It’s universally known as the Origami chair — a moniker that references the long tradition of delicate paper-folding art that was popularized in Japan. Originally, however, the intent was to create seating that was exceptionally strong.
Promoted under its official name in a Directional Furniture brochure as sturdy enough for “extraordinary conditions” and “eminently suited to hard wear,” the Faceted Form chair in 1959 was the creation of Paul McCobb (1917–69), one of America’s most prolific mid-century modern designers.
A repeat recipient of the Good Design Award from the Museum of Modern Art, McCobb studied drawing and painting at the Vesper George School of Art in Boston, the city in which he was raised. McCobb designed retail displays, worked in interior design and then founded Paul McCobb Associates in 1945 in New York City, where he conceived of designs that modernized classic Shaker ideas such as simplicity, functionality, form and proportion.
McCobb popularized modular furniture and created sculptural forms with elements such as slender, splayed legs on tables and chairs. Details like these are prominent in the refined and affordable collection for which he is likely best known — the Planner Group (1950).
The openly geometric Faceted Form chair is indicative of McCobb’s late-career exploration of new materials and industrial design. With its fiberglass-reinforced plastic shell set atop a base of tapered enameled tube steel, the chair is one of his most acclaimed designs. While it is no longer in production, it was originally available in multiple colors, and variations included an armchair, a swivel chair and more.
Sculptural and strong, McCobb’s Faceted Form chair has been an example for generations of furniture makers that have followed in the decades since.
Fiberglass Origami Chair by Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare design by Paul McCobb (American, 1917-1969) for St. John, circa 1950s, this all original Origami Chair if made of a light blue fiberglass seat and...
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
$7,815 / set
Paul McCobb, set of 6 refined oak chairs.
By Paul McCobb
Located in Milano, IT
COD-2432 Paul McCobb Set of 6 refined oak chairs. Uk manufacture, 1950's.
Oak
$2,880Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 32 in W 19 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Paul McCobb Planner Group Dining Chairs Maple Spindle Back Chairs
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of 6 All original midcentury maple Paul McCobb Planner Group spindle back side chairs. Solid maple seat and curved back on tapered legs. Original vintage condition. Original blon...
Maple
Paul McCobb Designed Shovel Chair for Wichendon
By Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of iconic side or desk chairs by Paul McCobb for Winchendon. Reffered to as The Shovel Chair because of the wide sculpted maple seat. The maple back is made of twelve matching c...
Metal
$4,500 / set
H 29.13 in W 53 in D 25.63 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Black and White Lacquer Double Pedestal Desk and Chair
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern double pedestal executive writing desk and spindle back chair By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group" USA, 1950s Solid bla...
Brass
$3,350 / set
H 30 in W 20 in D 16 in
Vintage MCM Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, Dining Chairs, Set of 4
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fantastic set of vintage 4 MCM dining chairs. Designed by the legendary Paul McCobb, a Midcentury giant. Gorgeous spindle back with the coveted inlay screw on each seat. Acquired fro...
Wood
$2,550Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 42 in W 18 in D 1.5 in
Pair of Superb Midcentury Paul McCobb H. Sacks Solid Walnut Wall Mirrors
By H Sacks & Sons, Paul McCobb, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
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
$3,900 / set
H 40 in W 48 in D 12 in
Mid Century Paul Evans Cityscape Wall Mirror & Console Table Shelf in Chrome
By Directional, Paul Evans
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 chrome clad patchwork design. ...
Chrome
"Box Chair" by Pierre Jeanneret, circa 1960
By Pierre Jeanneret
Located in London, GB
Authentic Chandigarh 'Box' chair in teak, circa 1960. PJ-SI-54-A. Made in richly coloured teak, lightly restored and re-caned to retain as much of the chair’s original patina as p...
Cane, Teak
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 Evans Cityscape Mirror and Wall Mounted Console Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Cityscape" model mirror and wall mounted console table, designed by Paul Evans, American, circa 1960s. The mirror measures 24"H x 24"W x 3"D. The console measures 48"W x 12"D x 8"H.
Metal
$3,900 / set
H 40 in W 48 in D 12 in
Mid Century Paul Evans Cityscape Wall Mirror & Console Table Shelf in Brass
By Directional, Paul Evans
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 clad patchwork design. I...
Brass
Paul Evans Brutalist Mirror and Shelf
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Wall-mount shelf with slate top, and matching Brutalist metal clad mirror. Iconic design from the master of Brutalism, Paul Evans. Great original condition, ready to install. The mir...
Slate, Metal
$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
Paul McCobb Cigarette Side Table for Directional
By Paul McCobb
Located in San Francisco, CA
Paul McCobb design "Cigarette" side table for Directional, Model 1094. Sophisticated looking tripod brass frame with a vitrolite top, perfect for drinks etc. Iconic Mid-Century moder...
Brass
Vintage Paul McCobb set of Four Fiberglass Origami Gray Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Rare and wonderful 1950s set of four stackable fiberglass gray chairs know as Origami Chairs. Designed by Paul McCobb for St John Seating Corporation, USA.. McCobb designed these mol...
Metal
Paul McCobb Origami Armchair on Spider Base
By Paul McCobb
Located in Dronten, NL
1960s vintage white molded fiberglass Origami arm shell chair designed by Paul McCobb on a very scarce spider base. A stunning example of this rarely seen combo. The faceted chair...
Steel
A Paul McCobb Faceted Origami Chair on Spider Base, circa 1960
By Paul McCobb
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed in 1959 as the faceted form chair, Paul McCobb’s fiberglass seating has become known as the Origami Chair, its molded facets reminiscen...
Metal
Sold
H 18.5 in W 41 in D 41 in
Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Creamy Beige Suede Round Lounge Stool Bench
By Paul McCobb
Located in Monrovia, CA
Mid-Century Modern 1960s Paul Mccobb large round lounge with chrome x base. This piece is also described as a large Paul McCobb round upholstered bench...
Metal
Paul McCobb Origami Ivori Desk Patio Chair Model 61
By Paul McCobb
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful elegant classic origami chair lightly used great color and condition, designed by Paul McCobb.
Metal
Sold
H 33.5 in W 24 in D 23.5 in
Iconic and Rare Origami Fiberglass Chair with Spider Leg Base by Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in Bernville, PA
Rarely seen and spectacular example of a 1960’s Vintage Paul McCobb fiberglass arm chair with spider base. Made by the St. John Seating Company New Y...
Steel
Sold
H 32.5 in W 21 in D 22.5 in
Paul McCobb Faceted Form Origami Yellow Fiberglass Dining Chairs, S/6 by St John
By Paul McCobb
Located in Grand Rapids, MI
USA, 1960s A matched set of six Paul McCobb faceted form or 'Origami' dining chairs in lemon yellow fiberglass. Hard to find a matched set of six in this style. Made by St. John Seating Corporation of New York. Model #061 Side Chair. CONDITION NOTES: In very good condition with some oxidation to bases and rust on chair glides...
Metal
Sold
H 32 in W 21 in D 22 in
Paul McCobb Mid-Century Modern Fiberglass Origami Chair on Spider Base, 1950s
By Paul McCobb
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mid-Century Modern molded fiberglass "origami" chair on rare spider base By Paul McCobb for St. John Seating Corporation. USA, 1950s. Measures: 21"W x 22"D x 32"H...
Steel
Sold
H 32 in W 21 in D 23 in
Four Paul McCobb Cream Fiberglass & Steel Origami Space Age Chairs St. John N.Y
By Paul McCobb
Located in Toledo, OH
Four cream Paul Mc Cobb Fiberglass with reinforced plastic and brushed steel Origami Space Age chairs by St. John Seating Corp. New York. 21" wide x 32" high x 23" deep.
Fiberglass
Sold
H 32.29 in W 21.26 in D 22.84 in
Paul McCobb Yellow Origami Side Chair on Rare Solid Base, USA, 1950s
By Paul McCobb, St. John
Located in Berlin, DE
A 1950s yellow Paul McCobb Origami chair for St. John seating. The fiberglass seat is molded at angles, reminiscent of the Japanese origami t...
Iron
