Harvey Probber Lounge Chairs
View Similar Items
Harvey Probber Lounge Chairs
About the Item
- Creator:Harvey Probber (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Width: 29.5 in (74.93 cm)Depth: 29.5 in (74.93 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU90862613782
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 the 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 simple lines 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 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.
- Cut-Out Lounge Chairs by FlairBy FlairLocated in San Francisco, CAA pair of armchairs by Flair. Features a floating backrest and chromed steel base. Newly restored in a heathered maharem beige wool.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
MaterialsChrome, Steel
$8,800 Sale Price / set20% Off - Paul McCobb for Widdicomb Lounge ChairBy Paul McCobb, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in San Francisco, CAA Rounded Back lounge chair From the Symmetric Series by Widdicomb Furniture. Manufactured for just a short time in 1960 and 1961. Redone in a...Category
Vintage 1960s American Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWool, Walnut
- Harvey Probber SofaBy Harvey ProbberLocated in San Francisco, CAA three-seat sofa by Harvey Probber. Curved front. Loose cushions on the seat, back and sides. Sofa sits on 6 wooden feet.Category
Vintage 1960s American Modern Sofas
MaterialsWood
$12,000 - Mix Chair by Kaare Klint for Rud RadmussenBy Kaare KlintLocated in San Francisco, CAA “Mix” lounge chair by Kaare Klint made in the Rud Rasmussen factory. Upholstered in a deep cordovan leather with a mahogany frame. The top has a convex shape while the seat is conc...Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Mahogany
Price Upon Request - Illum Wikkelso, Lounge ChairBy Illum WikkelsøLocated in San Francisco, CAAn Illum Wikkelsø easy chair, previously reupholstered in red nubuk leather, on tapered rosewood legs.Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Club Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
- Milo Baughman Lounge ChairBy Milo BaughmanLocated in San Francisco, CAA Milo Baughman tub chair for Thayer Coggin in the original Jack Lenor Larsen velvet fabric. Tapered wooden legs and flared arms.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsVelvet, Wood
- Large Lounge Chair on Walnut Frame Base by Harvey ProbberBy Harvey Probber, Paul McCobbLocated in Rockaway, NJNice large Harvey Probber lounge chairs on walnut base. Good upholstery condition.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- Pair of "Raphael Lounge Chairs" in Black Leather by Harvey ProbberBy Harvey ProbberLocated in New York, NYPair of "Raphael Lounge Chairs" model no. 4121 in black leather by Harvey Probber, American, circa 1982 (label on bottom reads "Harvey Probber".) Harvey Probber is synonymous with gr...Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Foam, Wood
- Pair of Mid-Century Modern Tufted Aluminum Lounge Chairs by Harvey ProbberBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Port Jervis, NYSimple and elegant pair of Mid-Century Modern Sculptural tufted lounge chairs by Harvey Probber. Alcoa aluminum is the main material making up the beautiful frames. Button tufted wit...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Harvey Probber Attributed Clean Line Club Chair 1940sBy Harvey ProbberLocated in New York, NYClean line upholstered club chair attributed to Harvey Probber, American 1940's. Newly upholstered in eggplant mohair by Lobel Modern. These early stream...Category
Vintage 1940s Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
MaterialsMohair, Wood
- Harvey Probber Tuxedo Lounge ChairBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Chicago, ILTuxedo club chair by Harvey Probber. Reupholstered in teal fabric in the 1990s, which is in good condition.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs
MaterialsFabric
- Harvey Probber Cube Lounge ChairsBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Middlesex, NJHarvey Probber cube lounge chairs in original condition with labels.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
$5,500 / set