Harvey Probber Curved Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Harvey Probber Curved Sofa Piece was commissioned for a Long Island, NY estate.
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Upholstery
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 Curved Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Harvey Probber Curved Sofa Piece was commissioned for a Long Island, NY estate.
Upholstery
Harvey Probber Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in San Francisco, CA
A three-seat sofa by Harvey Probber. Curved front. Loose cushions on the seat, back and sides. Sofa sits on 6 wooden feet.
Wood
Harvey Probber Tuxedo Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Harvey Probber tuxedo sofa . We have upgraded this sofa with complete new set of springs and upholstered it in Pierre Frey's Chenille Saint ...
Upholstery, Wood
Mid Century Harvey Probber Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pasadena, TX
A vintage mid century modern sofa designed by Harvey Probber. Two seat cushions with button tufted back and a walnut base.
Fabric, Walnut
Harvey Probber Bronze Base Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pasadena, TX
A Mid-Century Modern sofa designed by Harvey Probber. Mint green upholstery with a button tufted back and two detached seat cushions on a bronze anodized base. Size: 7.5ft.
Metal
Harvey Probber Sloped Arm Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in Hanover, MA
At last, a mid-century sofa at a comfortable seat height thanks to its 10 inch high legs. Original Harvey Probber mid-century modern sofa with distinctive sloped arms and square tape...
Brass
$3,880Sale Price|20% Off
H 27.5 in W 85 in D 36 in
Spectacular Curved Harvey Probber Even Arm Sofa Chartreus Mid-century Modern
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Spectacular Harvey Probber curved front even arm sofa. The original chartreus velvet fabric still looks great-looks like it was barely used. We love the super deep even arms with a...
Upholstery
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 28 in W 101 in D 33 in
Handsome Harvey Probber Style Curved Even Arm Sofa Mid-Century Modern
By Harvey Probber
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Handsome Harvey Probber attributed curved even arm sofa. This sofa retains its original red faux leather in nice vintage condition. It shows light wear but it is very presentable as ...
Faux Leather
$4,800
H 31 in W 116 in D 49 in
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Hexagonal Curved Sectional Sofa after Harvey Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sleek modern sofa in a hexagonal form circa 1970's. It features a two section design with low profile feet. Fabric is original and needs recovering...
Fabric
Harvey Probber Mid Century Brass Sectional Sofa
By Harvey Probber
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Harvey Probber Mid Century Brass Sectional Sofa This sofa measures: 117.5 wide x 104.25 deep x 30 inches high, with a seat height of 16 inches All pieces of furniture can be had in...
Brass

Harvey Probber Brass Frame Bench, 1960
By Harvey Probber
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautiful brass frame bench by Harvey Probber circa 1960s. Fully restored, and reupholstered
Brass
Teddy Bear Sofa, 1970
Located in Chicago, IL
Teddy Bear Sofa, 1970's. Fabric is original, with no rips, tears or stains. Made by Schweiger. Measures 100" long, 37" deep, 27.75" tall, seat height ...
Velvet
Brazilian Rosewood Sofa Black Leather, 1960
By Percival Lafer
Located in Chicago, IL
Brazilian rosewood sofa black leather, 1960. Style of Percival Lafer. Completely restored and upholstered in black leather. This piece is compos...
Leather, Rosewood