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Paul McCobb Furniture

American, 1917-1969

The single aesthetic attribute of vintage Paul McCobb furniture is that the designer completely forsook ornament — his pieces have no flourishes. And yet, because they are honest — McCobb’s chairs, desks and dining tables are made of solid wood, usually maple or birch, often paired with frames and legs of wrought iron; the cabinets are traditionally scaled; the seating pieces have historic antecedents such as the Windsor chair — his mid-century modern work has warmth and presence.

You could call the Massachusetts-born McCobb a man of parts. As a furniture designer, his work combined the attributes of many of his now better-known peers. 

Like the work of Bauhaus designers such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, McCobb's furniture had purity of form and line. Like the designs of Florence Knoll and George Nelson and his associates, McCobb’s work was efficient and purposeful. And even like George Nakashima, he was adept at interpreting traditional forms, in particular those of chairs, for the 20th century.

More than any other designer besides Russel Wright, with his ubiquitous ceramic tableware, McCobb was arguably responsible for the introduction of modern design into middle-class American households — if for no other reason than that he designed the 1952 set for the original Today show. 

McCobb, a repeat recipient of the Good Design Award from the Museum of Modern Art, also designed cohesive lines of furnishings, such as his best-known Planner Group, that gave homes an instant “look.” He designed for several companies, most notably Directional, which was home to McCobb’s Origami chair

In 1949, in partnership with New York furniture salesman B.G. Mesberg, McCobb set up the Directional Furniture Company, a​ brand known to vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors everywhere. Directional opened its doors after McCobb created the high-end Directional Modern line of sofas distributed by the New York-based Modernage Company. Directional also produced designs by other legends such as Paul Evans and Vladimir Kagan

As you can see from the offerings on 1stDibs, McCobb designs are the pin-striped suit, or the little black dress, of a decor: an essential.

Find vintage Paul McCobb credenzas, bookcases, nightstands and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Paul McCobb
Dealer: Metro Retro Furniture MCM Furniture
23.5 Early Production Paul McCobb Cigarette Table
By Paul McCobb
Located in Pasadena, TX
Paul McCobb`s furniture and interior designs of the 1950s rank alongside Russell Wright, Gustav Stickley, and Heywood-Wakefield as marked staples in modern design. Paul McCobb`s Directional Designs furniture line exhibits the low-cost, functional, and versatile furniture components, storage units, and interiors that earned McCobb the title of "America`s decorator" during the mid-twentieth century. Rare Paul McCobb Cigarette Table...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Furniture

Materials

Iron

Vintage Paul McCobb End Table for Calvin
By Paul McCobb
Located in Pasadena, TX
Paul McCobb His Planner Group, manufactured by Winchendon Furniture Company, was among the best selling contemporary furniture lines of the 1950s and was in continuous production fr...
Category

1970s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Paul McCobb Headboards
By Paul McCobb
Located in Pasadena, TX
Paul McCobb Paul McCobb’s furniture and interior designs of the 1950s rank alongside Russell Wright, Gustav Stickley, and Heywood-Wake...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Furniture

Materials

Brass

25" Paul McCobb for Calvin Walnut Brass and Marble Coffee Side Table
By Paul McCobb
Located in Pasadena, TX
Paul McCobb's furniture and interior designs of the 1950s rank alongside Russell Wright, Gustav Stickley, and Heywood-Wakefield as marked staples in modern design. Paul McCobb's Dire...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Furniture

Materials

Marble

Pair of Brass Paul McCobb Hardware
By Paul McCobb
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a pair of Paul McCobb furniture pulls. They're made of solid brass.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Furniture

Materials

Brass

Set of Four Vintage Mid-Century Paul McCobb Shovel Dining Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in Pasadena, TX
Paul McCobb`s furniture and interior designs of the 1950s rank alongside Russell Wright, Gustav Stickley, and Heywood-Wakefield as marked staples in modern design. Paul McCobb`s Dire...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Furniture

Materials

Maple

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Pair of American Midcentury Headboard Paul McCobb for Calvin
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A pair of twin-size bed headboards by Paul Mccobb designed for Calvin, circa 1950s. This pair can also be placed together and used as a king size headboard. Constructed with heavy br...
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Paul McCobb Planner Group Iron and Reed Side Table
By Planner Group, Winchendon, Paul McCobb
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Planner Group side table designed by Paul McCobb for Winchendon. Circa 1955. Featuring a birch top, iron frame and split reed lower shelf. Good overall honest wear and overall condit...
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Beautiful Midcentury Walnut Headboard by Paul McCobb for Widdicomb King
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Beautiful Paul McCobb for Widdicomb Furniture bed headboard #8050 in wonderful vintage condition. finely crafted with Walnut frame with Black Vinyl upholstery details. Fits a King si...
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Mid-Century Modern Planner Group Dining Chairs Paul McCobb for Winchendon Set 5
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
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Fabulous set of five Mid-Century Modern Planner Group style #1534 dining chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon. Comprised of a dark walnut finished maple. They have been newly upholstered at some point in their recent past in a brown background fabric with chenille squiggly undulating lines in gold and turquoise or teal. Beautiful condition with age-appropriate wear as you would expect with vintage pieces. Two of the chair backs do have small nicks. One has been repaired. All chairs have been re-glued. We have used restore-a-finish on the original finish to bring back its original shine. Please see photos. Circa 1949-1964. Simply Amazing!! What a fabulous set of five Mid-Century Modern dining chairs! They are part of the Planner Group for Winchendon designed by internationally known and revered designer Paul McCobb. They are style number 1534, and they are comprised of a beautiful maple frame with a dark walnut finish. The foam seats are covered in a brown chenille fabric with raised fiber squiggly undulating lines in colors of gold and turquoise or maybe its teal. The fabric is so awesome it reminds us of a comfy chenille bedspread...
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Paul McCobb King-Size Brass Frame Headboard
By Paul McCobb
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Four Paul McCobb Dark Maple Spindle-Back Dining Chairs
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
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Set of four Planner Group dark maple spindle back dining chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon. An iconic McCobb design.
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Paul McCobb Dining Chairs Set of Six Refinished & Reupholstered
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Set of Six Mid Century Dining Chairs, designed by Paul McCobb for Calvin Furniture's Directional Line, American, circa 1950s. These chairs are currently being refinished and reuphols...
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Paul McCobb for Calvin End Table
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Paul McCobb for Calvin End Table
Paul McCobb for Calvin End Table
H 24 in W 21.13 in D 21.13 in
Previously Available Items
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By Paul McCobb
Located in Pasadena, TX
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1 Paul McCobb Winchendon Furniture Planner Group Dresser #1508
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Vintage Mid-Century Paul McCobb Planner Group Desk
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Vintage Paul McCobb Cabinet or Credenza or Storage Unit for Calvin
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Furniture

Paul Mccobb furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Paul McCobb furniture 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 Paul McCobb furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 901 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 16 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Paul McCobb 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 furniture by Dunbar, George Nelson, and John Widdicomb. Prices for Paul McCobb furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $195 and can go as high as $25,995, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,826.
Questions About Paul McCobb Furniture
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    The best way to identify Paul McCobb furniture is to look for the signature hallmarks of his style. He didn't sign or add a brand marker to his pieces. McCobb preferred clean, simple lines with no ornamentation. Slightly angled legs and boxy drawers and chair backs are indicative of his work. On 1stDibs, find a variety of expertly vetted Paul McCobb furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To refinish Paul McCobb furniture, start by stripping away the old finish with a chemical stripper. Then, use a fine wire brush and steel wool to remove any lingering chemicals. Sand every surface and apply a wood conditioner. Finally, apply three to five coats of lacquer. Find a collection of Paul McCobb furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    You can sell Paul McCobb furniture in a number of ways. Options include selling directly to someone else by advertising on social media or in the newspaper or going to a vintage furniture shop. You can also work with an auction house or choose a reputable online platform. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Paul McCobb furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    In most cases, Paul McCobb used a natural lacquer wood finish. In doing so, he emphasized the natural color and grain of the hardwoods used to build his tables, desks, cabinets and other furniture. Shop a collection of Paul McCobb on 1stDibs.

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