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.
Mid Century Paul Evans Wall Mirror & Console Table Shelf in Brass & Chrome
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredible design combination, a cityscape wall shelf and mirror designed by Paul Evans in the 1970's. The set features fine heavy construction with brass & chrome clad patchwork ...
Brass, Chrome
Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s. USA. Modular shelving unit with gorgeous sun fading.
Plastic
Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional
By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s. USA. Modular shelving unit with gorgeous sun fading.
Plastic
Mid Century Paul Evans Cityscape Floating Shelf or Console Table Glass & Brass
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredible design, a cityscape wall shelf designed by Paul Evans in the 1970's. The set features fine heavy construction with brass clad patchwork design. Includes two L shaped wa...
Brass
Mid Century Paul Evans Cityscape Wall Mirror & Console Table Shelf in Brass
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredible design combination, a cityscape wall shelf and mirror designed by Paul Evans in the 1970's. The set features fine heavy construction with brass clad patchwork design. I...
Brass
Stack Shelving Unit
By Fort Makers, Noah Spencer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stack Shelving Unit is a grouping of architectural and abstract sculptures by Noah Spencer that together make a shelving unit. When these sculptures are ...
Maple
Janet Schweitzer "Orba" Shelving Unit by Pace
By Pace Furniture Company, Janet Schweitzer
Located in Highland, IN
Janet Schweitzer's "Orba" system produced by Pace is an innovative and elegant design. The brilliantly engineered wall-mounted aluminum uprights hold cantilevered glass shelves, givi...
Aluminum
$12,262
H 84.26 in W 48.04 in D 16.93 in
Rare signed Paul Evans Cityscape large etagere freestanding shelves USA 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Hastings, GB
A rare signed iconic Paul Evans 'Cityscape' large freestanding etagere, USA 1970s. Chrome & brass (or gold plated metal) clad patchwork design- e...
Brass, Chrome
$2,899
H 4.14 in W 27.96 in D 10.04 in
Venetian Modern Wall-Mounted Console Table, Pink Purple Mirrors & Brass Details
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cool Venetian style Hollywood Regency wall-mounted mirrored console table with iridiscent and mirror glass panels. Spain, 1960s This glamorous piece features a wall console with two ...
Metal, Brass
$6,750 / set
H 8 in W 3 in D 12 in
Set Paul Evans for Directional Chrome Brass Cityscape Shelf Brackets Console
By Paul Evans
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Stunning set signed Paul Evans for Directional shelf brackets or console tables. The glass is not pictured but is included and is 12" w x 48" l and is brand new. This set is truly fa...
Brass, Chrome
$6,900
H 60 in W 107.5 in D 16.25 in
Mid Century Danish HG Teak Wood Modular Wall Unit Shelving & Bookcase
By Hansen & Guldborg Møbler
Located in Detroit, MI
This vintage mid century Danish modern Hansen & Guldborg modular teak wood wall unit shelving system and bookcase was made in Denmark circa 1960. The classic Scandinavian modern ...
Metal
$25,000
H 32.25 in W 84.13 in D 22 in
Paul Evans CityScape Sideboard for Directional Brass Tiles & Burl Wood Doors
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in St. Louis, MO
Rare 1970s Paul Evans Cityscape sideboard with waterfall ends for Directional with brass tiles and book matched Burl wood doors. Interior laminated in black...
Brass
$3,303 / set
H 29.53 in W 25.6 in D 9.06 in
Swedish Hallway Shelf and Mirror in Teak by Hans-Agne Jakobsson
By Hans-Agne Jakobsson
Located in Karlstad, SE
Rare and early hallway set by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Markaryd, Sweden. At the beginning of his career, Jakobsson experimented with furniture aside from th...
Mirror, Teak
$4,157 / set
H 72.05 in W 65.75 in D 17.13 in
Avalon Modular Teak & Metal Multi Piece Shelving & Cabinet Storage Wall Units
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Avalon Modular Teak & Metal Multi Piece Mid Century Modern Bookcase Wall Unit SECTIONS 1 and 2 Overall height: 183cm Overall wid...
Steel
$3,960Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 95 in W 90 in D 18 in
Danish Modern Modular Adjustable Wall Unit Shelving 1960s-- 22 pcs Complete Wall
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Madison, WI
Very cool, versatile wall unit shelving modular set. Includes 9 regular shelves Includes 6 Medium shelves Includes 3 Large shelves 37 shelving brackets of various sizes 4 mounting po...
Metal
$1,415
H 32.68 in W 39.38 in D 13.78 in
Rectangular Gold Aluminum Console Table with Two Glass Shelves, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1980s. This shelving unit is made in anodized aluminum and glass. It can be used as a divider. It may show slight traces of use since it's vintage, but it can be consi...
Aluminum
Paul Evans Floating Shelf
By Paul Evans
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This cityscape floating wall shelf designed by Paul Evans in the 1970's features a brass patchwork design brackets and clear glass shelf. Signed as pictured. Wear is consistent with ...
Brass
Space Age Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay Ruggles for Directional
By Directional
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A Umbo Space Age modular shelving unit in a molded yellow ABS styled plastic containing 28 pieces making for a large unit . Fitting together like a puzzle with inner pegs you can cre...
Plastic
Paul Evans Wall-Hanging Console, Sculpted Bronze, Slate, Signed
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Paul Evans Wall-Hanging Console, Sculpted Bronze, Slate, Signed. In original condition and purchased from the original owner. Large scale chunky wall mounted shelf, finished dark in ...
Slate, Bronze
1970’s Orange Umbo Modular Shelving
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Orange Umbo modular shelving system designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970’s. in excellent vintage condition.
Plastic
1970’s Umbo Modular Shelving by Kay Leroy Ruggles
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Yellow Umbo modular shelving system designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970. In excellent vintage condition.
Plastic
Sold
H 8.63 in W 60 in D 12.13 in
Paul Evans for Directional Cityscape Collection Chrome, Brass, and Glass Shelf
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare Mid-Century Modern floating wall shelf or console table By Paul Evans for Directional, "Cityscape" Collection USA, 1970s Patchwork chrome and brass L-brackets, with glass t...
Chrome, Brass
Umbo Shelving
By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Chicago, IL
by Kay Leroy Ruggles c. 1970s in great vintage condition with minor scuffing, scratches, and other normal wear
Plaster
Sold
H 78.5 in W 54 in D 15 in
Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze Wall-Mounted Shelving Unit, First Year of Production
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Dallas, TX
Paul Evans 'Sculpted Bronze Series' wall unit acquired from the original owner who acquired it from the Directional showroom in NYC. This unit is signed PE and is dated from the very first year of production, 1969. It is in very good original condition with bronze glass shelves...
Bronze
Sold
H 8.5 in W 48 in D 12 in
Paul Evans for Directional Chrome and Glass Floating Shelves or Console Tables
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare pair of mid-century modern floating wall shelves or console tables By Paul Evans for Directional, "Cityscape" Collection USA, 1970s ...
Chrome
Sold
H 57 in W 193 in D 12 in
'UMBO' Modular Shelving System by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1972
By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare shelving system is the 'UMBO' system designed in the early 1970s by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, and was first published in New York magazine on September 25, 1972. This monumental example in a beautiful brown color with a total of 53 elements, detailed below. Constructed from Uniroyal ABS, a product which is durable, nontoxic, and more heat-resistant than wood which was also used to make telephones at that time. Was offered in white, tangerine and brown - this set is in the brown color option. The color was sprayed on in the factory and should not chip off under normal use. The modular system allows to create different types of furniture such as console or coffee tables, bench, bookcase, room dividers, sofa tables, cocktail tables, side or end tables, nightstands or bedside tables, cafe and breakfast or dining tables and more. Produced only for a short time from 1972 to around 1974, due to the ensuing energy crisis of 1973 which marked the end of the era of cheap gasoline and, therefore, plastics causing UMBO to go out of production in 1974 making these examples extremely rare and sought after by collectors. Finding a set this large is much more rare. This wall system became a huge hit for Directional who produced a wide variety of modules and since UMBO was fully modular, it could be arranged and re-arranged at any time into fun and creative solutions and uses for your home. UMBO was even available with a desk, dining table, bed frame or wall shelves module which made it perfect for small apartments such as those in Los Angeles and New York. The particular configuration seen in our photos was put together by our photographer just as an example of how it can be configured but it can be rearranged, expanded or divided to your liking. Kay Leroy Ruggles was a pioneer of inventions and lifelong entrepreneur with a highly successful career winning many awards and holding numerous patents in which he designed and developed over 100 products in a wide range of industries, including automobile, space, furniture, window coverings, amusement park and musical instruments, for example he created the tubular water slide and when Richard Nixon wanted a new bathroom for Air Force One, that job went to Ruggles. Later, Hugh Hefner had custom-designed rooms by Ruggles and so did Ted Kennedy and Disney World. Consider this original UMBO bookcase...
Plastic
Sold
H 89 in W 87 in D 54 in
Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Corner Shelving Unit, Directional, Ivory Cream, 1972
By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo corner shelving unit, directional, ivory cream, 1972 UMBO was published in New York magazine on September 25, 1972 and be...
Plastic
Paul Evans Cityscape Mirror with Floating Console for Directional
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul Evans cityscape mirror with floating console or vanity. Chrome frame in original condition with some frame wear and scratching. Vanity...
Chrome
1973 Paul Evans Brutalist Sculpted Bronze Wall Shelving Unit
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brutalist wall unit by Paul Evans Studio for Directional USA, 1970's. Bronzed resin over wood with 8 smoked glass shelves. Signed PE 73. Each shelf...
Smoked Glass, Wood, Resin