Paul McCobb Walnut Bookcase or Wall Unit, 1960s
View Similar Items
Paul McCobb Walnut Bookcase or Wall Unit, 1960s
About the Item
- Creator:Paul McCobb (Designer),Lane Furniture (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 46.25 in (117.48 cm)Width: 54.25 in (137.8 cm)Depth: 13 in (33.02 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Very good original vintage condition. Minor wear expected from age and use.
- Seller Location:South Bend, IN
- Reference Number:Seller: 81781stDibs: LU2745326204122
Paul McCobb
The single aesthetic attribute of vintage Paul McCobb furniture is that the designer completely forsook ornament — his pieces have no flourishes. And yet, because they are honest — McCobb’s chairs, desks and dining 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 — his mid-century modern work has warmth and presence.
You could call the Massachusetts-born McCobb a man of parts. As a furniture designer, his work combined the attributes of many of his now better-known peers.
Like the work of 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 besides 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, a repeat recipient of the Good Design Award from the Museum of Modern Art, also designed cohesive lines of furnishings, such as his best-known Planner Group, that gave homes an instant “look.” He designed for several companies, most notably Directional, which was home to McCobb’s Origami chair.
In 1949, in partnership with New York furniture salesman B.G. Mesberg, McCobb set up the Directional Furniture Company, a brand known to vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors everywhere. Directional opened its doors after McCobb created the high-end Directional Modern line of sofas distributed by the New York-based Modernage Company. Directional also produced designs by other legends such as Paul Evans and Vladimir Kagan.
As you can see from the offerings on 1stDibs, McCobb designs are the pin-striped suit, or the little black dress, of a decor: an essential.
Find vintage Paul McCobb credenzas, bookcases, nightstands and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Lane Furniture
When the first iteration of the Lane Furniture company began to produce its now-famous Lane cedar chests in the early 20th century, the family behind the brand was unsure of how successful they’d be, so they initially didn’t bother adding their name to the offerings.
The manufacturer was off to a modest start but the family was industrious: The Lanes were made up of farmers and contractors who’d built more than 30 miles of the Virginian railroad. They owned a cotton mill and purchased thousands of acres of land in Campbell County, Virginia, where the Virginian railroad was intended to cross the main line of the Southern Railway.
The Lanes hoped to start a town in this region of the state, and by 1912, streets for the town of Altavista had been laid out and utility lines were installed. In the spring of that year, John Lane purchased a defunct box factory at a bankruptcy auction. His son, Edward Hudson Lane, was tasked with the manufacturing of the cedar “hope” chests for which the Lane family would become known, even though the company was initially incorporated as the Standard Red Cedar Chest Company.
The Standard Red Cedar Chest Company struggled in its early days but introduced an assembly system at its small factory after securing a contract with the federal government to produce ammunition boxes made of pine during World War I. The company prospered and applied mass-production methods to its cedar-chest manufacturing after the war, and, in 1922, rebranding as the Lane Company, it implemented a national advertising campaign to market its products. Ads tied the company’s strong cedar hope chests to romance. Anchored by copy that read “The gift that starts the home,” the campaign rendered a Lane cedar chest a necessary purchase for young women to store linens, clothing and keepsakes as they prepared to marry.
Wartime production during World War II had Lane producing aircraft parts. In the 1950s, the family-owned company began to branch out into manufacturing tables, bedroom pieces and other various furnishings for the entire home. The brand’s vintage mid-century furniture is highly sought after.
Lane’s Acclaim walnut furniture line, which, designed by Andre Bus, has been compared to Drexel’s Declaration series for its blend of modern furniture’s clean contours and traditional craftsmanship. Ads for the Lane series suggested that it included “probably the best-selling table in the world.” (There are end tables, cocktail tables and more in the Acclaim collection, sporting graceful tapered legs and dovetail inlays.) Later, during the 1960s, Lane offered handsome modular wall units designed by the likes of Paul McCobb. The company was acquired by United Furniture Industries in 2017 and became particularly well-known among contemporary consumers for its upholstered furniture. In 2022 United abruptly closed and ceased operations at Lane.
Vintage Lane furniture is generally characterized by relatively neutral styles, which are versatile in different kinds of interiors, as well as good quality woods and careful manufacturing. All of these attributes have made Lane one of the most recognizable names in American furniture.
Browse storage cabinets, side tables and other vintage Lane furniture on 1stDibs.
- Paul McCobb Planner Group Black Lacquered Bookcase on Hairpin Legs, RefinishedBy Paul McCobb, Planner GroupLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Mid-Century Modern glass front bookcase on hairpin legs By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group" USA, 1950s Solid birch in black lacquered finish, with sliding glass doors and steel hairpin legs. Measures: 36"W x 12.25"D x 34.25"H. Newly refinished. Excellent condition. Two matching bookcases...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsSteel
- Paul McCobb Planner Group Black Lacquered Bookcases on Hairpin Legs, RefinishedBy Paul McCobb, Planner GroupLocated in South Bend, INA sleek and stylish pair of Mid-Century Modern glass front bookcases on hairpin legs By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group" USA, 1950s Solid birch in black lacqu...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsSteel
- Paul McCobb Planner Group Birch Bookcase on Hairpin Legs, 1950sBy Paul McCobb, Planner GroupLocated in South Bend, INA sleek and stylish Mid-Century Modern bookcase By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group" USA, 1950s Solid birch, with steel hairpin legs. Measures: 36"W x...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsSteel
- Shaker Cherry Wood Bookcases or Media Cabinets, PairLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous pair of Shaker or Arts & Crafts style bookcases or media cabinets USA, Circa 1990s Beautiful solid cherry wood, with mullioned glass front doors. Each measures: 26.25"W...Category
Late 20th Century American Shaker Bookcases
MaterialsGlass, Cherry
- Harvey Probber Rosewood and Brass Breakfront Bookcase or Bar Cabinet, RefinishedBy Harvey ProbberLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous mid-century modern breakfront bookcase, sideboard, or bar cabinet By Harvey Probber USA, 1950s Rosewood, with brass trim. Mea...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsBrass
- Antique Victorian Carved Walnut Glass Front Bookcase, Circa 1890sLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous antique Victorian bookcase cabinet USA, Circa 1890s Carved solid walnut, with glass front doors and original brass hardware. Measures: 43.5"W x 21"D x 88.25"H. ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Bookcases
MaterialsBrass
- Midcentury Paul McCobb Single Bookcase #1516 Walnut Finish Iron Base CleanBy Planner Group, Paul McCobbLocated in BROOKLYN, NYVintage midcentury Paul McCobb single bookcase #1516 solid maple with original walnut finish on an Iron base. Beautiful bookcase by Paul McCobb circa 1950s Planner Group, single cent...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsIron
$1,088 Sale Price24% Off - Bookcase/Storage Cabinet by Paul McCobb Planner GroupBy Paul McCobbLocated in Cincinnati, OHA cabinet sitting on a bench base with conical legs, having one adjustable shelve sliding doors and storage finished in satin black having brass finger pulls . Solid maple wood con...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsWood
- Bookcase/Storage Cabinet by Paul McCobb Planner GroupBy Paul McCobbLocated in Cincinnati, OHA cabinet sitting on a bench base with conical legs, having one fixed shelve with sliding doors and storage finished in satin black having brass finger pulls. Solid maple wood constr...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsWood
- Midcentury Paul McCobb Single Bookcase #1516 Iron Base Adjustable ShelfBy Planner Group, Paul McCobbLocated in BROOKLYN, NYVintage midcentury Paul McCobb single bookcase #1516 solid maple with original medium blonde tobacco finish on an Iron base. Beautiful bookcase by Paul McCobb circa 1950s Planner Gro...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsIron
- 1960s Modular MCM Walnut Wall Unit with Drop Down Desk Bookshelves- 5 PiecesBy Poul CadoviusLocated in Madison, WIThis very unique modular 5 Piece Mid Century wall unit set has it ALL, and leaves plenty of room for multiple configuration possibilities! Creatively hold and display all of your vin...Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsIron
- Spanish Rattan Tall Storage Cabinet or Bookcase, 1960sLocated in Barcelona, ESEye-catching Rattan Storage Tall Cabinet or Bookcase / Bookshelf, Spain, 1960s This rattan cabinet features a rattan structure with woven wicker details. Round top and Four Levels: t...Category
20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsBamboo, Rattan, Wicker