Directional Shelves
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.
3
to
3
3
3
3
2
3
1
2
2
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
3
3
2
1
1
3
3
168
80
76
63
41
Creator: Directional
Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze Wall-Mounted Shelving Unit, First Year of Production
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Dallas, TX
Paul Evans 'Sculpted Bronze Series' wall unit acquired from the original owner who acquired it from the Directional showroom in NYC. This unit is signed PE and is dated from the very first year of production, 1969. It is in very good original condition with bronze glass shelves...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Brutalist Directional Shelves
Materials
Bronze
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...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass
Mid Century Paul Evans Cityscape Floating Shelf or Console Table Glass & Brass
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredible design, a cityscape wall shelf designed by Paul Evans in the 1970's. The set features fine heavy construction with brass clad patchwork design. Includes two L shaped wa...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass
Related Items
William Watting for Fristho Wall Unit, the Netherlands 1950's
By William Watting, Fristho
Located in Amsterdam, NL
High quality wooden wall unit with brass hooks. Three cabinets and seven shelves.
7 x shelves: x cm
1x cabinet glass doors: cm (LxDxH)
1 x des...
Category
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass
Fantastic Paul Evans Brutalist Goop Wall Console Table Mid-Century Modern
By Paul Evans
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Fantastic Paul Evan sculpted goop brutalist wall console table with honed slate top. This piece is signed PE 69. It measure 6"t x 60"l x 14"d
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Slate
Set Paul Evans for Directional Chrome Brass Cityscape Shelf Brackets Console
By Paul Evans
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Stunning set signed Paul Evans for Directional shelf brackets or console tables. The glass is not pictured but is included and is 12" w x 48" l and is brand new. This set is truly fa...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Multicolored Wall Unit by Tjerk Rijenga for Pilastro, the Netherlands 1960's
By Pilastro, Tjerk Reijenga
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This is a great composition of different elements in a Pilastro wall unit. A diverse collection of different parts selected to make a complete unit ...
Category
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Metal
H 29.53 in W 113 in D 10.83 in
Metal Wall Mounted Shelving Unit by NVF, the Netherlands 1960's
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This stunning metal shelving unit was made by the Dutch manufacturer NVF in the 1960's. It is made out of 2 grey lacquered metal wall fixtures and 3 adjustable metal shelves in red, ...
Category
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Metal
Paul Evans Cityscape Game, Side Table
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Nice signed example from the Cityscape series by Paul Evans for Directional. Hard to find form, usable as a game, side, or occasional table. This table is in good, original condition...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Paul Evans Console for Directional Brutalist Sculpted Bronze & Glass Wall Mount
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Dallas, TX
1960s sculpted bronze wall mount console designed by Paul Evans and produced by Directional. New glass top. Original wall mount brackets.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Brutalist Directional Shelves
Materials
Steel
H 27 in W 48 in D 12 in
Paul Evans Console with Mirror, Mid Century Modern, 1978, Hollywood Regency
By Paul Evans
Located in Stamford, CT
Paul Evans console and mirror, Mid-Century Modern. A rare model PE 881 marquetry inlaid mirror and console by Paul Evans. Purchased from Paul E...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Boxwood
John Stuart Burlwood and Glass Wall Unit
By West Michigan Furniture Co., John Stuart
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This striking Mid-Century Modern metal, glass, and burl wood wall unit makes an impressive vintage modern storage and display unit for home or showroom interior. Rich vintage burl wo...
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Shelves
Materials
Metal
Wall Unit in Elmwood by Poul Cadovius for Royal System, Denmark, 1950s
By Poul Cadovius, Royal System
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Black wooden risers and elmwood veneer book shelves and cabinet with black metal hooks.
This wall unit consist of:
2 x shelf 80 x 20 cm
1 x shelf 80 ...
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Metal
Italian Baroque Wooden Carved Painted Wall Mounted Console Table Shelf
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful 1960s Italian Baroque Rococo Revival wall console table or shelf painted in marble decorated effect and carved cliassic figures, perfe...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Revival Directional Shelves
Materials
Wood
H 21.66 in W 27.56 in D 12.6 in
Danish Mid Century Wall Unit with 8 Shelves, circa 1950 - 1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in New York, NY
Chic architectural wall unit having eight shelves, 5 smaller ( 36 W x 10 D inches ) and 2 wider ( 48 W x 10 D inches ). The shelves rest in metal brackets, which attach to the vertic...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Directional Shelves
Materials
Metal
Previously Available Items
Paul Evans for Directional Chrome and Glass Floating Shelves or Console Tables
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare pair of mid-century modern floating wall shelves or console tables
By Paul Evans for Directional, "Cityscape" Collection
USA, 1970s
...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Chrome
H 8.5 in W 48 in D 12 in
'UMBO' Modular Shelving System by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1972
By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare shelving system is the 'UMBO' system designed in the early 1970s by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, and was first published in New York magazine on September 25, 1972. This monumental example in a beautiful brown color with a total of 53 elements, detailed below.
Constructed from Uniroyal ABS, a product which is durable, nontoxic, and more heat-resistant than wood which was also used to make telephones at that time. Was offered in white, tangerine and brown - this set is in the brown color option. The color was sprayed on in the factory and should not chip off under normal use. The modular system allows to create different types of furniture such as console or coffee tables, bench, bookcase, room dividers, sofa tables, cocktail tables, side or end tables, nightstands or bedside tables, cafe and breakfast or dining tables and more.
Produced only for a short time from 1972 to around 1974, due to the ensuing energy crisis of 1973 which marked the end of the era of cheap gasoline and, therefore, plastics causing UMBO to go out of production in 1974 making these examples extremely rare and sought after by collectors. Finding a set this large is much more rare.
This wall system became a huge hit for Directional who produced a wide variety of modules and since UMBO was fully modular, it could be arranged and re-arranged at any time into fun and creative solutions and uses for your home. UMBO was even available with a desk, dining table, bed frame or wall shelves module which made it perfect for small apartments such as those in Los Angeles and New York. The particular configuration seen in our photos was put together by our photographer just as an example of how it can be configured but it can be rearranged, expanded or divided to your liking.
Kay Leroy Ruggles was a pioneer of inventions and lifelong entrepreneur with a highly successful career winning many awards and holding numerous patents in which he designed and developed over 100 products in a wide range of industries, including automobile, space, furniture, window coverings, amusement park and musical instruments, for example he created the tubular water slide and when Richard Nixon wanted a new bathroom for Air Force One, that job went to Ruggles. Later, Hugh Hefner had custom-designed rooms by Ruggles and so did Ted Kennedy and Disney World.
Consider this original UMBO bookcase...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Plastic
Mid Century Paul Evans Wall Mirror & Console Table Shelf in Brass & 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 brass & chrome clad patchwork ...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Corner Shelving Unit, Directional, Ivory Cream, 1972
By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo corner shelving unit, directional, ivory cream, 1972
UMBO was published in New York magazine on September 25, 1972 and be...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Shelves
Materials
Plastic
Paul Evans Cityscape Mirror with Floating Console for Directional
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul Evans cityscape mirror with floating console or vanity. Chrome frame in original condition with some frame wear and scratching. Vanity...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Chrome
1973 Paul Evans Brutalist Sculpted Bronze Wall Shelving Unit
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brutalist wall unit by Paul Evans Studio for Directional USA, 1970's. Bronzed resin over wood with 8 smoked glass shelves. Signed PE 73. Each shelf...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Resin, Smoked Glass, Wood
Paul Evans Cityscape Wall Mounted Console Table / Shelf
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
A 72" Paul Evans brushed steel cityscape wall mounted console table / wall shelf. From the "Cityscape" series by Paul Evans for Directional Furniture, circa 1970s. Brushed steel patc...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Floating Paul Evans for Directional Metal Patchwork Console with Slate Shelf
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Hudson, NY
Paul Evans patchwork metal shelf with slate.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Shelves
Materials
Slate, Metal, Brass, Bronze
H 6.5 in W 60.25 in D 13 in
Signed Cityscape Wall Hanging Console by Paul Evans for Directional
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Utrecht, NL
Console from Cityscape series by Paul Evans for Directional Furniture. Consisting of two chromed panelled wall-mounted brackets with a floating glass top.
Signed, Paul Evans signatu...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Chrome
Midcentury Pop Art Plastic Umbo Shelves by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional
By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A hard to find set in the most desirable color. This Umbo set is a modular system designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional Furniture. It comes with all of the pieces shown with ...
Category
1970s American Space Age Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Plastic
Paul Evans Chrome Cityscape Wall Shelving System
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
***SOLD AS-IS. The glass shelf above the rosewood desk has accidentally fallen and broken. This glass shelf will need to be replaced. Some damaged was incurred to the rosewood top...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Chrome
Signed Cityscape Wall Hanging Console by Paul Evans for Directional
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Utrecht, NL
Console from Cityscape series by Paul Evans for Directional Furniture. Consisting of two chromed panelled wall-mounted brackets with a floating glass top.
Signed, Paul Evans signat...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Chrome
Directional shelves for sale on 1stDibs.
Directional shelves are available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider shelves by Edward Wormley, Dunbar, and Herman Miller.
Creators Similar to Directional
Questions About Directional Shelves
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021While a pear-shaped ring can be worn either way, most commonly it is worn with the tip of the diamond facing upwards to look like a falling teardrop when the hand is raised. This also helps create the impression of longer fingers.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Directional Furniture
Directional Credenzas
Directional Cabinets
Directional Sideboards
Directional Dressers
Directional Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Directional Seating
Directional Tables
Directional Mirrors
Directional Lighting
Directional Wall Decorations
Directional Decorative Objects
Directional Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass