Paul Mccobb Trifold
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Travertine, Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Glass, Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
Brass
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
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Aluminum, Metal, Brass
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
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Recent Sales
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Brass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Leather, Mahogany
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Travertine, Marble, Brass
Vintage 1950s American Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Carrara Marble
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Cane, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Marble, Aluminum
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Brass
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Brass
Vintage 1950s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s American Credenzas
Travertine, Marble
Vintage 1950s American Buffets
Marble
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Metal
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Travertine, Brass
Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Cane
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Aluminum
Vintage 1950s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s American Buffets
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Brass
Paul McCobb for sale on 1stDibs
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.
Finding the Right storage-case-pieces for You
Of all the antique and vintage case pieces and storage cabinets that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.
In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior.
Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time.
Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of storage case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room.
In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.
A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard made of colored glass and metals, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.