Pair of Walnut Armchairs by Harvey Probber
View Similar Items
Pair of Walnut Armchairs by Harvey Probber
About the Item
- Creator:Harvey Probber (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.5 in (80.01 cm)Width: 28 in (71.12 cm)Depth: 28 in (71.12 cm)Seat Height: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Early 1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: f80681612016091303fs
Harvey Probber
A popular designer who had his heyday from the late 1940s into the 1970s, Harvey Probber is one of the post-war American creative spirits whose work has been recently rediscovered by collectors. His designs are by-and-large simple and elegant, but his signal achievement was to pioneer one of the key innovations of mid-20th century furniture: sectional, or modular, seating.
Even as a teenager, the Brooklyn-born Probber was making sketches of furniture designs — and selling them to Manhattan furniture companies. He began working as a designer for an upholsterer once he finished high school and, apart from a few evening classes he took as an adult at Pratt Institute, he was self-taught about design and furniture making.
After wartime service — and a stint as a lounge singer — Probber founded his own company in the late 1940s. A lifelong familiarity with the needs of New York–apartment dwellers doubtless sparked his most noteworthy creation: a line of seating pieces in basic geometric shapes — wedges, squares, half-circles — that could be arranged and combined as needed. Modular furniture remained the core idea of Probber’s business throughout his career.
As a self-trained designer, Probber was never wed to any particular aesthetic. He preferred the simple lines now associated with mid-century modernism for their inherent practicality, but often used hardware to enliven the look of his pieces, or added elements — such as a ceramic insert in the center of a round dining table — that was visually interesting and could serve as a trivet. He gravitated toward bright fabrics with attractive, touchable textures that might be satin-like or nubbly. Above all, Probber insisted that the sofas, case goods and other products that came out of his Fall River, Massachusetts, factory be built to last.
“The quality of aging gracefully,” Probber once told an interviewer, is “design's fourth dimension.” This quality he realized: Probber furniture is just as useful and alluring now as it was when made — and maybe even more stylish.
Find a collection of vintage Harvey Probber side tables, sectional sofas, chairs and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- Harvey Probber Set of Three ArmchairsBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Highland, INThese light, lithe and elegant armchairs by Harvey Probber are scaled perfectly to serve as part of a larger seating group or on their own as occasional chairs. Their proportions and profile make them beautiful from every angle and their intermediate seat height makes them ideal as conversational chairs.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Mahogany
$9,000 / set - Mid-Century Modern Armchair in Manner of Harvey ProbberBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Peabody, MAAngular midcentury lounge chair with ebonized lacquered frame, accented by brass rods. Unknown maker, in style of Harvey Probber.Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Gondola Lounge Arm Sculptural Side Chairs by Harvey ProbberBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Wayne, NJPair of gondola lounge arm side chairs by Harvey Probber. If you are in the New Jersey , New York City Metro Area , please contact us with your delivery zip code, as we may be able t...Category
Vintage 1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery
$4,550 Sale Price / set30% Off - Pair of Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Cantilevered ChairsBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Dallas, TXAdorable pair of Harvey Probber occasional lounge chairs. Very comfortable chairs with chrome cantilevered frames upholstered in their original light tan color fabric. Can be used as...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Pair of Chrome Lounge Chairs by Erwin-Lambeth in the style of Harvey ProbberBy Harvey Probber, Erwin-LambethLocated in Brooklyn, NYThis stylish Mid-Century Modern pair of lounge chairs feature tufted vinyl upholstery and heavy chrome frames. Iconic Harvey Probber style design offers spacious seating proportions ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Pair of Victorian Walnut Open ArmchairsLocated in Montreal, QCPair of Victorian walnut armchairs with carved foliate crested channeled back and partially padded arms with c-scroll on forward swept arms; the seashell centered seat rail continue...Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Armchairs
MaterialsWalnut, Fabric
Sold$8,500 / set