Harvey Probber Furniture
American, 1922-2003
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 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 the simple lines now associated with mid-century modernism 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 sofas, case goods and other 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.
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Creator: Harvey Probber
Dealer: Newel
Harvey Probber American Mid-Century Green Velvet Round Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century large round sofa with a low curved partial backrest and emerald green velvet upholstery with a button tufted removable seat cush...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair of Harvey Probber Slat Back Wood and Caned Seat Side Chairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of American mid-century side / desk chairs with wooden frames with four vertical back slats and a caned seat. (HARVEY PROBBER)(PRICED AS PAIR)
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Wood
Harvey Probber Tall Back Orange Fabric Upholstered Arm / Lounge Chair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century arm / lounge chair with a tall back and button tufted textured orange upholstery, resting on four tapered wooden legs. (HARVEY PROBBER)
light staining to uphols...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Walnut
Harvey Probber American Mid-Century Purple Velour and Brass Slipper Chair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
"American Mid-Century slipper chair with crushed purple velour upholstery resting on four brass legs with stretchers connecting the front and back legs, ending in circular feet. (HAR...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair of Harvey Probber Green and Blue Patterned Velvet Cube Armchairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of American Mid-Century cube armchairs with bold patterned blue and green velvet upholstery with removable seat and back cushions. (HARVEY PROBBER)(PRICED AS Pair)
Minor wear t...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Velvet
Harvey Probber, Caning, and Striped Upholstery Armchair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American mid-century armchair with a curved wood frame, caned sides and back, and a multi-colored striped seat cushion, resting on four tapered wooden legs. (HARVEY PROBBER)(Similar chair...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood, Fabric
Harvey Probber Mid-Century American "Arch" King-Size Walnut Headboard
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-Century American wooden "Arch" headboard with Gothic arches separated by natural walnut panels and a smooth dark finish. (HARVEY PROBBER)
Wear to finish
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Brass
Harvey Probber Wood, Caning, and Paisley Fabric Upholstered Hoop Lounge Chair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American mid-century hoop form lounge armchair with a curved ebonized wooden frame, caned back, seat, and sides, and a multicolored paisley patterned fabric upholstered seat and back...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Ebony
Harvey Probber Gold and Orange Patterned Upholstered Sled Base Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century sofa with orange, yellow, and gold sunburst patterned upholstery, resting on an ebonized wooden sled base. (HARVEY PROBBER)
Scuffing...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Upholstery, Ebony
Harvey Probber Shaped Walnut and Geometric Brown Upholstered Lounge Armchair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American mid-century lounge armchair with a shaped walnut frame with two wooden armrests, and seat and back cushions upholstered in a geometric patterned fabric in neutral browns and...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
Pair of Harvey Probber Floral Print 'Gondola' Mahogany Pull Up Side Chairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of American mid-century 'Gondola' pull up / side chairs with curved light mahogany frames and beige, brown, green, and blue floral print f...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Mahogany
Pair of Harvey Probber Travertine Topped Wood Decagon End/Side Tables
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Mid-Century American modern end/side tables with open work wooden frames and travertine tops. (HARVEY PROBBER)(PRICED AS PAIR)
Condition: Good; Wear consistent with age and use
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Wood
Harvey Probber Dark Wood, Caning, and Striped Upholstery Armchair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American mid-century armchair with a curved dark wood frame, caned sides and back, and a multi-colored striped seat cushion, resting on four tapered wooden legs. (HARVEY PROBBER)(Similar chair...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Terrazzo and Walnut Surfboard-Form Coffee Table 'Manner of Harvey Probber'
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century (circa 1950) sculptural cocktail / coffee table with a tapered oval terrazzo top reminiscent of a surfboard and walnut 'post' and 'fin' legs that support and pie...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Marble
Harvey Probber American Mid-Century 'Boat Top' Polished Walnut Writing Desk
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century polished walnut table desk with a 'boat' form top resting on a bracket-shaped walnut base. (HARVEY PROBBER)
Finish is original.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Pair of Harvey Probber Peacock Blue 'Gondola' Mahogany Pull Up Side Chairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of American mid-century 'Gondola' pull up / side chairs with curved mahogany frames and peacock blue upholstered seat backs and cushions, ...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Mahogany, Wood
Harvey Probber Brown Vinyl Upholstered Swivel Cube Lounge / Armchair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century cube form swivel lounge / armchair with brown vinyl upholstery. (HARVEY PROBBER).
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Upholstery
2 Harvey Probber White Terrazzo and Bronze Inlay Hexagonal End / Side Tables
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
2 American Mid-Century end / side tables with hexagonal white terrazzo tops with a bronze inlaid hexagonal design supported on three curved wooden legs. (HARVEY PROBBER) (PRICED AS P...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Harvey Probber Extra Wide Black Upholstered Slipper Chairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Mid-Century American extra wide slipper chairs upholstered in black fabric supported by strong, squared-off tubular shaped posts and gently ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Fabric
Harvey Probber Painted Black Wood "Scissor" Lounging Deck Chair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-Century American painted black wood X-base "Scissor" lounging deck chair with a 3-plank curved back plus embedded brass rod support at top. (HARVEY PROBBER)
Wear to finish and l...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Brass
Harvey Probber Aluminum and Beige Fabric Upholstered Slipper / Side Chair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American mid-century slipper / side chair with a polished aluminum frame and a beige fabric upholstered seat and back. (HARVEY PROBBER)
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Pair of Similar Harvey Probber American Gilt Metal Moroccan Drum Table Lamps
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of similar Mid-Century American gilt metal Moroccan Style table lamps; the taller in hour glass form and the shorter, barrel-shaped. Both feature cylindrical wood stems, brass s...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Harvey Probber 'Gondola' Wood and Striped Upholstery Side Chair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American mid-century 'Gondola' form chair with a curved dark stained wooden frame and muted pink, green, and beige vertically striped upholstered seat and back, resting on four taper...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Harvey Probber 'Gondola' Mahogany and Striped Upholstery Pull Up Side Chair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century 'Gondola' pull up / side chair with a curved mahogany frame and blue and beige and pink striped fabric upholstered seat backs and cushions, resting on four taper...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Harvey Probber Cube Form Blue Textured Fabric Upholstered Lounge / Armchair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century cube form lounge / armchair with textured royal blue fabric upholstery and a matching removable back cushion. (HARVEY PROBBER)(Available in black: DUF0509B)
Wea...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery
Pair of Harvey Probber Bright Yellow Fabric Upholstered Ebonized Lounge
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of American Mid-Century lounge / armchairs with bright yellow fabric upholstery with removable back and seat cushions, one square, and one circular matching throw pillow, restin...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Ebony
2 Harvey Probber White Terrazzo and Bronze Inlay Hexagonal End / Side Tables
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
2 American mid-century end / side tables with hexagonal white terrazzo tops with a bronze inlaid hexagonal design supported on three curved black lacque...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal, Bronze
Harvey Probber Square Chrome Plated Steel and Glass Coffee Table
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century square coffee / cocktail table with a thick square clear glass top resting on an open cube-form chrome plated steel base....
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Harvey Probber Scissor Form Ebonized Wood and Black Leather Side Chair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century scissor form dining / side chair with an ebonized wooden frame with a narrow back comprised of three vertical slats, with a black leather upholstered seat and sm...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood, Upholstery, Ebony
Harvey Probber Cube Form Black Textured Fabric Upholstered Lounge / Armchair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century cube form lounge / armchair with textured black fabric upholstery and a matching removable back cushion. (HARVEY PROBBER)(Available in black: DUF0509A).
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery
Harvey Probber 'Gondola' Mahogany and Gold Woven Upholstery Pull Up Side Chair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century 'Gondola' pull up / side chair with a curved light mahogany frame and gold woven fabric upholstered seat back and cushion, resting on four tapered mahogany dowel...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Mahogany
Pair of Harvey Probber Beige Zig-Zag Textured Upholstery and Brass Slipper Chair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of American mid-century slipper / side chairs with zig-zag textured beige button tufted fabric upholstered seats and backs, resting on a brass square tube stretcher base with le...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Harvey Probber furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Harvey Probber furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Harvey Probber furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Harvey Probber were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Craft Associates, Adrian Pearsall, and Florence Knoll. Prices for Harvey Probber furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $750 and can go as high as $35,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,491.
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