Mid-Century Modern

A buyer's guide to Mid-Century Modern

Flip the chair. Original Eames, Knoll, Herman Miller, and Dunbar pieces almost always carry a stamped or paper label on the underside, often with a date. Solid teak with bowed-form construction usually means Danish; molded plywood with fiberglass means American postwar.

The market for mid-century modern at estate sales has its own rhythm. Pricing varies enormously depending on whether the liquidator specializes in this category or simply inherited it as part of a larger household. When the executor is a generalist, you'll often see strong pieces priced as if they were ordinary goods — that's the gap that makes estate sales so rewarding for buyers who know the category. When the liquidator specializes, expect prices that are closer to retail, but expect provenance, condition reports, and considerably more confidence in what you're taking home.

If you're new to buying mid-century modern, spend a Saturday morning walking through three or four sales in the category before you spend real money. You'll quickly develop an eye for the markings, materials, and construction details that separate the truly desirable pieces from competent reproductions. Most experienced collectors agree that the first dozen pieces you buy should be inexpensive — what you're paying for is the lessons, not the inventory. After that, you'll know exactly what to chase and exactly what to walk past.

Use the sales above to plan your weekend route. Sort by start date, prioritize sales with multiple categories that overlap your interests, and remember: the best pieces in any category usually leave the building in the first 90 minutes.