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.
$1,200
Harvey Probber Dry Bar
By Harvey Probber
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rolling cart for entertaining designed by Harvey Probber. Mahogany wood frame with milk glass top. Please confirm location.
Mahogany
Harvey Probber Designed Bar Cart
By Harvey Probber
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-century modern cart designed by Harvey Probber with simple modern lines. Waxed mahogany frame and white glass top. Used for living room entertainment as a rolling dry bar. Please...
Mahogany
Italian Design Mid-Century Bar Cart, 1950s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare 1950s Italian desgin serving bar cart. Made of beech wood equipped with two glass shelves and brass wheels for convenient movement. Perfect for serving drinks to your guests. Vi...
Glass, Beech
$1,900 / item
H 35.44 in W 26.78 in D 12.21 in
'Dram' Mid-Century Modern Style Dry Bar in Brazilian Hardwood by Knót Artesanal
By Knót Artesanal
Located in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro
Dram dry bar is defined by its open spaces and marked by its sculpted angles and brass components which add levity and delicacy. It is a mid-century modern inspired piece with a mini...
Wood
Bar Cart, 1980s
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Bar Cart, 1980s Period: 1980s Country of manufacturer: Italy Style: Midcentury Modern, Classic, Industrial, Modern Materials: chrome, smoked glass, mirror, plastic wheels Condit...
Metal, Iron
$2,224
H 29.14 in W 31.89 in D 19.3 in
1950s Art Deco Midcentury Italian Wood and Brass Dry Bar Cabinet Liquor Cart
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Vittorio Dassi
Located in Carimate, Como
Unique and very elegant Italian Art Deco MidCentury Modern dry bar cabinet cart with two glass tiers and highlighted by the great wooden structure design and overall shape completed ...
Brass
$6,252
H 30.32 in W 38.98 in D 18.51 in
Mid-Century Modern Tugas Dry Bar on Wheels in Mahogany, Pivoting Door - France
By Bar Tugas
Located in Girona, Girona
Dry bar "Tugas" on wheels, solid mahogany and mahogany veneer, french polish. Pivoting door with an ivory stained space with glass and mirror shelves. Remov...
Metal, Chrome
$5,800
H 35 in W 30.25 in D 16.25 in
Mid-Century Norwegian Rosewood Flip-Top Rolling Dry Bar by Torbjørn Afdal
By Torbjørn Afdal, Bruksbo, Mellemstrands Trevareindustri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Highly functional and handsome rosewood flip-top bar cabinet on caster wheels with two keys designed by Torbjørn Afdal and produced by Mellemstr...
Brass
Midcentury Brass Bar Cart
Located in Atlanta, GA
Midcentury brass bar cart, probably Italian, circa 1960s. It is a versatile size and can be used as a bar or serving cart or as extra rollin...
Brass, Metal
Jacques Adnet Bar Cart
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Miami, FL
Jacques Adnet 2-tier bar cart, removable top mirror tray. Very good condition, wheels in good condition. Tray dimensions: 24 / 15 inches.
Chrome
Aldo Tura Geometric Design Bar Cart
By Aldo Tura
Located in North Miami, FL
An original vintage Aldo Tura bar cart in dark brown lacquered goatskin and gold plated metal. Very geometric design and is a classic Italian Mid-century modern look. Signed underneath.
Brass
$2,500 / set
H 40 in W 17 in D 17 in
1960s dry bar attributed to Giotto Stoppino with four chrome base bar stools
By Giotto Stoppino, Chrome Craft
Located in Ferndale, MI
1960s dry bar with four bar stools . Bio-morphic shaped smoked glass top rests on chrome frame with cream lacquered panels . Storage area below glass top . Four chrome frame bar stoo...
Chrome, Sheet Metal
$2,104
H 32.68 in W 31.5 in D 18.9 in
1950s Art Deco Midcentury Italian Wood and Brass Dry Bar Cabinet Liquor Cart
By Guglielmo Ulrich, Vittorio Dassi, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa, Ico & Luisa Parisi
Located in Carimate, Como
Unique and very elegant Italian Art Deco dry bar cabinet cart with three tiers and highlighted by the great wooden structure design and overall shape completed by the details of the ...
Brass
FORNASETTI Bar Cart
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage original bar cart made in brass and wood with two removable trays / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, 1950s Original label underside, stamped D.B.G.M. SW on the cart wheel M...
Brass
Magnificent Harvey Probber Rosewood Decagon Bar Table Mid-Century Modern
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Magnificent Harvey Probber rosewood decagon bar lamp table. This piece is in wonderful vintage condition-possibly the nicest one we have ever seen in original condition. The rosewood...
Rosewood
Harvey Probber Mid-Century Modern Ebonized Mahogany Bar Cart
By Harvey Probber
Located in South Bend, IN
Offering a beautiful and recently refinished mahogany bar cart by Harvey Probber. The cart sits on original smooth rolling casters. The lower portion offers a shelf and cabinet space...
Mahogany
Harvey Probber Serving or Bar Cart
By Harvey Probber
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A well-grained bleached mahogany Probber serving or bar cart with single upper middle drawer, brass pole frame and wheels, by the Havery Probber furniture company.
Harvey Probber Bar Cart
By Harvey Probber
Located in Chicago, IL
Server trolley designed by Harvey Probber. Fully restored mahogany case with white vitrolite glass top.
Brass