Cor is Latin for heart, and COR furniture exemplifies the qualities at the heart of exceptional design: practicality, comfort and style. The company's sofas, lounge chairs and coffee tables capture the essence of the best of mid-century modernism. Simple silhouettes, quality materials and function-first designs ensure that vintage COR furniture is still in high demand with collectors all over the world.
COR was founded in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany, in 1954 by Leo Lübke — in the name of his son, Helmut — and the Prince of Bentheim-Tecklenburg, a northern German county. Nearly a couple of decades prior, in 1937, a manufacturer of bedroom furniture called Interlübke was established by Leo and his brother Hans. The latter’s son Horst, who was managing partner from 1972, retired during the 1990s and his son Helmut Lübke joined Interlübke and shifted the brand’s focus toward modular furniture systems. During the 1980s, the Prince of Bentheim-Tecklenburg left COR and the Lübke family became its sole owner. In 2006, COR-Interlübke retail locations opened their doors.
COR made its mark in 1959 with a sleek modular seating system consisting of five parts called Quinta, which was created by designer Michael Bayer. The upholstered line boasted clean, angular contours and appealed to the day's ever-broadening flexible interior design sensibilities. It remained in production until 1978. The success of the Quinta was followed by the 1964 Conseta system, which featured a sofa and other pieces of seating designed by Friedrich Wilhelm Möller.
The following decades saw more successful collaborations with designers like Peter Maly and Luigi Colani. The latter, a German industrial designer born Lutz Colani, created a range of gorgeous organically shaped Space Age seating for BASF and Fritz Hansen, serveware for Rosenthal and worked on automobile designs for Fiat. Colani designed the popular Orbis line for COR during the 1970s.
In 2000, the Arthe sofa by Wulf Schneider was awarded the prestigious Red Dot Award from the North Rhine-Westphalia Design Centre.
COR is still owned and operated by the Lübke family’s parent company Gebrüder Lübke GmbH & Co. KG and continues to produce furniture at the Rheda-Wiedenbrück factory, sourcing leather from southern Germany and upholstery from Italy. The company partnered with Jehs+Laub, a renowned Stuttgart-based studio, in 2010.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage COR seating, tables and more.
Dreipunkt International Vintage Modular Leathersofa
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This is a high-quality modular leather sofa by Dreipunkt International, consisting of five seating elements, with four pull-out sections that convert into sofa beds. It comfortably s...
Leather, Upholstery, Beech
De Sede DS 76 Leather sofa Daybed
Located in Munich, Bavaria
De Sede DS-76 modular leather sofa, upholstered in black leather, consisting of two elements that combine to form a spacious seating arrangement. Designed with the brand’s signature ...
Leather, Foam, Beech
Robert Haussmann for Hans Kaufeld or De Sede RH 302 Leather Sofa First Edition
By De Sede, Hans Kaufeld, Robert Haussmann
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Robert Haussmann RH 302 3-seat sofa manufactured by Hans Kaufeld. This sofa is the first early production for Hans Kaufeld. Later it was manu...
Chrome
Robert Haussmann for Hans Kaufeld or De Sede RH 302 Leather Sofa First Edition
By Hans Kaufeld, Robert Haussmann, De Sede
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Robert Haussmann RH 302 3-seat sofa manufactured by Hans Kaufeld. This sofa is the first early production for Hans Kaufeld. Later it was manu...
Chrome
B&B ITALIA Afra & Tobia Scarpa Modell Coronado Leather Sofa
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, B&B Italia
Located in Munich, Bavaria
B&B Italia black leather sofa Modell Coronado designed by Afra & Tobia Scarpa in the late 1960s. Big loose cushions. This small sofa is comfortable. The leather is in good conditio...
Leather
Artanova Switzerland Daybed Leather sofa Model Cordoba
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Exceptional Cordoba daybed sofa by Artanova, Switzerland. Designed in a striking cubist form language, this model combines sculptural aesthetics with outstanding comfort. Upholstered...
Leather, Foam, Beech
Contemporary Modern Comfy Sofa in Blue Leather by Collector
Located in Castelo da Maia, PT
Underpinned by a Minimalist and sophisticated aesthetic of clean lines. Comfy Sofa designed by Collector Studio. Dimension: W 300cm 118” D 110cm 43” H 65cm 25,6” SH 40 cm 15,7” Pr...
Fabric
Flexform Soft Dream 2 Seater Leather Sofa designed by Antonio Citterio
By Antonio Citterio, Flexform
Located in Bern, CH
Flexform Soft Dream 2 Seater Leather Sofa (Pelle 2 823) designed by Antonio Citterio. With two matching cushions. New purchase price inc. cushions: CHF 11'140.- (This is a shop disp...
Steel
De Sede DS-159 Three-Seat Sofa in Paris Blue Upholstery by De Sede Design Team
By De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The straight, simple and at the same time light design creates a noble piece of seating furniture that is a cabi net piece of upholstery craftsmanship. Its characteristic feature is the elaborate capitoning of the seat and back rest with leather buttons and piping. Individually design able seat combinations and sofa systems with individual elements measuring 80 x 80 cm make it possible – by the assisting couch- and hanging tables - to set perfect living accents. The DS-159 signifies by its clear, reduced design a cabinet piece of the upholstery handicraft. The form language of the cubic model appears noble and light at the same time. Whoever sits down in a DS-159 will immediately fall in love with the harmonious interplay of seating comfort and elegance. If you haven’t been fascinated until then, at the very latest the elaborate capitonation will definitely enchant you and will not let go anymore. Like that inexplicable power that fills our hearts - love - the modular extension options have a multi-faceted effect, as if you were getting to know your loved ones anew every day. Whether as an armchair, a sofa or in an unmistakable interplay with couch and hanging tables: perfectly coordinated seating combinations create a seating combination that has rightly become a cabinet piece of Swiss master...
Leather
De Sede DS-2011 Three-Seater Sofa in Leather by De Sede Design Team
By De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With its fluid, curved shapes, the DS-2011 appears powerful and dynamic where other furniture is already in a sleep mode. The visual lightness and modern, casual elegance underline t...
Leather
Canada, 3-Seaters Leather Sofa, Modern Contemporary Design
By De Sede
Located in Paris, IDF
The DS-707/03 Sofa is a celebration of sculptural design, where bold architectural inspiration meets exceptional everyday comfort. Its flowing silhouette creates a sense of movement ...
Leather
Easy Adjustable Leather Sofa by FSM
By De Sede, Markus Hartmann
Located in Brooklyn, NY
FSM easy sofa by De Sede. Create new free spaces. So much, in fact, that even two people can relax next to one another. The seating depth can be increased up to 20 cm. The armrests c...
Leather
