul McCobb Ladder Back Shovel Chair
By Paul McCobb
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Unique Paul McCobb wrought iron and maple ladder back shovel chairs for Winchendon, circa 1950s
Maple
Paul McCobb Shovel Dining Chair
By Paul McCobb
Located in Loves Park, IL
"Shovel" dining chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon. Iron frames support sculpted maple seats and
Iron
Paul McCobb Shovel Dining Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Paul McCobb maple and iron shovel chairs, circa 1950s in restored condition. Solid sculpted maple
Paul McCobb Set of 4 Shovel Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Paul McCobb maple and Iron shovel chairs Ca. 1950s in original condition.Solid sculpted maple seat
Iron
Paul McCobb Set of Six Shovel Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Paul McCobb maple and iron shovel chairs, circa 1950s in restored condition. Solid sculpted maple
Iron
Paul McCobb Set of 6 Shovel Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Paul McCobb maple and Iron shovel chairs Ca. 1950s in original condition.Solid sculpted maple seat
Iron
Paul McCobb Set of 4 Shovel Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Paul McCobb maple and Iron shovel chairs Ca. 1950s in restored condition.Solid sculpted maple seat
Iron
Two-Tone "Shovel Chair" by Paul McCobb
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Dallas, TX
Modern ladder back shovel chair designed by Paul McCobb for Planner Group. Manufactured by
Metal
Pair of Vintage Shovel Chairs by Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in San Francisco, CA
These vintage chairs were designed by Paul McCobb in 1953 for Winchedon as a part of the Planner
Iron
Paul McCobb Set of 6 Shovel Dining Chairs for Winchendon
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Loves Park, IL
A set of six "Shovel" dining chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon. Iron frames support sculpted
Iron
Paul McCobb Set of 6 Shovel Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Paul McCobb maple and Iron shovel chairs Ca. 1950s in original condition.Solid sculpted maple seat
Iron
Paul McCobb "Shovel Chair" for Winchendon, circa 1950s
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Pau, FR
sculpted maple seat by Paul McCobb for Winchendon.
Iron
"Shovel Chair" by Paul McCobb
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Dallas, TX
Famous chair designed by Paul McCobb. Blonde birchwood on a Minimalist wrought iron frame. Known as
Metal
Paul McCobb Set of four Shovel Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Paul McCobb maple and Iron shovel chairs Ca. 1950s in restored condition. Solid sculpted maple seat
Iron
Set of 6 Paul McCobb Planner Group “Shovel” Dining Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 6 professionally restored midcentury maple and iron Paul McCobb "Shovel" Dining chairs
Iron
Sold
H 33.75 in W 18 in D 18.25 in
Paul McCobb Set of Six Sculptural Shovel/Ladder Back Chairs, circa 1950s
By Paul McCobb
Located in Denver, CO
Exquisite set of six Paul McCobb wrought iron and maple ladder back or shovel chairs for Winchendon
Wrought Iron
$1,699 / item
H 31.49 in W 21.25 in D 0.98 in
Gio Ponti 'F.A. 33' Half Length Mirror in Black Brass for GUBI
By Gubi, Gio Ponti
Located in Glendale, CA
Gio Ponti 'F.A. 33' Half Length Mirror in Black Brass for GUBI The 'F.A. 33' Mirror was originally designed by Gio Ponti in 1933 for Fontana Arte, the period’s most prominent lamp, ...
Brass
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool This White Oak Chile Counter Stool is beautifully constructed from solid wood in Ohio, USA. The stool is chunky and modern...
Wood, Oak
$6,500 / item
H 14 in W 36 in D 20 in
Modern Oval Coffee Table in Oak Wood Cylinder Base and Glass by Ercole Home
By Ercole Home
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Palazzo oval coffee table with green and ivory glass sits on 2 Rift White Oak Wood pedestals by Ercole Home. This new bespoke coffee table design by Ercole Home is available today fo...
Art Glass, Walnut, Cut Glass
Rosso Wall Mirror
By Specchi Veneziani
Located in Milan, IT
Venetian mirror made in the strictest Murano tradition. Assembled with crystal/gold and red elements handmade in the Murano furnaces. Wooden frame with a natural finish.
Glass
$6,930 / set
H 24.01 in W 18.12 in D 14.18 in
Pair of Park Night Stands in Poplar Burl by Yaniv Chen for Lemon
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Structure: Made from Poplar Burl veneer with solid oak edging, the Park Nightstand is finished with matching veneer on both the exterior and interior. The inside includes an adjustab...
Wood, Poplar, Burl
Antique Petite Mexican Butaque in the Style of Clara Porset
By Clara Porset
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this Antique Petite Mexican Butaque in the style of Clara Porset, circa 1960.
Wood
$17,400 / set
H 36 in W 17.25 in D 22.5 in
CraftAssociates Caned Dining Chairs, Bonnie Caned Dining Chairs, Leather Walnut
By Laura Trenchard, Craft Associates
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Craft caned dining chairs, bonnie caned dining chairs, leather and walnut Designer: Laura Trenchard Manufacturer: Craft Associates Furniture Period/model: Mid-Century Modern Sp...
Cane, Walnut, Leather
$16,681 / item
H 53.15 in W 125.99 in D 59.06 in
Oval Brass and Parchment Chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires
By Diego Mardegan
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Beautiful chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires, this other version of the spider chandelier has longer arms on the sides giving the oval shape. The metal arms paint...
Metal, Brass
Custom Made Oak and Velvet Bench by Kai Kristiansen
Located in London, England
Bench designed by Danish master Kai Kristiansen in the 1950s and now produced under license by Dagmar. Hand-made to order, this upholstered bench has a fumed and oiled oak frame. Th...
Mohair, Oak
$2,500 / item
H 29 in Dm 19 in
Organic Modern Small Table Lamp Natural Wood Handmade Ivory Fluted Shade
By Isabel Moncada
Located in San Antonio, TX
PATA DE ELEFANTE SMALL table lamp was designed for the Atomic collection by Mexican artist Isabel Moncada. Named Pata de Elefante –Elephant's Foot– for the prominent shape at its ba...
Wood, Fabric, Linen, Fiberglass
Panoplie Petite Iron Tripod Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Petite iron tripod lamp with slender legs and tapered feet. New wiring and new oyster linen shade. Multiple available, sold individually. Takes one E12 base bulb, up to 25 W or highe...
Iron
Coffee Table by Mario Marenco for Mobilgirgi, Italy 1970s
By Mario Marenco
Located in Roma, IT
Coffee Table by Mario Marenco for Mobilgirgi, Italy 1970s. Cm 32,00 x 87,00 x 87,00. Walnut Wood. Good conditions!
Walnut
$34,000
H 26.5 in W 92.75 in D 32 in
Warren Platner Walnut and Leather Floating Case Sofa for Lehigh Leopold, c. 1970
By Warren Platner, Lehigh Leopold
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exceptionally rare and highly sought-after collectors piece (with celebrity provenance) is a Warren Platner Executive Leather Case Sofa designed for Lehigh Leopold in circa 1970...
Chrome
$13,509 / item
H 49.22 in Dm 70.87 in
Brass and Parchment Paper Chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires
By Diego Mardegan
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Impressive chandelier made of white enameled brass arms holding six beautiful parchment paper shades, which can be adjusted thanks to the handle of each socket. Signed by the arti...
Brass
$3,990 / item
H 15.75 in W 74.81 in D 29.14 in
Mustard Velvet Daybed with V-Shaped Beechwood Base, Model V
By Dusty Deco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
DD V daybed is an exclusive daybed made by hand in Bosnia and Herzegovina by skilled craftsmen with long experience in wood and upholstery. Both frame and the characteristic V-shaped...
Fabric, Beech, Velvet
2 parts sofa in stainless steel by Studio Glustin
By Glustin Creation
Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
2 parts sofa in stainless steel with seating upholstered with a fabric by Dédar. Creation by Studio Glustin. France, 2023.
Stainless Steel
The single aesthetic attribute of vintage Paul McCobb furniture is that the designer completely forsook ornament — his pieces have no flourishes. And yet, because they are honest — McCobb’s chairs, desks and dining tables are made of solid wood, usually maple or birch, often paired with frames and legs of wrought iron; the cabinets are traditionally scaled; the seating pieces have historic antecedents such as the Windsor chair — his mid-century modern work has warmth and presence.
You could call the Massachusetts-born McCobb a man of parts. As a furniture designer, his work combined the attributes of many of his now better-known peers.
Like the work of Bauhaus designers such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, McCobb's furniture had purity of form and line. Like the designs of Florence Knoll and George Nelson and his associates, McCobb’s work was efficient and purposeful. And even like George Nakashima, he was adept at interpreting traditional forms, in particular those of chairs, for the 20th century.
More than any other designer besides Russel Wright, with his ubiquitous ceramic tableware, McCobb was arguably responsible for the introduction of modern design into middle-class American households — if for no other reason than that he designed the 1952 set for the original Today show.
McCobb, a repeat recipient of the Good Design Award from the Museum of Modern Art, also designed cohesive lines of furnishings, such as his best-known Planner Group, that gave homes an instant “look.” He designed for several companies, most notably Directional, which was home to McCobb’s Origami chair.
In 1949, in partnership with New York furniture salesman B.G. Mesberg, McCobb set up the Directional Furniture Company, a brand known to vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors everywhere. Directional opened its doors after McCobb created the high-end Directional Modern line of sofas distributed by the New York-based Modernage Company. Directional also produced designs by other legends such as Paul Evans and Vladimir Kagan.
As you can see from the offerings on 1stDibs, McCobb designs are the pin-striped suit, or the little black dress, of a decor: an essential.
Find vintage Paul McCobb credenzas, bookcases, nightstands and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.
ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN
MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS
VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.
Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively.
Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer.
Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.
The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by celebrated manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.
As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.
Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.
Generations turn over, and mid-century modern remains arguably the most popular style going. As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.