Paul McCobb Auction Prices and Value Guide

Paul McCobb auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 1,665 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Paul McCobb auction prices: quick answer

Paul McCobb auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Paul McCobb
Source records
1,665
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Paul McCobb

Paul Winthrop McCobb (1917–1969) was an American modern furniture designer, industrial designer, textile designer, and painter who became one of the most influential figures in mid-century American design. Active primarily in the 1950s and 1960s, McCobb championed clean lines, functional forms, and accessible modernism for the American home. His furniture lines were widely produced and distributed, bringing modern design principles to a broad consumer audience. McCobb's work is represented in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and he is recognized in the Library of Congress Name Authority File as a significant American designer. His legacy is closely associated with the postwar embrace of streamlined, practical modern living.

Mid-Century Modernfurnituretextilesresidential furnitureindustrial design

Common works and media

McCobb is most commonly encountered in appraisal and auction contexts through residential furniture pieces including desks, dining tables, chairs, dressers, bookcases, and modular shelving units. His textile designs and occasional paintings also appear. Works are typically executed in wood, metal, and composite materials with minimalist hardware and clean geometric profiles. Production pieces were often branded or labeled with manufacturer marks; collectors and appraisers should look for original labels or documentation to confirm attribution.

Market and appraisal context

Paul McCobb maintains a deep and highly liquid secondary market. Appraisily's auction-record index tracks 916 total lots spanning May 2004 through April 2026, with 800 carrying realized prices. Annual volume is stable at roughly 95–96 priced lots per year, indicating consistent collector demand without speculative spikes. The price distribution is wide but concentrated in an accessible mid-range: the interquartile spread runs from $425 (25th percentile) to $1,500 (75th percentile), with a median of $750 USD. Outlier pieces—particularly rare prototypes, documented custom commissions, or lots with strong provenance—have reached as high as $130,000, while more common production pieces such as side chairs and small tables can sell below $200. The market is served by a diverse roster of at least ten recurring auction houses, including specialist 20th-century design firms (Wright, Rago Arts and Auction Center, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, Hindman), regional American houses (Barton's Auction, Concept Art Gallery, Clars Auctions, Toomey & Co.), and international venues (Piasa in France, Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen in Germany, Sworders in the United Kingdom). Furniture dominates the catalog, with desks, dressers, dining tables, coffee tables, servers, ottomans, benches, and chairs appearing regularly. Named production lines—Planner Group, Calvin Linear Group, and Winchendon—are frequently cited in lot titles and command a premium over unattributed or 'attrib.' pieces. Textile designs appear less frequently but are part of the recorded oeuvre. The breadth of houses, the 22-year track record, and the stable annual throughput all point to a mature, well-established secondary market for McCobb's work.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • furniture
  • textiles

Value drivers

  1. Attribution to Paul McCobb's named furniture lines and production partnerships affects value significantly
  2. Condition, original finishes, and completeness of matching sets are key factors for furniture appraisal
  3. Institutional collection status (MoMA) supports long-term collectibility and market recognition
  4. Production line attribution: Planner Group, Calvin Linear Group, and Winchendon pieces are explicitly named in auction titles and typically command higher prices than unattributed lots
  5. Original labels and marks: pieces retaining manufacturer labels, model numbers (e.g., '1578', '7009', '7019'), or designer stamps are valued higher than unlabeled examples
  6. Attribution confidence: lots described as 'attrib.' or 'attribution' sell at a meaningful discount to confirmed pieces; verification through labels, documentation, or provenance directly affects appraised value

Appraisal caveats

  • The source pack does not include specific auction records or realized prices; market context is drawn from institutional and biographical sources only
  • Production furniture pieces were manufactured in quantity; rarity depends on specific line, model, and condition rather than inherent scarcity
  • Realized prices span $30–$130,000; no single figure is representative, and appraisal requires matching the specific piece to the correct segment of this distribution
  • Many lots are production furniture manufactured in quantity by licensed partners (Winchendon, Calvin Furniture, others); rarity is line- and model-dependent, not inherent to the artist's name alone

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Paul McCobb

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Paul McCobb worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Paul McCobb artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.