Directional Seating
A brand known to vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors everywhere, Directional Furniture opened its doors after American furniture designer Paul McCobb created the high-end Directional Modern line of sofas distributed by the New York–based Modernage Company.
In his pivotal introduction of postwar modernism to the mass market, the revered Massachusetts-born McCobb had established several lines, from the affordable and refined Planner Group for Winchendon to the swooping and unexpected arms of the Symmetric Group for Widdicomb, a Shaker-inspired collection that included a sofa and a lounge chair. Like all of McCobb’s designs, the Directional pieces for Modernage are defined by a sleek aesthetic in which the focus is on elegant functionality, frequently using fine materials such as brass and walnut. In 1949, in partnership with New York furniture salesman B.G. Mesberg, McCobb set up the Directional Furniture Company.
The pair’s first pieces were upholstered chairs, intended to harmonize with the modular Multiplex pieces designed by Martin Feinman. McCobb then designed an array of furniture including storage, dining, seating, desks and other pieces with details such as leather tops, wood finishes and Roman Travertine surfaces. While Directional stopped production of McCobb’s work in the early 1960s, it still released numerous pieces by leading designers manufactured by a variety of companies.
Designer Paul Evans led the factory for a time after joining in 1964. His provocative work for the company often reflected his understanding of materials from his early training as a silversmith, such as the popular Cityscape series — a milestone in brutalist design — with its blocky forms accented with brass and chrome. At his shop in Lambertville, New Jersey, he collaborated with a design team to clad furniture pieces in metallic surfaces, like the Argente line that began production in 1968 and involved an acetylene torch to give its aluminum material a textural quality. He also worked on the Sculpted Bronze series with hand-formed resin shaped over plywood or steel that was then coated with atomized bronze.
Other Directional designers included Vladimir Kagan, who contributed biomorphic sofas and swivel chairs; Milo Baughman, who created tables and dressers inspired by Scandinavian modernism; and Jack Lenor Larsen, who covered sofas in dynamically patterned fabric.
Find authentic Directional Furniture seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets from top sellers around the world on 1stDibs.
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Bouclé
1960s Vintage Directional Seating
Upholstery
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Upholstery, Bouclé
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Upholstery, Mahogany
1990s American Post-Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé, Upholstery
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Upholstery, Lucite
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé
1950s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Brass
1990s North American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Mohair, Oak
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Brass
Late 20th Century American Modern Directional Seating
Metal
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Lucite, Wood
1990s North American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
1980s American Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Fabric, Foam
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Bronze, Steel
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Ultrasuede, Acrylic
1990s Post-Modern Directional Seating
Fabric
1970s American Vintage Directional Seating
Fabric, Lucite
1980s American Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Ultrasuede, Lucite
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé
1990s American Modern Directional Seating
Brass
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Upholstery, Mohair
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Bouclé, Upholstery
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Fabric
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Upholstery, Wood, Walnut, Cane
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Upholstery, Bouclé
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Velvet
1990s American Post-Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Fabric, Mahogany
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Upholstery
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Brass
1970s Vintage Directional Seating
Leather
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Fabric, Wood
1970s Vintage Directional Seating
Bouclé
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Lucite, Wood, Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Upholstery
1990s American Post-Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé, Upholstery
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Velvet, Wood
1980s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Upholstery
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Fabric
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé
1990s American Post-Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Upholstery
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé, Walnut
1990s Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Bronze, Steel
20th Century Post-Modern Directional Seating
Upholstery
1980s American Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Bouclé, Lucite
Early 2000s Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé
1990s American Post-Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé, Upholstery
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Chenille
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Lucite, Wood, Textile
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Directional Seating
Upholstery
1990s American Post-Modern Directional Seating
Bouclé
20th Century American Post-Modern Directional Seating
Textile
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Seating
Upholstery, Wood