Hey all, I am almost finished with the living room (just waiting to have two final chairs reupholstered). Then onto the next project room which is the bedroom. The bedroom currently has modern dark chocolate wood furniture from West Elm (I think). I got it for free from my brother-in-law when he married my sister. I put the bedroom off until last since the furniture was in decent shape and was modern style. I plan to replace with mostly teak mid-century modern furniture. My desk goes in the bedroom and I have been majorly salivating over the Nelson Swag Leg desk for a while. I love the styling of the desk and think it will compliment the Saarinen tulip table I plan to use as a bedside table and the modern white stand I plan on using as for my new marine aquarium. The new aquarium is also another major reason I want to get started on the bedroom remodel. I have been putting off setting it up until I get all the new furniture in the bedroom.
My question concerning the desk is how hard are they to find vintage? I know that they are hard to come by but how hard exactly? I also know that I can buy an authentic new swag leg desk but would rather buy vintage if possible. Are there any ways to distinguish a vintage piece from a new one...stamps, etc? Also, what can I expect to spend on a vintage piece in good condition? I am not looking for an exact dollar amount but am I looking at spending well over the $2150 that the new ones cost? The reason I am asking is 1st Dibs has what they say is a vintage swag leg desk for around $5000, but 1st Dibs is notorious for the way over-priced pieces that they offer so that makes me think $5000 may be more then the piece is worth. I don't want to overpay for something just because it is vintage. Thanks!
Beautiful desk
The Nelson swag leg desk is an exceptional design. I think the visual lightness would make it perfect for use in a bedroom like you are describing.
Though they are quite close, there are material differences in the new production when compared to vintage desks, the most obvious being the quality of the white laminate surfaces. I'd suggest inspecting both in person if possible.
If you want a vintage desk at the best price I would suggest trying to be patient and waiting for one to come up at auction. Looking at auction results just at Wright, the prices vary widely. Before the desk was reissued, it sold for as much as $9,000 and $10,000. The reissues seem to have really driven down the price of vintage as they are just as likely not to sell now, and when they do sell it's in the $2,500- $3,000 range which I think would be perfectly reasonable to pay compared to $2,250 for a new desk. Especially considering the minute you buy a new desk it becomes used furniture. While not as valuable as they once were, a vintage desk is still one of a finite number of original examples and I think would hold its value much better. Plus it is just cooler to have a real vintage one.
If you do not want to wait for one to appear at auction, you might want to reach out to any of the dealers on 1st Dibs who are offering a swag leg desk. It looks like all of them are listed at around $5,000 with just one listed at $6,000 (they claim it is rosewood, though it does not look much like rosewood to me). People like to grouse about 1st Dibs pricing being high, but what they seem to fail to understand is that nearly every dealer on the site will discount their prices. Some just a little, some a lot. While many dealers buy at auction, and they may have paid $2,500- $3,000 for a desk they have listed for $5,000 they may have paid less and if they have a good margin on the piece, can offer you a substantial discount. It never hurts to ask. I would just recommend asking nicely.
http://wright20.com/search/nelson+swag%20desk
Wow, thanks for the info. I...
Wow, thanks for the info. I would totally be willing to spend $2500-$3000 for a vintage version of the desk. I will try contacting some of the 1st Dibs sellers. I also want to make sure that they are offering true vintage pieces and not used 'new' reissues.
Very odd
I looked again at the swag leg desks which are listed on 1st Dibs and noticed that only one of the four has the colored dividers in the top. Two say they are rosewood and one appears to be black.
I have the Herman Miller catalog and pricer from when they were introduced in 1958, and neither there nor in either of the Nelson books is any other configuration offered or even mentioned.
Two of the desks are from dealers in Germany and Italy. Vitra has been producing Herman Miller product in Europe since the 1950s and it is very common to see slight differences in HM and Vitra production. The desk the dealer in Massachusetts has listed shows rosewood dividers and the drawer inserts are a different color and configuration as well. I wonder if that could be a Vitra produced piece that was brought to the states?
Here are pictures of the swag leg desk we own:
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