Skip to main content

Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

American, 1917-1969

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.

5
to
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
Height
to
Width
to
3
2
2
5
5
541
432
183
166
163
Creator: Paul McCobb
Architectural Pottery M-2 Planter by Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb, Architectural Pottery
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Exceptional ceramic planter model “M-2” designed by Paul McCobb for Architectural Pottery in the United States, circa 1960s. This planter has a shape that starts from a narrow neck a...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Paul McCobb M-3 Brown Ceramic Glaze Planter for Architectural Pottery
By Architectural Pottery, Paul McCobb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul McCobb M-3 brown ceramic glaze planter for Architectural Pottery.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Paul McCobb M-3 Brown Ceramic Glaze for Architectural Pottery
By Paul McCobb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul McCobb M-3 brown ceramic glaze for architectural pottery.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Modern Paul McCobb Arbuck Black Wrought Iron Hairpin Chair 1950s
By Arbuck, Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Paul McCobb for Arbuck Inc of Brooklyn, NY. Black wrought iron hairpin chair, c. 1951, minimal modern lines. 6 available. Priced per chair. Stackable. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Paul McCobb Arbuck Wrought Iron Hairpin Chairs Set, 1950s, Indoor Outdoor Patio
By Arbuck, Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Paul McCobb Arbuck wrought iron hairpin chairs set, 1950s, indoor outdoor patio. Paul McCobb for Arbuck Inc of Brooklyn, NY. Black wrought iron hairpin ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Related Items
Vintage Wrought Iron Outdoor Patio Chairs Set of 6
By Russell Woodard, Salterini, Meadowcraft
Located in Cumberland, RI
Available now for your enjoyment and ready to ship is a Set of 6 Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Chairs including an Outdoor Patio Rocker ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

Set of Four Wrought Iron Garden Patio Dining Chars Orleans for Woodard 1950/1960
By Woodard Furniture Co.
Located in New York, NY
Set of four Woodard Orleans pattern dining arm chairs. The chairs are structurally sound and sturdy, the paint finish shows wear and variations through...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

Set of Eight Blackened, Wrought Iron, Tall "Royal" Dining Chairs
Located in Chicago, IL
Set of eight custom designed blackened wrought iron dining chairs. Set consists of "king" and "queen" chairs and six "knights" chairs. The seats are covered in a Romanesque print cot...
Category

1970s American Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

Mid-Century Architectural Pottery "Double Cone" Planter by LaGardo Tackett
By Lagardo Tackett, Architectural Pottery
Located in St. Louis, MO
Mid-Century Modern Architectural Pottery sculptural "Double Cone" Planter by LaGardo Tackett , rarely seen double cone version with wider base than top in a white glaze. Provenance 1960s MCM building of the Odd Fellows Association Hall - St. Louis. It was used with sand for an ashtray , seen in photos 5 & 6. The 1960s MCM modification to an existing building was designed by architect William E. Duncan and demolished in the summer of 2020. Duncan not only selected these planters , the entire hall, had Saarinen , Eames, Nelson, Howard Miller and Nessen designs. The condition is good, only with minor scuffs, no chips and light staining to interior as seen in photos. Stamped Architectural Pottery made in the USA. When the planter is on its side, it reminds me of the famous brass drawer pull on Paul McCobb designed furniture. Building & Rendering Odd Fellows Association Hall at 3765 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis Mo. designed by William E. Duncan and Associate Architect Lawrence H. Smith , Delineation by Harry A, Osborn Demolished in 2020 If your into Architecture, Search for this MCM church...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Clay

Marilyn Kay Austin Small Architectural Pottery Planter or Catch-All
By Marilyn Kay Austin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare California design. Geometric form + function. Ceramic with a nice azure blue glaze. One small nick on the edge. No cracks or drain hole. Great for indoors with a nice plant or...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Clay

Garden Chair in Wrought Iron. Indoor & Outdoor
Located in Miami, FL
Garden chairs in wrought iron for indoor or outdoor You must indicate if you want the product with the special treatment for outdoor. PRI...
Category

2010s Spanish Country Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

Garden Chair in Wrought Iron. Indoor & Outdoor
Garden Chair in Wrought Iron. Indoor & Outdoor
H 33.46 in W 22.44 in D 20.47 in
French 1950s Iron Fretwork Patio Set
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Elegant iron patio set comprising a console, a coffee table, two chairs, a settee and two curule stools. The set presents delicate fretwork and hammered iron, and is painted in its o...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Stone, Wrought Iron

French 1950s Iron Fretwork Patio Set
French 1950s Iron Fretwork Patio Set
H 34.65 in W 77.96 in D 16.54 in
Garden Chairs in Wrought Iron. Indoor & Outdoor
Located in Miami, FL
Garden chairs in wrought iron. PRICE PER ITEM Indoor & Outdoor
Category

2010s Spanish Country Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

New Chair in Wrought Iron with Wooden Back, Indoor and Outdoor
Located in Miami, FL
Garden chairs in wrought iron for indoor or outdoor You must indicate if you want the product with the special treatment for outdoor. P...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

Garden Chairs in Brown Wrought Iron. Indoor & Outdoor
Located in Miami, FL
Garden chairs in brown wrought iron. Indoor & Outdoor
Category

2010s Spanish Country Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

John Follis Architectural Pottery Planter CP-17 in White Glaze
By John Follis, Architectural Pottery
Located in San Francisco, CA
Ceramic planter by Architectural Pottery designed by John Follis model CP-17 or "The Tire" called by some. Rounded cylinder form with a bottom edge going into a taper for the base, t...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

New Chair in Wrought Iron with Wooden Back, Indoor and Outdoor
Located in Miami, FL
Garden chairs in wrought iron for indoor or outdoor You must indicate if you want the product with the special treatment for outdoor. Price per item Paint: Color Epoxi paint ...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

Previously Available Items
Set of 4 Paul McCobb Pavilion Iron Dining Chairs, circa 1955
By Paul McCobb
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Set of 4 Paul McCobb Pavilion iron dining chairs, circa 1955. Professionally restored with new black powdercoat to the iron frames and new cushion...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Paul McCobb Pavilion Collection Set of Four Patio Chairs with Table, circa 1950s
By Arbuck, Paul McCobb
Located in Essex, MA
A Paul McCobb designed Pavilion Garden Furniture collection set of patio furniture, comprising a white milk glass table and four chairs in black...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

Paul McCobb M-2 Planter for Architectural Pottery
By Architectural Pottery, Paul McCobb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A matte white-glazed bisque planter designed in 1964 by Paul McCobb for Architectural Pottery. The model M-2 has a stark, angled design shape with no lip or decorative elements and a...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Paul McCobb Architectural Pottery Planter, 1960s
By Paul McCobb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A nice California design. Made of bisque clay with a rare mat black glaze. Like an old Etruscan piece of pottery it shows minor wear consistent with age. It has a hair-line crack at ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Paul McCobb Planter for Architectural Pottery, 1960s
By Paul McCobb
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A nice California design. Made of pottery with bisque colored glaze. It's stamped inside the centre "Architectural Pottery USA". Like an old Etruscan piece of pottery, it shows wa...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Paul McCobb Log or Magazine Holder, USA, 1950s
By Paul McCobb
Located in Norwalk, CT
Simple, strong design featuring a sturdy black iron framework with walnut legs. Brass caps and details. Very fine condition.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Set of Four Rare Paul McCobb Wrought Iron Patio Dining Chairs
By Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of four, rare, Mid-Century modern, outdoor, patio, dining chairs feature matte black finish, wrought iron frames and newly upholstered seat cushions.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

Wrought Iron with Polished Brass and Walnut Fireplace Tools by Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in Palm Springs, CA
This stunning fireplace set is newly re-plated polished brass with high gloss walnut handles and powder coated wrought iron. Designed by Paul Mcco...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Wrought Iron

Paul McCobb Dining Table
By Paul McCobb
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul McCobb design manufactured by Arbuck circa 1953-1955 Overall dimensions as: 64” x 44” x 29”H.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements

Paul Mccobb building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs.

Paul McCobb building and garden elements are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Paul McCobb building and garden elements, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original building and garden elements by Paul McCobb were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider building and garden elements by Curtis Jeré, Danny Ho Fong, and Kipp Stewart. Prices for Paul McCobb building and garden elements can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,850 and can go as high as $4,900, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,998.
Questions About Paul McCobb Building and Garden Elements
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To 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, 2022
    The 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, 2022
    You 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, 2022
    In 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.

Recently Viewed

View All