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.
Gorgeous Restored Pair of Walnut Cane Lounge Chairs by Probber- 2 Pr Available
By Harvey Probber
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning meticulously restored pair of difficult to source Organic lounge chairs by Harvey Probber, c 1965. Expertly crafted solid walnut construction with stellar lines and detail...
Cane, Walnut
Harvey Probber Pair of Leather & Chrome Slipper Lounge Chairs Cantilevered Seats
By Harvey Probber
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This elegant pair of Probber lounge chairs has a dynamic profile acheived by the use of a cantalievered seat supported by polished stainless steel frames...
Stainless Steel
Harvey Probber Lounge Chair 1955
By Harvey Probber
Located in Chicago, IL
Harvey Probber Lounge Chair (1955) This classic lounge chair by Harvey Probber features gently used mohair upholstery, providing luxurious comfort and style. It includes a loose cush...
Mohair, Walnut
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
Marvelous Pair Harvey Probber Swivel Barrel Back Lounge Chair Mid-Century Modern
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Marvelous pair of Harvey Probber barrel back club chairs on wooden swivel platform bases. We love the original small round back cushion. Chairs looks to have been reupholstered in ...
Upholstery, Wood
$5,683Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of yellow Harvey Probber Lounge Chairs, USA 1960s
By Harvey Probber
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Harvey Probber lounge chairs in yellow upholstery. The chairs have vintage upholstery.
Upholstery
Harvey Probber Set of Four Occasional Chairs, Salmon Lacquer & Cane, 1960c
By Harvey Probber
Located in Chicago, IL
Harvey Probber Set of Four Occasional Chairs, Salmon Lacquer & Cane, 1960c An elegant quartet of mid-century seating by Harvey Probber, these “Occasional” chairs showcase a gently cu...
Upholstery, Cane, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Lounge Chair in Reupholstered White Leather
By Harvey Probber
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous lounge chair design by Harvey Probber c1960 in a very modern sleek minimalist manner. Reupholstered in white leather with buttons to give it a little charm and break up the...
Steel, Chrome
Harvey Probber Lounge Chair and Ottoman c. 1970's
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Chic low slung upholstered lounge chair and ottoman designed by Harvey Probber, circa 1970's. The upholstered elements sit on recessed wood plinth bases. Both the chair and matching...
Upholstery
$7,800 / set
Harvey Probber Gondola Slipper Chairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stunning pair of Mid-Century Gondola chairs by Harvey Probber makes an elegant statement in any setting. Comfortable high back design is accentuated by beautiful upholstery and ...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$4,100Sale Price|25% Off
Harvey Probber Swivel Club Chair, circa 1960s, Reupholstered and Refinished
By Harvey Probber
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Harvey Probber swivel club chair from circa 1960 has been refinished and reupholstered. Featuring a scalloped front end and loose seat cushion over a round wood swivel base whic...
Upholstery, Wood
Harvey Probber Hoop Barrel Back Cane Lounge Chairs / Edward Wormley Dunbar
By Harvey Probber, Paul McCobb
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Harvey Probber Hoop Barrel Back Cane Lounge Chairs Wear to original finish. Cane in nice shape. Pronbably requires reupholstery...
Cane
Harvey Probber Leather Lounge Chair, Stainless Steel Chrome Frame, 1960s, USA
By Harvey Probber
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cantilevered Harvey Probber leather lounge chair c.1960s, USA. The leather chair features a stainless steel chrome frame and tufted seat back. Dimensions 28" width x 29" depth x 26....
Stainless Steel, Chrome
Large Lounge Chair on Walnut Frame Base by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber, Paul McCobb
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Nice large Harvey Probber lounge chairs on walnut base. Good upholstery condition.
Upholstery, Walnut
$5,000 / set
Harvey Probber Swivel Cube Club Lounge Chairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of classic swivel chairs by Harvey Probber. The bases are walnut. And the upholstery is a soft boucle. The swivel is 360.
Bouclé, Wood
Harvey Probber Mid Century Barrel Back Chrome Lounge Chairs in Knoll Fabric
By Harvey Probber
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Absolutely stunning, sleek design by Harvey Probber, chrome frame with floating armchair. Gorgeous example of timeless modern styling, and in an enviable pair. Chrome is in excel...
Chrome
$10,395 / set
Harvey Probber Mid Century Lounge Chairs, Pair
By Harvey Probber
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Harvey Probber Mid Century lounge chairs - Pair This chair measures: 26 wide x 26 deep x 29 inches high, with a seat height of 18 and arm height of 25.25 inches All pieces of f...
Chrome
"Premier" Arm Chair Attributed to Adriano Piazzesi Italy 1970
By Adriano Piazzesi, Harvey Probber
Located in Sarasota, FL
No makers mark. These were upholstered in the 1970s in a mauve pink geometric velvet. We have seven of these available and one ottoman.
Velvet
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Tufted Aluminum Lounge Chairs by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Simple and elegant pair of Mid-Century Modern Sculptural tufted lounge chairs by Harvey Probber. Alcoa aluminum is the main material making up the beautiful frames. Button tufted wit...
Aluminum
Pair of Rare Harvey Probber Polished Aluminum & Pink Leather Lounge Chairs 1970s
By Harvey Probber
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Looking at the explosion of chromed steel framed chairs in the 1970s, Harvey Probber had a different vision. Rather than using heavy steel, he chose to use more expensive but lighter...
Aluminum
$4,550Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pair of Gondola Lounge Arm Sculptural Side Chairs by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Wayne, NJ
Pair of gondola lounge arm side chairs by Harvey Probber. If you are in the New Jersey , New York City Metro Area , please contact us with your delivery zip code, as we may be able t...
Upholstery
Rare Pair of Off White Boucle Lounge Chairs by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1970’s Off white boucle and polished aluminum lounge chairs by Harvey Probber. Newly recovered in a beautiful boucle fabric.
Aluminum
1960s Pair of Harvey Probber Cube Swivel Lounge Chairs in Tufted White Leather
By Harvey Probber
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of Cube Swivel Lounge Chairs, designed by Harvey Probber for his namesake company in the late 1950s. This pair dates to the 1960s, and the listed price includes the pa...
Chrome
Gorgeous Restored Set of 4 Walnut Cane Lounge Chairs by Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning meticulously restored set of four (4) difficult to source Organic lounge chairs by Harvey Probber, c 1965. Expertly crafted solid walnut construction with stellar lines an...
Cane, Walnut
$7,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Rare Pair of Harvey Probber Lounge Chairs and Ottoman Mid-Century Modern
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pemberton, NJ
This is a rare pair of large scale Harvey Probber lounge chairs with one matching ottoman. These are perfect candidates for your magnificent new upholstery which we can assist you wi...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$12,000 / set
Pair of Lounge Chairs by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of curved lounge chairs on ebonized wooden bases designed by Harvey Probber. Newer upholstery in very good condition.
Fabric
Rare Pair of Signed Harvey Probber Cube Lounge Chairs, Mid-Century Modern
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Outstanding and rare signed Harvey Probber pair of cube lounge chairs. This unusual pair rests on two chunky walnut legs that extend up the back-very handsome! These chairs retains t...
Upholstery, Walnut
Harvey Probber Lounge Chair, Restored, Purple Maharam Fabric and Brass Legs
By Harvey Probber
Located in Kansas City, MO
Large and very comfortable lounge chair designed by Harvey Probber. Expertly reupholstered in purple Maharam Hallingdal fabric. Polished brass tubular legs.
Brass
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 Pair of Modern Swivel Cube Occasional Lounge Club Chairs, #1461
By Harvey Probber
Located in Toledo, OH
Pair of modern swivel cube occasional chairs by Harvey Probber. Original heavy wool Knoll fabric, cube form chairs on a round swivel base. Model # 1461, ci...
Wool
Pair of Mid-Century Harvey Probber Slipper Chairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stunning pair of modern lounge chairs by Harvey Probber feature tufted vinyl seat backs with wide slipper seats. Cantilevered heavy chrome frame mak...
Chrome
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Cantilevered Chairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in Dallas, TX
Adorable pair of Harvey Probber occasional lounge chairs. Very comfortable chairs with chrome cantilevered frames upholstered in their original light tan color fabric. Can be used as...
Chrome
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Gondola Chairs by Harvey Probber Restored
By Harvey Probber
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Simple and elegant pair of Gondola chairs by Harvey Probber. Totally refinished and reupholstered. Black and white Grey tweed style fabric. In e...
Fabric, Hardwood
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
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
Harvey Probber Original Oak Parsons Style Lounge Chair a Pair
By Milo Baughman, Hein Stolle, Harvey Probber
Located in Bensalem, PA
Pair of Harvey Probber original solid Oak lounge chairs very solid with very nice lines. Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Upholstery, Oak
$4,850 / item
Rare Pair of Harvey Probber Sling Chair, circa 1948
By Harvey Probber
Located in St. Louis, MO
Rare pair of Harvey Probber sling chairs. This design was selected for by the Museum of Modern Art in 1948 for their good design exhibit. Be...
Upholstery, Bentwood
$7,000 / set
Harvey Probber Cantilevered Lounge Chairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Dynamic pair of Harvey Probber cantilevered lounge chairs. Extremely comfortable having a wide body with lots of room offering a prefect sitt...
Stainless Steel, Chrome
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
Lounge Chair by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Chic and stylish mid century lounge chair designed by Harvey Probber. This example is in good original condition, showing light cosmetic wear normal and consistent with age. Measur...
Upholstery, 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
$9,000 / set
Harvey Probber Set of Three 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 chairs. Their proportions and profile make them beautiful from every angle and their intermediate seat height makes them ideal as conversational chairs.
Upholstery, Mahogany
$4,200Sale Price|20% Off
Stunning Pair Harvey Probber Cube Lounge Chairs Mid-Century Modern
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Stunning pair of Harvey Probber cube chairs with plinth base. The original fabric has some minor stains-we do recommend reupholstery. They m...
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of Attributed to Harvey Probber Hexagonal Swivel Lounge Chairs
By Harvey Probber
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Attributed to Harvey Probber Hexagonal Swivel Lounge Chairs, These chairs feature an Irregular Hexagon shape with six sides of different lengths, with a pillow back. They hav...
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
$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
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
$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