What is Mid-Century Modern?

You may hear this term quite a lot these days in magazines and on television. The show “Mad Men” also helped to popularize part of this time frame with the vintage furnishings, fashion and décor from the 1950s and 1960s.

I recently showed a home here in middle Georgia where someone had remodeled it in the sleek modernistic style made popular again by the media. Also, we started working on an estate sale in Warner Robins that looks like a perfectly preserved time capsule from the early 1960s. I thought that perhaps this would be a good topic for our readers this week!

Some researchers say that the time period is from the late 1930s through the mid 1960s, while others say it runs from late 1940s through the late 1950s. Actually, the gist of the Mid-Century Modern period is the style of minimalism and sleek simple lines in furniture.

The Danish Modern style is a huge part of this as well as furnishings from Eames. This is one of these design trends that one will usually love or hate. Honestly, it has taken me a while to warm up to it. I thought it was ugly when it was in style, but I can appreciate it a little more now.

Think “space age” or “modernist” when you think about Mid-Century Modern. The term itself was accidentally made popular by Author Cara Greenburg when she wrote a book in 1983 about that era of furnishings and had to come up with some kind of name for it. The reason for the book was the resurgence and huge interest in the time period that was beginning to come back strong in the 1980s. Some Mid-Century Modern pieces like the iconic Eames lounge chair had never gone out of production, but demand for the chair began to surge and other furniture makers like Herman Miller joined in.

Prices on eBay for Mid-Century Modern furniture and décor began to get crazy and still are and the furniture manufacturers and decorators caught on and now you see it everywhere. The original Eames lounge chair can bring $7,000 easily at online auction now. The chairs on the set of Jon Stewart’s show are by Eames Aluminum division. The style is back in vogue and highly sought after by baby boomers who remember the style and millenials.

My mom still has her Danish Modern living room set they bought when they first married in the living room. I guess if you wait long enough it comes back in style!

Happy Collecting!

Jillinda Falen has been buying and selling antiques for over 30 years and is a licensed REALTOR and estate liquidation specialist. You can contact her through the Houston Home Journal or via email at jcfalen@gmail.com.

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