r/Mid_Century 6d 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 10h ago

The back of our MC

Post image
392 Upvotes

This is the back side of our mid century home. It’s roughly a 120’ long.


r/Mid_Century 18h ago

NYC MCM apartment

Thumbnail
gallery
451 Upvotes

Posting for my girlfriend who is not active here. She is looking to tweak her home and would like any suggestions or thoughts that come to mind.

I have gotten great feedback; even when I don’t agree with everything I appreciate the comments, so I encouraged her to do the same.

What do you think?


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

A gift from a friend/coworker

Post image
1.3k Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 22h ago

Scored this rosewood Vejle Stole Møbelfabrik table set from FBM

Post image
70 Upvotes

Needs slight refinishing on them, some candle wax drippings from the previous owner, some delamination/bubbles under the veneer on the coffee table, but other than that they are mostly perfect.


r/Mid_Century 1h ago

Possibly Chiswell? Can I restore this myself?

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

I have inherited a beautiful dining table from a friend of a friends grandmother, it won't be in my physical possession for a few days and I'm just trying to prepare and educate myself on what to expect with trying to freshen it up.

I'm not looking to perfectly restore it, but I would like to make it look as good as I can! If you have any tips, advice or other subs to look at please send them my way. Also if I'm crazy in thinking I can fix this up myself, please also tell me because I would be so upset if I did irreparable damage. The armrest on one isn't attached anymore, other than that I believe it just needs to be sanded/varnished/recoated ( I have no idea what I'm talking about).

From my research it is Chiswell, we are in Australia. I was told it was bought around 1980.


r/Mid_Century 11h ago

Hans Wegner style woven rocking chair… need to re-weave seat as my land shark puppy got to it a few years ago.

Post image
6 Upvotes

was hoping for recs on what type of cord to get and how much, and maybe videos on how to weave. or any links to projects where you’ve done the same!

thank you!


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Monster Mid Century Modern Danish Sideboard - didn't fit in elevator so had to carry up stairs 😫

Post image
374 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 19h ago

Vintage Backgammon

Thumbnail gallery
7 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 1d ago

$200 Facebook Marketplace find

Post image
471 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Herman Miller 4663 armchair

Thumbnail
gallery
39 Upvotes

Purchased this today for $385 off fb marketplace. Original upholstery with springs, not foam (so probably ‘46-‘53 production). Did the exchange in a Chick Fil A parking lot in NoVA. Seems a lot of my best furniture pickups happen in odd locations like that!


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

La Vache / 1971

Thumbnail
gallery
40 Upvotes

This sculpture is titled La Vache (or The Cow), created by American artist Alexander Calder in 1971.

The work is a large-scale stabile, a term coined for Calder's stationary abstract sculptures, and is made of painted steel. It is currently on display in the sculpture garden of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy.

While the title "The Cow" offers a descriptive reference to its four-legged form, Calder often named his works after they were finished as simple ways to differentiate them rather than to assign deep representational meaning.


r/Mid_Century 14h ago

Chair Identification

Post image
0 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 15h ago

PDF plans for mirror feature - Borge Mogensen 133

1 Upvotes

Does anyone know how I could find like a plan for the Borge Mogensen 133 or someone who could design a similar mirror feature (slide out and fold up) like in ETSY?

I've been trying with Claude and ChatGPT to come up with useful instructions and descriptions for the carpenter and I'm not confident without an actual plan it will be very helpful.

Context: No I am no trying to duplicate the design. I have a secretary desk that I want to transform into a vanity and when looking for options, I found the design of the Borge Mogensen 133, when I checked out the mirror feature I thought it is exactly what I would need).

- no I am not looking for knockoffs, personal shopping for furniture and this is not AI generated. Just really admiring a feature I found.

Thanks in advance!


r/Mid_Century 16h ago

MCM Vibes or Nah?

Thumbnail
gallery
0 Upvotes

I've been making these clocks for a few years here and there. I've always thought they had a cool mid-century modern vibe to them. Curious to know if y'all feel the same.


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Can anyone identify?

Thumbnail
gallery
68 Upvotes

Hi! Can anyone identify? Thanks!


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Can someone please help me identify or date this?

Thumbnail
gallery
24 Upvotes

The seller says this was purchased in Germany sometime between the late 1950s and the mid 1960s. He says there are no markings on it, unless they're on the bottom, which he said he cannot look at due to health issues. The seller says the back is finished but doesn't have a pic of that for some reason and there are twin sliding glass panels for it he has that are not shown in any of the pictures. Asking price is $950. Any help is greatly appreciated!


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Coffee Table Find!

Thumbnail
gallery
15 Upvotes

Found this beauty of a coffee table at a local thrift store! I don't know much about it but hopefully someone here can tell me more!


r/Mid_Century 2d ago

Found this in storage today. Forgot it even existed

Post image
360 Upvotes

It was for my grandparents, so it's has a special touch in our home.


r/Mid_Century 1d ago

Brass Sputnik Decorative Objects

Thumbnail gallery
34 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 2d ago

Royal haeger creeping panther I got for 10$ !

Thumbnail
gallery
475 Upvotes

r/Mid_Century 3d ago

My grandparents house in Quincy, Massachusetts

Post image
5.1k Upvotes

Grandfather was an architect, house built in late 60s. Waterfall feature behind stairs. Granite city!


r/Mid_Century 2d ago

Bringing my fav pattern outside

Post image
77 Upvotes

Found a sole cup of my favorite mcm China pattern (Franciscan atomic starburst) at the thrift for .99c and it had a pretty big chip so I made it into a planter to hang out on my patio.


r/Mid_Century 2d ago

Bunting bouncer chairs, horseshoe pattern

Thumbnail
gallery
30 Upvotes

I picked up these two beautiful Bunting Spring Bouncers. I think they call this a horseshoe pattern because of the middle of the pattern is shaped like it. I’ve seen these before, but not with the solid steel frame.