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.
Paul McCobb for Bryce Originals Mirror and Shelf Wrought Iron & Milk Glass 1950s
By Paul McCobb, Bryce Originals
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed by Paul McCobb, mirror and shelf was produced by Bryce Originals, one of the earliest partners that McCobb worked with. A designer with an enormous portfolio, this piece rep...
Wrought Iron
$2,550Sale Price / set|40% Off
Pair of Superb Midcentury Paul McCobb H. Sacks Solid Walnut Wall Mirrors
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., H Sacks & Sons, Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare Matching pair of midcentury Paul McCobb for H. Sacks and Sons walnut wall mirrors #8075 are in wonderful condition. Super simple design 18" x 42" about 1.5" deep. Paul McCobb, 1...
Mirror, Walnut
$1,500Sale Price|25% Off
Mid century Paul McCobb Planner Group Solid maple narrow Wall Mirror
By Winchendon, Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare Mid century Paul McCobb Planner Group maple wall mirror in wonderful condition. Super simple design 18" x 42" about 1.5" deep. Paul McCobb, 1955. Very good vintage condition in ...
Mirror, Maple
Clean-Lined "x" Mirror by Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in Atlanta, GA
Clean lined "X" Mirror, designed by Paul McCobb, circa 1950s. Please take a look at our Paul McCobb console tables, chests, or dressers listed on 1stdibs that would look great with t...
Brass
Paul McCobb for Bryce Originals Wall Mounted Mirror Console, Circa 1950s
By Paul McCobb, Bryce Originals
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Paul McCobb for Bryce Originals Wall-Mounted Mirror Console, Circa 1950s A rare and refined Mid-Century Modern wall-mounted mirror console designed by Paul McCobb for Bryce Original...
Metal
Paul McCobb Wall Mounted Mirror With Shelf For Bryce Originals
By Paul McCobb
Located in Doraville, GA
A wall hung mirror / shelf designed by Paul McCobb for Bryce Originals in 1953. Paul McCobbs designs for Bryce Originals are quite hard to find, thi...
Iron
1950s Paul McCobb for Calvin Linear Group Wall Mirror Walnut & Aluminum 34"x36"
By Paul McCobb, Calvin Furniture
Located in Philadelphia, PA
US made and designed by Paul McCobb, this mirror pairs excellently with the rest of Calvin Furniture's 'Linear Group' line. With a simple walnut frame accented by 90 degree machine c...
Aluminum
Paul McCobb, Wall Mirror, Brass, USA, 1950s
By Calvin Furniture, Paul McCobb
Located in High Point, NC
A brass wall mirror designed by Paul McCobb and produced by Calvin, USA, c. 1950s. Dimensions: 54.4” H x 20.375” W x 2.25” D Does not include mounting hardware. All items ship fro...
Brass
Paul McCobb Brass Framed Mirror by Bryce Originals
By Paul McCobb, Bryce Originals
Located in Hanover, MA
Super high quality and heavy wall mirror designed by Paul McCobb and produced by Bryce Originals in 1953. Can be hanged horizontally or vertically but currently wired for vertical. 6...
Brass
Paul McCobb Brass x Wall Mirror
By Paul McCobb
Located in Chicago, IL
PAUL MCCOBB Brass X Mirror. Brass Pegs at each corner to suspend the mirror off the wall. Large brass X form on front of mirror. Decorative yet not detracting from the function the m...
Brass
$2,257Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.54 in W 16.54 in D 1.58 in
Sunburst Mirror in Gilt Wrought Iron, Spain 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish Sunburst Mirror in Gold Leaf Gilt Wrought Iron Mid-Century Modern wrought iron sunburst round wall mirror in gilt iron, Spain, 1950s. This sunburst mirror features a ring fra...
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Brutalist Mirror by Lane Furniture "Staccato" Line 1970's
By Lane Furniture
Located in Fulton, CA
Lane Furniture "Staccato" wall or dresser mirror. Excellent original condition and finish. Original brackets to mount to dresser base available upon request.
Glass, Wood
$1,765Sale Price|20% Off
H 35.04 in W 19.89 in D 0.99 in
Vintage Italian Wall Mirror with Brass Frame (circa 1950s)
Located in London, GB
Mid-century Italian wall mirror with brass frame (circa 1950s). The mirror is classically-shaped and distinctive in a Modern style. It is in good overall condition considering the pr...
Brass
$2,758 / set
H 36.62 in W 28.75 in D 1.26 in
Matching Pair of Midcentury Burr Walnut & Gold Plated Renato Zevi Wall Mirrors
By Renato Zevi
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale stunning pair of Mid-Century Modern Rento Zevi Burr Walnut with gold plating wall mirrors A very good looking highly decorative and collectable pair of mirrors. Zevi’s work has an almost cult like following, you will see a thousand different bookcases and coffee tables but a single wall mirror never comes up for sale and a pair is unheard of Each mirror has the original Renato Zevi label and one is additionally stamped made in Italy, the burr walnut frames...
Mirror, Burl
$3,900 / set
H 40 in W 48 in D 12 in
Mid Century Paul Evans Wall Mirror & Console Table Shelf in Brass & Chrome
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredible design combination, a cityscape wall shelf and mirror designed by Paul Evans in the 1970's. The set features fine heavy construction with brass & chrome clad patchwork ...
Brass, Chrome
Italian Brass Wall Mirror, 1950s
Located in NUEMBRECHT, NRW
This beautiful Hollywood Regency style wall mirror was designed and manufactured in Italy in the late 1940s to early 1950s. It features a solid brass shield shaped frame and mirror g...
Brass
$2,220 / set
H 42.75 in W 20 in D 1.5 in
Mid-Century Modern American of Martinsville Walnut Wall Mirror, a Pair
By American of Martinsville
Located in Plainview, NY
Mid-Century Modern American of Martinsville Walnut Wall Mirror, a Pair A quality pair of Mid-Century Modern walnut mirrors by the iconic American furniture maker American of Martins...
Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirror
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage wall mirror with walnut frame. Made in the 1960s with a stylish curved frame around mirrored glass. Please confirm location NY or NJ
Mirror, Walnut
Black Deco Skyscraper Style Wall Mirror With Shelf
By Kartell, Karl Springer
Located in Bensalem, PA
Amazing black lacquered art deco style mirror feel free to reach out with any questions
Mirror, Lacquer
$3,641Sale Price|20% Off
H 34.65 in W 21.26 in D 2.37 in
Foliage Floral Oval Mirror in Gilt Wrought Iron, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Foliage Floral Oval Mirror in Gilt Silvered Hand Forged Iron, Spain, 1950s. Hand wrought iron oval sunburst wall mirror with foliage frame , patinated gilt-silver finish and floral a...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
$2,545Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.38 in W 22.84 in D 1.97 in
Brutalist Oval Sunburst Mirror in Gilt Wrought Iron, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Gilt Oval Eyelash Mirror in Wrought Iron Wrought Iron Oval Sunburst Mirror with Scroll Ended Rays and Brutalist Design, France, 1950-1960. Eye-catching hand forged sunburst iron mirr...
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron
$999Sale Price|63% Off
H 29.93 in W 21.66 in D 2.76 in
Gio Ponti-style brass wall-mounted Scudo mirror, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Palermo, IT
This mirror embodies the elegance and innovative spirit of 1950s Italian design, with clear inspiration from the iconic work of Gio Ponti. Its distinctive shape, vaguely shield-like ...
Brass
Sold
H 36 in W 34 in D 1.5 in
Newly Refinished - Mid-Century Modern “Linear Group” Mirror by Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb, Calvin Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
With over 15 years of experience, our workshop has followed a careful process of restoration, showcasing our passion and creativity for vintage designs that can seamlessly be incorpo...
Steel
Paul McCobb for Directional Brass Framed Wall Mirror, 1950s
By Directional, Calvin Furniture, Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
A sleek and stylish Mid-Century Modern Hollywood Regency brass framed wall mirror By Paul McCobb for Directional and produced by Calvin Furniture USA, 1950s Measures: 20.25"...
Brass
Pair of Midcentury Paul McCobb H. Sacks Solid Walnut Wall Mirrors
By H Sacks & Sons, Widdicomb Furniture Co., Paul McCobb
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
This rare pair of midcentury Paul McCobb for H. Sacks and sons walnut mirrors #8075 are in wonderful condition. Super simple design 18" x 42" about 1.5" deep. Paul McCobb, 1965. I ha...
Aluminum
Sold
H 35 in W 23 in D 1.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Rectangular Wood Wall Mirror by Paul McCobb Winchendon, 1960s
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a simple, rectangle shaped, wood wall mirror by Paul McCobb for Winchendon, circa 1960s. In very good vintage condition. The dimensions are 23" W x 1.5" D x...
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Mirror Welded Iron
By Paul McCobb
Located in Toledo, OH
Mid-Century Modern welded iron framed mirror by Paul McCobb. Very good condition. Dimensions: 1" depth x 12" W x 54" H.
Iron
Sold
H 36 in W 34 in D 1.5 in
Midcentury Paul McCobb Calvin Solid Walnut with Aluminum trim Wall Mirror
By Calvin Furniture, Paul McCobb
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
This rare midcentury Paul McCobb for Calvin walnut and Aluminum mirror is in wonderful condition. Super simple design 34" x 36" about 1.5" deep. Labeled on back. Paul McCobb, 1957. ...
Aluminum
Paul McCobb for Planner Group Mirror - Mid Century Modern
By Paul McCobb
Located in Newfoundland, PA
Sleek Planner Group mirror by Paul McCobb. A wonderful addition to your Mid-Century Modern decor. Be sure to check our storefront for many more decorating ideas, from primitives, Mac...
Mirror, Maple
Midcentury Large Solid Walnut Floor or Wall Mirror by Drexel
By Paul McCobb
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Large solid walnut mirror - Can be used as a full length floor mirror or wall Mirror. Beautiful frame. Mirror measures 57" H x 32" W Labeled Drexel.
Mirror, Walnut
Midcentury Monumental Delineator Mirror by Paul Mccobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration is this wonderful Paul Mccobb mirror. Featuring three mirrored sections framed in walnut with exposed box joint corners.
Mirror, Wood
Sold
H 34 in W 36 in D 1.5 in
Paul McCobb for Calvin Linear Group Midcentury Walnut and Aluminum Wall Mirror
By Paul McCobb, Calvin Furniture
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern wall mirror designed by Paul McCobb for his Linear Group line for Calvin Furniture. The mirror features a heavy walnut frame with aluminum trim. Can be ...
Aluminum
Midcentury Paul McCobb blonde Maple Wall Mirror
By Paul McCobb
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
This rare midcentury Paul McCobb mirror is in wonderful condition. Super simple design 35" x 33" about 2" deep. Labeled on back. Winchendon, Mass Pl...
Maple
Unusual Mirror by Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An unusual Paul McCobb mirror in walnut and aluminum from the Calvin collection. Measures approximately 34x36" it can be vertical or horizontal. Hea...
Brass