What about where you live, readers?
Are prices for mid mod high — or low?
Is stuff plentiful — or rare? What’s going on?
Where I live, there’s plenty. It’s still plenty cheap. And I think there’s much more yet to come out of original owner homes. On the other hand, I was talking to a friend who lives in New York City yesterday — she said it’s slim pickin’s for mid mod down there — everything gets snapped up. I don’t sell anything on ebay — I hoard all my vintage delights. But maybe with the frenzy seemingly under way, I will have to start playing the market. Baby needs a new pair of shoes. (NOS vintage, preferably.)
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I live in a bedroom community of Atlanta. Prices really vary around here, depending on where you are looking. There are some wonderful shops in Atlanta proper — stuffed full of MCM goodies — one even specializes (not sure if it’s still open these days.) But it had all the designer high-end furniture, fixtures, etc. The genuine articles in pristine condition. That place was ridiculously high!!!!!! (But so fun to go to.) I really think you can still find some great deals — but you have to know which places to look. The big antique malls with multiple sellers, for example, are great places.
In general, if the treasures are already found by the dealers, well-organized and assembled into specialty shops, you pay more. If YOU are the one spending more time, searching out the goodies in a bunch of shops — you will pay less.
Probably pretty true everywhere?
Also, I think that smaller communities — especially those with a larger population of seniors — will have better prices. People like my parents, who started their married lives with MCM stuff, think it is just old junk.
More metropolitan areas with more yuppies (are we still using that term?) will be more expensive. Many of them love the stuff (it’s now trendy — gotta have it!) and have the money to spend.
hi
i live in atlanta and would love ur inputs on finding reasonable stuff around the city…:)..mcm is kind of pricey and non existent in alpharetta
Unfortunately, Lakewood is gone!!!! Don’t you miss it? (For those who don’t know, it was a HUGE monthly antique market at a fairground established in 1916 — lots of beauteous exposition buildings, full of fantastic vendors!!!!! Gone now…. so sad.)
For me, finding MCM is just sort of a lucky thing. But I occasionally will run into things at the “junky” antiques malls. You know the ones I mean! Nothing really high end. Just the places where “Aunt Jean and her friend Wilma” have a little booth set up. The kind of place where some dealers have pure junk, others have little countrified crafty things — and then the rest of them actually have cool stuff!
I’m in Atlanta too and always on the hunt for MCM treasures. I’m not too sure where to find them in Alpharetta, but some of the antique shops in town have them. City Issue in Inman Park is nice. Their furniture is gorgeous and in excellent condition, but rather pricey. But I’ve been able to score some finds, at a decent price, at Kudzu Antiques in Decatur or Highland Row Antique.
I’d say that MCM stuff isn’t all that plentiful in Atlanta. And people that have it, know what it’s worth. But you can still find some deals on Craigslist and such.
ATL has some great deals at estate sales – BUT want the greatest deals, head to the country, south of ATL… folks out there are still stuck in the traditional design and Rooms to Go mode – so they have no clue how to price this stuff. That’s my secret, oh no, I just told y’all. Oops.
In Central PA, it seems that prices are low on Craigslist, at the thrifts, and Re-Store / Re-Source, but get crazy if you go to a midcentury dealer. We bought a yellow cracked ice dinette with chrome edging and legs, complete with original leaf, for $50 off Craigslist in May, and found four chairs to match at Re-Source York for $20. Go to Atomic Warehouse in Harrisburg or Classic Kitchens and More in York, and you’ll pay several times that. (J’adore both those dealers, though– worth breaking the bank for on occasion!)
I live in a cute little city called Wilmington, in eastern North Carolina. Unlike the rollicking MCM haven found in the Raleigh-Durham-Charlotte triangle, it is nearly impossible to find good, quality retro… well, anything.
If it does exist, it’s been painted over. The term “shabby chic” makes me want to scream! A little piece of me dies everytime I see Danish modern furniture painted and sanded to make it look “weathered”. I’ve even seen teak painted over. I hate it. I wish I could rescue everything!
I’m sure many coastal towns have the same problem that I’ve come across, but the one benefit is that the few people who do get it, share the same passion as I do. So, when pieces are found, they’re in impeccable, well-loved condition, and are at very fair prices. Sometimes luckily, you get the person who doesn’t know what they have, and just want to “get rid of it.” I recently purchased a gorgeous Heywood-Wakefield dresser for $50. But gosh, yeah, shabby chic… ugh. I hate every one of those awful little shops!
Katie B, your post made me laugh…I live in Lodi, a small agricultural town south of Sacramento that’s also trying to become a new wine destination. The shabby chic is out of control here too! I also see more than enough of the pseudo-Tuscan look. Ugh.
The good news is that our town is older in population, and the garage/estate sale pickings are to die for. If it’s craftsman or shabby, it’s pricey here, but the mcm is just “Grandma’s old stuff” they’re dying to get rid of. My gain!
Katie B.,
I feel your pain. Imagine the challenge of finding MCM in the Morehead City area of Eastern NC.
Here’s a tip: shop Jacksonville. Many of my MCM treasures have come from used furniture stores in the Camp Lejeune area.
next time you’re in the triangle, try Cheshire Cat Antiques Gallery in cameron village in Raleigh. pricing depends on the consigner but they have great stuff.
Have you been in the Eclectic on Castl street? I have a booth in there with MCM stuff and the owner of the store is going in that direction with the consignment furniture as well. It’s the best you will get in Wilmington nc!
People around here are still hauling mid century stuff to the dump, clueless that it is a big thing elsewhere in the country. Good for me, I have easy pickings, (got a great desk for $1 last week) but heartbreaking to see a lovely pink bathroom broken to smithereens.
I am in central PA also and I still see mid century stuff at Goodwill, Salvation Army and yard sales at good prices. I bought an end table in the SA for $7.99 on Saturday. That wasn’t even a sale. It’s scratched up a bit but they don’t make sturdy furniture like that anymore – it’s rock solid with two drawers. I had to pass up a TV stand for $5.99 because I already had my trunk filled with a bookshelf from a yard sale (that wasn’t mid-century but it was only $10 and all wood).
I have noticed more Craigslist ads that seem to understand that there is a market for mid-century furniture, especially upholstered furniture that is in good shape.
I live in Southern California – we have a large number of World War II-era retirees who are downsizing, and you are still able to find some reasonably-priced MCM items at yard sales…HOWEVER…the prices at places like Goodwill are going through the roof. I am wondering if they are taking advantange of the fact that due to the economy more folks are shopping there…of course in the hip sections of Los Angeles the mid/mod galleries are all sky high.
Happy hunting, everyone!
I agree, the stuff on eBay has gotten out of hand, was just talking about this with DH. Most of the stuff I watch doesn’t sell and ends up being relisted. I guess the seller figures they can wait for a buyer who will pay. Most of these are dealers vs. someone like me who might just want to sell one piece of something.
We got a vintage MCM sofa and credenza last weekend at an estate auction from a “time capsule” home (two pristine green and pink/burgundy bathrooms, too). Although we went to our personal maximum bids on both pieces, they still were probably less than what would’ve happened had the auction been in a more “trendy” neighborhood of our region. I’m sure we would have been outbid. There was another couple bidding on the same MCM pieces, but the ones we didn’t compete with them on, they got for a steal. Even though the auction was well attended, there were only a few people bidding on the MCM stuff. But again, had it been in a more trendy neighborhood, forget it.
When I went to look at the local HGTV Shaw Rugs dealer, the salesman said that our region tends to be more traditional. So, it varies quite a bit. I don’t see a lot of MCM on CL either. The best bets are probably going to be the estate sales. I’ve not had much luck at Re-Store, but it’s hard for me to get there.
I live in Dallas and people LOVE mid-century modern & kitchy here. It’s hard to come by here and if you want to buy it at an estate sale, you better be first in line – litterally first in line. That also means they won’t bargain with you and you have to pay first day prices.
We have an “antique store” here in Dallas called Lula B’s and it’s fantastic to go and walk around. However, prices are crazy. I have gotten to the point where I know the who the dealers are at the sales AND a lot of the dealers are actually the estate sale people. That means they get the good stuff at the cheap price before any of us normal folk have a chance. Then they take it to their booth and resell it. Oh and Lula B’s is ALL midcentury modern, pyrex, and awesome.
I get most of my things on Craigslist, which is also slim pickens and it’s getting rarer and rarer to find something that someone doesn’t realize is awesome.
There are some flea markets around here that you can visit, but it is a hunt. But where is the fun without the hunt?
Natalie….I am in Dallas too and I agree about Lula B’s. They have great stuff, but it is outrageously priced. There are some FAB MCM stores that only carry designer names (Sputnik Modern being one of them…not much under $1000 in there), but they are so nice and have been willing to teach me what to look for and how to shop. Some of the shops in the Design District are great, but you have to be willing to haggle and walk away if you want a fair deal.
Prices are still far higher than your typical yard sale prices, but also much cheaper and much better quality than today’s new furnishings.
Meridith – we should shop together! There are a few estate sale websites specific to Dallas. Do you have those? There is also an auction house in the design district that has beautiful furniture, but it usually sells for a couple hundred.
Dealers make me so mad sometimes, but I always have to remind myself that there is a deman for what they do and that’s how they make their living. And sometimes if you make friends with them they will keep a look out for specific items for you and you can purchase those from them for a reasonable price.
I find central IL prices good in thrift shops, ridiculous in “antique” malls. Lots of ebay and other resellers are scouring the thrift stores, snapping up good stuff and junk alike. Shop early, shop often is my motto!
I’m originally from a town near Springfield! Where are you? (If it’s ok to ask that!) It’s always fun to see stuff from people in the land of corn!
LOL! Bloomington-corn is coming in from the fields these days, groups of farmers in nylon webbed aluminum lawn chairs wait their turn at the grain elevator.
Taylorville!
New England, and esp Massachusetts is a great place to to buy vintage pieces. Not too much in the way of Modern…..but lots and lots of vintage stuff.
Why?
Because these people are NOT a part of a moblie society…..
Each week I go to Estate Sales where folks have accumulated belongings for a lifetime.. Mint items. Most of my neighbors have lived in their homes since 1957…..
I don’t think that this happens on such a scale in other parts of the country.
These industrial areas, like Pittsfield, Greenfield and Springfield- had a thick layer of well to do professionals. By the time the economic base had changed, they were at the point of retirement…and just stayed.
I think you are absolutely right, Gavin. In cities with longtime employers, their employees were likely to have stayed put. And then, there was a large supplier base that lived there, too — the trickle down. These folks had great stuff, they were proud of it, they took care of it — and it’s only all coming out of houses now. In the New York Times, when I was quoted saying the best Re-Stores were in ‘rust belt cities’, it was for this reason. Yes: Folks stayed put.
Oh…and it’s a matter of what you want.
I have never had to fight with anyone over a piece of Kittinger furniture.
Few people are looking for the perfect mahogany Drum Table…..
I’m seeing some of what you’re seeing, but it’s different in the Midwest. We’re always a few years behind, but in Minneapolis there are some savvy shoppers and dealers. We have some very good Mid-century dealers (we bought Kagan-esque coffee tables from Spinario in NE Minneapolis) that are not offering bargains, but we also just found a nice dresser in an alley for free. It needs minimal refinishing.
I still think that the best deals here in Minnesota are going to be in the mid-sized towns (Rochester, St. Cloud, Duluth), but prices are creeping up.
Interesting discussion! I’m in Corvallis, Oregon (about 90 min southwest of Portland) and I’m surprised at how little mid-century decor/furniture is available here. My first thought is it’s all going to Portland, an obvious mecca for mid-century. My second thought is maybe many people here are hanging onto their items…a good percentage of homes here haven’t been extensively remodeled, so I guess I hope that there are more people here with the good sense not dump everything every five years for what is new.
Here in Indianapolis I would say prices are overall decent. Deals at thirft stores lately haven’t been that plentiful in my opinion. Seems to be a dry spell. Prices at antique Malls/Stores aren’t terrible when compared to ebay. I too have noticed more craigslist ads using “mid century” in the keywords. A lot more than a year ago. I usually find more at thirft stores in the winter. Assuming its because people are having garage/estate sales in the summer but in the winter they just donate to goodwill/salvation army.
Its funny this topic came up, my wife and I were JUST having this same discussion a couple of months ago. I noticed prices going up on ebay and we decided to play the market a little and sell some of the vintage stuff we didn’t really need. Since styles always come in, go out and then come in again I figured we could always sell high now and buy a little lower later if we truly wanted something back. Maybe….we’ll see. It’s not like we have sold anything that we really couldn’t live without. We’ve been using the profit we make for projects in our 1959 ranch (our dining room table and chairs paid for the living room/dining room floors to be refinished!).
Perhaps once Mad Men goes off the air and people move on to the next “thing” we’ll see prices come down a bit. Until then I’m happy to keep hunting!
Even if Mad Men goes away, now there is that new series Pan Am! Isn’t that from the 60s?
(I have to thank Mad Men for bringing in some fun clothes that fit people with a waist and hips!)
Prices on eBay will continue to go up because eBay’s fees continue to go up. The latest – final value fees on shipping – cash grab has forced a lot of stores to raise prices – even stores that traditionally offered things at low/reasonable prices.
I live in Northern CA (not the SF area) and not only is it hard to find stuff, but as you said, the prices are becoming ridiculous. I have a Diet Rite Cola clock that my brother bought for me in a thrift store in 1992 for $69.00. It’s younger version is listed right now on ebay for over $600. Dream on! Tops, it’s worth maybe $250.
Southwestern Wisconsin has very little to speak of. We have one good estate sale company, and as Natalie from Dallas said, you have to be first in line to get anything. I tried one of their sales in my neighborhood on the last day (!), and the line was still a block long.
People also do not understand the MCM thing and think I am nuts, so I bet a lot of Madison and Minneapolis/St Paul dealers grab stuff up cheap and sell dear.
Your best bet here is to keep an eye on auction sites around the state. I hate to share a treasure, but myfavoriteauctioneers.com in Sparta has done very well by me. I picked up some beautiful Conant Ball American Modern pieces for under $10 a piece because no one else was willing to risk seeing what was under 60 years of grime. Wicker circle chairs for $30, two gorgeous Hollywood regency highback lounge chairs, awaiting either cleaning or reupholstering, and a Holllywood regency button tufted wingback (bergere?) chair I am currently reupholstering.
For the Dallas area people check dddauction.com. They get fabulous pieces from the UK, and sometimes you can get a tremendous bargain. The specialize in credenzas, buffets, room dividers, etc, but have all kinds of other things, even real antiques.
They have a mid century auction coming up on Oct. 8th. I would go if I could!
Good think October 8th is free for me! Thanks for the tip.
Totally the auction place I just commented about. They have such pretty stuff!
Natalie and Anne-Marie…
Thanks so much for the heads up about the auction site! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I couldn’t go, but they walked me through their proxy bidding system and I was able to bid and WIN several items from home while my son napped. I got a bent wood arm chair, a groovy chartruse vanity stool, and a set of 3 smoked glass and teak nesting tables that match EXACTLY with the smoked glass credenza that we bought at Mid to Mod a few weeks ago. My mid/mod yet cozy living room is shaping up nicely, especially once I get my Kruehler platform rocker recovered (that I scored at a yard sale last weekend for $5.00)
Can’t wait until the retro-model is finished and I can live in all my mid-mod splendor!
Thanks for the tips, ladies. You deserve a cup of coffee (my treat) after a morning of estate sale hunting. I would love to go together.
I live in a suburb of Columbus Ohio called Upper Arlington. Last month we purchased a 1958 colonial brick ranch here from an estate that had a lot of original fixtures and cabinetry in it. I want to try and keep it true to the era, but most people buying into this area don’t.
My entire neighborhood was built in the late 50′s. So many 50′s and 60′s ranch homes here still have original or second owners here. My neighbor is 97 years old and not a lot of remodeling has gone on inside her home. Many of the estate sales have mid century furnishings coming out of them now. Everyone wants to remodel their ranch or split level to be more modern, so a few stores have popped up that are grabbing up the surplus furnishings and reselling them. The prices are pretty decent even for resale and the furniture is in excellent shape. Sometimes you can see stuff just laying out on the curb on trash day. We lack original lighting and decor items here, but have quite a bit of furniture to choose from. I prefer craigslist to ebay now, because I don’t have to pay shipping. Sometimes the shipping fees just kill a good deal.
My home has original bathrooms from American Standard in yellow and green with original slanted birch cabinetry. I restored the yellow one by reattaching and regrouting all the tile. I still need light fixtures for it though. Currently they are fluorescent lights recessed in the ceiling over the vanity. Probably the worst lighting any bathroom has ever had! I just can’t afford anything on ebay and get tired of looking, so I’m trolling your site, restore, and craigslist to see if I can get something that will work. It may take years to find them, but I’ve got time, just not tons of money!
We just purchased a 1950s ranch in Clintonville: we should have a mid century coffee klatch! Also, if you don’t already know about her:
http://salebyholly.com/Upcoming_Events.php
She has two sales in UA this weekend that look chock full of great stuff.
I will definitely check her out! We just moved to this area a month ago from the far east side, so that is great info for me! Thanks!
We just purchased a 1950s ranch in Clintonville: we should have a mid century coffee klatch! Also, if you don’t already know about Sales by Holly, you should check her out. She has two sales in UA this weekend that look chock full of great stuff.
Here in Indiana it’s not really all that easy to find. But I have a rule for myself. I will not pay a ridiculous price for it. I know I’ll get a lot of BOO’s and hisses but I don’t care if it’s Heywood-Wakefield or Sears and Roebuck, the reality is, it’s all just old stuff and only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Yes some is prettier, yes some designers were influential, yes some have better quality, but it’s…just….old…..stuff! The same with old cars, old Corvette or old Chevette…they’re just old cars..that’s it. I know I know, bite my tongue! Don’t get me wrong, I love old stuff better than new stuff and the quality of old stuff probably is better than new stuff, that’s why I love this site, but I stick to my rule and go home empty handed a lot of the time.
Austin, TX was a small town and just doesn’t have very many people who lived through the time period, especially people who were affluent then. So there’s a massive amount of demand and no real supply. Prices can be ridiculous. But there are also a lot of sellers who think rather highly of what they’re selling. It can be hard to tell what people are actually paying.
Austin has quite a few vintage resale shops, but most of them are overpriced. Modern Salvage sometimes has bargains, but it’s a crap shoot. Since the hipsters and californians started showing up, the prices have gone off the charts. Most estate sales and garage sales I go to have lots of 70′s or newer garbage. It’s pretty disappointing.
Here in southern Maine, I consider the pickin’s to be mighty slim. There’s a flea market up the road from us that we go to twice a month or more, and I have found some good deals there (Homer Costello MCM painting for $40 that I posted on your FB page) – but the turnover is not great, and not always a lot to choose from.
There are two big dealers north of us by 4+ hours and their prices are very spendy, and I can’t touch those items.
I ‘window’ shop all the time on eBay and etsy, favoriting things or ‘watching’ them. Some things I just shake my head at. I mean, there does NOT seem to be a shortage of MCM lamps – but the prices would indicate otherwise! Some sellers refuse to budge on their prices (I don’t ask, just note it’s been on the site at the same price for nearly a year or more). What’s the point in that? That is NOT sharing the MCM joy!!! $400+ for two (or even just one) MCM lamp, that’s ceramic, with NO shade that COULD be packed poorly and break in transit? I don’t take too many of those sorts of risks.
I’m headed (hopefully) 40 minutes north Saturday to Cornish, there’s supposed to be a great 3 story vintage shop there. Im hoping to run across something I just MUST come home with.
Happy shopping everyone, no matter where you end up finding your little piece of MCM joy.
Hey Hannah,
I hope you find a great deal in Cornish. I know the exact place you’re talking about as my girlfriends parents live close. It’s not bad but you may be disappointed in what you find. Last time I went there it was still colonial contemporary pieces. The place across the street with junk outside is a good place to get some industrial pieces though.
Charley Harper prints, love them! I have several in my time capsule house. I hoarded them from the early 90s when I got them from the US Govt printing office. You can still get some of them from the the printing office, and different sizes are available from CharleyHarperPrints.com.
We’ve gotten some great deals in and around Lansing, Mich. A few sellers are hip to the demand for this stuff and charge accordingly, but most don’t. We’ve got a store called “Love, Betti” that stocks tons of great MCM furnishings and knows their appeal, but the prices are still relatively good. We’ve also gotten gems through Craigslist, secondhand stores and garage sales.
The downside is that most people here don’t give a fig about historical appeal and will slap on greige vinyl siding, plastic windows and a fake Tuscan kitchen faster than you can say “Home Depot.”
I forgot to mention, Charley Harper illustrated for Ford Times magazine in the 50s and 60s, so his work is definitely recognizably MCM, even though the national park posters were a bit later.
SW – Michigan. at the allegan antique fair last weekend I saw a lovely mid mod bedroom set (nightstand, head-footboards, dresser & mirror) for $345. Not in the market yet for that – but it was a good find.
I did find at an estate sale a couple weekends ago – my perfect set of 5 Costco bar stools for $35. The guys who run the retro furniture store would’ve sold them for about $200, I guess (they had bar stools for that price earlier this year).
I would gladly help you buy a new pair of shoes for the right goodies!
I’m in the Northern Virginia/DC area and went to the DC Big Flea a few weekends ago. Prices were outragous — colored pyrex going for $30 and up, and I saw a set of Corning Ware (3 dishes, 2 tops, with the French vegetables on it) that I just bought at an estate sale for about $20 going for $60 at the Big Flea. I recently bought (at an estate sale) a fully working, good condition 1950s Dormeyer mixer for $9 (good deal) and a fur jacket (not such a good deal, needs repairs). If we have mid-mod stores here, I don’t know where they are.
Re: those sconces in your carousel. I quickly emailed the Seller this morning to see if she could measure them for me. We thought that finally after over two years, we’d found our sconces! Then guess what? The poor lady dropped one and broke it while measuring for us. sooooooo sad. : (
Prices in Nashville are just okay. Things definitely haven’t skyrocketed here but I tell you, Mad Men definitely made things harder to get. I could feel it when it happened.
are you kidding me!!!! that is awful — those were beautiful and the price was not bad. argh, eartha k, you have some kind of sconce curse….
I know! We’ve got some bad lighting purchase mojo.
I am going to be on the lookout for you at my big Re-Store! I have a sense of what you are looking for… Retro Decorating Gods owe me a few, I think.
I live in Saint Petersburg, FL and the prices here are kind of high because of the number of dealers in the area. You can find a lot of mid century stuff because of the retirement community at garage sale and estate sales for a great price, but the dealers and resellers are like vultures around here.
I find myself turning to ebay a lot. I did manage to snap a Plycraft Eames style Chair and Ottoman for $75.00
Eldon from Fresno CA here. Ebay prices have gone nuts & I have a hard time believing that even wealthy people pay the prices on 1st Dibs. When I moved to Fresno from LA seven years ago I purchased some great items at Salvation Army at low prices. Their prices now have gone through the roof even for damaged items. Several years ago I purchased 14 Knoll Executive Armchairs (Eero Saarinen) for $5 each that were in great shape from the Rescue Mission thrift store. And no, I didn’t sell them
– kept 3 for my office, 6 for dining & gave five to my brother. Just saw a shadow box there for $140 in the same store & small danish clock for $85. somebody is catching on. I agree with above posts that estate sales from original owner homes is where the beautiful finds are in cherished condition. Sadly, dealers have either made agreements with the auction people in advance or are there at three in the morning with their army of people to nab items for resale, so it takes most of us treasure hunters out of the loop. The unfortunate thing in our area is that once the treasures are gone, the homes are usually gutted & the time capsule is reduced to a heap in a dumpster. I guess our part is to continue to educate people that these homes are precious & irreplaceable.
Prices in NW Ohio are still quite reasonable, but slowly on the rise. People still seem to prefer early century here. I have noticed the largest price increase in wall decor.
We purchased a 1953 ranch two years ago. The house had a beautiful 3 square panel front door that, sadly, was exposed to the elements. After two winters we knew in order to save the door, we had to replace it. It also had schalge 5″ Riviera eschuteons. We have just replaced the door with a blank fiberglass with Crestview 16″ sq lights and new schlage replacement (new old stock! from ebay for $5 each!). We just sent the old door and its hardware to our Habitat Restore, so if anybody in Lexington is looking, please buy this door–it’s beautiful!
Here in New Orleans prices are high also in thift stores . We dont have much mid mod now post katrina sometimes you may find a good deal but its rare. I once owned a retro mod shop and think many good retro USA items are being sent to other countrys such as Tokyo ,Japan ..and pretty sure Seoul Korea and Hong Kong picked up on the trend due to the life style culture there.
Here in Western, NY you can still find some good deals on MCM Furniture. It is very country around this area so the Antique stores let the 50-60′s stuff go pretty cheap. Buffalo and Rochester have stores devoted to MCM and they have higher prices but after talking to them they are buying their items from dealers so they have to mark up to make some money.
We are actually in Corning, NY so Pyrex and Corningware is a dime a dozen around these parts, you practically can’t give the stuff away because everyone has it. I’ve been able to furnish my entire house with MCM furniture off of Craigslist for less than a leather couch from a furniture store would have cost me.
I’m in North Carolina, the triangle area. Here, furniture shops are aplenty, but midcentury items seem rare. a few vintage shops in the area pride themselves on their mid century pieces, but they jack the prices. a small childs desk will run you 400 dollars. cool lamps will run you 100 bucks a piece. the flea markets are daunting but worth it.
On a trip to Asheville last week i stopped by a mid century furniture resale shop, and although they had great stuff, i couldn’t stay more than five minutes because the prices were so high.
there is one shop, Cheshire Cat Antiques Gallery, (in Raleigh) that has mid century pieces from different consigners…so your prices depend totally on the consigner. i’ve seen an “eames era” gossip/conversation bench for just over 200 bucks (which i was impressed with because they are usually so expensive and rare). also some really neat original artwork. it’s a huge place, but it’s worth the dig. in fact, i’m drooling over some jadeite plates and oatmeal bowls i saw there yesterday.
All kinds of stuff are getting ridiculously expensive, not just MCM. Let’s face it, as others have ponted out, it’s essentially second hand stuff that was mass produced and still available in abundant quantity. Some of it’s better then others. Living in the suburbs of Philadelphia, stuff tends to run high. The pickers / dealers are ready to grab anything and everything at house sales and church rummage sales. The large antique malls in Adamstown Lancaster County (bills itself as Antiques Capital of the World) are no secrets, they draw people from DC, NY who have money to spend. I have found thrift shops and small junky antique malls the best places to shop. You can find identical items that one dealer is practically giving away and another one who thinks the item is a priceless antique. All in the thrill of the hunt and it’s fun to look.
I have to put in a word about St. Louis. Stuff is getting harder to find at outlets like Goodwills and thrift shops. But I still have great luck trolling garage sales advertised as “estate sales.” I don’t mean sales where companies have come in to sell the estate. They are crazy crowded these days. But if you look out for garage sales in neighborhoods of 50′s and 60′s houses, good stuff can still be found. Lots of people are clearing out Mom and Dads old houses and basements (everybody has one here) every week. I can’t save it all, but I’m doing my part!
It’s true, there’s a lot of good stuff sort of under the radar in St. Louis, of a variety of eras (I got a perfect floral 1940s wastebasket for less than $5 at a yard sale this weekend.)
There’s nothing much in the thrift stores, but The Future Antiques (called TFA) has great items. Here in St. Louis they’re considered sinfully overpriced, but those of you on the coasts would consider their prices quite reasonable. For that matter, our “outrageous” estate sale prices would probably make our coastal sisters and brethren weak in the knees!
Prices and collectors here in Seattle peakd about 7 yrs ago. all the really great stuff has been picked and is in a shop or antique mall sapce. I still manage to find scores in the wild for free or practically nothing. BUT I am also capable of any restoration needed and am not a mid century snob, ( IE I wont reject a great piece just because its not designed by so and so.) I have a mixture of high end and unknown but all the cream of the crop for my house, I have been collecting mid century for about 25 yrs. When I started I was shunned for wanting mid century stuff and everyone had the exact same thi ng to say about it. ” why do you want that stuff my grandparents had that and I hated it” now look!
It seems to me, around here in Grand Rapids, MI, people are wising up. The good deals to be had, generally, are at garage sales and a few thrift stores. If the finish is bad, then the furniture can be picked up for next to nothing. I got a Herman Miller shell chair with swivel base a few years ago for $2. I bought it to resell, but hubby nixed that idea, and now it’s in our living room.
I think Rhode Island has maintained low prices on mid-century treasures. Baltimore is a tad high, but I’ve been able to snag some great values there, too. Are things through the roof in the West, perhaps?
St. Louis: What Stacy said, but you can still get some pretty great prices at the professionally run estate sales. I went to one today and got two heywood wakefield bookcases in near mint condition for $75
I also picked up a desk lamp with two pierced gold metal cone shades for $12.00. At the same sale, they had five assorted 50′s coffee & end tables in the basement – the most expensive was $45, and a 1956 Frigidaire fridge with the “whale tail” handle for $60. I have the same fridge in pink. I doubt if theirs will sell, so I plan to go back tomorrow and offer them a few bucks for the handle. Always good to have a spare.
sophista-tiki – I’ve been collecting mid century for many years too. I miss the days when you could pick up just about anything 50′s/60′s for next to nothing! And I’m no MCM snob either – I buy what makes me smile.
Some of the sellers on eBay are nuts – the prices are ridiculous! I especially love it when they advertise “Same item on 1st Dibs for $5,000.00!!!” Yeah, and it’s been on 1st Dibs for 2 years….
I find the best Mid Century Modern treasures at Savers, Goodwill, Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, all over Connecticut. I have noticed lately, however, that these stores have begun to jack up the prices specifically on the MCM items. I have many times overheard clerks in these stores say to each other “I just checked the internet and this is what this item is going for.”
In Seattle it depends on what you’re looking for. It’s still possible to find small items in thrift stores, but furniture can be pricey, especially if it has a famous name manufacturer. Sellers here are pretty savvy about that kind of thing.
I live in SE Michigan not far from Cranbrook, where the likes of the Eames, Bertoia and many of the great MCM designers were educated. You would think that we would have a lot to choose from but it is slim pickings on CL and local resale stores. Estate dealers are asking too much for pieces that are average. I don’t see much locally, perhaps many people are keeping the good stuff and/or passing their treasures on.
I think we have to blame the rising demand and prices on stores/catalogs like Design (not) Within Reach, that have crazy prices for licensed reproductions. Last year we struck GOLD and found a gorgeous set of 6 Teak Moller Danish Modern #77 chairs at a Chicago area estate liquidator for $699 total! You can’t find them on eBay for much less than $2000 and DWR now sells the Moller #77 for around $1000 a piece! I made my husband drive all the way from Detroit to Chicago & back to get them as my Christmas present. What a sweetie!
I have found it is hard to find deals anywhere in the US on eBay but thankfully, there are more European dealers selling a plethora of nice pieces with very minimal shipping costs for International shipping. As long as the purchase price is below $300, you don’t have any duty from countries like Denmark.
I’m from Minneapolis and thankfully furnished my house completely in Mid Century in the late 90′s. Since Madmen’s success, prices have tripled in any vintage shops. Even thrift stores have caught on to the Mid- C craze and are trying to cash in, usually on junk that isn’t even close to right era. I never was into Ebay but looked yesterday and it was about what I expected; a lot of junk mislabled MCM or “retro” with completely ridculous prices with a few authentic pieces priced in the thousands. I would look for estate sales in older MC neighborhoods or even at garage sales.
I just closed on my ’54 ranch and I’m dying for a vintage starburst clock for over the mantel. I’ve been watching ebay for 2 months and the prices are CRAZY high for them! I’ve been watching the thrift stores, etc., here and not finding much for lamps, tables, even glassware with 50′s or americana feel….
Yes — Prices have gone nuts for these starburst clocks! A few years ago, they were cheap!
I have to share one of my latest finds with an audience who will appreciate it…I snagged a Kroehler platform rocking chair at a yard sale for $5. It is covered in hunter green vinyl that has seen better days (and a few cigars, given the size of the burn holes) and has a new destiny with charcoal gray leather with orange piping.
Here is a newspaper ad from the Milwalkee Journal dated June 18, 1952 with a picture of the same chair (in different fabric). So fun! I have printed out the ad and will inclose it in the bottom of the seat (along with a scrap of the original vinyl upolstery) so if it is ever recovered someone will know a bit of its history.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19520618&id=Gw8iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XH4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5475,1147273
So, good deals are still out there…If you are patient and don’t mind getting up way early! =)
I’m in so cal about halfway between LA and Palm Springs, and there is definitely plenty of great mid century goodies down here BUT the prices aren’t always that great. There’s a bunch of cool vintage shops that carry mostly mid century stuff but unfortunately you’re gonna pay a high price, since a lot of them specialize in the popular designers (Eames, Heywood etc….). Thrift stores are hit and miss these days, although I have friends that furnished their houses in the mid to late 90s and SCORED all day long at the thrift stores, we’re talkin complete bedroom sets, bitchin’ lighting, patio furniture, all sorts of stuff for dirt cheap! My boyfriend and I tend to favor the smaller ma and pops type antique stores because we often find good mid century things at decent prices since they aren’t exactly aiming for the mcm crowd, especially in the smaller towns. Overall I think its just getting harder and harder to fo find good things at decent prices no matter where you are. Oh well, the way I look at it the hunt is half the fun!
I live in SE Michigan, Metro Detroit area and we have a blast with MCM. Our house is MCM, and we ended up with so much stuff we either trade with friends or sell it on Craigslist. For us, the fun is in the finding. We stay away from most antique malls; preferring estate sales, garage sales and resale shops. There are amazing treasures to be found, you just need to be patient!
I just recently decided–now that the kids are grown, and the cats are declining in number—to redecorate my living room in MCM. I already had two good lamps–wire and ceramic with fiberglass shades-and a starburst clock, to inspire me. Well! I went out Friday to the local consignment/junque shops, and within MINUTES had picked up a 36′ square and a similar rectangular McCobb style tables in solid maple: $28. The only other shop in town: a Heywood-Wakefield style two tier end table–also solid maple: $10. Found one of those great circular wire plant stands and a a wire magazine rack: total damage $3! I realize, now, that I’ve been walking past rows and rows of drip glaze table lamps at the Goodwill, for ages, now, too. Apparently, although I doubt I’ll find any High Art pieces in this modest rural area, NW Iowa is still ripe for the picking. Everyone the other day who sold me these treasures looked incredulous at my glee. “You want that crap?” Indeed, I do!