Few friendships last a lifetime, but Milo Baughman (1923–2003) and Thayer Coggin (1922–2003) were united by their desire to craft American furniture with timeless heirloom appeal. Today vintage Thayer Coggin sofas, coffee tables, alluring chrome-framed chairs and other furnishings are recognized as masterpieces of good design and remain highly sought after by collectors near and far.
Having both served in the military during World War II and coming from humble backgrounds — Coggin from Denton, North Carolina, and Baughman from Goodland, Kansas (but raised in California) — they shared a passion for simple, modern design in home furnishings. In 1953, after showing his prescient designs to a number of companies (who turned him down) in the furniture center of High Point, North Carolina, Baughman decided to pay a last-minute visit to Coggin, who had just founded his eponymous brand. After a nearly hour-long meeting in which Coggin shot out of his seat exclaiming he had never seen anything like Baughman's work, the two men shook hands. They would be friends and collaborators for the next 50 years.
Coggin let Baughman pursue his singular vision, while the Thayer Coggin company benefited from its close relationship with the ever more prominent Baughman, the manufacturer’s lead designer and an architect of California modernism who also collaborated with Drexel Furniture, Glenn of California and others during his career.
In 1968, New York Times critic Rita Reif hailed Baughman’s work for its elegance and sophistication. “With this furniture,” she wrote of his new collection, Environment 70 produced by Thayer Coggin, “who needs a decorator?” Baughman’s name became synonymous with sleekly modern, comfortable furniture the whole family could enjoy — stylish seating upholstered with impossibly cozy bouclé fabric and dashing case pieces that reflected the venturesome sensibility associated with mid-century modernism as well as the functionality of the Bauhaus.
Although its founder died in 2003, Thayer Coggin remains an esteemed family-run brand in High Point. Each item of furniture is bench-made by a single craftsperson to ensure “continuity among related pieces,” the company says, and comes in a vast array of upholstery fabrics, wood and metal finishes. Like the friendship that defined it, Thayer Coggin furniture is built to last.
Find a unique collection of new and vintage Thayer Coggin furniture today on 1stDibs.
Post Modern 1990s Preview Sectional Sofa in Plush Ivory White Bouclé
By Preview
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Large Post Modern Sectional Sofa by Preview professionally reupholstered in highly durable super soft ivory white bouclé. If there was a ever a d...
Bouclé, Upholstery
Light Cream Boucle Curved Channeled Sectional Sofa, Custom
By The Tailored Home
Located in Greenwich, CT
Sweeping curves meet textural warmth in this expansive channeled sectional. Shown in a premium light cream boucle, the design features tight vertical...
Bouclé, Upholstery, Hardwood
$12,500
H 28 in W 176 in D 88 in
American Vintage White and Cream Swirl Upholstered 3-Piece Sectional Sofa
Located in Queens, NY
American Vintage (1980s) 3-piece sectional sofa with lightly swirl patterned white / cream upholstery, removable seat cushions, and arms on ends of two outer sections. Yellowing sta...
Upholstery
SURGE SECTIONAL - Modern Sectional Sofa in Cream Faux Leather
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
SURGE SECTIONAL - Modern Sectional Sofa in Cream Faux Leather The Surge Sectional Sofa in cream faux leather is a luxurious and stylish piece of furniture that is perfect for any mo...
Upholstery
$29,491 / item
H 34.26 in W 122.05 in D 104.73 in
Zanotta William Modular Sofa in White Fabric by Damian Williamson
By Zanotta, Damian Williamson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta William Modular Sofa in White Fabric by Damian Williamson These modular elements allow many corner or straight compositions. Aluminum alloy feet, either polished or wi...
Fabric
2 Piece Curved "Slice" Sectional Sofa by Thayer Coggin
By Thayer Coggin
Located in Dallas, TX
Two-piece “Slice” sectional sofa by Thayer Coggin, designed by Ransom Culler as part of the brand’s modular Slice collection. This example features a gently curved configuration, cr...
Steel
Todd Hase Designed Freya Three Piece Sectional
By Todd Hase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic Modern details with fabulous tailoring designed by Todd Hase. Add some Modern Elements to your Living Space. This Classic 3-Piece sectional sofa will work well with many styl...
Textile
$11,952 / item
H 27.56 in W 138.98 in D 51.19 in
'Studio' Sofa by Norr11, Modular Sofa, Setup 12, White
By Norr11
Located in Paris, IDF
STUDIO sofa by Kristian Sofus Hansen & Tommy Hyldahl for Nor11 Measures: setup 12 modules : 1x lounge large armrest short right, 1x large, 1x ottoman, 1x armrest Measures: D 96/130 CM / H 70 CM / SH 47 CM / W 353 cm Model shown: Cat 2. Barnum boucle 24 (White) Modular sofa: assemble different modules to create your composition Wide range of fabrics and colors CAT 1: Grain, Fame, Megan CAT 2: Barnum, Breeze Fusion CAT 3: Fiord, Hallingdal, Savanna, Zero, Steelcut Trio, Moss, Safire, Ultra CAT 4: Baru, Envy CAT 5: Dunes, Spectrum, Terra Introducing Studio, the newest sofa landscape in the NORR11 collection - a tribute to a timeless era of the 70s and its expressive aesthetics. Featuring a versatile but simple system of modules, appearing in limitless options to form numerous settings, shapes and styles to adhere to all types of environments. Whether for a small living setting or spacious public site. Studio is defined by its bold fluted upholstery characteristics inspired by late 1970s sofa styles...
Foam
$12,400
H 24.5 in W 172 in D 34 in
Milo Baughman Ivory Cream Semi-Circular Sectional Sofa for Thayer Coggin
By Thayer Coggin, Milo Baughman
Located in Saint Louis, MO
There can hardly be a more emblematic Mid-Century Modern sofa than the Milo Baughman semi-circular sectional sofa circa 1970s made by Thayer Coggin. The most well known and admired o...
Upholstery
$12,950 / set
H 26 in W 165 in D 84.5 in
Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin Circular Sectional Sofa, Cream Upholstery, 1970
By Thayer Coggin, Milo Baughman
Located in Stamford, CT
Fabulous two piece circular sectional sofa by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin. The original cream colored fabric seems to be an ultra suede. There are no flaws to the fabric. It is u...
Upholstery, Wood
1960's California Studio Walnut Sofa Bench
By Sam Maloof
Located in Oakland, CA
1960’s California studio-craft walnut sofa hand carved of solid walnut with sculptural arms, fine joinery, slatted back, and two built-in tapered side tables. Raised on round tapered...
Walnut
Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin Swiveling Tilt Lounge Chairs in Chrome Backs
By Milo Baughman
Located in Oakland, CA
Pair of Swivel & Tilt lounge chairs designed by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin. Features a 360 degree swiveling mechanism with tilt. The chairs are very comfortable and flex as ones...
Chrome
1930's Frits Henningsen Sofa with Dramatic Flared Arms of Mahogany.
By Frits Henningsen
Located in Oakland, CA
Sofa by master cabinetmaker Frits Henningsen, Denmark, 1938. The design features dramatic flared arms crafted from Cuban mahogany and a traditionally constructed seat with eight-way ...
Mohair, Mahogany
Sculptural Danish Settee in Black Leather
By Georg Kofoed
Located in Oakland, CA
Danish loveseat settee with a double rounded back upholstered in the original black leather with classic button-tufted detailing. Attributed to master cabinetmaker Georg Kofoed, Denm...
Leather
Celina Decorações Brazilian Modern Rosewood Coffee Table With Ottoman Benches
By Celina Decoracoes
Located in Oakland, CA
Unique and multi-functional Brazilian Modern marble-top coffee table and ottomans by Munis Zilberberg for Celina Decoracoes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1958. The coffee table features a...
Rosewood
Swivel Tilt Chrome Base Lounge Chairs by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin
By Thayer Coggin, Milo Baughman
Located in Oakland, CA
The ultimate in comfort, the Roxy Swivel Tilt Lounge Chair, designed by Milo Baughman in 1965, is a modern classic. Featuring a curved back and a 360-degre...
Chrome
