Paul McCobb for Directional Walnut Frame Slipper Chairs, Model 1320
View Similar Items
Paul McCobb for Directional Walnut Frame Slipper Chairs, Model 1320
About the Item
- Creator:Paul McCobb (Designer),Directional (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 25 in (63.5 cm)Depth: 28 in (71.12 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Twill,Walnut
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Westport, CT
- Reference Number:Seller: SM14121stDibs: LU92898887093
Paul McCobb
You could call Paul McCobb a man of parts. As a furniture designer, his work combined the attributes of many of his now better-known peers. Like 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 beside 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 also designed cohesive lines of furnishings, such as his best-known Planner Group, that gave homes an instant “look.” McCobb designed for several companies, most notably Directional, the New York firm that also produced designs by other legends, such as Paul Evans and Vladimir Kagan.
The signal aesthetic attribute of McCobb designs is that he completely forsook ornament — his pieces have no flourishes. And yet, because they are honest — the chairs, desks and 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 — McCobb’s mid-century modern work has warmth and presence.
As you can see from the offerings on 1stDibs, vintage Paul McCobb designs are the pin-striped suit, or the little black dress, of a décor: an essential.
Directional
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.
- Paul McCobb for Directional Lounge Chairs and Ottoman, C. 1950sBy Paul McCobbLocated in Westport, CTA lounge chair and ottoman designed by the Iconic Paul McCobb for Directional, maple legs fully restored and refinished in medium walnut. Reupholstered in grey chenille. Other d...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsChenille, Maple
- Rare Slipper Chairs by Jens Risom for Risom, Inc. C. 1950sBy Jens RisomLocated in Westport, CTExperience the epitome of mid-century modern elegance with our fully restored walnut slipper chairs from the 1950s, a timeless creation by Jens Risom for Risom, Inc. Meticulously ref...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsLinen, Walnut
- Transitional Slipper Chairs in Ivory Mohair, circa 1950sLocated in Westport, CTA set of transitional Mid-Century Modern slipper chairs, completely restored, exposed walnut framework. Reupholstered in ivory mohair by Holly Hunt. Other designers from this era...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsMohair, Walnut
- Classic Slipper Chairs by Jens Risom in Bouclé, C. 1950sBy Jens RisomLocated in Westport, CTAn impeccably restored pair of mid-century modern chairs, a timeless testament to design excellence. Originally conceived by the iconic Jens Risom in the 1950s, these chairs have bee...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsBouclé, Walnut
- Ward Bennett Walnut Frame Lounge Chairs, C. 1970sBy Ward BennettLocated in Westport, CTVintage Ward Bennett Lounge Chairs, a true embodiment of 1970s design gracefully restored by Stamford Modern. These chairs exude the timeless charm of the era with their exposed waln...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBrass
- Walnut Lounge Chairs in Grey Linen, Model U430 for Risom, Inc. Circa, 1950sBy Jens RisomLocated in Westport, CTExperience the epitome of mid-century modern elegance with our fully restored walnut lounge chairs from the 1950s, a timeless creation by Jens Risom for Risom, Inc. Meticulously refu...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLinen, Walnut
- Paul McCobb for Directional Midcentury Slipper ChairBy Paul McCobb, DirectionalLocated in Countryside, ILPaul McCobb for directional midcentury slipper chair. This chair measures: 25 wide x 25.75 deep x 31.5 high, with a seat height of 17 and arm height/chair clearance 24.5 inches ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
- 1950s Paul McCobb Directional Walnut Slipper Chairs, Pair Newly UpholsteredBy Paul McCobb, DirectionalLocated in Miami, FL1950s Paul McCobb Directional Walnut Slipper Chairs, Pair Newly Upholstered Offered for sale is a pair of Mid-century Modern walnut slipper chairs designed by Paul McCobb for Direc...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Walnut
$8,000 Sale Price / set36% Off - Rare Slipper Chairs by Paul McCobb for DirectionalBy Paul McCobb, DirectionalLocated in Los Angeles, CAExceptional and rare pair of Paul McCobb slipper chairs, model 1320, for Directional. Newly restored and upholstered. Price is for the pair.Category
Vintage 1950s American Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
$12,500 / set - Pair of Slipper Lounge Chairs by Kipp Stewart for Directional 1960sBy Kipp Stewart, DirectionalLocated in Ft Lauderdale, FLPair of Slipper Lounge Chairs by Kipp Stewart for Directional 1960s Newly upholstered in slate gray / dark indigo cotton fabric with fiv...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
- Paul McCobb for Directional Model 1322 Black Rim Lounge ChairBy Paul McCobb, DirectionalLocated in Bainbridge, NYPaul McCobb for Directional Furniture 1322 lounge chair, loose seat cushion. Circa 1950s. Featuring a Black ebonized Walnut frame, tapered legs and comfortable curved and cushioned b...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Walnut
- Pair of Mid-Century Modern Lounge Slipper Chairs Manner of Paul McCobbBy Paul McCobbLocated in Wayne, NJPair of Mid-Century Modern lounge slipper chairs. 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 to delive...Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric
$3,500 Sale Price / set30% Off