elitism  

I don't remember ever mentioning Artek in any of my comments, Barry.
I believe you may have ascribed a viewpoint to me that was not my intent. I am simply annoyed unto death by the deceptive practice of stating ownership of a design based on the copyright of a name. The best example of that is Knoll and the Wasily chair. It's marketing bull-hockey and it stinks of elitism.
Everything else you mentioned is quite valid. And I do own HM and Knoll items. I probably won't buy any more, though as I find fueling the greed too discomforting.

Well. . .
You can't blame someone -- anyone -- from wanting to realize the maximum from the sale of whatever it is that they sell.
(I bet you don't sell your time and talents cheaply, in whatever market you sell them -- and I wouldn't expect you to. I'm surely the only person I know who never asked for a raise, in 40 years in my trade. And I can't say I'm particularly proud of the fact.)
You can't blame someone -- anyone -- for jealously guarding whatever they believe is unique to their "brand" -- and that's both ego and potential profit speaking.
(While I would never seek to quash discussion, I begin to wonder what can really be said, meaningfully, about anything, considering that so many discussions come down to semantics: that is, one person's definition of terms vs another's. Moreover, tying our feelings, our innermost beliefs -- and the slippery little differences in interpretation that make all the difference (or the only difference, often) between one view and another -- to a set of "mere words" that is so often inadequate to really express those subtle differences, means that we end up having said very little, and having gained, it seems, no new ground, much less changing anyone's mind.)
(But that's just me. . .)
Now carry on.

Sorry if you think I'm too serious
but I can't understand why anyone would find the Get Real video from Herman Miller anything other than the clear message Herman Miller intended.

Breuer & Knoll
Olive - I hate to rain on your parade, but Knoll obtained the rights to produce the Wassily chair in 1968 legitimately.
The prototype was made while Breuer was still at the Bauhaus. It was originally produced by Standard-Mobel in the late 20's until Thonet bought out the company in 1929. Thonet only made it for a few years. The chair was relatively obscure until 1962 when Dino Gavina of Gavina SPA bought the rights to produce the chair. In 1968 Gavina was sold to Knoll International - who inheireted all of their designs including Breuers other pieces: Laccio, Cesca etc.

"Elitism
Does not equate...
"Elitism
Does not equate (solely) to cost, by any means" Thanks Woodywood, my thoughts exactly, and thanks to lucifersum (?) for her thoughts on publishing and books, I hadn't thought of it that way, the talent = reward pattern seems to be out the door so often.
As for KNoll and Herman Miller and their 'reality', its a bit of a storm in a teacup isn't it?
I just don't buy shit.

Right, Heath
Isn't it nice to have lots of books and reference material in your collection, so when you see something that looks interesting, you can do a bit of research to be fairly sure you're getting something as legitimate as it is beautiful?

I
guess I believe one thing, at least: beauty and "legitimacy" need not have anything to do with each other. But here we go with the slippery words and sliding concepts. If the most beautiful version of something is also the historically correct version, then the two concepts begin to connect, and an argument can be made.
To avoid such an argument, I'd rather stick with the idea that beauty is its own reward, with its own criteria -- beauty is where you find it. If to you a Wassily knock-off is as lovely as a "legitimate" one, bingo: you've saved enough to get the little Eileen Gray table knock-off that (I think) goes with it.
Unless you're a snob -- or an elitist. Then you would wince under the gaze of those whose esteem you crave, who (if they knew) would castigate you for settling for a "copy." (Anything made today is a copy -- sorry. What I meant was "an authorized copy." Wouldn't want anyone turning over in his or her grave.)
Elitist ? It's so easy to sidestep the question: just do what you want, regardless of what others may think. Within the law, that is. . .

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Hands up! I'm an elitist, not perhaps in the craven hand wringing manner SDR describes but I do think people who buy low quality goods are fools, most people in the west have been prosperous enough for a long time now...they have just been more interested in cosuming quantity over quality. I make no apologies for it. It is their reckless spending and unethical choices that have done us all so much damage.
But I do not, unlike Barry, require that a slickly marketed brand be shoved in my face in order to recognise quality, I'm quite capable of seducing myself into purchasing something without letting the advertising industry do it.
The thing irks me about Herman Miller and Knoll and many of the others it that it has now become less about good design and more about pandering to a middle class self consciously regarding itself as being the arbiters of good taste.
They were interesting companies once, now they just bore me.

Is it
correct to call yourself an elitist just because you prefer quality to dreck ?
Is that enough to qualify yourself as someone who thinks himself superior to others -- or they, inferior to him ?
It's possible to make prudent judgments and choices, without being an elitist -- isn't it ? Or maybe you actually like the *idea* of being an elitist -- or at least are willing to accept the least attractive name that could be associated with your preferred way of life ?
Or don't you consider "elitist" a pejorative term ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elitism

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Personally I don't consider it an insulting term at all. We have elite sportspeople, elite restaraunts...its a spectrum, if we didn't have an elite fashion industry where would Targets designers go to steal ideas? Its only when people with that attitude gain power outside of their field and become a recognisable class that I get nervous.
In my opinion I think I make superior choices when it comes to purchasing and caring for goods than most people. I don't have a lot of money or power but what I do have I use to the best effect I can.

I read the wiki...Ha! Ok so...
I read the wiki...Ha! Ok so when you're having the pants sued off you or your kidneys are buggered, where do you go? Where do you go if you've got the money? The second rate surgeon or the elite hospital that knows it's good and tells people its better than anywhere else? If its backed up by facts they can proclaim their superiority as much as they like.
We draw our Judges from the elite of the law profession, they're good, in fact they're better than most, thats why they're judges and drive nice cars.
I had to have some surgery a few years ago and after thinking about it I asked my doctor who the best in the state was, it was a university proffessor who occasionally practised privately. The guy was brilliant, he was one of the best in the country, he was an elite surgeon and no doubt had some self regard. Did I care? He could do what he liked, I certainly wasn't going to do the surgery myself. An elites opinions in any given field are usually worth more than anyones elses.
Elitism is functioning everywhere, all the time.
Herman Miller - The unique taste of millions...
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/

Oh, no, I would never go to that common
everyday county hospital of the people...they might not have the kind of good furnishings I require in my life.
Seriously, the average working class middle-American watches shit reality TV, listens to mindless Country Music, spends a bit too much time in Church and probably votes Republican solely because they hate Government of any kind and believe the Rush Limbaugh's of the world.
Nope...none of that's for me. I'm no hoity-toity snob (my grandfather had a push cart selling vegtables), but I have an education, fairly decent taste, knowledge of the world outside of my narrow life, believes that Government is there to provide and help us (within reason), and I like all sorts of interesting music.
Hey, perhaps I am an elitist! Strike me pink, good buddy.

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I'm in no way making class commentary, I'm thinking about fields of expertise and respect for that.
I too, would justifiably be called a snob but only in my area of interest. Other peoples politics or music is not of any interest to me, insofar as it doesn't impinge on any citizens rights.
Perhaps you mistake my attitude for something else.

When did I become
I think Heath has hit the nail on the head. Elitism arises when you are recognized for your possessions rather than recognizing the inherent quality within them.
That definition then solves the dilemma of eating TV dinners. (frozen lasagna night!!)
And when did I become a female?

See, Heath, I make a sarcastic joke
and now you thinking I'm being too serious....well, half serious.
I'm actually kind of a middle of the road guy in many ways and many of the snotty observations about the average middle-American does get under my skin sometimes....but that's another issue!
I watch Antiques Roadshow, and although I don't care about early American furniture and a lot of the painting, it's fun to see good stuff from all eras.
If I had more dough, I COULD really get into collecting some of that beautiful Arts and Crafts and Art Neuvo pottery....gee, that looks swell to me (a line Jean Harlow said in the 1933 film, "Dinner At Eight")..