Directional Shelves
A brand known to vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors everywhere, Directional Furniture opened its doors after American furniture designer Paul McCobb created the high-end Directional Modern line of sofas distributed by the New York–based Modernage Company.
In his pivotal introduction of postwar modernism to the mass market, the revered Massachusetts-born McCobb had established several lines, from the affordable and refined Planner Group for Winchendon to the swooping and unexpected arms of the Symmetric Group for Widdicomb, a Shaker-inspired collection that included a sofa and a lounge chair. Like all of McCobb’s designs, the Directional pieces for Modernage are defined by a sleek aesthetic in which the focus is on elegant functionality, frequently using fine materials such as brass and walnut. In 1949, in partnership with New York furniture salesman B.G. Mesberg, McCobb set up the Directional Furniture Company.
The pair’s first pieces were upholstered chairs, intended to harmonize with the modular Multiplex pieces designed by Martin Feinman. McCobb then designed an array of furniture including storage, dining, seating, desks and other pieces with details such as leather tops, wood finishes and Roman Travertine surfaces. While Directional stopped production of McCobb’s work in the early 1960s, it still released numerous pieces by leading designers manufactured by a variety of companies.
Designer Paul Evans led the factory for a time after joining in 1964. His provocative work for the company often reflected his understanding of materials from his early training as a silversmith, such as the popular Cityscape series — a milestone in brutalist design — with its blocky forms accented with brass and chrome. At his shop in Lambertville, New Jersey, he collaborated with a design team to clad furniture pieces in metallic surfaces, like the Argente line that began production in 1968 and involved an acetylene torch to give its aluminum material a textural quality. He also worked on the Sculpted Bronze series with hand-formed resin shaped over plywood or steel that was then coated with atomized bronze.
Other Directional designers included Vladimir Kagan, who contributed biomorphic sofas and swivel chairs; Milo Baughman, who created tables and dressers inspired by Scandinavian modernism; and Jack Lenor Larsen, who covered sofas in dynamically patterned fabric.
Find authentic Directional Furniture seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets from top sellers around the world on 1stDibs.
to
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
3
3
2
2
5
5
5
5
5
165
65
61
49
48
Creator: Directional
Mid Century Paul Evans Wall Mirror
Console Table Shelf in Brass
Chrome
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredible design combination, a cityscape wall shelf and mirror designed by Paul Evans in the 1970's. The set features fine heavy construction with brass & chrome clad patchwork ...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s. USA. Modular shelving unit with gorgeous sun fading.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Plastic
Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay LeRoy Ruggles for Directional
By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s. USA. Modular shelving unit with gorgeous sun fading.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Plastic
Mid Century Paul Evans Cityscape Floating Shelf or Console Table Glass
Brass
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredible design, a cityscape wall shelf designed by Paul Evans in the 1970's. The set features fine heavy construction with brass clad patchwork design. Includes two L shaped wa...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass
Mid Century Paul Evans Cityscape Wall Mirror
Console Table Shelf in Brass
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredible design combination, a cityscape wall shelf and mirror designed by Paul Evans in the 1970's. The set features fine heavy construction with brass clad patchwork design. I...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass
Related Items
Stack Shelving Unit
By Noah Spencer, Fort Makers
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stack Shelving Unit is a grouping of architectural and abstract sculptures by Noah Spencer that together make a shelving unit. When these sculptures are ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Other Directional Shelves
Materials
Maple
Signed Paul Evans
Cityscape
Patchwork Wall Console
By Paul Evans
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This unique vintage wall mount console makes a unique display shelf in a variety of interiors. Cityscape design makes this patchwork chrome wall shelf...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Chrome
Illuminated Cityscape Corner Table by Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Atlanta, GA
A triangular corner side table in the "Cityscape" series made by Paul Evans studio for Directional, circa 1975. The table was a custom piece with built-in illuminated underneath. It ...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass, Chrome
$7,000 Sale Price
26% Off
H 22.5 in W 59.25 in D 30 in
Rare signed Paul Evans Cityscape large etagere freestanding shelves USA 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Hastings, GB
A rare signed iconic Paul Evans 'Cityscape' large freestanding etagere, USA 1970s. Chrome & brass (or gold plated metal) clad patchwork design- e...
Category
1970s American Brutalist Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass, Chrome
$12,519
H 84.26 in W 48.04 in D 16.93 in
Swedish Hallway Shelf and Mirror in Teak by Hans-Agne Jakobsson
By Hans-Agne Jakobsson
Located in Karlstad, SE
Rare and early hallway set by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Markaryd, Sweden.
At the beginning of his career, Jakobsson experimented with furniture aside from th...
Category
20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Directional Shelves
Materials
Mirror, Teak
$3,378 / set
H 29.53 in W 25.6 in D 9.06 in
Paul Evans Cityscape Brass and Wood Side Table
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in New York, NY
Rare and unusual Cityscape side table signed Paul Evans with brass and wood panels. This stunning combination is not often seen, this example is in very good, original condition, sho...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass
Paul Evans CityScape Sideboard for Directional Brass Tiles
Burl Wood Doors
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in St. Louis, MO
Rare 1970s Paul Evans Cityscape sideboard with waterfall ends for Directional with brass tiles and book matched Burl wood doors. Interior laminated in black...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass
$25,000
H 32.25 in W 84.13 in D 22 in
Paul Evans Style Patchwork Brutalist Brass and Copper Console
By Paul Evans
Located in Miami, FL
Paul Evans style patchwork Brutalist brass and copper console.
A patchwork of copper and brass pieces on a wooden frame finished with a thick lacquer coat.
Category
1970s American Brutalist Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass, Copper
Paul McCobb Travertine Consoles and or Sofa Tables
By Paul McCobb, Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul McCobb Travertine Consoles and or Sofa Tables, model 8704 for Directional.
Square tubular brass with 3/4" travertine.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Travertine, Brass
Paul McCobb Brass and Vitrolite Console Table, Mid-Century Modern
By Directional, Paul McCobb
Located in Round Top, TX
Iconic Paul McCobb brass and Vitrolite console table. Perfect age and oxidation to brass in the coveted longer six foot length.
A rare example of Mr. McCobb's elegant, streamlined,...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass
$8,000
H 21.94 in W 71.94 in D 17.94 in
Paul Evans Cityscape Brass and Glass Wall Mount Shelf
By Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul Evans Cityscape shelf with brass supports and glass shelf. In original condition with visible wear, consistent with age and use.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Brass
Paul Evans Attributed Cityscape Patchwork Burlwood Credenza
By Milo Baughman, Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Houston, TX
Paul Evans Attributed Cityscape patchwork burlwood credenza. This stunning long mid-century Paul Evans for Directional attributed credenza or chest ...
Category
1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Wood
Previously Available Items
Space Age Umbo Modular Shelving Unit by Kay Ruggles for Directional
By Directional
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A Umbo Space Age modular shelving unit in a molded yellow ABS styled plastic containing 28 pieces making for a large unit . Fitting together like a puzzle with inner pegs you can cre...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Space Age Directional Shelves
Materials
Plastic
Paul Evans Wall-Hanging Console, Sculpted Bronze, Slate, Signed
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in New York, NY
Paul Evans Wall-Hanging Console, Sculpted Bronze, Slate, Signed. In original condition and purchased from the original owner. Large scale chunky wall mounted shelf, finished dark in ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Slate, Bronze
1970’s Orange Umbo Modular Shelving
By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Orange Umbo modular shelving system designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970’s. in excellent vintage condition.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Plastic
1970’s Umbo Modular Shelving by Kay Leroy Ruggles
By Directional, Kay Leroy Ruggles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Yellow Umbo modular shelving system designed by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1970. In excellent vintage condition.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Plastic
Paul Evans for Directional Cityscape Collection Chrome, Brass, and Glass Shelf
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare Mid-Century Modern floating wall shelf or console table
By Paul Evans for Directional, "Cityscape" Collection
USA, 1970s
Patchwork chrome and brass L-brackets, with glass t...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Chrome, Brass
H 8.63 in W 60 in D 12.13 in
Umbo Shelving
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
by Kay Leroy Ruggles c. 1970s in great vintage condition with minor scuffing, scratches, and other normal wear
Category
1970s American Space Age Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Plaster
Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze Wall-Mounted Shelving Unit, First Year of Production
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Dallas, TX
Paul Evans 'Sculpted Bronze Series' wall unit acquired from the original owner who acquired it from the Directional showroom in NYC. This unit is signed PE and is dated from the very first year of production, 1969. It is in very good original condition with bronze glass shelves...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Brutalist Directional Shelves
Materials
Bronze
H 78.5 in W 54 in D 15 in
Paul Evans for Directional Chrome and Glass Floating Shelves or Console Tables
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare pair of mid-century modern floating wall shelves or console tables
By Paul Evans for Directional, "Cityscape" Collection
USA, 1970s
...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Chrome
H 8.5 in W 48 in D 12 in
UMBO
Modular Shelving System by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, 1972
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare shelving system is the 'UMBO' system designed in the early 1970s by Kay Leroy Ruggles for Directional, and was first published in New York magazine on September 25, 1972. This monumental example in a beautiful brown color with a total of 53 elements, detailed below.
Constructed from Uniroyal ABS, a product which is durable, nontoxic, and more heat-resistant than wood which was also used to make telephones at that time. Was offered in white, tangerine and brown - this set is in the brown color option. The color was sprayed on in the factory and should not chip off under normal use. The modular system allows to create different types of furniture such as console or coffee tables, bench, bookcase, room dividers, sofa tables, cocktail tables, side or end tables, nightstands or bedside tables, cafe and breakfast or dining tables and more.
Produced only for a short time from 1972 to around 1974, due to the ensuing energy crisis of 1973 which marked the end of the era of cheap gasoline and, therefore, plastics causing UMBO to go out of production in 1974 making these examples extremely rare and sought after by collectors. Finding a set this large is much more rare.
This wall system became a huge hit for Directional who produced a wide variety of modules and since UMBO was fully modular, it could be arranged and re-arranged at any time into fun and creative solutions and uses for your home. UMBO was even available with a desk, dining table, bed frame or wall shelves module which made it perfect for small apartments such as those in Los Angeles and New York. The particular configuration seen in our photos was put together by our photographer just as an example of how it can be configured but it can be rearranged, expanded or divided to your liking.
Kay Leroy Ruggles was a pioneer of inventions and lifelong entrepreneur with a highly successful career winning many awards and holding numerous patents in which he designed and developed over 100 products in a wide range of industries, including automobile, space, furniture, window coverings, amusement park and musical instruments, for example he created the tubular water slide and when Richard Nixon wanted a new bathroom for Air Force One, that job went to Ruggles. Later, Hugh Hefner had custom-designed rooms by Ruggles and so did Ted Kennedy and Disney World.
Consider this original UMBO bookcase...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Plastic
Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo Corner Shelving Unit, Directional, Ivory Cream, 1972
By Kay Leroy Ruggles, Directional
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Kay Leroy Ruggles Umbo corner shelving unit, directional, ivory cream, 1972
UMBO was published in New York magazine on September 25, 1972 and be...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Directional Shelves
Materials
Plastic
Paul Evans Cityscape Mirror with Floating Console for Directional
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul Evans cityscape mirror with floating console or vanity. Chrome frame in original condition with some frame wear and scratching. Vanity...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Chrome
1973 Paul Evans Brutalist Sculpted Bronze Wall Shelving Unit
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brutalist wall unit by Paul Evans Studio for Directional USA, 1970's. Bronzed resin over wood with 8 smoked glass shelves. Signed PE 73. Each shelf...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directional Shelves
Materials
Smoked Glass, Wood, Resin
Directional shelves for sale on 1stDibs.
Directional shelves are available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider shelves by Edward Wormley, Dunbar, and Herman Miller.
Creators Similar to Directional
Questions About Directional Shelves
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021While a pear-shaped ring can be worn either way, most commonly it is worn with the tip of the diamond facing upwards to look like a falling teardrop when the hand is raised. This also helps create the impression of longer fingers.
More Directional Furniture
Directional Credenzas
Directional Cabinets
Directional Sideboards
Directional Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Directional Dressers
Directional Seating
Directional Tables
Directional Mirrors
Directional Lighting
Directional Decorative Objects
Directional Wall Decorations
Directional Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass