Steve Coyle adores the Danish mid-century modern dining set, designed by Nils Kofod in the mid-1960s. He bought the set about five years ago for $500 from his friend’s mother who was slimming down. He said it was worth $12,000.
“It was an old fashioned table and chairs, which was especially cool because its back and legs are hand-carved with lots of fine detail, plus a matching small side table,” said Coyle, who lives in Flortown, Montgomery. boycott. “I admire mid-century modern Scandinavian beauty – exquisite craftsmanship, clean lines, and high-quality materials.”
He was so intrigued by his discoveries that he began learning about the mid-century furniture movement and scouring local yard sales for new pieces.
Coyle, who is now shopping local stores for antiques, said to find the refurbished pieces.
»Read more: Local finds help Brewerytown homeowner improve his mid-century modern look
Coyle is among many who have a penchant for antique furniture, especially mid-century Danish pieces. the term classic It generally applies to anything over 20 or 30 years old, depending on who you ask.
“Vintage is a polite way of expressing a used word,” said Mike Wilson, who opened his shop, Mode Moderne, in the Old City in 1992 and has seen a 30% increase in sales over the past two and a half years. “There were a lot of mid-century modern Danish stores in the ’70s and ’80s. It went out of style for a long time, but it’s long enough now that it’s new again.”
Etsy, an American e-commerce company focused on handmade, antique, and artisanal items, has seen searches for antique or antique furniture rise 41% in the past 12 months, with searches for the 1970s increasing by 174%.
Besides the aesthetics, fans of antique furniture appreciate the durability, history, and workmanship that went into the pieces. During the height of the pandemic, when it takes months to get furniture, vintage stores were especially busy.
“As retailers continue to grapple with supply chain challenges, many shoppers are turning to Etsy for home décor and antique furniture as unique and sustainable alternatives to mass-produced pieces, with the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint, all the time,” said Dina Esom Johnson, Etsy-based fashion expert. In both New York and Los Angeles, Support Small, Independent Businesses.
» Read more: Millennials Don’t Want Heavy Antiques and Brown Furniture; They crave things from the ‘Mad Men’ era.
Coyle recently spent $1,500 for a pair of Niels Koefoed-designed “Eva” captain chairs for Koefoeds Møbelfabrik, and $900 for a bachelor’s chest designed by Rud Thygesen & Johnny Sørensen for HG Furniture, both from Bentwood Vintage in West Philadelphia. Anthony Dramshek first opened the shop in 2018 on Etsy and recently added in-person visits by appointment.
“Over the past year and a half, sales have tripled,” said Dramshek, who carries Danish furniture. “People are more at home and want one-of-a-kind pieces.”
With pieces ranging from $200 to $10,000, he said, his customers are willing to spend on famous designers whose furniture will last a long time. Millennials make up the majority of their customers, although they have buyers of all ages.
According to Etsy’s Johnson, “In the age of social media sharing, millennials and Generation Z shoppers are increasingly looking to stand out from the crowd.”
While Mode Moderne sees a lot of millennial clients, it also has an older clientele, many of whom are shrinking from larger suburban homes to smaller city homes.
Others, like Nancy Rossi, swell.
When she moved from Jersey City to South Philadelphia last July, she was moving from a small home to a much larger home to accommodate her children and grandchildren. She bought new furniture to fit in her new home, but with supply chain issues related to the pandemic, she was tired of waiting for it to arrive.
“That’s why buying vintage is great. I walked into Mode Moderne and got certified the next day,” said Rossi, who paid $3,500 for a Danish teak, designed by Svend Aage Larsen for Faarup Mobelfabrik in the early 1960s. “We love the pieces that have stories to them.”
Mode Moderne sells about 40% of its furniture in stores and 60% online, on sites including 1st Dibs, Chairish, and Instagram. These sites offer customer satisfaction guarantees.
Coyle advises antique furniture shoppers to do their homework to make sure they pay a fair price and, whenever possible, to see the piece in person.
“I asked the salesperson for the piece and then I go home and do my research,” he said. “I take pictures of labels and stamps from factories. Sometimes I lose a few pieces, but you owe it to yourself to take the time to figure out what you’re buying.”
