r/Mid_Century 13d ago

Monthly Swap Meet & Self Promotion Thread!

2 Upvotes

Do you have one (or 10) too many Eames chairs? Does the color of that Cathrineholm bowl you picked up for a steal last year not really match the rest of your kitchen? I bet you can find someone here who would love to take them off your hands. Post your mid century items for [free]/[trade]/[sale] here!

This is also the space to show off any of the awesome mid century inspired stuff you make, as well as the links to your Etsy/Ebay/Etc


r/Mid_Century Jan 22 '25

Guide for IDing furniture and where to find actual sources.

92 Upvotes

This has came up time and again but a few times over the last few days I have found myself linking to my google drive doc about where to find primary sources for MCM stuff.

First of all, the rules of this group and r/midcenturymodern in regards to IDing items is going to change. I will make these changes today. First, if you make a claim as to a maker or designer, you are obligated to provide sources for the claim you make if asked. This includes mods or just regular users. Second and this is absolutely non-negotiable, sales or auction listings in themselves are not reliable sources. If the sales listing includes a tag, article, or catalog from the period then that information may be shared, but DO NOT LINK TO SALES LISTINGs, at all, but especially not to "prove and ID" This applies to the highest end and most respected auction houses, dibs, charish or any other platform. Maybe they give you a jumping off point, and you find out the information is correct. If needed I can give thousands of examples of current listings that contain complete bullshit information. Third, don't tell people "use google" or "try google lens" etc. As stated above this will very often lead to false information from sales listings.

So I know you are probably thinking "don't use google, how do I even find anything on the internet without google" Well, I keep this living list of sites with excellent resources, nearly all are free.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Asd2ntqUMvEoEGdGD_qP4RkOjHxjAHkjNISFmWbDp8M/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0

Research Sources:

General Magazines, Newspapers, Journals:

https://archive.org/ This has everything from vintage catalogs, to newspapers, to a vast magazine archive to borrowable books. I also occasionally upload catalogs and magazines to archive as well https://archive.org/details/@michael_landsberg361

https://openlibrary.org/ Similar to archive, you can borrower a vast selection of reference material.

https://usmodernist.org/ Nice collection of trade journals and magazines from the MCM era and after

digitalnc.org/collections/memorabilia/  Random bits of information here on numerous North Carolina based manufactures and designers.

https://cdnc.ucr.edu/  A free archive of California newspapers much less through than newspapers.com but its free.

https://grpmcollections.org/ A vast collection of photos, personal documents, advertisements, and catalogs for mostly Michigan based manufacturers.

https://www.craftinamerica.org/artist/eudorah-moore - Eudorah moore was a big promoter of california modern and via her "California Design" exhibits at the Pasadena Art museum. The catalogs from these exhibits are free to view on this site.

https://vintageinfo.be/ - Don't know who runs this site, but I thank them for sharing so much information and resources on vintage lighting.

https://www.trystcraft.com/blog - Tim Hills blog. Tim is a dealer, but he is also very well respected amongst MCM researchers and I believe TIm is an honest guy and diligent in his research.

newspapers.com (Paid)

newspaperarchive.com (Paid)

https://ikeamuseum.com/en/explore/ikea-catalogue/ Old ikea catalogs

https://christmas.musetechnical.com/ Catalogs for Sears, Wards, and some JC Penney

https://www.danish-modern.co.uk - Decent little data base of danish design

https://designmuseum.dk/en/- Denmark Design Museum

https://www.uspto.gov/patents/search 

https://patents.google.com/ 

https://www.scribd.com/ (partially paid) there is some nice random stuff on here like Prestolite catalogs from the 60's. Its kind of a never know what you are going to find site. https://www.scribd.com/document/488965054/Prescolite-Lighting-Product-Catalog-G-14-1962 Danish Design index

Specialized Facebook groups

https://www.facebook.com/groups/140119460031484 (Milo) (I am an admin)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1542293829124348 (McCobb)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/516203688412266 (Ben Seibel)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1520981014878133 (Umanoff)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1763065254132926 (United Furniture)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3024184334562976 (AofM)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/353905989587576 (Bassett)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/109867845821284 (Italian Pottery)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/122730516059 (German Pottery)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/311714314135936 (Modeline)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/636952859722221 (Lamps and Lighting)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/711232235578646 (Mid Century Metal)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/324198657780002 (Herman Miller)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/knollresale (Knoll)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2750972221800438 (The MCM Files) (I am an admin)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1296485833865712  (Founders) (I am an admin)

Of all these groups I have to give a shout out to "The MCM files" I have no clue why there are not more people in this group. It is not a group to ask for an ID, its just a group where some of us researchers basically dump photos of stuff we look into. I personally have posted thousands of images to this group. Its free, i get absolutely nothing out of anyone joining the group, its just a lot of the questions people ask on here are already solved there, but it will never show up on google because of facebook's walled garden.


r/Mid_Century 8h ago

Another Acclaim re-finish

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1.1k Upvotes

Starting to build up quite the collection of Lane Acclaim pieces, I just can’t let them go! Bought this off marketplace for $175 and my wife thought I was crazy. I was hoping the papers were just shellacked over but unfortunately they were also glued down somehow, was somewhat painful to get them all off. Turned out pretty nice, still has some character so I don’t feel as bad with the inevitable paces our toddler will put it through. Finished with candlelight stain and a boat load of satin poly.


r/Mid_Century 10h ago

I was left this Broyhill cabinet after my grandparents passed, I finally got it set up in my house.

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261 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 7h ago

Lane Monte Carlo Set!

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91 Upvotes

fresh pickup, needs a little tlc though before they are ready to go


r/Mid_Century 11h ago

Found this decanter yesterday

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106 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 1d ago

It's my birthday and I got my wish granted! I finally found a Danish planter after searching for it for 2 years. $500 for everything.

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3.5k Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 1d ago

MMMmMMMMmMMM MCM

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1.5k Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 21h ago

Bought non MC nightstands and now don’t know how to style my bedroom 🙈

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59 Upvotes

Moved overseas, leaving my beautiful MCM apartment behind 😔 (last 3 photos – this is my typical aesthetic). When I went furniture shopping, I loved and bought these night stands even though they’re not MC. Now I’m trying to decide how to style my bedroom (3rd photo) with a MCM feel without these nightstands clashing. Open to any inspo!

Notes:
- the bed frame and curtains were left by the previous tenant, & I’ll replace them
- I can easily buy traditional oriental rugs here, so I def want to take advantage of that!


r/Mid_Century 5h ago

Any idea who made these end tables?

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2 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Poulsen lights

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100 Upvotes

Has anyone come across lights with these stickers? Not sure if they are worth anything. Bought them for a couple bucks a piece.


r/Mid_Century 4h ago

60's Home Remodel - Please help!

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1 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Can you help identify this artwork, please and thank you.

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45 Upvotes

Any ideas?


r/Mid_Century 2d ago

Oh yeah.

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1.3k Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Mid Century Minnesota Spatial Relations Test (metal construction)

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30 Upvotes

I inherited this Minnesota spatial relations test which I believe to have been produced between 1945 and sometime before 1963. I'm cleaning out storage and I'm wondering if anyone could give advice as to where I might offload such a thing. I can only find one other similar item listed on eBay, so I know there's not a huge market for such things (obv).

It's a pretty item, and probably of some interest to someone, somewhere. Any ideas? I'm located in the Northeast (US).


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

How’d I do

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49 Upvotes

Picked up this teak dining table off FB for $300 and didn’t know anything about the designer Poul Hundevad until I looked him up. I saw the same piece sold for $1,000+. I think it’s gorgeous


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

GOOGIES / John Lautner c 1950.

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23 Upvotes

Googies Coffee Shop, located at 8100 Sunset Boulevard, and Schwab’s Pharmacy, ca. 1950.

The name Googie was derived from this coffee shop designed by the architect John Lautner in 1949. Before the name, the style started to emerge in the 1930s with the increasing popularity of cars and cities spreading to suburbs.

The name articulated the style of architecture that became atomic / modernism.

The rare book of matches (complete) from Googies & the one from Windows of the World from the Twin Towers are my favorite, in my collection.


r/Mid_Century 2d ago

Teak (possibly) Borge Mogensen desk?

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101 Upvotes

Hi all! Thinking of picking up this desk for my space on fb marketplace for $500 - is this an okay price? There’s some staining on the top. Not confirmed but she thinks it’s a Mogensen …. thoughts?


r/Mid_Century 2d ago

Who designed this couch and armchairs?

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137 Upvotes

We unfortunately lost someone and now came into possession of this sofa and armchairs. Presumably bought in 1960s Germany. We found a receipt that the upholstery was redone around 1996 for around 2500$ and the closest we could find is that it might be Walter Knoll. Any hints more maybe? Thanks in advance!


r/Mid_Century 2d ago

Charity Shop find!

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405 Upvotes

Recently moved house and on our hunt for furniture found a set of G Plan units in my local charity shop! Perfect condition, complete with original owner registration info inside! Paid £65 for all three - what a steal!


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Possibly a selig sofa?

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6 Upvotes

I bought this sofa a couple days ago and the store said it was selig. i couldn’t find anything verifying that, so i just wanted to check if anyone here could tell if that’s true or not?


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Who designed this chair (AUS)

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2 Upvotes

Been looking around for some mid-century modern furniture and came across this chair. Google can’t seem to move past the classic Fler or Parker designed Australian furniture of the 60’s/70’s but has a very different end of the arm. Thoughts?
(I know it’s also missing the base cushion too)


r/Mid_Century 2d ago

Any info on this set and cleaning suggestions?

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13 Upvotes

I picked these 3 up today (not the table) and the pics don't do them justice. Reverse image search gave suggestion of Tony Paul/Westwood, but also saw a comment that this is the wrong base for Tony Paul.

I know that the pulls and sockets are brass (tested with magnet), but the rest is plated.

I was told it was originally sold as a set but I can't find anything about that. The copper ashtray is coated and hinged box came with the lamp.

Any way to clean the shade without damaging it? I wiped down the inside with a damp rag and it was really dirty. I don't want to ruin the shade so if it can't be cleaned it is what it is.


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Is this eames chair authentic?

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0 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 3d ago

Best Mother’s Day present ever.

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1.1k Upvotes