Prices in mid-20th century furniture have taken off in recent years. You can thank ‘Mad Men.’
“Mad Men” has come and gone, but demand for furniture from the mid-20th century continues.
Prices of chairs, tables, sofas and other pieces, particularly those of Scandinavian origin, from the late 1940s through the early 1960s have increased dramatically in recent years and show no sign of falling soon, experts say.
“Midcentury furniture is really important for us,” says Anna Brockway, the president and co-founder of Chairish, a curated online marketplace for used and vintage furniture. “We see a strong interest in Scandinavian cabinetry,” she adds. Three years ago, prices were half of what they are now, or even less, she says.
Interest in midcentury furniture was sparked years ago by connoisseurs drawn to its simplicity, sleekness and craftwork, says Ms. Brockway, who adds that interest got a further boost from the television series “Mad Men,” which employed sets carefully constructed from original period pieces.