r/Mid_Century 17h ago

Monthly Swap Meet & Self Promotion Thread!

1 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.

102 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 2h ago

Marketplace find. Pair of Piet Mondrian Abstract artworks. $25 for the set.

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287 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Feeling good about my $10 thrift find today.

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829 Upvotes

I am fairly confident this is a ~1930s Kem Weber Springer Chair. Would love to have your opinions on it. My wife and I love it regardless so it's staying with us but if it is that valuable, it would make the find that much more awesome!


r/Mid_Century 7h ago

Window Replacement Help

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28 Upvotes

We relatively recently purchased a MCM home and need to replace the louvered windows on the porch. They don’t function at all anymore. They appear to be structural? Anyone else replace windows like this that wrap around? What did you replace with? What challenges did you come up against? The side windows in the picture are 3 windows and a door. The opposite side is all windows. Added a couple pictures to show what the previous owners replaced the other windows with (Marvin). They are all either flat panel windows or side sliders. (We didn’t paint the brick. It has been that way for the last couple owners.)

Previous owners replaced the other windows with Marvin windows. I’m concerned that replacing with the same replacement windows in the current format (6 across the front etc) that there will be too much white and not enough window if that makes sense? But it also needs to look right with what we have. We have a bunch of windows that were replaced within the last 10 years so they are what they are which is frustrating, but such is life.

We have talked to a couple different window replacement people, but I’m not convinced they get it based on what they were telling me. The Marvin authorized dealer couldn’t do renderings. I don’t want to regret a costly decision that affects the look of our house. We are going to work with a design build contractor and want to go in with ideas as MCM homes aren’t common in our area. We know people that have used them and they do high quality work. We just want to do what works best for the house given what we already have. We also want to go in prepared for any challenges. Thanks in advance!


r/Mid_Century 2h ago

Bassett dresser set

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5 Upvotes

These were a Marketplace find, $425 for the set, that I miraculously loaded into my Subaru Forester and transported in one shot - lowboy in the back, tallboy strapped to the top hanging on by a wish and a prayer. They’re both oak; any guesses as to the name of the line they’re from?


r/Mid_Century 23h ago

My $7 garage sale find yesterday

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123 Upvotes

Couldn’t find any makers mark but has the original hardware and wiring. I love it so much just need to find a shade


r/Mid_Century 3h ago

Need help identifying this curb-rescued table. 22" tall, 26" wide. Any help appreciated!

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2 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 3m ago

Please help me authenticate these Wassily chairs

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Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 4h ago

Can anyone tell me the approximate age of this bathroom scale?

2 Upvotes

Thank you all for your input. I took a chance and asked AI and he said early 60s.


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

A few recently acquired mid-century German vases

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249 Upvotes

My wife and I went to Scandinavia for summer vacation and picked up these 5 art vases in Norway. Colloquially called "Fat Lava", although only a couple of them have crackle glaze.


r/Mid_Century 1h ago

Found a new pair of Danish bookcases, but I'm not sure what these extra shelf inserts are for

Upvotes

pics

See pics. They're too small to use with the bookcases. I initially thought they were vertical dividers, but I don't see any way that would work. I asked the owners, but they said the bookshelves came with the house and had no idea. I'm assuming there was a third piece of furniture that they belong to.


r/Mid_Century 2h ago

Dansk 1959 Ad

1 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 2h ago

Heywood chair identification

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1 Upvotes

I picked up 4 of these chairs at a thrift store. They are clearly marked Heywood Wakefield, but I am having trouble finding original examples online. AI says they are from the Contessa line, but I am dubious. I found one example pictured with a contessa desk, but these are pretty clearly dining chairs. Any Heywood experts out there to help me ID these chairs?


r/Mid_Century 3h ago

Help with identification

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0 Upvotes

They look very much like the Drexel chairs by John van koert(they are obviously not). I picked them up for seven dollars each. I figured one has a broken dowel and would make a good challenging project. I could only find one listing asking for help with identification on Facebook. Someone responded with Drexel by Jon van koert, obviously that is not what they are… and that’s all I could find . any help would be appreciated. That way I know what they are .. please and thank you.


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Found Bassett tall boy

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43 Upvotes

Got lucky and found this roadside today before a big storm came through! It needs a really good cleaning and some work but I’m excited. Pic of the dresser and a found pic online of the same one for a better look.


r/Mid_Century 20h ago

RCA/whirlpool freezer

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20 Upvotes

I bought my in laws house after I got married in ‘99 and there was a freezer tucked away in the basement. I never bothered with it but decided last night to open it up and see if it still worked. It was kinda gross inside, pretty sure it’s been sitting at least 30 years. Shockingly it fired right up! I checked the model and they made these between 1958-1962. Found a spoon stuck in the coils on the back of the fridge. The freezer belonged to my wife’s grandmother.


r/Mid_Century 20h ago

All for under 10 bucks 😩

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12 Upvotes

Glasses aren’t the original ones but I’m screaming. Is this an authentic Auböck??


r/Mid_Century 18h ago

Virginia Maid?

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7 Upvotes

Hi, I just purchased this table off Fb marketplace thinking it was just a random table, and when I bought I saw the logo and I was wondering if this is a real Virginia Maid or a fake. I don't really care if it is a fake just wanted to know.

Thanks!


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

My Thrift Score Today 8/31/26

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51 Upvotes

This gorgeous Empoli ravioli bottle for $4.25 and 40% off for old lady day 💙💙💙💙💙


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

my thrifted mc living room

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888 Upvotes

Green Italian leather 1970s sofa - $150
Percival Lafer Brazilian Rosewood coffee table & side table - $20
Danish teak sideboard - $80
Handmade knitted rug 6x9 - $125
Ekornes tan leather recliner - $60
Large Abstract Signed Artwork - $60
1960s Swedish chair and footstool - $150
1960s ceramic and teak lamp - $25
IKEA round lamp - $20
My next home design project is putting teak paneling on the wall where the Danish sideboard sits on.


r/Mid_Century 2d ago

The house my grandparents designed, build and decorated in 1960 ❤️

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1.6k Upvotes

When my grandparents got married, they designed their own house. My grandpa has build a lot of it himself too, and even a lot of the furniture that I still use now 66 years later!

My grandfather passed away really young and before he died, he gifted my grandmother a special plant. That plant is also still in the same spot for over 40 years.

Also a lot of things like old magazines, furniture catalogues, toys and books are still around all from the period from when they designed the house. I really cherish those things and I absolutely love the house. You don’t see houses like this in my country that often. Just wanted to share since it’s really special to me. They would have absolutely loved it if more people could see it. They were really proud of it.


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

my Desert Bar is Getting ♠️

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51 Upvotes

My Vintage Glass Collection/Carlo Moretti Collection Getting Bigger


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Renovations done right: the 1960 Pyramid House on Fire Island

8 Upvotes

Saw

Designed by architect Julio Kaufman, it's got a great history and the updates seem spot-on. I saw it on Curbed, which has a paywall. I think I can't post to a sales listing, so check out 443 Sail Walk in Sayville, NY on your favorite real estate sites.


r/Mid_Century 2d ago

Estate sale scores

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182 Upvotes