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.
$12,000
Harvey Probber Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in San Francisco, CA
A three-seat sofa by Harvey Probber. Curved front. Loose cushions on the seat, back and sides. Sofa sits on 6 wooden feet.
Wood
$6,900 / set
Harvey Probber Lounge Chairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A rarely seen pair of lounge chairs. Comfortable and stylish.
Aluminum
Set of Three Harvey Probber Black Camelback Dining Chairs, 1950s
By Harvey Probber
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Set of 3 Harvey Probber black enameled wood & cream leather dining chairs. Featuring a graphic Black lacquered Wood framework, saber le...
Leather, Wood
Set of Six Harvey Probber Ebonized X-Base Dining Chairs, Mid-Century Modern
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Set of six X-base dining chairs by Harvey Probber. Brass hardware contrasts and compliments the dark ebonized mahogany. Cushions are in nice vintage condition and are easily reuphols...
Brass
Customizable New and Made to Order Harvey Probber Deep Tuft Armchair
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Price listed for Asator - Kvadrat and black base Deep Tuft sectional seating was designed by Harvey Probber in 1972. Recognized as a pioneer in sectional seating, Probber developed t...
Upholstery
Purple 1960s Harvey Probber Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair in Purple
By Harvey Probber
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Purple 1960s Harvey Probber Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chair in Purple A striking and rare lounge chair designed by Harvey Probber in the 1960s, showcasing the timeless appeal of Mid-...
Chrome
Harvey Probber Gondola Side Chair, Curved Wood Frame, Mid-Century
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...
Fabric, Wood
Customizable New and Made to Order Harvey Probber Deep Tuft Modular Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Price listed for Asator - Kvadrat and polished stainless steel base Deep Tuft sectional seating was designed by Harvey Probber in 1972. Recognized as a pioneer in sectional seating,...
Upholstery
Harvey Probber Mid-Century Slipper Chair, Purple Velour, Brass Legs
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...
Metal, Brass
Harvey Probber, Custom Bench, Alder, Hickory, USA, 1962
By Harvey Probber
Located in High Point, NC
A custom alder and hickory bench designed and produced by Harvey Probber for his own residence in Eastcliff, Rye, New York, USA, c. 1962. Wood top presents with light areas of wear ...
Wood
Harvey Probber Model PUB 70½ Mahogany and Brass Bench
By Harvey Probber
Located in Lynn, MA
Rare luxurious upholstered bench with mahogany legs with solid brass accents. Cataloged as PUB 70 ½ which is the largest version of the model. The bench is robust, heavy and well mad...
Brass
Pair Armless Lounge / Slipper Chairs with Brass Frames by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare pair of Harvey Probber lounge chairs with brass frames. All original brass feet are intact. The original blue upholstery shows wear, stains and imperfections and is priced acc...
Brass
Harvey Probber Mid-Century Slipper Chair with Aluminum Frame
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)
Metal, Aluminum
Harvey Probber Mahogany Knights Bench
By Harvey Probber
Located in Toledo, OH
Beautiful knights bench model 1173 by Harvey Probber with a bent mahogany slatted seat, an arched base, and brass rods. 26" wide x 17" deep x 20 1/2" high. Excellent condition.
Brass
$2,500Sale Price|26% Off
Brass Framed Biscuit Tufted Ottoman in Original Black Leather by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Square, brass-framed ottoman on casters with its original biscuit tufted, black leather upholstery, designed by Harvey Probber. A scarcely seen example of this form in all original c...
Brass
Harvey Probber Scissor Form Chair, Ebonized Wood & Black Leather
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...
Leather, Wood, Upholstery, Ebony
Pair Harvey Probber Mid Century Asian Modernist Walnut and Upholstered Stools
By Harvey Probber
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of Mid-Century iconic Architectural Design Asian Modernist Stools with Button Detailing by the legendary Harvey Probber. Lacquered walnut and Clean, firm upholstery. Measure 16...
Upholstery, Walnut
Harvey Probber Mid Century Brass Sectional Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Harvey Probber Mid Century Brass Sectional Sofa This sofa measures: 117.5 wide x 104.25 deep x 30 inches high, with a seat height of 16 inches All pieces of furniture can be had in...
Brass
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...
Wood, Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
Harvey Probber Mid-Century Cube Armchair, Textured Black Fabric, USA
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).
Upholstery, Fabric
Harvey Probber Mid-Century Cube Lounge Chair in Blue Fabric
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...
Fabric, Upholstery
Pair of Harvey Probber High Back Chairs Wormley Estate Weston ct
By Harvey Probber
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of Harvey Probber high back wing chairs, important with very few made and from the Edward Wormley estate in Weston ct. Edward Wormley (American, December 31, 1907–November 3, 19...
Foam, Fabric, Walnut
$4,247 / set
Harvey Probber Mid Century Red X Chairs - Pair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Harvey Probber Mid Century Red X Chairs - Pair Each chair measures: 20 wide x 21 deep x 36.25 inches high, with a seat height/chair clearance of 20.25 inches All pieces of furnitur...
Upholstery, Wood
$3,000
Harvey Probber Armchairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in Highland, IN
These light, lithe and elegant armchairs by Harvey Probber are scaled perfectly to serve as part of a larger seating group or on their own as occasional ...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$16,000 / set
Pair of Harvey Probber Slipper Chairs on Brass Bases
By Harvey Probber
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of beautifully restored lounge chairs designed by Harvey Probber. Sculpted seats with tailored buttons and polished brass base.
Brass
Harvey Probber Lounge Chairs in Holly Hunt Great Plains
By Harvey Probber
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful set of two rare Harvey Probber lounge chairs newly upholstered in a high-quality fabric by Holly Hunt. A beautiful neutral woven fabric with a soft texture. Mahogany bas...
Upholstery, Mahogany
Harvey Probber Knights Bench
By Harvey Probber
Located in Dallas, TX
A "Knights Bench" in original orange lacquer with brass stretchers. Designed by Harvey Probber.
Lacquer
Pair of Harvey Probber / Milo Baughman Side Chairs with Cast Brass Handles
By Harvey Probber
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Harvey Probber side chairs with elegant cast brass handles. In the manner of Milo Baughman
Upholstery
$6,100 / set
Set of Three Harvey Probber Stools
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Set of three Harvey Probber stools. Has square walnut legs on casters. Off-white and rust embroidered floral cushioned seats. Mid Century Modern.
Fabric, Walnut
X Chair by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An "X" base slat chair with upholstered leather seat and back pillow.
Brass
1977 Pair of Harvey Probber Cube Swivel Lounge Chairs in Woven Latania Palm Cane
By Harvey Probber
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of Rattan Cube Swivel Chairs, designed by Harvey Probber for his Artisan Collection in 1977. The listed price includes the pair of two chairs as shown. Probber visited...
Steel, Bronze