Paul McCobb Symmetric Group Sofa for Widdicomb, Circa 1960
View Similar Items
Paul McCobb Symmetric Group Sofa for Widdicomb, Circa 1960
About the Item
- Creator:Widdicomb Furniture Co. (Manufacturer),Paul McCobb (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 94 in (238.76 cm)Depth: 30 in (76.2 cm)Seat Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Very good, fully restored condition..
- Seller Location:North Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU80976232483
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.
Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Admirers of vintage mid-century modern furnishings likely recognize the Widdicomb Furniture Company name for the fruitful partnerships it forged with iconic designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings and Mario Buatta. But there is more to the Widdicomb story than the albeit quite covetable sofas and bedroom furniture it produced during the middle of the 20th century.
A wealth of pine and oak forests rendered Grand Rapids, Michigan, a logging center during the 1800s, and it eventually gained recognition for its furniture industry. The American city became a destination for furniture makers who hailed from across the United States and beyond. Furniture maker George Widdicomb emigrated from England to the United States in 1845, eventually setting up a cabinet shop in Syracuse, New York, before moving west to Grand Rapids. There, he opened a shop with his four sons, including John Widdicomb, whose name would help carry the family legacy into the 20th century.
The Widdicomb shop in Grand Rapids prospered, as the patriarch’s formal English training allowed him to produce pieces with superior craftsmanship compared to those of his competitors. Although the Civil War halted business and took the life of one of the Widdicomb brothers, the family’s survivors would start anew as Widdicomb Brothers and Richards, soon renamed the Widdicomb Furniture Company.
John Widdicomb, however, split from the family business in 1897 to create the John Widdicomb Company, where he would go on to focus on Louis XV- and French Provincial-style furnishings. Chairs made in these styles have distinct characteristics, such as floral motifs carved in the frames and gently angled backrests. John's company also remained a family affair: The founder’s son, Harry, assumed control of the company when his father died in 1910, while John's nephew Ralph Widdicombe — who retained the English spelling of his last name and joined the John Widdicomb Company at its start — designed every single piece of the offerings at his uncle's manufacturing outfit until he retired in 1951. Ralph was an internationally distinguished furniture designer whose modern mahogany bedroom suite won first prize at the Paris Exposition in 1900.
The original iteration of Widdicomb, which was helmed by John's older brother William while John ran his own brand, had shifted from making period revival styles of furniture, such as Georgian and Chippendale, to manufacturing modern pieces in the late 1920s. Today vintage Widdicomb seating, tables and other pieces produced during the postwar years are particularly sought after by collectors of mid-20th-century furniture.
In 1959, master woodworker George Nakashima created his Origins collection for Widdicomb when the firm merged with Mueller Furniture Corporation and was known, for around 10 years, as Widdicomb-Mueller. Origins, a revered Shaker-influenced group of nightstands, upholstered lounge chairs, dining-room tables and more, saw Nakashima working with woods like Carpathian elm and laurel in his Pennsylvania studio.
Eventually, the two Widdicomb companies would combine in 1970, operating under the name John Widdicomb Co.
In 2002, the business closed after more than a century of operations, and its assets were acquired by Stickley Furniture. Interestingly, it was not the first time Widdicomb and Stickley overlapped: In the final years of the 19th century, the companies opened a shared storehouse in London, while John Widdicomb and Albert Stickley would travel Europe together for the purposes of research.
Find vintage Widdicomb coffee tables, case pieces, dining chairs and more on 1stDibs.
- Walnut Open Armchairs by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for WiddicombBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in North Miami, FLNewly upholstered solid walnut armchairs by T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Furniture, circa 1950. Two available, priced and sold individually at $3200 each.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- 1950s Bachelor Chests by Paul Frankl for John Stuart - Two AvailableBy Paul FranklLocated in North Miami, FLTwo timeless 1950s bachelor chests by Paul Frankl for Paul Stuart. The original walnut finish with contrasting black drawers give this eye-catching pair ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWood, Walnut
- Red Goatskin Bar Cart by Aldo Tura, Circa 1960By Aldo TuraLocated in North Miami, FLThis exceptional Italian bar cart by Aldo Tura in swoon-worthy mottled red goatskin and warmly patina-ed brass features two removable serving trays. Wheels are in good condition and ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts
MaterialsBrass
- Loveseat by Gigi Radice for Minotti, Italy circa 1950By Cassina, Gigi RadiceLocated in North Miami, FLA quintessential 1950s Mid-Century Italian loveseat by Gigi Radice for Minotti, upholstered in a luxe wool boucle by Beacon Hill, perched on black enameled steel legs with with polis...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
MaterialsBrass, Steel
- 1960s Italian Walnut and Brass DresserLocated in North Miami, FLStriking 1960s Italian dresser in richly figured walnut veneers and lightly polished solid brass handles and legs. Professionally refinished inside and out.Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- 1960's Italian Maple and Walnut DresserLocated in North Miami, FLThis 1960s Italian dresser charms with its eye-catching combination of light maple, rich walnut trim, and warm polished brass details. Fully restored - inside and out!Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Rare Paul McCobb Symmetric Group Sofa for WiddicombBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., Paul McCobbLocated in Pawtucket, RIOne of Paul McCobb's final designs, this graceful floating sofa features a symmetrical silhouette on walnut legs. Manufactured by Widdicomb as part of the Symmetric Group. Recently e...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsTextile, Walnut
- Paul McCobb for Planner Group Midcentury SofaBy Planner Group, Paul McCobbLocated in Countryside, ILPaul McCobb for Planner Group midcentury Sofa. This sofa measures: 75.5 wide x 33 deep x 30.5 inches high, with a seat height of 16 and arm ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
- 1950s Paul McCobb Planner Group SofaBy Paul McCobbLocated in Dallas, TXEarly Planner Group sofa designed by Paul McCobb. This design is not common and seldom found. Original upholstery and finish intact.Category
Vintage 1950s American Sofas
- Vintage Paul McCobb Sofa for DirectionalBy Paul McCobbLocated in Chicago, ILVintage Paul McCobb sofa for Directional reupholstered at one point. In pretty nice condition with fabric being usable as-is. minor wear. finish to wood and legs shows...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery
- Paul McCobb for Widdicomb Lounge ChairBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., Paul McCobbLocated 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
- Paul McCobb for Directional Off-White Velvet Sofa, 1950sBy Paul McCobb, DirectionalLocated in Miami, FLReupholstered Mid-Century Modern model 1307 light cream velvet sofa by Paul McCobb for Directional. The couch has been recovered in a gorgeous neutra...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsVelvet, Mahogany
$5,390 Sale Price44% Off