Prices in mid-20th century furniture have taken off in recent years. You can thank ‘Mad Men.’

A pair of Finn Juhl lounge chairs from the 1940s or 1950s, in good condition, could cost about $30,000. Above, a chair from 1953.
A pair of Finn Juhl lounge chairs from the 1940s or 1950s, in good condition, could cost about $30,000. Above, a chair from 1953. - Scandinavian furniture from the mid-20th century is about craftsmanship as much as design, according to William Lee, founder of Modernlink furniture in New York. The Danish cabinet makers of the period spent as much as a decade studying their craft as an academic discipline, Mr. Lee says. Many of the pieces these craftsmen produced were made in small runs of 150 to 200 units, which helps boost their value in today’s market, he adds. Standout designers Mr. Lee’s favorite designers of the period include Jacob Kjaer, a Danish furniture designer and cabinet maker. One of his chairs might now cost $10,000 to $50,000, in Mr. Lee’s opinion. Five years ago, a collector might have found a great piece for $5,000, or even $3,000, he says. A pair of Finn Juhl lounge chairs from the 1940s or 1950s, in good condition, would cost about $30,000, according to Mr. Kevelson. Three years ago, a set would have cost $20,000 to $25,000, he says. Age, condition, patina and provenance will effect price, he advises. If a Finn Juhl lounge chair is out of reach, take heart in the fact that hundreds of designers and cabinet makers were active in this period. “They made beautiful things,” Mr. Lee says. “The work they produced was just mind-blowing.” © Dan Stasser/Baxter & Liebchen

“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.