The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based company Calvin Furniture opened its doors in 1953 and became a sought-after contract manufacturer for the day’s top furniture designers and brands. Its appealing mid-century modern and Hollywood Regency offerings — nightstands, dressers and more — graced the showrooms of department stores all over North America during the 1950s and 1960s.
Calvin’s relationship with the work of Massachusetts-born designer Paul McCobb is well known to enthusiasts of mid-century modern furniture. McCobb, whose unadorned and efficient storage pieces, seating and desks drew on Shaker simplicity and Bauhaus minimalism, wasn’t exactly a designer for Calvin — in partnership with New York furniture salesman B.G. Mesberg, McCobb set up the Directional Furniture Company in Manhattan in 1949, and Calvin was one of the manufacturers contracted to produce the furniture he designed for Directional (and later, for pieces designed under his own name).
Among McCobb’s most acclaimed lines made by Calvin Furniture were the Calvin Group and the Irwin Collection. The travertine-topped sideboards and mahogany nightstands of those lines as well as the other Calvin-produced dressers, bookcases and chests of drawers designed by McCobb were elegant and spare, free of unnecessary embellishments.
Calvin also manufactured the very popular American Design Foundation line of furniture that Kipp Stewart and Stewart MacDougall designed. The Pennsylvania-born, California-raised MacDougall enjoyed a postwar collaboration with West Coast native Stewart that resulted in great success with manufacturers such as Glenn of California and Drexel Furniture. The duo’s celebrated Declaration line for the latter featured streamlined credenzas, dressers and more made in walnut with comely porcelain hardware. The dining chairs, tables and coffee tables manufactured by Calvin flaunt the pair’s signature clean lines, gentle curves and organic shapes.
In the late 1950s and early ‘60s, Calvin Furniture continued its business relationship with B.G. Mesberg National Sales and Directional Furniture. Calvin finally closed their doors during the early 1970s, but their legacy can be found in enduring pieces of modern furniture that remain popular today.
On 1stDibs, find a selection of vintage Calvin Furniture tables, credenzas, chairs and more.
| Average Sold Price |
| $3,480 |
| Styles |
| Materials |
| Related Creators |
$4,895
H 34.5 in W 66 in D 18 in
Paul McCobb "Linear Group" Dresser w/ Steel Accents for Calvin Furniture
By Calvin Furniture, Paul McCobb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials Walnut Wood, Lightly Patinated Steel ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing history back to life, an...
Steel
$4,000
H 35 in W 72 in D 19 in L 35 in
Mid Century Modern Paul McCobb Credenza with Brass base for Calvin Group
By Paul McCobb, Calvin Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid Century Modern Dark brown Mahogany with folding front doors sideboard or credenza. Behind the folding doors are 2 Drawers and 2 adjustable shelves in a dark brown finish. Sits on...
Brass
$1,795
H 36 in W 24 in D 25.5 in
Paul McCobb Irwin Collection Mid-Century Modern Walnut Cane Back Armchair
By Directional, Calvin Furniture, Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern armchair or dining captain chair By Paul McCobb for Directional and produced by Calvin Furniture, "Irwin Collection" USA, 1950s Sculpted walnut frame...
Upholstery, Cane, Walnut
$6,000Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 25 in W 22 in D 20 in
Pair Mid Century Paul McCobb Irwin 2 drawer Nightstands Vitrolite Brass
By Paul McCobb, Calvin Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Beautiful Paul McCobb 1960s Production brass nightstands end tables with 2 drawers and brass frame with Rare Vitrolite white glass tops. Solid Brass knobs - Original Vintage ...
Brass
Paul McCobb for Calvin Mid Century Mahogany Credenza
By Calvin Furniture, Paul McCobb
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Paul McCobb for Calvin Mid Century Mahogany Credenza This credenza measures: 71.25 wide x 19 deep x 32 inches high Restored - Mint Condition! Ready to Ship. We take our photos in ...
Mahogany
$3,920Sale Price|20% Off
H 76 in W 59.5 in D 19 in
Mid Century Paul McCobb Calvin Irwin Collection Shelf Bookshelf Room Divider
By Calvin Furniture, Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Rare Mid Century sideboard, shelf unit, room divider, designed by Paul McCobb as part of the sought after Irwin Collection series for Calvin, circa 1950’s. This example features ble...
Brass
$4,050
H 30.25 in W 40 in D 20 in
Paul McCobb for Directional Black Lacquered Flip Top Server Bar Cart, Refinished
By Calvin Furniture, Paul McCobb, Directional
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern flip top extension rolling bar cart server By Paul McCobb for Directional and produced by Calvin Furniture, "Calvin Group" USA, 1950s Black lacqu...
Brass
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 25 in W 20 in D 20 in
Mid Century Paul McCobb Calvin 2 drawer Nightstand Brass frame Travertine top
By Paul McCobb, Calvin Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful Authentic Paul McCobb 1960s brass nightstand end tables with 2 drawers and brass frame with Travertine stone top. Solid Brass knobs - Original Vintage Condition. Very moder...
Travertine, Brass
| Sold Date | Sold Price | Category | Material | Creation Year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| $3,480 |
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months |
| $1,615-$8,160 |
| Sold price range of items in the past 12 months |