Danish Modern or “American” Danish Modern?

By Bradley Downs

Scandinavian design, also referred to as Danish Modern, is quite hot right now. So hot that a certain design by famed Danish designer, Finn Juhl, has fetched upwards of $40,000.00 for just ONE chair! (That would be the Chieftain Chair, pictured). Other noted designers from Denmark include, but are definitely not limited to, Hans Wegner, Niels O. Moller, Arne Jacobsen, Borge Mogensen, IB Kofod Larsen, Peter Hvidt, Grete Jalk and the list literally goes on and on.

True Danish furniture and objects of design mainly consist of either solid Brazilian rosewood or solid teak and some oak. The choice for rosewood was obvious as the grain and figure of the wood made a statement of its own, not to mention the strength of the wood itself. But, even in the early years of its use, furniture manufactures knew it would soon be discontinued due to the fact that it was not an easily renewable resource. Teak, on the other hand, was a great choice for many Danes as it is an extremely durable, hard wood resistant to moisture and certain insects such as termites. It is also quite strong, assuring the designer that his/her work would endure for many years and that is exactly what we are seeing at this time, 50-plus-year old teak furniture hitting the market with another 50-plus-years of use left in it.

I like to refer to Danish Modern as the first true “green furniture” to come to market. It was mass-produced but on a scale where it was still handmade and often designed as “knock-down” furniture. Produced in Denmark, disassembled, shipped to Canada or the U.S., and then easily reassembled by the store owner or purchaser.

In contrast, many American furniture manufactures of the 1950s and 1960s attempted to emulate the Danes quality and craftsmanship with no such luck. The American manufacturers used cheaper fruit woods, pine and sometimes solid walnut. Some got it almost right, and their popularity has grown to this day. One of which is Adrian Pearsall’s company, Craft Associates, of Burkesville Indiana. Adrian was head designer for this company which was headed up by him and his brother during the 1950s and 1960s and they were eventually bought by Lane, another U.S. company attempting “Danish Modern” and using high quality materials and craftsmanship, but failing in the vicinity of true “design.” Some out there would call the work of Vladimir Kagan “Danish,” but in fact, his designs were very far left of Scandinavian and too avant-garde to fit in with the convention of Danish design.

Other American companies, many of which were old, established names in the furniture industry, jumped on the bandwagon using heavy, mottled stains, Formica, visible screws and other poor techniques calling it Danish Modern. Not to say that American furniture is bad, quite the contrary. But, when it comes to true Danish style and quality, nothing compares to the manufacturers of Denmark, Sweden and a small few in England.

How do you compare these pieces when found? First off, if it is a vintage item and it is teak, then it is most likely from Denmark or Sweden and will be marked as such. If the piece carries serial or model numbers and does not appear to be teak, then it is most likely American. Teak wood carries a tight, very straight grain and the color carries a reddish, almost cherry tint. Older teak furniture can be very dark in color but will still carry the tight grain. Walnut or ash is a dead give away to being a piece made in the U.S.. Always look the item over with a fine toothed comb as labels, burned signatures and metal tags often reside on pieces made in Denmark. I have found signatures in drawers, under drawers and on the back or bottom of the piece itself.

Danish Modern furniture is warm, inviting and very well designed. It is also very functional and pieces can be found for every room of the house. If you are planning on decorating a room in your home “ala mid century,” then pieces from Denmark are an excellent choice!

Worthologist Bradley Downs is owner of www.odd2mod.com in Atlanta, Ga.

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Forget About Price Guides; for Mid Century Modern Furniture, Look for Reference Guides

By Bradley Downs

With the advent of the Internet and the numerous auction houses started across the country over the past 10 years, I no longer like to use the term, “Price Guide.” The reason being is that there really is no set guide for pricing Mid Century Modern, as there are way too many variables when it comes down to it. Your best bet when researching MCM is to get some good reference books, many of which will show prices, but you should ignore the stated amounts as most of the prices are outdated or inflated.

These reference books are there to help you a mental picture of what to look for and when you do see something, it will then be up to you to decide what a fair price is. Of course the lower the price the better, but anyone looking for a bargain knows where to start, whether it be a thrift store, flea market or estate sale. Below are a few books of reference that I prefer. They are informative, fun to read, and most all can still be purchased today either online or through your local bookseller. I will also list a couple books which are out of print (OOP) and are a little harder to find but are worth it in the end. The Internet is a great place to reference as well but nothing compares to a good read!

1.) Mid Century Modern, by Cara Greenberg. This is one of the first MCM books ever published and it is still one of my favorites. A ton of pictures and a good history behind the items pictured with a touch of nostalgia to the book itself.
2.) Classic Herman Miller, by Schiffer. This book goes through the history of the Herman Miller Furniture Company and takes note of its most notable designers such as Charles Eames, George Nelson and Isamu Noguchi.
3.) Knoll Furniture 1938-1960, by Schiffer. This book will carry you through the Knoll Furniture years from beginning to 1960. A ton of history and a ton of pics from the original Knoll catalogs!
4.) Contemporary, by Lesley Jackson, OOP. This is a thick and very interesting book which covers 20th century American Modern Design and architecture. The perfect “coffee table” book!
5.) High Styles, by Summit Books of New York, OOP. This book is an excellent read, very informative and descriptive! Each chapter is started with a commentary by some of the greatest designers of the 20th century, in their own words. Definitely add this one to your MCM book collection as soon as you can.

There is literally 10 times the number of books mentioned above, and most are available today but many simply carry the same stuff as the next one. Start a good library with the basics and then move on to the other books which go into lighting and accessories. Even old Sotheby’s or Christie’s auction catalogs are great to have on hand as you then get to study some really obscure pieces. Good luck!

Bradley Downs is owner of www.odd2mod.com in Atlanta, Ga.

“Man…. That chair sure is ugly!”

I’d love to have a nickel for every time I’ve heard that phrase! It seems the new generation of “antiquers” does not want Golden Oak, Depression Glass or Victorian pieces. The pop-culture style today is Mid-Century Modern, which is a widely used term that pretty much covers anything modern, decorative or “ugly” dating from the 1940s-1970s. The age range for most of these buyers/collectors nowadays is 25-45. They are snatching up pieces by Herman Miller, Charles Eames, Knoll, Finn Juhl, Tommi Parzinger and the list goes on. These are items that can be used in everyday life, mainly furniture, as “form follows function.”

Although MCM has been somewhat collected and traded since the late 1970s and early 1980s, you can thank the internet, design shows on television, interior designers and the numerous design magazines for causing this recent explosion of desirability related to the post-war era. It is also trendy in some respects, but this appears to be a style which is here to stay for some time. Just ask Leigh Keno. I would have placed a million dollar bet that a Keno Brother would not have touched a piece of furniture made after 1800. Now, Leigh has added a Mid-Century Modern section to his website!

I am sure many of you reading this have a grandmother or mother who dabbled in the “new modern” look of the 1950s, whether it was one piece of furniture or an entire house full. I am also quite certain many of you reading this still own or know someone who owns a piece from that era.

That brings me to these questions…. What do you think of the future antique? Will it be Mid Century Modern? Do you have parents or grandparents still using furniture, lighting and accessories from the 1940s to 1970s? Why has this style grown so popular? Nowadays the future is hard to see and that is much thanks to the television media, newspapers, Wall Street and internet, but one thing is for sure–modern items from the post-war era seem like a great investment!

Bradley Downs is owner of www.odd2mod.com in Atlanta.

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During the middle years of the 20th century (1920s – 1970s), glass design mirrored the attitudes and fashions of a world surging ahead of its previous limitations. From the Arts & Crafts, Modernism, Art Deco, Eames, Atomic, and Post Modernism eras, came fabulous glass decor from all over the world. Glass artists pushed the envelope in decor and style, took advantage of new techniques, modified old techniques, and produced a bounty of beautiful, fragile decor items that are now the antiques of the very near future. The value of mid-century glass is increasing rapidly.

Decor fashions through the years are often repeated and modified. Today, the Retro style is popular with the younger generation who appreciate the bold and beautiful designs of the Modernists and Hippie generation. We older Hippies still appreciate it too. Big, bold, colorful glass from the 1950s-1970s make for eye-catching decor focal points, and often can be found at a very good value compared to the cost of today’s new glass in the retro style. Authentic vintage retro glass is of much better quality than the new “knock-offs” of today.

Collecting good retro vintage glass is tons of fun, but identifying it correctly can be difficult. The 20th century produced billions of glass items, from thousands of different makers. Some makers have “tell-tale” signs of their art style or creation method that can help identify. There are also clues that can be followed in relation to distinctive era décor, specific colors and forms, the glass “recipe”, and regional styles throughout the world.

Do you have a glass item from the past? Can you name the maker and era? Does it have a story? Or is it a mystery? Post your fabulous finds, comments and questions here.

Neophobia
2855 Magazine St
New Orleans, LA
www.neophobia-nola.com
504.899.2444
The name Neophobia, the fear of new things, perfectly reflects owners Amanda Frank and Vic Loisel and their retro collectibles. Creating a unique niche, the shop specializes in 50’s, 60’s, 70’s furnishings, clothing, and collectibles. From vintage clothes to Vistosi hand blown glass lighting to an Art Deco flip bar, Neophobia contains a whole range of affordability. In fact, I find many records for my collection as well as affordable furniture. The high-end collector will also be satisfied at the surprises that await them at Neophobia. Recent sales include rare Gioponti pieces, such as a silver tea service; items unheard of in New Orleans.
This smorgisboard of modern collectibles is not easy to acquire. Neophobia’s stock comes from a range of sources including out of state wholesalers, the internet, and the occasional walk-in seller. Only truly passionate collectors could find and create a place for the plethora of collectibles at Neophobia. Both owners entered the antique business via their personal collections. Vic started his collecting career trying to create his 50’s kitchen. Soon he had no space and started selling the fun and eclectic items he found. After catching the collecting “disease,” Vic partnered with Amanda, moving Neophobia into a new location on Magazine Street over a year ago. Open everyday, Neophobia has benefited from its move with more walk-in traffic; keeping business open is a struggle, but the future looks bright, especially with the tourist season peaking in the next couple months. Next time you are in New Orleans and want a truly special experience, find Neophobia and be transported back in time.