FUR-027 Paul McCobb — Set of 6 "Shovel" Chairs for Winchendon, Model 1533, Red Stain, Planner Group, c.1950, MCM / SFMOMA Design

A rare complete set of 6 Paul McCobb "Shovel" chairs (Model 1533) for Winchendon Furniture, USA, c.1950 — one of the most iconic American MCM dining chair designs, refinished in a rich red stain that gives this set a bold, striking character.

The Shovel Chair is Paul McCobb's most celebrated seating design from his landmark Planner Group collection — a sculptural saddle seat with turned spindle back on an iron frame that earned a place in the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). McCobb (1917–1969) designed the Planner Group to bring genuine modern design to a broad American market, and the Shovel Chair's elegant simplicity, honest materials, and architectural confidence have made it one of the most collected American MCM chairs on the market today.

Sets of 6 are significantly rarer and more valuable than individual examples or pairs — a complete dining set in matching red stain is an immediate statement for any MCM interior. The refinished red stain is a period-sympathetic treatment that unifies the set and gives it a warm, distinctive personality.

Details

• Designer: Paul McCobb (American, 1917–1969), attributed
• Manufacturer: Winchendon Furniture, Massachusetts
• Model: Shovel Chair, Model 1533
• Collection: Planner Group
• Quantity: Set of 6
• Finish: Refinished in red stain
• Materials: Maple/wood seat and spindle back; iron legs
• Dimensions: 34"H × 18.5"W × 20"D; seat height 17.5"
• Date: c.1950