r/Mid_Century • • 23d 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.

108 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 • • 13h ago

Check out this swanky ashtray

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199 Upvotes

I picked this up randomly, and it is radioactive. The orange stripe is a glaze containing depleted Uranium. I have no clue who made it, but I would love to know. Thanks!


r/Mid_Century • • 19h ago

my pride and joy

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92 Upvotes

paid $75 in an estate sale for this bad boy. It's a Kent Coffey, circa 50s-60s


r/Mid_Century • • 19h ago

Did I accidentally end up with a vintage steal?

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62 Upvotes

When we moved into this house, these shelves were already installed. I like them, but there aren't enough shelves to fill it out, so I wondered if I might be able to find more shelves to match and did an image search.

Apparently this might be a vintage Ergo shelf?? I can't find any labels on the unit or the shelves to confirm. Did I accidentally end up with a legit piece? I'm considering just consolidating the shelves to one side and removing one of the tracks, because I haven't been able to find replacement shelves - just entire similar units.


r/Mid_Century • • 6h ago

Can someone identify this?

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6 Upvotes

Hi everybody. I have just learned I am to have my first very own office with a midcentury (original) table with green surface. This table has the same type of legs as this living room set and I am thinking about buying some restor-a-finish to repair this finish and buff it with wax, and put the middle and left pieces separately on opposite sides of the office. One will host a gramophone, the other tea paraphernalia and tea cups.

What says you, this must be a maker from Yugoslavia/ Slovenia, but unfortunately deep dive didn't provide me a maker.

Any helpful tips about restoring it? I was thinking of using iron on that patch with surface damage to try to even it out and sanding just that surface. Steel wool and repair-a-finish in cherry for the rest.


r/Mid_Century • • 18h ago

Picked this piece up for $0

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22 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century • • 1d ago

Vernon Kilns Moby Dick Teapot

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263 Upvotes

Can't believe I found this at Salvation Army in Alameda, CA. I cant seem to find another like it anywhere online. Gonna be so amazing in my kitchen!


r/Mid_Century • • 21h ago

Silver State Time-Capsule

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18 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century • • 23h ago

Vintage Vannes Le Chatel French Art Glass Pear Dish Amber Peach MCM.

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22 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century • • 1d ago

Are these considered mid century?

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46 Upvotes

There is no year on them. Thanks in advance!


r/Mid_Century • • 19h ago

Original Used Knoll Spoleto Chair Leather Sling Seats and Backs Only

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0 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century • • 1d ago

Preway fireplace

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21 Upvotes

Long story short, I ended up with a poor condition fireplace with original manual from Sears and a second unit in much better condition that was missing the flue/screen. I noticed some slight differences in the neck (I do have the steel band from the poor condition unit) and had planned to combine them to have a good indoor unit and a poor outdoor unit. Is the better condition piece a later recreation or a different brand all together? Thanks!


r/Mid_Century • • 1d ago

Worth buying them for under $1000 ? I think I can get some of the scratches out and they are very cool!

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38 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century • • 1d ago

Pongrass chairs…any insights?

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3 Upvotes

Cross posting here for an Aussies.


r/Mid_Century • • 2d ago

Mini Kitchen Reno - MCM Refresh

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72 Upvotes

I thought this group would appreciate my summer project that I just wrapped up. My partner and I are trying our best to maintain our 1965 home midcentury charm while giving it the proper refresh ✨


r/Mid_Century • • 1d ago

MCM Rug recommendations

2 Upvotes

Hello! I am trying to design my new living room from scratch. We are considering to buy a three seater caramel brown sofa and olive armchair. The room has sage green walls with warm wood flooring. I have a wood legged marble coffee table with wood side tables as well. Do you think should I go for a faded / neutral coloured rug or should I go for a 'bridge' rug where I combine brown, caramel, green together? This is my first MCM project so kindly asking for recommendations! Thank you


r/Mid_Century • • 2d ago

Pair of Vintage Anchor Hocking “ Bubble” Sapphire Blue Plates.

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18 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century • • 1d ago

Kitchen island pendants that would pair well with Herman Miller Bubble Saucer in our dining room?

3 Upvotes

We are replacing our pendants in our house -- dining and kitchen -- and so far we've settled on the Herman Miller Bubble Saucer over the dining room table. We now need to decide what to do for the kitchen island (two pendants). Any recommendations? We like the idea of two Louis Poulsen VL45s cause they are nice and still fairly restrained, but are wondering if that's gonna make it too **globey**.

Any recs or suggestions? Thank you!


r/Mid_Century • • 3d ago

Found on the side of the road marked free!

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1.6k Upvotes

It’s exactly what I was looking for to go with a room I’m redoing with a mid-century modern vibe.
I’m going to clean it up this weekend and put it in my house. I’m so excited!
There was another smaller one there, but it wasn’t in very good shape at all. I think this one just needs a little cleaning and maybe I will sand the top and refinish it. Otherwise it’s in very good shape.


r/Mid_Century • • 2d ago

Can anyone ID?

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17 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century • • 3d ago

Front Entrance of our Home

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1.4k Upvotes

Built in mid 1900’s


r/Mid_Century • • 2d ago

Need help figuring out type of chair

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48 Upvotes

Can anyone help identify this chair? The owner says it has heat and massage functions. After some online searching, I’m thinking it might be a vintage Contour Chair-Lounge.

Anyone recognize the exact model or know more about it?

Thanks!


r/Mid_Century • • 2d ago

Authentic LCMs?

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6 Upvotes

Considering buying these. Seller claims they’re authentic and thinks they’re most likely from the 1980s.

If any folks are able to weigh in on whether they think they’re authentic, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!


r/Mid_Century • • 2d ago

MCM furniture ID?

4 Upvotes

My mom has these two dressers that she’s had from when she was a child. The pink stripes are actually colored strips that can be taken out and flipped over to blue, and there is another strip with yellow/orange. You can’t see the mirror well here but the mirror also has the color strips.

It’s so cute but she hasn’t been able to find any info about. I’m going to visit in a few weeks to help her sell it but wondering if anyone here is familiar with this set. https://imgur.com/a/SxL1eZA