Harvey Probber Sofa
View Similar Items
Harvey Probber Sofa
About the Item
- Creator:Harvey Probber (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 33 in (83.82 cm)Width: 120 in (304.8 cm)Depth: 32 in (81.28 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:Seller: 7151stDibs: 1404039187808
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.
- 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 Brass Frame Bench, 1960By Harvey ProbberLocated in Chicago, ILBeautiful brass frame bench by Harvey Probber circa 1960s. Fully restored, and reupholstered.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Benches
MaterialsBrass
- Open Frame Lounge Chairs, Attributed to Harvey ProbberBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Chicago, ILOpen frame lounge chairs, attributed to Harvey Probber. Chairs have been fully restored and upholstered in leather.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLacquer, Leather
- Morrison Naugahyde Sofa, 1960Located in Chicago, ILMorrison Naugahyde sofa, 1960. Original naugahyde. Measures 93" long, 32" deep overall height 32", seat height 16", seat depth 22" arm height 21".Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsNaugahyde
- Teddy Bear Sofa, 1970Located in Chicago, ILTeddy 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 ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsVelvet
$4,800 - William Plunkett "Kingston" Sofa, 1967By C.J. Plunkett & CoLocated in Chicago, ILWilliam Plunkett "Kingston" Sofa, 1967. Restored and reupholstered.Category
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsStainless Steel
- 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 - Harvey Probber Midcentury Sectional SofaBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Countryside, ILHarvey Probber midcentury sectional sofa This sofa measures: 133 wide x 100 deep x 28 inches high, with a seat height of 1...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
$12,995 / set - Harvey Probber Bronze Base SofaBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Pasadena, TXA 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.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- Harvey Probber Sloped Arm SofaBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Hanover, MAAt 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 tap...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsBrass
- Mid Century Harvey Probber SofaBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Pasadena, TXA vintage mid century modern sofa designed by Harvey Probber. Two seat cushions with button tufted back and a walnut base.Category
Vintage 1950s American Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Walnut
$5,520 Sale Price20% Off - Sofa by Harvey Probber, USA C. 1955By Harvey ProbberLocated in Jersey City, NJ96 inch long Sofa designed by Harvey Probber supported on six solid, stained, wooden legs and upholstered in deep purple/plum velvet. Arm height: 22 inchesCategory
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Wood