Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

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.

Creator: Paul McCobb

Modern Paul McCobb Arbuck Black Wrought Iron Hairpin Chair 1950s

$2,800 / item

Modern Paul McCobb Arbuck Black Wrought Iron Hairpin Chair 1950s

By Arbuck, Paul McCobb

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Paul McCobb for Arbuck Inc of Brooklyn, NY. Black wrought iron hairpin chair, c. 1951, minimal modern lines. 6lavailable. Priced per chair. Stackable. ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Paul McCobb M-3 Brown Ceramic Glaze Planter for Architectural Pottery

$3,895

Paul McCobb M-3 Brown Ceramic Glaze Planter for Architectural Pottery

By Paul McCobb, Architectural Pottery

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Paul McCobb M-3 brown ceramic glaze planter for Architectural Pottery.

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Paul McCobb Pavilion Collection Dining Chairs for Arbuck Set of Four

$6,500 / set

Paul McCobb Pavilion Collection Dining Chairs for Arbuck Set of Four

By Paul McCobb, Arbuck

Located in Chicago, IL

Paul McCobb Pavilion Collection Dining Chairs for Arbuck Set of Four, rare set, vintage Can be used in an indoor or outdoor setting enameled steel...

Category

1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

Paul McCobb M-3 Brown Ceramic Glaze for Architectural Pottery

$3,895

Paul McCobb M-3 Brown Ceramic Glaze for Architectural Pottery

By Paul McCobb

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Paul McCobb M-3 brown ceramic glaze for architectural pottery.

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Paul McCobb Arbuck Wrought Iron Hairpin Chairs Set, 1950s, Indoor Outdoor Patio

$9,500 / set

Paul McCobb Arbuck Wrought Iron Hairpin Chairs Set, 1950s, Indoor Outdoor Patio

By Paul McCobb, Arbuck

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Paul McCobb Arbuck wrought iron hairpin chairs set, 1950s, indoor outdoor patio. Paul McCobb for Arbuck Inc of Brooklyn, NY. Black wrought iron hairpin ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Set of Four Mid Century Woodard Sculptura Dining Arm Chairs

$2,200 / set

H 28 in W 27 in D 22 in

Set of Four Mid Century Woodard Sculptura Dining Arm Chairs

By Russell Woodard, Woodard Furniture Co.

Located in New York, NY

Set of four Russell Woodard designed, Woodard Sculptura dining height arm chairs. Classic Mid Century Modern period garden, patio, poolside chairs, suitable for either indoor or out...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

Set of Four Wrought Iron Garden Patio Dining Chars Orleans for Woodard 1950/1960

$1,000 / set

H 37 in W 20.5 in D 17 in

Set of Four Wrought Iron Garden Patio Dining Chars Orleans for Woodard 1950/1960

By Woodard Furniture Co.

Located in New York, NY

Set of four Woodard Orleans pattern dining arm chairs. The chairs are structurally sound and sturdy, the paint finish shows wear and variations through...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

John Follis for Architectural Pottery Tire Planter

$1,500

H 12 in Dm 9 in

John Follis for Architectural Pottery Tire Planter

By Architectural Pottery, John Follis

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Stoneware planter by John Follis for Architectural Pottery. This example has a drum shape with a rounded lip that curves in at the top of the piece. Planter stamped "USA.” Dimension...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Stoneware

Mid-Century Modern Gainey Architectural Pottery Clay Planter Pot Black Glaze

$400 / item

H 6 in Dm 8 in

Mid-Century Modern Gainey Architectural Pottery Clay Planter Pot Black Glaze

By Gainey Pottery

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Mid-Century Modern Gainey Architectural Pottery Planters Pots dark Satin Black Glaze Ceramic Pottery circa 1960. Most are Labeled on bottom. Made in USA California. Located in NYC. ...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Set of Four Brown Jordan Neoclassical Style Garden Dining Chairs

$2,500 / set

H 34.5 in W 18.5 in D 21 in

Set of Four Brown Jordan Neoclassical Style Garden Dining Chairs

By Brown Jordan

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Neoclassical style set of four patio and garden dining chairs made by Brown Jordan. Heavy and solid cast aluminum construction with a lattice design influenced by Mario Papperzini fo...

Category

20th Century American Neoclassical Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Aluminum

French 1950s Iron Fretwork Patio Set

$7,988 / set

H 34.65 in W 77.96 in D 16.54 in

French 1950s Iron Fretwork Patio Set

Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse

Elegant iron patio set comprising a console, a coffee table, two chairs, a settee and two curule stools. The set presents delicate fretwork and hammered iron, and is painted in its o...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Stone, Wrought Iron

French 1950s Wrought Iron Garden Table

$1,174

H 27.17 in W 27.56 in D 21.66 in

French 1950s Wrought Iron Garden Table

Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse

Painted wrought iron garden table with a cloverleaf-patterned top with a twisted iron surround and an elegant scrolled base.

Category

Mid-20th Century French Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

1950s Wrought Iron Curved Sofa Garden Set

$5,500 / set

H 31 in W 120 in D 29 in

1950s Wrought Iron Curved Sofa Garden Set

Located in Tarrytown, NY

1950s Wrought Iron outdoor set. Leaf and vine pattern. Three piece couch, round coffee table, pair of end tables. There are no cushions. Coffee table has no glass. Needs to be pain...

Category

1950s Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

Garden Chairs in Brown Wrought Iron with Cushions. Indoor & Outdoor

$280 / item

H 33.46 in W 17.71 in D 17.71 in

Garden Chairs in Brown Wrought Iron with Cushions. Indoor & Outdoor

Located in Miami, FL

Garden chairs in brown wrought iron.

Category

2010s Spanish Country Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

David Cressey For Architectural Pottery Pro/Artisan Leaf Pattern Pot Rust Glaze

$2,100

H 12 in Dm 13 in

David Cressey For Architectural Pottery Pro/Artisan Leaf Pattern Pot Rust Glaze

By David Cressey, Architectural Pottery

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This is a vintage piece of pottery by designer David Cressey for Los Angeles based mid-century manufacturer Architectural Pottery (owned by Max and Rita Lawrence). The pot measures 1...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Large Gainey Planter in Satin Black Glaze, California Architectural Pottery

$895

H 14 in Dm 15.5 in

Large Gainey Planter in Satin Black Glaze, California Architectural Pottery

By Gainey Pottery

Located in Philadelphia, PA

One architectural pottery planter finished in satin black glaze. Signed Gainey on the bottom. Made in California in 1960s. This item pairs perfectly with our pair of Gainey smaller black planters...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Set of Four Neoclassical Dolphin and Star Garden Dining Chairs

$2,800 / set

H 32 in W 23 in D 23 in

Set of Four Neoclassical Dolphin and Star Garden Dining Chairs

By Kenneth Lynch & Sons

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Iconic set of four dolphin and star patio and garden dining armchairs attributed to Kenneth Lynch and Sons, Oxford, CT. The set consists of all armchairs with the optional filagree s...

Category

20th Century American Neoclassical Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Aluminum

Previously Available Items

Architectural Pottery M-2 Planter by Paul McCobb

Sold

H 13.25 in W 17 in D 17 in

Architectural Pottery M-2 Planter by Paul McCobb

By Architectural Pottery, Paul McCobb

Located in North Hollywood, CA

Exceptional ceramic planter model “M-2” designed by Paul McCobb for Architectural Pottery in the United States, circa 1960s. This planter has a shape that starts from a narrow neck a...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Paul McCobb M-2 Planter for Architectural Pottery

Sold

H 13 in Dm 17 in

Paul McCobb M-2 Planter for Architectural Pottery

By Architectural Pottery, Paul McCobb

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A matte white-glazed bisque planter designed in 1964 by Paul McCobb for Architectural Pottery. The model M-2 has a stark, angled design shape with no lip or decorative elements and a...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Paul McCobb Architectural Pottery Planter, 1960s

Sold

H 13.5 in W 22 in D 22 in

Paul McCobb Architectural Pottery Planter, 1960s

By Paul McCobb

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A nice California design. Made of bisque clay with a rare mat black glaze. Like an old Etruscan piece of pottery it shows minor wear consistent with age. It has a hair-line crack at ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Paul McCobb Planter for Architectural Pottery, 1960s

Sold

H 13.5 in W 18.5 in D 18.5 in

Paul McCobb Planter for Architectural Pottery, 1960s

By Paul McCobb

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A nice California design. Made of pottery with bisque colored glaze. It's stamped inside the centre "Architectural Pottery USA". Like an old Etruscan piece of pottery, it shows wa...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Paul McCobb Log or Magazine Holder, USA, 1950s

Sold

H 9.5 in W 20 in D 15.5 in

Paul McCobb Log or Magazine Holder, USA, 1950s

By Paul McCobb

Located in Norwalk, CT

Simple, strong design featuring a sturdy black iron framework with walnut legs. Brass caps and details. Very fine condition.

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Set of Four Rare Paul McCobb Wrought Iron Patio Dining Chairs

Sold

H 34 in W 20 in D 18 in

Set of Four Rare Paul McCobb Wrought Iron Patio Dining Chairs

By Paul McCobb

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Set of four, rare, Mid-Century modern, outdoor, patio, dining chairs feature matte black finish, wrought iron frames and newly upholstered seat cushions.

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

Wrought Iron with Polished Brass and Walnut Fireplace Tools by Paul McCobb

Sold

H 35 in Dm 13 in

Wrought Iron with Polished Brass and Walnut Fireplace Tools by Paul McCobb

By Paul McCobb

Located in Palm Springs, CA

This stunning fireplace set is newly re-plated polished brass with high gloss walnut handles and powder coated wrought iron. Designed by Paul Mcco...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Wrought Iron

Paul McCobb Dining Table

Sold

Paul McCobb Dining Table

By Paul McCobb

Located in Chicago, IL

Paul McCobb design manufactured by Arbuck circa 1953-1955 Overall dimensions as: 64” x 44” x 29”H.

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Paul Mccobb building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs.

Paul McCobb building and garden elements are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Paul McCobb building and garden elements, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original building and garden elements by Paul McCobb were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider building and garden elements by Curtis Jeré, Danny Ho Fong, and Kipp Stewart. Prices for Paul McCobb building and garden elements can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,850 and can go as high as $4,900, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,998.

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Questions About Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

How do I identify Paul McCobb furniture?
1 Answer
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.
How do I refinish Paul McCobb furniture?
1 Answer
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.
How can I sell Paul McCobb furniture?
1 Answer
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.
What type of wood finish did Paul McCobb use?
1 Answer
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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