MDF in Fine Furniture  

Yes and no.

Medium density fiberboards (MDF), particle boards, and plywoods are not created equal. Some grades of each are appropriate choices for quality furniture depending on various factors. Lately, MDF has supplanted particle boards as the preferred substrate for veneers

That said, I often use a client-specified, low-formaldehyde MDF product in my work and realize great results. But, otherwise, I absolutely detest working with the stuff.

Finn Juhl is who I would buy if I ever got the money, and that credenza would be first, or second after the Nyhavn. I would be thrilled to have anything Finn Juhl.

But the prices for anything Finn Juhl, Onecollection or vintage...

Joybird has a repro or ripoff credenza called Unson with veneered plywood; Joybird gets good press reviews, but it's a knock-off (I try to stir the pot to see what the smart people think).

Lots of expensive designer furniture is built poorly. Some is not.

Often times it is a zero sum game in which the more the designer brings to the piece the less the maker has to bring.

If you want both, then you need to look for Juhl pieces made by Niels Vodder, or be very selective about Juhl's factory pieces. Or look to a different Danish designer: B