FUR-021 Paul McCobb — "Shovel Chair" Planner Group for Winchendon, Painted by Jan Miller, c.1950, MCM / SFMOMA Collection Design

A rare and unique example of Paul McCobb's iconic "Shovel Chair" (Model 1533) from his celebrated Planner Group for Winchendon Furniture, c.1950 — distinguished by the addition of original decorative painting by Jan Miller, transforming a classic American MCM production piece into a one-of-a-kind art object.

The Shovel Chair is one of the defining designs of American Mid-Century Modernism — named for its distinctive sculpted saddle seat with spindle back, set on a minimal iron frame. Paul McCobb (1917–1969) designed the Planner Group to bring sophisticated modern design to a broad market, and the Shovel Chair's elegant simplicity earned it a place in the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). It remains one of the most collected and recognizable American MCM chairs.

This example is singular: at some point the chair was decorated by Jan Miller, whose painted embellishments transform the wooden seat and spindle back into something between furniture and folk art — a personalized object with a story, and a genuine example of the American tradition of decorating functional pieces as a form of creative expression. The Potomack Company, which offered this chair, is one of the East Coast's most respected auction houses for serious MCM material.

Details

• Designer: Paul McCobb (American, 1917–1969)
• Model: Shovel Chair, Model 1533
• Manufacturer: Winchendon Furniture, Massachusetts
• Collection: Planner Group
• Artist Decoration: Painted by Jan Miller
• Materials: Maple/wood seat and spindle back; metal legs
• Dimensions: 33.75"H × 18.5"W × 24.25"D
• Date: c.1950
• Condition: Minor stains and chips consistent with age and use.