WHERE TO HUNT DOWN VINTAGE CLASSICS

FOR those in search of investment pieces, de Veres’ design auction at 35 Kildare Street, Dublin, on May 22, will showcase covetable classic 20th century pieces. “Classic 20th-century design features furniture with very clean lines and as such is well suited to a modern setting,” says director Rory Guthrie (deveres.ie).

“Quality is the key. When you look at a piece of Danish furniture from the 1960s you can see the quality of cabinet making. They really made beautiful furniture, using premium woods like rosewood, that is built to last. Their furniture is also incredibly useful, following in the Danish model of ‘form follows function’, In a lot of ways they compare to the 18th-century Georgians in that they made high quality furniture, but furniture that was made to be used.”

When it comes to name-checking the star designers, Michael Mortell (michaelmortell.ie), who has a gallery in Francis Street, Dublin, says that with the current political uncertainty worldwide, nothing is guaranteed. “However, if one were thinking of investing, rare pieces by the star designers of the mid-century period, such as Royere, Perriand, Max Ingrand, and Gio Ponti, you would have to be prepared to spend extremely serious money as these pieces are highly sought after. When dealing with pieces of this value, provenance is always crucial.”

However, if not purchasing for investment but simply to enhance your home, good design, quality of materials, workmanship and personal appeal should always be the defining features along with buying from a reliable source, Michael says.

Ireland is the only EU country that turns a blind eye to the sale of copied furniture, according to Rory. “As a result, there are many reproductions on the market. Furniture that at first glance looks to be and, in fact, trades off the reputation of the original design but differs from the original in some way, so as to not be a direct copy. They vary greatly in quality, from very cheap imitations to pieces that are well made. However, they hold no resale value and the quality of material can mean they don’t wear particularly well.”

So how do you tell if you have an original? Original 20th-century designs are still offered today by licensed manufacturers and sold under licence, with the maker’s stamp/ label, says Rory.

“Condition is also very important, as buyers want to take the piece home straight away and use it. They don’t want to restore or reupholster, they want it ready to go. The advantage we have is the furniture can be delivered by de Veres the day you buy it, no waiting time, and it doesn’t arrive in a flat pack box.” For those unsure as to how best to incorporate mid-century gems into a scheme, Rory says a good interior designer who listens to what you like and then makes it work, can be invaluable. “The ability to have a connection with a piece of furniture brings with it a sense of tradition that can’t be bought from the pages of a furniture catalogue. Anything I’ve bought brand new has either not survived or I’ve grown bored of it. Focusing on two or three statement pieces that you love, I don’t think you can go too wrong there.”