Mid-Century Modern Blog

A designer-pioneer of the Modern movement, Milo Baughman’s name is well-known within mid-century modern furniture circles, as well as being solidly linked to the ideas that defined his timeless work: simplicity, distinction and enduring appeal.

Sunday, March 18, 2012 - come and see us at Midcentury Modern Dulwich - the mother of all destinations for twentieth century modern collectables and mid-century design classics. Midcentury Modern, backed by Elle Decoration is the number one destination for sourcing the antiques of the future, without the huge retail mark-up.

I have recently purchased a few nice, vintage chess sets and while researching them, I came across what I believe to be some really beautiful sets that have sold at auction over the last few years. I'll start with the ones I bought. First up, is this Austin Cox 1962 chess set made from aluminium as a gift from the ALCOA aluminium company given out to their customers.

Part 2 of my Homage to Pierre Cardin is based on the lamps that bear his name. I have one such lamp on my site, it's the coil or spring lamp made by the Laurel lamp company. The lamp is made from a thin sheet of brass coiled into a small spring shape with a milk glass shade that is attached to the brass (this lamp also comes in a chrome finish). The lamp does not have an etched/laser cut name like the furniture, but instead has a sticker with the Pierre Cardin signature on it.

This post is dedicated to Pierre Cardin and his designs (or at least the ones that bear his name). I am aware of the fact that Monsieur Cardin was famed for being the King of the License, but I am going to overlook this fact and refer to anything that bears his name, or logo, as being a Pierre Cardin product.

One of my current favourites are desks, you cant beat a good mid-century desk and here are some of the best ones I've failed to buy this year.

In the number one slot was this M.F Harty desk by Stow Davis that sold along with its credenza at Bonhams and Butterfild in LA. I believe this model desk is the same as the one used as P Diddy's desk in the film 'Get Him to the Greek'. If there is a nicer desk that exists, then I have yet to come across it.

I'm going to go back over a few pieces I've sold during the last two years and hopefully give some form of insight into why I bought them and why I feel they will remain valuable over the coming the years and therefore avoid becoming landfill. My method for buying is based on whether or not I love the piece, I get an immediate and strong reaction to the pieces I buy and I envision how they would look in potential different settings. I obviously have some favorite designers like Milo Baughman and Willy Rizzo so I try to buy pieces by them but Im always coming across new designers and manufacturers that make interesting pieces.