Paul McCobb Tables
You could call Paul McCobb a man of parts. As a furniture designer, his work combined the attributes of many of his now better-known peers. Like 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 beside 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 also designed cohesive lines of furnishings, such as his best-known Planner Group, that gave homes an instant “look.” McCobb designed for several companies, most notably Directional, the New York firm that also produced designs by other legends, such as Paul Evans and Vladimir Kagan.
The signal aesthetic attribute of McCobb designs is that he completely forsook ornament — his pieces have no flourishes. And yet, because they are honest — the chairs, desks and 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 — McCobb’s mid-century modern work has warmth and presence.
As you can see from the offerings on 1stDibs, vintage Paul McCobb designs are the pin-striped suit, or the little black dress, of a décor: an essential.
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Iron
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Nickel
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Maple
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Maple
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Steel
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Aluminum
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Mahogany, Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Steel
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Leather, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Aluminum
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Travertine, Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Steel
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Steel
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Metal, Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1950s American Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Stone, Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Birch
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Nickel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Maple
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Aluminum
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Iron
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Mahogany, Vitrolite
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1950s North American Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Milk Glass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Maple
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Iron
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Steel
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Tables
Wrought Iron
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Chrome
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Metal
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Tables
Iron
Paul Mccobb tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Paul McCobb
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022You 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, 2022To 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, 2022The 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, 2022In 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.