Mid Century Modern fans with average budgets hunt through flea markets and secondhand stores, hoping to find that undiscovered, dust-covered gem. What I wouldn’t give to stumble across a Wegner with a broken leg, so I could get it on the cheap and patch it up in my shop.
Not so the rich, who want things that aren’t in fixer-upper condition. So when Christie’s held their “Design” auction earlier this month, the MCM pieces on show were all pristine–and clocked up to £72,500 (USD $93,220) for a single piece!
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I’ll give you a taste below. (Not all of the pieces shown are chronologically Mid Century Modern, but then again, that label didn’t exist until author Cara Greenberg coined it in her 1984 book, “Mid-century Modern: Furniture of the 1950’s.”)
Finn Juhl (1912-1989)
Description: A pair of armchairs, model no. FJ45, designed 1945
Materials: Teak, fabric upholstery, leather piping
Notes: Executed by master cabinetmakers Niels Vodder, Copenhagen, Denmark
Dimensions: Each 33 x 26 ¾ x 29 ½ in. (84 x 68 x 75 cm.)
Sold for £72,500
Description: An early ‘Chieftain’ armchair, model no. FJ49, designed 1949
Materials: Teak, leather
Notes: Executed by master cabinetmakers Niels Vodder, Copenhagen, Denmark
Dimensions: 36 ½ x 41 x 35 ½ in. (93 x 104 x 90 cm.)
Sold for £56,250
Description: A pair of armchairs, model no. FJ53, designed 1953
Materials: Teak, upholstery, brass
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Notes: Executed by master cabinetmakers Niels Vodder, Copenhagen, Denmark. Underside of each branded CABINETMAKER NIELS VODDER/COPENHAGEN DENMARK/DESIGN FINN JUHL
Dimensions: Each 29 x 28 ¾ x 31 in. (73.5 x 73 x 78.8 cm.)
Sold for £37,500
Hans Wegner (1914-2007)
Description: A rare cherry ‘Valet’ chair, model no. JH540, designed 1953.
Materials: Teak, cherry, brass, leather
Notes: Executed by cabinetmakers Johannes Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Underside branded with manufacturer’s mark and JOHANNES HANSEN/COPENHAGEN/DENMARK
Dimensions: 37 x 20 x 19 ¼ in. (94 x 51 x 49 cm.)
Sold for £21,250
Description: A set of ten ‘Cowhorn’ chairs, model no. JH505, circa 1952
Materials: Teak, rosewood inlays, cane
Notes: manufactured by master cabinetmakers Johannes Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Dimensions: Each 28 ¾ x 23 ¼ x 18 in. (73 x 59 x 45.5 cm.)
Sold for £118,750
Description: A pair of ‘China’ armchairs, model no. 4283, designed 1943, executed 1969
Materials: Walnut, leather upholstery
Notes: Manufactured by Fritz Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Underside of each with manufacturer’s foil label printed FH/MADE IN DENMARK/BY FRITZ HANSEN and dated 1169
Dimensions: Each 32 x 22 ¼ x 22 in. (81.5 x 56.5 x 56 cm.)
Sold for £24,375
Description: An extendable dining table, model no. JH 567, designed 1952
Materials: Teak, oak, with three extending leaves
Notes: Executed by master cabinetmakers Johannes Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Dimensions: 28 ¼ x 144 x 51 ¼ in. fully extended (72 x 366 x 130 cm.)
Sold for £23,750
Description: A ‘Long-Horned Bull’ chair, model no. JH518, designed 1961
Materials: Oak, leather upholstery
Notes: Executed by master cabinetmakers Johannes Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Underside with manufacturer’s metal label JOHANNES HANSEN/COPENHAGEN-DENMARK/DESIGN:* H.J. WEGNER
Dimensions: 28 ¾ x 28 ¼ x 19 ¾ (73 x 78.5 x 50 cm.)
Sold for £10,625
Description: An ‘Architect’s desk’, model no. JH571, designed 1953
Materials: Teak, oak, chromium-plated steel
Notes: Executed by master cabinetmakers Johannes Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Underside of tabletop branded with JOHANNES HANSEN/COPENHAGEN/DENMARK
Dimensions: 28 5/8 x 86 ¾ x 37 3/8 in. (73 x 220 x 95 cm.)
Sold for £72,500
Ole Wanscher (1903-1985)
Description: A desk, 1960s
Materials: Rosewood, rosewood veneer, macassar ebony
Notes: Executed by master cabinetmaker A.J. Iversen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Dimensions: 28 ¾ x 59 ¾ x 30 in. (73 x 152 x 76 cm.)
Sold for £30,000
Ib Kofod-Larsen (1921-2003)
Description: An ‘Elizabeth’ armchair and ottoman, model no. U 56, designed 1956
Materials: Teak, leather
Notes: Executed by master cabinetmakers Christensen & Larsen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Underside of armchair branded with manufacturer’s mark
Dimensions:
Armchair, 27 ¾ x 31 1/8 x 30 ¼ in. (70 x 79 x 77 cm.)
Ottoman, 14 ½ x 22 ½ x 17 ¼ in. (37 x 57 x 44 cm.)
Sold for £12,500
Description: A pair of ‘Seal’ armchairs, designed 1957
Materials: Teak, original leather upholstery
Notes: Manufactured by master cabinetmakers Olof Persons Fåtöljindustri (OPE), Denmark
Dimensions: Each 24 x 26 ½ x 24 in. (83 x 80 x 63 cm.)
Sold for £12,500
Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971)
Description: A set of twelve ‘Grand Prix’ chairs, model no. 4130, designed 1957
Materials: Stack laminated teak, teak, leather
Notes: Produced by Fritz Hansen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Dimensions: Each 31 ½ x 18 ¾ x 19 ¾ in. (80 x 47.5 x 50 cm.)
Sold for £12,500
Flemming Lassen (1902-1984)
Description: A pair of lounge chairs, designed 1940
Materials: Stained beech, sheepskin
Notes: Executed by master cabinetmaker Jacob Kjær, Copenhagen, Denmark
Dimensions: Each 29 x 30 x 29 in. (73.8 x 76.2 x 73.8 cm.)
Sold for £45,000
Kaare Klint (1888-1954)
Description: A three-seat sofa, model no. 4118, designed 1930
Materials: Cuban mahogany, Niger leather, brass nailheads
Notes: Manufactured by master cabinetmakers Rud. Rasmussen A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark. Underside with manufacturer’s paper label RUD. RASMUSSEN/SNEDKERIER/45 NØRREBROGADE/KØBENHAVN pencilled with order number 30925 and architect’s monogrammed paper label
Dimensions: 34 x 78 ½ x 30 in. (86 x 199 x 76 cm.)
Sold for £60,000
Description: A rare custom-made double stool, 1950s
Materials: Cuban mahogany, Niger leather
Notes: Executed by master cabinetmakers Rud. Rasmussen A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark. Underside with manufacturer’s paper label RUD. RASMUSSENS/SNEDKERIER/45 NØRREBROGADE/KØBENHAVN handwritten with order number 25660A
Dimensions: 15 ¾ x 75 ½ x 28 ¾ in. (40 x 192 x 73 cm.)
Sold for £62,500
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See you guys at the flea market!
Source: core77