The mix 'n' match trend has...
The mix 'n' match trend has been big for awhile, with magazines such as World of Interiors providing great examples of eclectic collections but often with extremely high price tags. Trends are different across the world and can change from city to city, but MCM was a dominant theme in interiors for at least a decade.
I'm curious to what will be the next 'must have' for the mass market. What will replace the Eames lounge as the status object that tells your friends you're design savvy and cashed up. In Australia, there has been a keen interest in all things industrial and French country kitchen. A suburban brick home with a milk churn, French bottle washing rack and Tolix chairs is a rather odd looking beast.
At the end of the day I don't want to live in a museum or feel like I am stuck in the 1950's. I guess that's why I only buy contemporary art and ceramics. One of the greatest pleasures I get from art and design is not viewing these things as products, but rather examples of what humans can do when we are at our best. I agree with Heath that you dont need a lot, it's just nice to compliment your space with things that provide comfort and make you smile.
ok tick...
But what if the outright agitation of an incredibly uncomfortable wire chair makes me...... smile?
I don't actually feel "stuck" either... I enjoy my chosen universe (limit) far more than if I was spreading myself thinly across the landscape.
Life is always full of choices between breadth and depth.
And as an artist, I have never looked at art as a "product". Even the old stuff, I see as a residue of an investigation or exploration, as much as I view it as a "picture" of something.
In fact, the one thing that I do love about painting and drawing is that when you stand in front of a 100 year old work, it cuts right through time and you can feel the "there-ness" of it being painted. At its best, the very nature of painting and drawing has an immediacy that I can barely even think about as "product".
But I hear you when you are saying that the art becomes Names and labels and status. The aura becomes bigger than the experience of the art, and I guess that is what you were saying above. I try to never succumb to that.
Yeah sorry Tick...
Back to the topic....
And speaking of the next big iconic status symbol piece, I really don't see much of a let up in the prices of the earliest vintage Eames lounge/ottomans. (And that goes for many of the other truly rare and vintage classics in good condition.) Perhaps the more available and less rare pieces are waning a bit, but I simply dont see the lag in prices for the very best of the mid century stuff.
So what is the next iconic piece? Good question in these post modern times of mix and match. I don't have a clue, but it would be good to hear people place their bets. (Buick's aside)
Eameshead that slippery...
Eameshead that slippery slope gets most people sooner or later.
I agree that the best vintage pieces in good condition should hold their value.
I noticed much of the basic Danish stuff is cheaper now with so much being imported it's now common at auctions or Ebay.Some of the rarer popular pieces have actually gone up but that is only a few of the best pieces being harder to source maybe.
Eames alloy group does not command what it used to but I would still snap up an old alloy softpad lounger with that alloy block thing underside.Love that model or even the rare ES 102 Intermediate.Nice.
In reality most prices are depressed at the moment which I attribute to the economy and the new frugal attitude since the GFC.
Things are still tough and many don't feel as secure in their job anymore.Layoffs still happening across the board and being highlighted in the news every week would not help.
Mark,
You may mean British born David Nightingale Hicks who started doing interiors in the US for the stars in the 60s,70s,80s.
I meant Melbourne Australia based David Hicks and no it's not the same Guantanamo Bay David Hicks who is unrelated.
Considering Italian Chic was...
Considering Italian Chic was mentioned well I just have to show one.
Greg Natale's own home done about 2009.
Notice the original italian chair most people would throw out.I think it was his parents but either way it shows how any piece can be used effectively when the room is done in the right way.
Whether you like it or not I have to give credit that someone can resist a new designer piece to plonk such an item in the mix.Personally I think it works and few would have the vision to do it.
Love the vintage B&B coffee table and Murano pendant.The dining chairs are vintage 70s and the sideboard was custom made in Macassar Ebony veneer.
I have long given up on the...
I have long given up on the concept of threads staying on topic guys, afterall this is DA. Apologies appreciated but not necessary.
Eameshead, a wire chair sounds fine by me. I have a Clement Meadmore steel rod and string chair that is too frail to sit in but it makes a great sculpture. I think the main thing is to really enjoy art and design. I too really like that feeling you get from original works, the evidence of mark making from the artist. Thanks Starline for that Italian chic, couldn't agree more about mixing it up and including items that evoke memories and create narratives about past design trends.
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