Harvey Probber Walnut Brass and Lacquered Chest
View Similar Items
Harvey Probber Walnut Brass and Lacquered Chest
About the Item
- Creator:Harvey Probber (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 24 in (60.96 cm)Width: 26 in (66.04 cm)Depth: 15 in (38.1 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Early 1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Phoenix, AZ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU853210645513
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.
- Occasional Table from Italy in Walnut and Brass, 1950sLocated in Phoenix, AZTapered solid walnut and polished brass cocktail or occasional table from Italy, circa late 1950s. This lovely example has sculptural newly oiled walnut inserts with mirror polished ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Ceramic Lamp Disguised as Cardboard Box by Michel HarveyBy Michel HarveyLocated in Phoenix, AZThis ceramic table lamp cleverly disguises itself in wry, tongue-in-cheek fashion as a weathered cardboard box sent C.O.D. as a parcel.Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsCeramic
- Walnut and Ceramic Side Tables by Allen Ditson & Lee PorzioBy Allen DitsonLocated in Phoenix, AZLee Porzio and Allen Ditson walnut and ceramic side or occasional tables. We only have two of these pieces left in our gallery's inventory! These magnificent examples were recently produced with permission from the Ditson family. They feature Porzio's original ceramic tiles from the late 1950s. They have solid walnut tops and removable tapered...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsCeramic, Walnut
- Teak & Leather Blanket Chest by Illums BolighusBy Illums BolighusLocated in Phoenix, AZIllums Bolighus solid teak blanket chest, circa early 1960's. This newly refinished example has an interior sliding removable drawer, patinated brass hinges and interior leather strap.Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Blanket Chests
MaterialsBrass
- Eliel Saarinen for Johnson 1940s Chests of DrawersBy Eliel Saarinen, Johnson Furniture CompanyLocated in Phoenix, AZEliel Saarinen for Johnson Furniture Company chests of drawers circa 1948. These seldom seen examples have sculptural S-shaped legs, formed aluminum handles and beautifully grained b...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsAluminum
$5,800 / item - Studio Crafted Walnut & Raffia Midcentury ArmchairLocated in Phoenix, AZStunning studio crafted solid walnut and raffia armchair, late circa 1970s. This sculptural example has an unusual handcrafted back, beautifully formed arms and masterful joinery.Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsRaffia, Walnut
- Harvey Probber Black Lacquer Mahogany Brass Hardware and Legs 4 Drawer ChestBy Paul McCobb, Harvey ProbberLocated in Rockaway, NJMid-Century Modern black lacquer mahogany brass hardware bachelor chest compact dresser by Harvey Probber.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Harvey Probber Double Chest and Vanity with Leather and BrassBy Harvey ProbberLocated in Hanover, MATwo beautifully restored complimentary chests flanking a hanging vanity case from Harvey Probber's "Cabinet Series" circa 1957. Hazelnut finished maho...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Harvey Probber Chest of DrawersBy Harvey ProbberLocated in New York, NYMid-Century Modern chest of drawers by Harvey Probber. Harvey Probber chest of drawers in bleached mahogany with four drawers brass sabots to the feet. Inside two top drawers have wh...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWood, Mahogany
- Harvey Probber Chest of Drawers in Mahogany and Brass 1950s 'Signed'By Harvey ProbberLocated in New York, NYBeautifully made tall chest of drawers model no 865 in mahogany with brass accents and sliding doors at top concealing pull out shelves by Harvey Probber, American 1950's (signed “Furniture...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Rosewood and Mahogany Chests by Harvey ProbberBy Harvey ProbberLocated in New York, NYPair of tailored chests designed by Harvey Probber, having rosewood drawer fronts, tops and sides with dark mahogany trim, and legs, with brass feet. Both are in good, original condition, showing some cosmetic signs of age and use. Each dresser has three drawers, each drawer front is 7.75 inch H. Originally designed as dressers, these would also function well as large night tables...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsMahogany, Rosewood
- Mid-Century Modern Chest of Drawers Harvey ProbberBy Harvey ProbberLocated in New York, NYMid-Century Modern Harvey Probber Chest of drawers. Low chest of drawers by Harvey Probber in bleached mahogany with three drawers set on plinth base. Top two drawers have white lami...Category
Vintage 1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of D...
MaterialsMahogany
