Design within reach
May 21, 2013 5:39 PM Subscribe
I'd love to fill my apartment with Eames chairs and Braun speakers, but the great icons of industrial design are almost all hilariously expensive. So, on to plan B: What are the greatest knockoffs of great design? Here, for example, are some pretty good fake Eames chairs. Here is a serviceable copy of the Mondaine railway clock. Do you own a great knockoff of an iconic object, or something beautiful and functional that's heavily inspired by one?
Overstock has a well-reviewed selection of replica furniture. You can find versions of Tolix stools, Panton chairs, Eames molded fiberglass chairs, Saarinen tulip side tables, Eames plywood chairs, and who knows what else.
The ratings can help you discern which of these are affordable knockoffs versus headaches. I have ordered the 30" Tabouret stools and found them more than pleasing at only 10% of the original Tolix stool price. And very solid, sturdy.
posted by superfem at 5:50 PM on May 21, 2013
The ratings can help you discern which of these are affordable knockoffs versus headaches. I have ordered the 30" Tabouret stools and found them more than pleasing at only 10% of the original Tolix stool price. And very solid, sturdy.
posted by superfem at 5:50 PM on May 21, 2013
MDC is a New York company that does pretty good knockoffs of a lot of classic designs. Their prices are reasonable but not Ikea-level.
posted by Mchelly at 5:52 PM on May 21, 2013
posted by Mchelly at 5:52 PM on May 21, 2013
I went through a huge search for this kind of stuff when i recently, finally moved in to my first real not-shared-with-a-bunch-of-roommates place.
What i discovered was that for example after looking for one of these types of lamps and finding only semi-cheesy knockoffs that just looked slightly wrong in some critical, noticeable(at least to me) way like this, was that there's a lot of people unloading the real stuff on craigslist. I ended up with an actual lamp like the one in the first picture for about $80, in immaculate condition and a contact for someone who has an entire houseboat full of awesome old furniture they're slowly selling off.
Previously to and after that i got several other actually vintage but not $2000 things like that off of cl, but i'm a genuine craigslist shark who will drive to someones house at 9pm in another city in the driving rain just to get the right thing.
posted by emptythought at 6:19 PM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
What i discovered was that for example after looking for one of these types of lamps and finding only semi-cheesy knockoffs that just looked slightly wrong in some critical, noticeable(at least to me) way like this, was that there's a lot of people unloading the real stuff on craigslist. I ended up with an actual lamp like the one in the first picture for about $80, in immaculate condition and a contact for someone who has an entire houseboat full of awesome old furniture they're slowly selling off.
Previously to and after that i got several other actually vintage but not $2000 things like that off of cl, but i'm a genuine craigslist shark who will drive to someones house at 9pm in another city in the driving rain just to get the right thing.
posted by emptythought at 6:19 PM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
emptythought is right: you don't need to pay designer retail prices for nice mid-century modern furniture. If you have the time and the inclination, you can scour CL and local auctions/boot sales/yard sales to find stuff. Much of it is 60's and 70's knockoffs, which are much better quality than modern ones.
One other suggestion, though. I love MCM stuff, and my entire apartment is furnished in it, all from second hand stores and craigslist. I completely understand your delight in it. But...
I've been going to monthly antique auctions for the past 5 months (selling my Dad's old furniture, long story). And it's weird. Mediocre MCM stuff made out of plywood and veneer sells for 800-1000 bucks for a sideboard, while solid walnut dove-tailed hand carved 19th century versions of the same thing go begging for 200 bucks. I listen to the older antique dealers jabber and sob while this happens, and I've come very close to cracking myself when I watch a carved mahogany dining table with 4 leaves and 12 chairs sell for 300 bucks. I'm already the proud if bemused owner of a bunch of Persian carpets, mostly because they're 150-200 bucks for 10x13 foot wool rugs, and you can't buy a seagrass mat at Ikea for that.
As much as I love my teak and rosewood, I'm starting to think that it would be worth selling it and buying good Victorian or Arts and Crafts stuff. Granted, the esthetic is diametrically opposed to MCM -- it's large, dark, and ornate. But it's also beautiful and well made, there's LOTS of it, and they can't give it away. This, to me, means that tastes will either change or be made to change -- if designers and thrifters and Etsy repurposers discover that they can buy more ornate, formal furniture for a fraction of what the modern stuff sells for, they'll start using it. This is what happened with MCM stuff, which was thrift store stuff 20 years ago and still cheap 10 years ago.
So - maybe move ahead of the curve and buy turn of the century, rather than mid-century? There are magnificent, iconic pieces out there that will last for years.
At least, I beg you, look at the rugs.
posted by jrochest at 1:04 AM on May 22, 2013 [10 favorites]
One other suggestion, though. I love MCM stuff, and my entire apartment is furnished in it, all from second hand stores and craigslist. I completely understand your delight in it. But...
I've been going to monthly antique auctions for the past 5 months (selling my Dad's old furniture, long story). And it's weird. Mediocre MCM stuff made out of plywood and veneer sells for 800-1000 bucks for a sideboard, while solid walnut dove-tailed hand carved 19th century versions of the same thing go begging for 200 bucks. I listen to the older antique dealers jabber and sob while this happens, and I've come very close to cracking myself when I watch a carved mahogany dining table with 4 leaves and 12 chairs sell for 300 bucks. I'm already the proud if bemused owner of a bunch of Persian carpets, mostly because they're 150-200 bucks for 10x13 foot wool rugs, and you can't buy a seagrass mat at Ikea for that.
As much as I love my teak and rosewood, I'm starting to think that it would be worth selling it and buying good Victorian or Arts and Crafts stuff. Granted, the esthetic is diametrically opposed to MCM -- it's large, dark, and ornate. But it's also beautiful and well made, there's LOTS of it, and they can't give it away. This, to me, means that tastes will either change or be made to change -- if designers and thrifters and Etsy repurposers discover that they can buy more ornate, formal furniture for a fraction of what the modern stuff sells for, they'll start using it. This is what happened with MCM stuff, which was thrift store stuff 20 years ago and still cheap 10 years ago.
So - maybe move ahead of the curve and buy turn of the century, rather than mid-century? There are magnificent, iconic pieces out there that will last for years.
At least, I beg you, look at the rugs.
posted by jrochest at 1:04 AM on May 22, 2013 [10 favorites]
Pre owned is the way to go. Fashion does not respect great design and build. My home is mostly furnished with beautiful quality items all of which were sourced this way.
posted by BenPens at 4:59 AM on May 22, 2013
posted by BenPens at 4:59 AM on May 22, 2013
The Ikea Knappa Lamp is a nice substitute for Paul Henningsen's Aritchoke Lamp (or Pine Cone).
A boomerang coffee table is something you can actually build yourself and put together. Or buy this one on Etsy.
Retro Renovation is a pretty great source for all kinds of MCM items.
I have some great Scandanavian Teak pieces. Go to Copenhagen or SHØP or whatever the Scandanavian store is called in your town and check out what they have. The design is so clean that they are still selling this desk, that was a birthday present from my parents to me in 1980. (Okay, I'm still blown away that you can find this damn desk after 30+ years!)
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:41 AM on May 22, 2013
A boomerang coffee table is something you can actually build yourself and put together. Or buy this one on Etsy.
Retro Renovation is a pretty great source for all kinds of MCM items.
I have some great Scandanavian Teak pieces. Go to Copenhagen or SHØP or whatever the Scandanavian store is called in your town and check out what they have. The design is so clean that they are still selling this desk, that was a birthday present from my parents to me in 1980. (Okay, I'm still blown away that you can find this damn desk after 30+ years!)
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:41 AM on May 22, 2013
I've had good results with pieces from EQ3, which is mostly MCM style rather than outright copies of the classics. It looks like now they do have a contract to produce or distribute some of the iconic pieces (at the standard high prices), but their original stuff has been good value in my experience. They're a Canadian company that doesn't have great distribution in the U.S., but according to their website there's a store called Cassona Home Furnishings in Chicago that carries their stuff.
Craigslist is, IMO, very much a YMMV situation depending on your city, and as a fellow midwesterner I suspect the days of easy pickings for MCM furniture on CL are long gone. I think your best shot would be used via estate sales, auction houses, and small stores that at least semi-specialize in stuff from the era - a quick Google suggests that there are at least a half-dozen of these in the Chicago area. Going for used can mean that you'll find older knock-offs that will be less expensive (missing the brand name) but still made better than the current cheap overseas copies.
posted by soundguy99 at 5:33 PM on May 22, 2013
Craigslist is, IMO, very much a YMMV situation depending on your city, and as a fellow midwesterner I suspect the days of easy pickings for MCM furniture on CL are long gone. I think your best shot would be used via estate sales, auction houses, and small stores that at least semi-specialize in stuff from the era - a quick Google suggests that there are at least a half-dozen of these in the Chicago area. Going for used can mean that you'll find older knock-offs that will be less expensive (missing the brand name) but still made better than the current cheap overseas copies.
posted by soundguy99 at 5:33 PM on May 22, 2013
My wife got me an Eames lounge chair replica from Manhattan Home Design, and it's a well-made, comfortable, and attractive piece of furniture. It is, of course, not an original, but I didn't want it for the name so much as the comfort. I looked at lots of reviews about a year back before selecting this one. The shopping experience was good according to my wife, so you might look what else they sell.
posted by JMOZ at 4:36 AM on May 23, 2013
posted by JMOZ at 4:36 AM on May 23, 2013
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posted by kmennie at 5:48 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]