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.
Paul McCobb Six 6-Piece Mid Century Contempri Dinner Set 48 pcs.
By Paul McCobb
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A stunning 48-piece China set with eight 6-piece place settings by the iconic Mid Century designer Paul McCobb having unique dark gray and black graphics to the rims. The china is in...
Porcelain
$220Sale Price|37% Off
Set by Paul McCobb for Jackson China Ceramic Sugar Bowl, Milk Pitcher, and Bowl.
By Paul McCobb
Located in San Diego, CA
Who is ready for a mid-century modern tea party? This vintage set designed by Paul McCobb for Jackson China Ceramic Sugar Bowl, Milk Pitcher, and Bowl in rare vivid blue will make yo...
Ceramic
6 Paul McCobb 6-Piece Contempri Place Settings by Jackson China Co.
By Paul McCobb
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A fine 36-piece midcentury China set with six 6-piece place settings designed by Paul McCobb with dark gray and black graphics produced in 1959-1960. The china is in a restaurant style which means it a heavier form and dish washer safe, retains the ink stamps to the bottom manufactured by the Jackson China...
Porcelain
$280Sale Price|20% Off
H 12 in Dm 7 in
Ceramic Pitcher, Red, White and Black, Italy, Midcentury, Ceramic, C 1950
Located in New York, NY
Ceramic, midcentury pitcher from Italy, circa 1950. The color is red, white and black. Good condition.
Ceramic
Coalport Six-Piece Set of Gold Dinner Plates
By Coalport Porcelain
Located in San Francisco, CA
Revive the glory of the Gilded Age (minus the backstabbing, corsets vs rib removal, and arsenic for skin whitening) at your dinner table. If your dining area is all gloomy gray with...
Porcelain
Wedgwood Apprey Celadon Place-Setting Plates
By Wedgwood
Located in New York, NY
Wedgwood Apprey celadon place-setting plates. Set of three pale celadon pieces for a single place-setting in the rare and charming chinoiserie pattern ...
Creamware
Ralph Lauren Academy Platinum Dinnerware, 4 Place Settings Set
By Ralph Lauren
Located in New York, NY
A set of 4 (four) place settings in the academy platinum pattern by Ralph Lauren Home collection. Bone china. Signed. Imported, production period 1995-2002. Features a platinum/silv...
Porcelain
$1,800 / set
H 0.75 in W 16.25 in D 12.75 in
Ralph Lauren Home Spectator Black Dinnerware ~ Set of 8 Place Settings
By Ralph Lauren, Wedgewood
Located in New York, NY
A set of 8 (eight) place settings in the Spectator black pattern by Ralph Lauren Home Collection. Porcelain. Signed, circa 1995-1996. This pattern is currently out of production. ...
Porcelain
D. Peterson Ceramic Pitcher and Cups Set Dated 1956
By D. Peterson
Located in Chicago, IL
This handmade ceramic pitcher and cups set has classically simple forms. The glaze treatment is wonderfully irregular, embracing the spontaneity of the process. The darker glaze on t...
Ceramic
37-Piece French Victorian Limoges Porcelain Dinner Set
By Limoges
Located in Queens, NY
37 Piece French Victorian Limoges porcelain dinner service with yellow border and floral trim (PRICED AS SET)
Porcelain
Royal Crown Derby Partial Dinner Service
By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain
Located in Buchanan, MI
A Royal Crown Derby Partial dinner service, twenty seven pieces, 20th century, in the Imari pattern, comprising of ten dinner plates and ten bread and b...
Porcelain
$60,000
H 12 in W 14 in D 7 in
Magnificent French Antique Porcelain 116-Piece Dinner Set, 19th Century
Located in Montreal, Quebec
116 Pieces A magnificent French Antique porcelain 116-piece dinner set, 19th century, with burgundy and gold accents. This set is exceptionnal both in its beauty, its state of conservation, and the extraordinary range of pieces and serving pieces. Set includes: o 33 assiettes (8.75" diam) o 13 shallow soup plates (8.5") o 18 dessert plates (8.5") o 9 saucers (5.25") o 9 cups (2 " H x 3.5 x 4 ) o 12 cream jars with their lids "pots à crème...
Porcelain
$2,145 / set
H 31.5 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
"NEMO" Majolica Set Designed by Aude Clément for 12 People '38 Pcs'
By Aude Clément
Located in Paris, FR
"NEMO" Service set for 12 persons in hand-painted majolica. Original NEMO set, designed by the french artist Aude Clément and produced by Au Bain Marie,...
Majolica
$2,500 / set
H 0.7 in Dm 10 in
Piero Fornasetti Set of Six Strumenti Musicali Dinner Plates, 1950s-1960s
By Fornasetti
Located in Downingtown, PA
Harmonious Design: A Set of Piero Fornasetti 'Strumenti Musicali' Plates, 1950s–1960s This captivating set of six Piero Fornasetti plates from the 1950s–1960s exemplifies the artist...
Ceramic, Pottery
$920Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 0.75 in Dm 10.5 in
Set of Six Sterling Silver Overlay Service Dinner Plates
By Lenox's Ceramic Art Company
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A set of elegant sterling silver overlay service plates with the pre-1930 Lenox green mark. This opulent set is early 20th century, circa 1915 in an Edward...
Sterling Silver
Paul McCobb Set of Contempri 40 piece plus
By Paul McCobb, Jackson Internationale
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Paul McCobb Contempri for Jackson Internationale Set of Dinnerware. 40 plus pieces. 8 10" Dinner Plates 8 7.25 Salad Plates 6 5.5 Small B...
Ceramic
Paul McCobb Rare Mid-Century Modern Set of Fine China Contempri Japan, 1960s
By Paul McCobb
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A chic Mid-Century Modern fine China dining set designed by Paul McCobb. Stamped Contempri fine China designed by Paul McCobb Japan Jackson Inter...
Glass
Paul McCobb Contempri "Sticks" Dinnerware Set, 16 Pieces
By Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
A 16-piece set of dinnerware in the Contempri "Sticks" pattern designed by Paul McCobb for Jackson Internationale. Japan, circa 1950s. Include...
Ceramic
Sold
H 15.95 in Dm 5.91 in
Paul McCobb for Contempi, Japan 38 Piece Ceramic Coffee Set in Orange and White
By Paul McCobb
Located in Mexico, DF
Beautiful and rare set of the coffee pitcher, sugar bowl with lid, and twelve sets of the round dish with coffee cup plus twelve dessert round plates in ceramic, designed by Paul McCobb for the "Contempi" line, Jackson Ceramics, Japan late 1950s. The set is orange and white, a very striking retro combination of colors. All 38 pieces are in very good shape. Paul McCobb was born in 1917 in Medford, Massachusetts. He moved from Boston to New York to pursue his dream of becoming a designer. When it came to designing he was completely self-taught with a very minimalistic approach to object creation influenced by Scandinavian design as well as the “Shaker” style in furniture making. Perspective and scale became the trademark for McCobb's designs, his tables, shelves, lamps, and other daily used articles...
Ceramic
6 Paul McCobb 6-Piece Contempri Place Settings by Jackson China Co.
By Paul McCobb
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A fine 36-piece midcentury china set with six 6-piece place settings designed by Paul McCobb with dark gray and black graphics produced in 1959-1960. The china is in a restaurant style which means it a heavier form and dish washer safe, retains the ink stamps to the bottom manufactured by the Jackson China...
Porcelain
6 Paul McCobb 6-Piece Contempri Place Settings by Jackson China Co.
By Paul McCobb
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A fine 36-piece midcentury china set with six 6-piece place settings designed by Paul McCobb with dark gray and black graphics produced in 1959-1960. The china is in a restaurant style which means it a heavier form and dish washer safe, retains the ink stamps to the bottom manufactured by the Jackson China...
Porcelain
12 Paul McCobb 6 Piece Contempri Place Settings by Jackson China Company
By Paul McCobb
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very fine 72 pc. Paul McCobb china set making 12 ( six) piece place settings with great graphics for the Jackson China company from the Contempri collec...
Porcelain
Paul McCobb Large Contempri Sticks Dinnerware Set
By Paul McCobb
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large "Contempri Sticks" Pattern Dinnerware or China Set, designed by Paul McCobb for Jackson Internationale, Japan, circa 1950s. 73 pieces tota...
Porcelain
Paul McCobb Mid-Century Modern "Contempri" 88-Piece China Set
By Paul McCobb, Jackson Internationale
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding set of "Contempri" porcelain china dinnerware designed by Paul McCobb for Jackson Internationale. The 88-piece set includes: ...
Porcelain
Sold
H 29.53 in W 29.93 in D 30.71 in
Paul McCobb Maple or Black and Wrought Iron Bar Cart Planner Group
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Berlin, DE
Paul McCobb bar cart with iron frame and expandable top, shelves and drawer in maple. Each leaf is 6". The top is 18" x 30" and the height is 29 5/8ths.
Wrought Iron
Paul McCobb Pitcher
By Paul McCobb
Located in Chicago, IL
Serving Pitcher with twist locking lid.
Ceramic
Paul McCobb Porcelain Compote or Candleholder
By Paul McCobb
Located in Chicago, IL
This porcelain centerpiece is part of the "Contempri" line designed by Paul McCobb for Jackson Internationale. This versatile piece can function...
Porcelain