Paul McCobb for Calvin Mahogany and Brass Credenza, ca. 1955
View Similar Items
Paul McCobb for Calvin Mahogany and Brass Credenza, ca. 1955
About the Item
- Creator:Paul McCobb (Designer),Calvin Furniture (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 34.5 in (87.63 cm)Width: 60 in (152.4 cm)Depth: 19 in (48.26 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1955
- Condition:Refinished. Outside of cabinets been professionally restored.
- Seller Location:Costa Mesa, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1384224732392
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.
Calvin Furniture
The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based company Calvin Furniture opened its doors in 1953 and became a sought-after contract manufacturer for the day’s top furniture designers and brands. Its appealing mid-century modern and Hollywood Regency offerings — nightstands, dressers and more — graced the showrooms of department stores all over North America during the 1950s and 1960s.
Calvin’s relationship with the work of Massachusetts-born designer Paul McCobb is well known to enthusiasts of mid-century modern furniture. McCobb, whose unadorned and efficient storage pieces, seating and desks drew on Shaker simplicity and Bauhaus minimalism, wasn’t exactly a designer for Calvin — in partnership with New York furniture salesman B.G. Mesberg, McCobb set up the Directional Furniture Company in Manhattan in 1949, and Calvin was one of the manufacturers contracted to produce the furniture he designed for Directional (and later, for pieces designed under his own name).
Among McCobb’s most acclaimed lines made by Calvin Furniture were the Calvin Group and the Irwin Collection. The travertine-topped sideboards and mahogany nightstands of those lines as well as the other Calvin-produced dressers, bookcases and chests of drawers designed by McCobb were elegant and spare, free of unnecessary embellishments.
Calvin also manufactured the very popular American Design Foundation line of furniture that Kipp Stewart and Stewart MacDougall designed. The Pennsylvania-born, California-raised MacDougall enjoyed a postwar collaboration with West Coast native Stewart that resulted in great success with manufacturers such as Glenn of California and Drexel Furniture. The duo’s celebrated Declaration line for the latter featured streamlined credenzas, dressers and more made in walnut with comely porcelain hardware. The dining chairs, tables and coffee tables manufactured by Calvin flaunt the pair’s signature clean lines, gentle curves and organic shapes.
In the late 1950s and early ‘60s, Calvin Furniture continued its business relationship with B.G. Mesberg National Sales and Directional Furniture. Calvin finally closed their doors during the early 1970s, but their legacy can be found in enduring pieces of modern furniture that remain popular today.
On 1stDibs, find a selection of vintage Calvin Furniture tables, credenzas, chairs and more.
- Paul McCobb for Calvin Brass and Mahogany 10 Drawer Credenza, ca. 1960By Paul McCobb, Calvin FurnitureLocated in Costa Mesa, CAPaul McCobb for Calvin brass and mahogany 10 drawer credenza, ca. 1960. Rare, larger credenza has been professionally restored and brass hardware an...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsBrass
- Bespoke Credenza by Aksel Harboe, 1999Located in Costa Mesa, CABespoke Buffet or Credenza by Aksel Harboe, 1999. Mr. Harboe was a master cabinetmaker, trained and educated in Denmark. He moved to the United States in ...Category
1990s American American Craftsman Buffets
MaterialsCherry, Wenge
On Hold$2,500 - Pair of Paul McCobb Model 302 Lounge Chairs with Ottoman, circa 1955By Paul McCobbLocated in Costa Mesa, CAPair of Paul McCobb Model 302 lounge chairs with ottoman, circa 1955. Professionally restored in excellent condition, these chairs have the matching ottoman redone in beautiful textu...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBirch, Fabric
- Teak Credenza Model 29 by Arne Vodder for Sibast Furniture, circa 1960By Povl Dinesen, Arne Vodder, SibastLocated in Costa Mesa, CATeak Credenza Model 29 by Arne Vodder for Sibast Furniture, circa 1960. Professionally restored in showroom condition, this beautiful model PD 29 credenza for Povl Dinesen for Sibast...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsTeak
- Edward Wormley for Dunbar Captain's "Y" Chair, ca. 1955By Dunbar Furniture, Edward WormleyLocated in Costa Mesa, CAEdward Wormley for Dunbar Captain's "Y" chair, ca. 1955. Professionally restored walnut frame with new back caning and new upholstered seat with super soft and luxurious ivory wool f...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsBrass
$2,500 Sale Price44% Off - George Nelson for Herman Miller Drop-Leaf Desk Model 4754, ca. 1955By Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Costa Mesa, CAGeorge Nelson for Herman Miller Drop-Leaf Desk Model 4754, ca. 1955. Professionally restored in showroom condition, this beautiful desk has a drop leaf on the left side with all orig...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMahogany
$2,500 Sale Price28% Off
- Paul McCobb for Calvin Mid Century 16-Drawer Mahogany and Brass Sideboard BuffetBy Paul McCobb, Calvin FurnitureLocated in Countryside, ILPaul McCobb for Calvin mid century 16-drawer mahogany and brass sideboard buffet credenza Measures: 71.25 wide x 19 deep x 27.25 high Restored vintage condition. Piece is rest...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsBrass
- Paul McCobb for Calvin Midcentury Mahogany and Brass CredenzaBy Paul McCobb, Calvin FurnitureLocated in Countryside, ILPaul McCobb for Calvin midcentury Mahogany and Brass Credenza This credenza measures: 66 wide x 19.25 deep x 33.25 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we cal...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsBrass
- Paul McCobb for Calvin Midcentury Mahogany and Brass Bar Credenza CabinetBy Paul McCobb, Calvin FurnitureLocated in Countryside, ILPaul McCobb for Calvin midcentury Mahogany and Brass Bar Credenza Cabinet This credenza measures: 36 wide x 19.25 deep x 33.25 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsBrass
- Paul McCobb Irwin Collection Mahogany and Brass Credenza by CalvinBy Directional, Calvin Furniture, Paul McCobbLocated in Miami, FLAll original Paul McCobb mahogany and brass cabinet model C8506 with breakfront top model C8006, from the Irwin Collection by Calvin Furniture, which is part of the work the designer created for Directional. The two piece mid-century modern credenza with hutch features: a bottom sideboard (which can be used as a stand alone case piece) with five drawers; brass knobs; a folding door opening to an interior fitted with one shelf; brass base and stretchers; and a top etagere with four drawers with brass pulls; two glass shelves; brass dividers; two cabinet doors opening to an interior with a shelf; label. 100% original finish and condition. The perfect vintage piece to used as a bar cabinet, bookcase or as a server buffet. Part of a one owner collection of McCobb furniture exclusively presented by Select Modern; a truly rare time capsule! There are more pieces from this collection available in our storefront. A copy of the original 1956 purchase receipt for all the pieces from this collection is available. Works well in many different decors, from eclectic modern to more elegant or traditional ones. Sideboard: 71.25 in (180.98 cm) W x 19.13 in (48.6 cm) D x 34.07 in (86.54 com) H Hutch: 71.25" (180.98 cm) W x 14 in (35.56 cm) D x 49 in (124.46 cm) H Literature: Fifties Furniture...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
MaterialsBrass
- Mid century Paul McCobb Calvin Credenza Mahogany Brass travertineBy Calvin Furniture, Paul McCobbLocated in BROOKLYN, NYMid century American designer Paul McCobb credenza dark Mahogany wood. Original finish in beautiful vintage condition, has original Rare Travertine top with folding mahogany front doors...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsTravertine, Brass
- Paul McCobb for Calvin Mid Century Vitrolite and Bleached Mahogany CredenzaBy Paul McCobb, Calvin FurnitureLocated in Countryside, ILPaul McCobb for Calvin Mid Century Vitrolite and Bleached Mahogany Credenza This credenza measures: 60 wide x 19 deep x 32.25 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsVitrolite, Mahogany