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Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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
Pair of Rosewood and Mahogany Chests by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Pair of tailored chests designed by Harvey Probber, having rosewood drawer fronts, tops and sides with dark mahogany trim, and legs, with brass feet. Both are in good, original condition, showing some cosmetic signs of age and use. Each dresser has three drawers, each drawer front is 7.75 inch H. Originally designed as dressers, these would also function well as large night tables...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany, Rosewood

Harvey Probber Side by Side Chifforobe Style Gorgeous Rosewood Dresser MINT
By Dunbar Furniture, Harvey Probber
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Harvey Probber Side by Side Chifforobe Style Gorgeous Rosewood Dresser MINT.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Rosewood

Harvey Probber Chest of Drawers
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Modern chest of drawers by Harvey Probber. Harvey Probber chest of drawers in bleached mahogany with four drawers brass sabots to the feet. Inside two top drawers have wh...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Handsome Harvey Probber Small Chest Night Stand Mid-Century Modern
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Handsome Harvey Probber small chest or night stand with Brass ring pulls. This chest measures 25.5"t x 24"w x 18"d
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern 5 Drawer Dresser 2 Door with Leather Brass Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Simple and elegant long mahogany dresser by Harvey Probber. Five graduated drawers with solid brass pulls on the right side. Two leather doors with solid brass strips which conceal four pull out drawers and three pull out shelves...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Harvey Probber Double Chest and Vanity with Leather and Brass
By Harvey Probber
Located in Hanover, MA
Two beautifully restored complimentary chests flanking a hanging vanity case from Harvey Probber's "Cabinet Series" circa 1957. Hazelnut finished mahog...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Harvey Probber Espresso Mahogany Sliding Doors 10 Drawers Gentlemen's Chest Mint
By Harvey Probber
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Harvey Probber Espresso mahogany sliding doors 11 drawers gentlemen's chest highboy dresser mint Cork lined drawers.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

Pair of Harvey Probber Chests or Nightstands in style of Edward Wormley Dunbar
By Harvey Probber
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Harvey Probber Chest of Drawers or Nightstands. Elegant crafted wood visor handles. Brass caps on feet.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Wardrobes in Mahogany and Leather by Harvey Probber 1950s
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully outfitted wardrobes/chests of drawers in mahogany, doors with inset leather and brass bands, by Harvey Probber, American 1950s (label in drawer reads "designed by Harvey ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Harvey Probber Chest of Drawers in Mahogany and Brass 1950s 'Signed'
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully made tall chest of drawers model no 865 in mahogany with brass accents and sliding doors at top concealing pull out shelves by Harvey Probber, American 1950's (signed “Furniture...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Harvey Probber Black Lacquer Mahogany Brass Hardware and Legs 4 Drawer Chest
By Harvey Probber, Paul McCobb
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern black lacquer mahogany brass hardware bachelor chest compact dresser by Harvey Probber.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Harvey Probber Sideboard with Sliding Grasscloth Doors
By Harvey Probber
Located in Hanover, MA
Mid-Century Modern sideboard/cabinet of drawers by Harvey Probber in original grain painted blonde mahogany with four matching large center drawers having distinctive Probber recessed pulls and two sliding doors paneled...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Grasscloth, Mahogany

American Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Dresser / Sideboard by Harvey Probber 1960s
By Harvey Probber
Located in Manhasset, NY
American Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Dresser / Sideboard by Harvey Probber 1960s Harvey Probber Dresser in Rosewood and Ebonized Mahogany United States c. 1960's. Six drawer dresser ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Harvey Probber Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany, Rosewood

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Harvey Probber commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs.

Harvey Probber commodes and chests of drawers 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 commodes and chests of drawers, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original commodes and chests of drawers 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 commodes and chests of drawers by Planner Group, Mastercraft, and Milo Baughman. Prices for Harvey Probber commodes and chests of drawers can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,595 and can go as high as $21,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,800.

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