Why You Should Invest in Mid-Century Furniture
Forget stocks and shares, think G-Plan…
Furniture may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think “investment” but, if you buy wisely (and do your research!) then you could just pick yourself up something which will, in the long run, bring you a healthy return. Mid-Century furniture was always well made with simple, hard-wearing materials — teak, rosewood, plastics & fibreglass being just a few of these — and as as result, is (if looked after!) still just as functional today as it was when it was made.
Style at its simplest…
Not only was the furniture from this era durable, it was stylish and, there’s no other word for it, cool — the clean lines, the organic curves, the modern material meaning that mid century pieces look just as at home in a contemporary environment as they do in a period interior. Take the DSW chair, designed by the iconic Charles & Ray Eames back in 1950 — you would be hard pressed nowadays to walk down any high street in the UK and not see a replica of this gorgeously simple plastic seated, wood & metal legged chair in cafes, bars or even libraries and banks, not to mention around any number of dining tables in homes! This is style at it’s simplest and most timeless.
But let’s face it, cheap, mass produced replicas are nothing compared to the originals.
You have to speculate to accumulate…
Like everything, certain designers are more collectable (and therefore more valuable!) than others. These are the designers which can bring you a sound investment if you buy them for the right money! If you know anything about mid century furniture, then you will probably already recognise some of the key names. If you’re new to it, then even just a few minutes of research will bring you up to speed with the usual suspects (Eames, Wegner, Bertoia, Breuer to name a few). If someone is selling something by one of these designers, then it is, at the very least, worth a closer look. But make sure you inspect the item carefully, especially if that deal seems a little too good to be true. Before you go splashing the cash though, there’s a few things that you should do, if you don’t, your mistakes can be costly (trust me).
LEARN, EXPERIENCE AND THEN BUY…
1. Read 📖
Call me old fashioned, but there’s something about books that the internet can’t provide. Fill your shelves with reference books and try to make time to digest all the knowledge you can. My three must haves are: 1000 Chairs, Modern Retro and Millers 20th century design — all three provide inside knowledge, dates, designs, year of production, year of design, the list is endless…..
2. Auctions and fairs
The only two places where you are able to pick up, touch, feel and experience what the real McCoy feels like. This is one of the best ways to learn about mid century, and trust me, there’s a lot to learn! So if you have the time, go and visit your local auction and maybe even spark a conversation with the auctioneer, its amazing what you can learn of other people.
3. Collectors and dealers
These are two people with different intentions but the same passion. They have a wealth of knowledge which money can’t buy, so why not pick their brain a little? Ask them all the questions you can — its amazing what information people are willing to give away…
4. Museums
Museums are a great way to see the absolute top quality pieces that money can buy. Museums will only exhibit the very best, so take every opportunity you can to visit the relevant exhibitions. Cities such as Manchester, London and Liverpool hold regular design exhibitions like this one which is currently in Manchester: http://manchesterartgallery.org/exhibitions-and-events/exhibition/nordic-craft-and-design/ 😍
So now you’ve hopefully expanded your knowledge and you’re ready to have a go at investing in Mid-Century furniture. Have fun in doing it and enjoy the pieces you buy, but remember, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is and I, unfortunately, learnt this the hard way!
I’m James Broad, a lover of all things vintage and Co-founder of Intique, a marketplace with personality selling vintage and antique furniture with character.
