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.
$16,750 / set
Pair of Decagon Dry Bar Cabinets by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Dallas, TX
A stunning pair of rare side cabinets No. 1151 or dry bars designed and produced by Harvey Probber. U.S.A., circa 1950's. Functional and well designed. Decagonal shaped cabinets exec...
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Rosewood Bar Cabinet
By Harvey Probber
Located in Minneapolis, MN
A rosewood dry bar designed by American designer Harvey Probber. Decagon design with outward swinging door with inner storage. Restoration of this piece will be completed upon purcha...
Rosewood
Mid-Century Modern Corner Bar Cabinet in Rosewood
Located in Torino, IT
Rare Mid-Century Modern corner bar cabinet made of rosewood, a fine essence chosen in the 1950s and 1960s for furniture intended for sophisticated and representative interiors. The c...
Palisander
Danish Mid-Century Bar Cabinet in Rosewood by Kurt Østervig
Located in Karlstad, SE
Enhance your home with the classic charm of Scandinavian mid-century design with this breathtaking bar by Kurt Østervig for KP Møbler, Denmark. The rosewood exterior boasts beautiful...
Brass
Rolf Hesland Rosewood Cube Bar by Bruksbo
By Bruksbo
Located in Highland, IN
This delightful piece designed by Rolf Hesland and crafted by Haug Snekkeri for Bruksbo serves double duty as both a side table and a small portable bar. It has great presence with b...
Brass
$3,295
H 35.5 in W 37.5 in D 18 in
Rosewood Dry Bar Cabinet by M. Hayat & Bros, Brass Inlay, Mid-Century
By M. Hayat & Bros Ltd.
Located in Southampton, NJ
Midcentury bar cabinet of radiant grain solid Rosewood with intricate brass inlay details throughout. Substantial mirrored top panel & drop forward serving surface open simultaneousl...
Brass
Pair Of Harvey Probber Hexagonal Terrazzo Side Tables
By Harvey Probber
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of mid-century modern, Moroccan influenced, side/end tables by Harvey Probber feature hexagonal shaped, terrazzo stone tops with brass inlay on three sloping mahogany legs. The ...
Brass
$2,870
H 29 in W 38 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Modern Lane Rosewood Rolling Dry Bar Cabinet with Drop-Leaf Top
By Lane Furniture
Located in West Palm Beach, US
Mid-Century Modern Lane Rosewood Rolling Bar Cabinet with Drop-Leaf Top ⸻ Description Mid-century modern bar cabinet by Lane, executed in rosewood. Th...
Wood
$2,295
H 31.38 in W 35.13 in D 20.25 in
Baker Furniture Mid-Century Modern Campaign Rosewood Bar Cabinet, Circa 1960s
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern Campaign style bar cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Beautiful rosewood, with original brass hard...
Brass
$5,017
H 51.19 in W 72.84 in D 17.72 in
Vittorio Dassi Mid-Century Modern Italian Mahogany Cabinet Bar, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This bar cabinet was designed by the famous Italian design Vittorio Dassi, Italy, 1950. The cabinet is covered in herringbone mahogany with maple inlays and glass top, the central in...
Marble, Brass
$3,895
H 43 in W 43.5 in D 20 in
Mid Century Scandinavian Rosewood Bar Cabinet with Sliding Glass Doors
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1970 Scandinavian bar cabinet in dramatically figured rosewood veneer features two sliding glass doors on the top section over three felt lined drawers on one side and a storage compartment with internal shelf on the other. Tapered legs. Unknown maker. Very good overall vintage condition. Open Shelf Sections...
Glass, Rosewood
$2,295
H 30.25 in W 38 in D 18 in
Lane Altavista Mid Century Slatted Rosewood Walnut Bar Server Credenza Cabinet
By Lane Furniture
Located in Forest Grove, PA
A rare and wonderful Lane Furniture server or dry bar. Rosewood slats with rosewood inlay, walnut body with chrome handles. 1970s. Fully open the top is 76.25”. The depth is 19” at t...
Chrome
$7,800
H 42.75 in W 94.75 in D 17.25 in
Harvey Probber Mid-Century Modern Brazilian Rosewood Cabinet 1970s
By Harvey Probber
Located in Dallas, TX
A striking example of mid‑century American design, this large‑scale storage cabinet by renowned designer Harvey Probber showcases the sophistication and craftsmanship that defined hi...
Rosewood
$8,500
H 59 in W 40 in D 17 in
Mid-Century Bar Cabinet in Rosewood with Mirrored & Glass Interior, Brazil 1960s
Located in New York, NY
Designed and produced in Brazil in the 1960s by an unknown maker, this exceptional bar cabinet is a refined expression of Brazilian mid-century modernism, distinguished by its confid...
Brass
Harvey Probber Flip-Top Bar Cabinet, 1950s, Refinished
By Harvey Probber
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This unique flip-top bar cabinet by Harvey Probber, circa 1950s, is packed full of useful features and is beautifully crafted from bleached Mahogany, doors with contrasting grain whi...
Formica, Wood, Lacquer
Harvey Probber Bar Cabinet
By Harvey Probber
Located in San Francisco, CA
Harvey Probber design fall front bar cabinet, U.S.A. American MCM at its best with a mahogany and brass dry bar cabinet. Newly refinished and ready to install. Featuring a white lami...
Brass
Harvey Probber Chic Illuminating Bar Cabinet 1950s 'Signed'
By Harvey Probber
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Elegant bar cabinet in mahogany with polished brass pulls and legs with drop down front and illuminated interior by Harvey Probber, American 1950s (signed “Furniture...
Metal, Brass
Mahogany Wall Mount Harvey Probber Illuminated Dry Bar Cabinets
By Harvey Probber
Located in Dallas, TX
This two-piece Harvey Probber wall-mount credenza has a drop front dry bar on one side with a cutaway glass shelf, a small cork-lined accouterment drawer and a cove light...
Raffia, Glass, Mahogany, Cork, Lacquer
Harvey Probber Vintage Mid-Century Modern Bar Cabinet Credenza
By Harvey Probber
Located in Norwood, NJ
Mid-Century Modern sliding caned door dry bar cabinet grouping. Harvey Probber bar cabinet in mahogany with inset caned doors. Makers label inside drawer: Individualized Modern / D...
Cane, Wood
Harvey Probber Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Dry Bar Cabinet
By Harvey Probber
Located in South Bend, IN
Offering a stunning decagon dry bar in rosewood by Harvey Probber. This piece can serve as an end table or other creative use and has plenty of space f...
Rosewood
Harvey Probber Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Dry Bar Cabinet
By Harvey Probber
Located in South Bend, IN
Offering a stunning decagon dry bar in rosewood by Harvey Probber. This piece can serve as an end table or other creative use and has plenty of space f...
Rosewood
Low Slung Console Table or Bar by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Atlanta, GA
Low slung console table or bar by Harvey Probber, American, circa 1960s. This piece is currently being refinished. The price noted below includes refinishing. This piece is a versati...
Brass
Rare Decagon Rosewood Dry Bar Storage Cabinet or Chest by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Hudson, NY
Decagonal shaped rosewood cabinet. Single drawer and cabinet with wood pulls. Cabinet has a lot of storage including shelves integrated into door. Excellent condition.
Rosewood
Harvey Probber Rosewood End Tables
By Harvey Probber
Located in Chicago, IL
Harvey Probber end tables, can also be used as dry bar cabinets, ten-sided forms with greatly figured Brazilian rosewood veneers, cases have one-drawer with solid wood pulls, above d...
Rosewood
Decagonal Dry Bar / End Table in Rosewood by Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A dry bar or end table in a decagon form, executed in rosewood with ebonized, trapezoidal pulls and floating upon an ebonized plinth base, designed by Harvey Probber. The laminate-li...
Rosewood
Rare Harvey Probber Flip Top Bar
By Harvey Probber
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Rare Harvey Probber flip top bar circa mid 1950's. This stunning example has a striped African mahogany case and legs with elegant hand rubbed brass a...