 An original Eames’ rocking chair will cost in the region of €895 |
Mid-century modern furniture from the 1950s, 60’s and 70’s is highly coveted. The top end of this market has some serious design credentials and prices to match, such as a 1950s oak and glass table by Italian designer Carlo Mollino which sold for nearly €4m in 2005.
For most people, however, this level of collecting is beyond reach, but there are some great examples of products by Scandinavian and American designers of this period to be picked up, costing in the region of high hundreds to low thousands of euro. For the aficionado with a good eye, the British response to 1960s and 1970s sleek, streamlined Scandinavian furniture is one to watch. Such is the growing popularity of this trend that a number of specialist dealers have sprung up around Ireland.
Dublin-based furniture restorer Jenny Wallblom, and Aoife Hannan - whose background is in ceramic art - have turned this into a business called Table Lighting Chair (TLC), specialising in pieces from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.
“20th century retro furniture makers to look out for are G-Plan, Stag, Ercol, Parker Knoll, Nathan and Schreiber,” says Aoife. “But don’t get hung up on having these names as there are plenty of beautiful well made pieces available without a maker's mark.”
Function and simple clean lines characterise these, and the wood quality is good, usually teak and rosewood. Among the more popular is the much maligned dining room sideboard, now making a comeback thanks, in part, to a growing appreciation of the work of these manufacturers. Expect to pay in the region of €400-€600 restored.
“Inform yourself so you know what you’re looking for and what is out there,” says Aoife. “It may sound obvious but always check the condition of the piece. Look out for tongue and groove constructed drawers, rather than just wood glued together. If the finish is veneer, check the edges to make sure it’s not lifting off the piece. There is no reason why a well-made piece of retro furniture that has survived intact for decades should not last another 60 years.”
|
It’s also important to give consideration to where you plan to put the furniture item.
“Mix furniture styles in a room,” says Aoife. “Retro pieces work well with modern furniture once both have clean lines and simple elegant design, but too much may make your room look like a museum.”
Another source of mid-century modern is Wildchild Originals in Drury Street, Dublin. They sell furniture, lighting and decorative objects from the same period, but they also pick up some interesting pieces from the 30’s and 40’s, or even the 80’s, if they’re particularly unusual. They also rent out pieces to film production companies, theatres and even houses for sale where the items match the period of the house, or the seller wants to achieve a particular look.
“Most of the people coming into our warehouse are looking for distinctive, one-off pieces,” says owner Will Walsh. “We sell original pieces only, from Scandinavia and America, to architects and interior designers who find pieces here for their design projects, and to the general public who have an appreciation of their quality and value.”
Although well designed vintage pieces work beautifully in contemporary homes, according to Walsh, owners of period properties are also buying into the market, especially if they want something more modern but which will still work with the age of the house. In the main, though, the trend is to mix and match, buying with a good eye and mixing eclectics, or taking a key piece and grouping it with lesser quality furniture.
Among items at the high end of the price scale are dining tables and chairs by Danish designer Hans Wegner with their minimalist, functional and beautifully crafted style. These are selling for between €5-6,000, although you can get other vintage tables for as little as €800.
 The British response to Scandinavian mid-century design is a new collecting trend, especially sideboards from G-Plan and McIntosh. €400-€600. |
Furniture by Americans Charles and Ray Eames is also enjoying a huge revival in recent years, and you can pick up their iconic rocking chair for €895.
Vintage lights are in demand too, especially chandeliers. “We’ve been a lamp and light-bulb country,” says Walsh, “But in places like France, Italy and Scandinavia, they have their chandeliers. You can pick up Italian ones like Murano from the ‘50s and ‘60s for €95 - €2,500.”
At the more affordable end of this trend, there’s an opportunity to buy into nostalgia. Old vinyl record players, particularly colourful red and orange portable versions from the 1950s and ‘60s, are selling for €100 and €200. And for ageing hippies, original ‘60s rock posters from San Francisco may bring back memories of a misspent youth.
www.wildchildoriginals.com
http://tablelightingchair.blogspot.com