I've wanted a few Arne Jacobsen Swan Chairs for a while, but was hoping to avoid the cost of Fritz Hansen, so had been looking at "unlicensed reproductions." I was able to find an RMR Furniture version called the "Arturo Chair" for c. $US 1300. After searching some more, I found the "Arturo Chair" listed with alltreats.com for $599. sexyfurnishings.com also carries the RMR Furniture line, but they list the chair as "Swan Chair". Both the sexyfurnishings.com and alltreats.com chairs are manufactured by Nuevo.
Well, I took a gamble and oredered two "Arturo Chairs" from alltreats.com. They are sturdy and solidly made, but the stitching is horrible. Now I know why all the Swan Chair knockoff pictures never show a side view. The fabric is bunched-up and gathered where it is stiched along the seams, e.g. the top of the armrests.
I don't have any ethical problem whatsoever with purchasing unlicensed reproductions, particualrly if the designer is no longer living, but if the quality of other knockoff products are anything like this, I will stick with the licensed products from now on. As it is, I am donating these chairs to the local charity.
Sad
Unfortunately this is something alot of us learn from experience. Fritz Hansen must live up the the quality standards set by Arne Jacobsen, a product worthy of putting his name on it. Knock-off manufacturers don't have to worry about this. They only must live up to the standard of providing a product that's a close approximation in a photograph.
If it's possible to say anything in the defense of Nuevo, they are only a wholesale distributor, and not the actual manufacturer. I suggest you let your retailer know exactly how you feel, I'm sure they will pass it along.
Update
Well, I gave the chairs to charity, and purchased a 4 year old Artifort Paulin Orange Slice chair in perfect condition for less than US $1000. The quality is superb, and I've learned my lesson. After all, what is the point in buying unlicensed reproductions if the implementation is so substandard as to compromise the design?
Hi Kirth - First, thank you...
Hi Kirth - First, thank you for mentioning us in your dialogue. I understand how confusing it can be when you're searching for designer reproductions. On the one hand, the prices are much better. On the other hand, is the quality the same? This is a conversation everyone has with themselves when choosing between originals and reproductions, whether it is with furniture or art or anything else in between.
One thing I like to point out to people is that with
furniture, if the original designer isn't alive and making the product him/herself, then everything else out there is a reproduction. There are companies that license the design and make it based on specs and there are companies that make similar products with slight variations (i.e.,
dimensions might be off 1" or the fabrics used might vary
slightly).
Think of a painting. If Van Gogh licensed all of his paintings to Joe Smith Art Company, would you say that
Joe Smith Art Company makes any more of an original than another company that reproduces the Van Gogh without a license? If the other company points out clearly that it is not an original and is just a reproduction, why is it that their reproduction is any worse than the one from Joe Smith Art Company?
I think this is an important thing to point out.
Now, when it comes to quality, you do have to differentiate between companies that make reproductions. We have spent the past 8 years searching for suppliers of reproductions and I can tell you there are wide variations in terms of quality between the many Italian, Danish, and Chinese suppliers of reproductions.
Most of our reproductions come from Alphaville Design, whom we consider to be the best supplier of reproductions in the world, the quality of which exceeds even Design within Reach. We use other suppliers as well and all of our products have to pass our quality control inspections.
Just to clarify, the reproduction Swan Chair that we sell comes from Alphaville as well. In the 8 years we have been in business, we have not had 1 single complaint regarding the quality of their Swan Chair reproduction. That is pretty impressive when you think about it. Could I be lying? Of course I could. But we stake our reproduction on our customers' experience with us and it would be to
our detriment for me to lie about this.
Thanks again,
Mike
Kirth
You wrote "I don't have any ethical problem whatsoever with purchasing unlicensed reproductions,".
That's really great to know.
I might take this opportunity to let you know that I don't have any ethical problem whatsoever with helping myself to an "abandoned" automobile (i.e. one left just sitting out on the street).
Now where did you park again?
Are you serious?
Mike - Like you, I sell Alphaville replicas. I have often had questions regarding quality and on one hand - your right, these are solid, built to last products. But I can not in good conscience tell a client of mine that they are the same quality as Fritz Hansen. and I have turned more than one client away to have them purchase from Fritz or Vitra or Herman Miller or Knoll.
To say that Alphaville is the same as the origonals at DWR is a lie
dear Ball..unfortunately my...
dear Ball..unfortunately my budget will not allow me to purchase originals, so i do buy copies, have 2 barcelonas i bought from steelform about 6 yrs ago, an eileen grey tbl, ..nothing wrong with them that the eye can detect..ur attitude about "feeling dirty" made me feel dirty just reading it...elitist that u are, i bet u voted for obama!
hi
I didn't mean to offend,...
hi
I didn't mean to offend, it was my opinion
If I could answer your post it would go like this
I picked up two knoll studio barcelonas for $300 AUD, so there goes your budget theory. They're out there as I'm out there looking most days
It was a matter of upbringing and education for my love of design, there is no design in a copy
If that makes me an elitist than so be it, I can live with that
As for Obama..no, I voted for Howard but then I would, I live in Australia
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