Posts tagged mid-century modern furniture
MID-CENTURY MASTERS: PAUL MCCOBB

Paul McCobb (June 5, 1917 - March 10, 1969) is one of the most important and well known mid-century furniture designers. Born in Medford, Massachusetts, he studied drawing and painting at the Vesper George School of Art in Boston. Before finishing, he joined the army. He returned and began his career as a self taught designer, in 1948 joining Martin Feinman’s Modernage Furniture in New York City as a designer and decorating consultant. This is where he would meet B. G. Mesber who he would collaborate with for his Planner and Directional lines. While he is known for his furniture, he also designed radios, tv’s, hi-fi consoles, and household items. He went on to design lines of furniture for many companies, including Planner for Winchendon Furniture Company, Predictor for O’Hearn Furniture, multiple lines for Calvin Furniture, and Connoisseur Collection by H. Sacks and Sons. His Planner line was one of the best selling furniture lines of the 1950’s. In 1952, he designed the set for the originalToday show, one of the first major introductions of modern design to the broader America.

What is striking about McCobb’s work is its simplicity. While this style is so regularly seen today, it was inventive and new for the time he worked. Every furniture piece is boiled down to its necessary parts— legs, seats, shelves, drawers— with no ornamentation. This paired back design requires each element to be carefully considered to achieve elegance rather than boring simplicity, a feat McCobb achieved with beautiful materials, thin and tapering forms, and thoughtful geometry. In his dining chairs seen above, for all intents and purposes they are very simple, straightforward chairs. McCobb’s touch is seen in the careful angle of the back, the tapering of the legs at the base, and the selection of rich wood. Looking at his pieces more than half a century later, they are truly timeless. His modernist vision was done so correctly that his work stands the test of time.

Blake Griffeypaul mccobb, interior design, furniture designers, furniture design, chicago west town, west town gallery, west town, west town chicago, planner line, directional furniture, sofa, chair, dining chairs, Mid Century Modern Furniture Chicago IL, Mid Century Antiques Chicago, Mid-Century Modern Near Me, Mid-Century Modern Furniture Chicago, mid-century modern furniture, Mid-Century Modern Furniture Stores, milo
MILO BAUGHMAN

Milo Baughman was an American modern furniture designer. His career began during his service in World War II, designing officer’s clubs. After returning from war, he went on to study at the Art Center School of Los Angeles and Chouinard Art Institute. He then established his own design practice while also designing for other manufacturers, such as Glenn of California, Pacific Iron, Drexel, and most notably with Thayer Coggin. This collaboration lasted for 50 years and include some of Baughman’s most well known designs.

MILO BAUGHMAN CHILD'S SIZE SWIVEL CHAIRS
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MILO BAUGHMAN CAMPAIGN DESK
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MILO BAUGHMAN T-BACK CUBE CHAIRS
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Baughman’s designs are without frills: the interest and excitement is baked into the forms and materials he employs. Using rich wood, upholstery, lucite, and chrome, his pieces are practical enough to fit into any home but almost sculptural enough to be works of art. The lines are intentional and bold with sleek curves or perfect right angles. In avoiding extra details, every element of his designs are carefully chosen and elegantly considered. Even his most adventurous pieces are appropriate in scale and usability. For example, the rosewood coffee table top appears to hover with its lucite legs, or the rosewood credenza looks as if three wooden cubes are suspended in air with the chrome body. Baughman’s furniture pieces have remained timeless due to the use of classic materials and simple design.

MILO BAUGHMAN ROSEWOOD BENCH
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MILO BAUGHMAN COFFEE TABLE
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MILO BAUGHMAN ROSEWOOD + CHROME CREDENZA
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Blake Griffeymilo baughman, mid-century modern furniture, Mid-Century Modern Furniture Chicago, Mid Century Antiques Chicago, Mid-Century Modern Furniture Stores, Mid-Century Modern Near Me, Mid Century Modern Furniture Chicago IL, thayer coggin, glenn of california, pacific iron, drexel, contemporary, chouinard art institute, art center school of los angeles, baughman