Cor is Latin for heart, and COR furniture exemplifies the qualities at the heart of exceptional design: practicality, comfort and style. The company, which is owned and operated by the Lübke family, created in the postwar years a range of sofas, lounge chairs and coffee tables that capture the essence of the best of mid-century modernism. Simple silhouettes, quality materials and function-first designs ensure that vintage COR furniture is still in high demand with collectors all over the world.
COR was founded in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany, in 1954 by Leo Lübke — in the name of his son, Helmut — and the Prince of Bentheim-Tecklenburg, a northern German county. Nearly a couple of decades prior, in 1937, a manufacturer of bedroom furniture called Interlübke was established by Leo and his brother Hans. The latter’s son Horst, who was managing partner from 1972, retired during the 1990s and his son Helmut Lübke joined Interlübke and shifted the brand’s focus toward modular furniture systems. During the 1980s, the Prince of Bentheim-Tecklenburg left COR and the Lübke family became its sole owner. In 2006, COR-Interlübke retail locations opened their doors.
COR made its mark in 1959 with a sleek modular seating system consisting of five parts called Quinta, which was created by designer Michael Bayer. The upholstered line boasted clean, angular contours and appealed to the day's ever-broadening flexible interior design sensibilities. It remained in production until 1978. The success of the Quinta was followed by the 1964 Conseta system, which featured a sofa and other pieces of seating designed by Friedrich Wilhelm Möller.
The following decades saw more successful collaborations with designers like Peter Maly and Luigi Colani. The latter, a German industrial designer born Lutz Colani, created a range of gorgeous organically shaped Space Age seating for BASF and Fritz Hansen, serveware for Rosenthal and worked on automobile designs for Fiat. Colani designed the popular Orbis line for COR during the 1970s.
In 2000, the Arthe sofa by Wulf Schneider was awarded the prestigious Red Dot Award from the North Rhine-Westphalia Design Centre.
COR is still owned and operated by the Lübke family’s parent company Gebrüder Lübke GmbH & Co. KG and continues to produce furniture at the Rheda-Wiedenbrück factory, sourcing leather from southern Germany and upholstery from Italy. The company partnered with Jehs+Laub, a renowned Stuttgart-based studio, in 2010.
Find a collection of vintage Lübke furniture on 1stDibs.
$8,067Sale Price|20% Off
postmodern Tete a tete sofa by Herbert Ohl for Lubke, 1980s
By Lübke, Herbert Ohl
Located in Zevenaar, NL
This tete a tete sofa Chair, is a unique piece, especially crafted by Lubke for exclusive use at a congress in the 1980s. It was never taken into production and is not in Lubkes cata...
Bentwood
$2,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 32 in W 18 in D 21.5 in
Post Modern Cantilever Swing Chairs by Herbert and Jutta Ohl for Rosenthal Linie
By Jutta and Herbert Ohl
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Rare set of 4 1980s Post-Modern Cantilever Swing Chairs. Designed in 1982 by Herbert and Jutta Ohl for German Manufacturer Rosenthal Studio Lini...
Metal
$8,520
H 30.71 in W 55.12 in D 39.38 in
Italian Giorgetti Tête-à-Tête Conversation Sofa "Progetti" 1980s
Located in HAARLEM, NL
A rare and elegant Giorgetti tête-à-tête conversation sofa, newly upholstered in a luxurious zebra-pattern velvet that transforms this iconic design into a bold contemporary statemen...
Beech
Postmodern Italian 1980s Sofa, Two-Seat
By Memphis Milano
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage 1980s Postmodern two-seat sofa. Sculpted beech frame with aluminum accents. Original warm yellow cream leather cushions. Very good condition, comfortable seat. Dimensions: 1...
Leather, Plywood
$2,917 / set
H 31.5 in W 17.72 in D 19.69 in
Matteo Grassi Model Ballerina Leather Chair by Herbert Ohl Set of 2
By Herbert Ohl, Matteo Grassi
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Vintage Cantilever chair by Herbert Ohl for Matteo Grassi Modell Ballerina. The leather is a thick beautiful stunning green saddle leather dev...
Steel
1980s Classical Brass Bench
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1980s classical brass bench.
Brass
1980s Postmodern Preview Cloud Sectional Sofa
By Preview
Located in Bensalem, PA
Stunning 3 piece PREVIEW sectional sofa
Upholstery
$898
H 30.71 in W 38.59 in D 21.26 in
Italian modern Vienna metal bench or sofa by Rodney Kinsman for Bieffeplast 1980s
By Bieffeplast, Rodney Kinsman
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Vienna metal bench or sofa by Rodney Kinsman for Bieffeplast 1980s. Vienna model sofa or bench with structure with armrests with a curved profile, in round-section metal with a matt gray finish, backrest and seat padded and covered in their original orange cotton fabric. Designed by Rodney Kinsman and produced by Bieffeplast, ca. 1980. Good general condition. Measurements in cm 98x54x78h backrest, 47h seat Small Vienna bench...
Metal
1980s Postmodern Vintage Loveseat Sofa
Located in Chicago, IL
Absolutely love the lines of this sofa/loveseat. Keep as is or redo in your favorite fabric. Cushions in excellent condition.
Fabric
$8,000
H 31.5 in W 24.81 in D 22.84 in
Set of 4 Purple Ballerina Chairs by Herbert Ohl for Matteo Grassi, Italy 1990s
By Matteo Grassi, Herbert Ohl
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a set of 4 Ballerina Dining Chairs designed by Herbert Ohl for Matteo Grassi. All chairs have manufacturer's stamp on the backrests. The cantilever chai...
Steel
1980s Wicker Sofa for Children with Folding Seat
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Wicker Sofa for Children with Folding Seat.
Wicker
Sculptural Post-Modern Steel Sofa, France 1980s
Located in Aartselaar, BE
Very unique and unusual sofa. Inspired by the Maria Pergay, Michel Boyer era. Sourced in the south of France. Postmodernism. The bench is made of multiple materials, creating a beautiful composition. The base of the sofa is made of steel and has a beautifully patinated leather seat. The back of the sofa is made of resin. Due to the green strokes, it is multi-dimensional. Even if it's a functional sofa, it merely looks like a piece of art. It can both be used as a stand-alone sofa or bench and could be the perfect addition to any residential project, but would also look great in any gallery or high-end retail shop. The minimalist design of this French sofa is perfect for any clientele that wants to create a unique kind of atmosphere. It has a very industrial, apocalyptic, and postmodern feel to it. It is for sure an eye-catcher! Please note that it is a heavy object. Check out Daddy Deco...
Steel
$1,050Sale Price|30% Off
H 16 in W 16.38 in D 47 in
Maurizio Peregalli Modernist Bench for Zues, Italy 1980s
By Maurizio Peregalli, Zeus
Located in Miami, FL
Modernist black lacquered steel and rubber bench by Maurizio Peregalli for Zeus, Italy. 1980s. Additional dimensions: Width 47” Depth 16-3/8” Height 16” Seat height (highest part o...
Steel