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Our search for modern design furniture has begun. For decades people have engaged in a love (and money) affair with 18th- and 19th-century furnishings, but today, even lava lamps are bubbling with value. From the iconic Art Deco designs of the 1920s and ’30s to the cool blond lines of Heywood-Wakefield’s “Modern” line, the demand for mid-20th-century furniture is growing.

To be sure, 18th- and 19th-century antiques still trump mid-20th century in value. In 1989 a Chippendale secretary desk sold for $12.1 million at Christie’s, the highest-ever price for a piece of American furniture, and prices well into the millions are commonplace. The value of midcentury, however, is on the ascent. Experts credit the surge in popularity to new nostalgia: “Baby boomers with money are looking to buy something that was part of their lives at age 16 — something that reminds them of their own childhood home, or maybe something that their neighbor’s father owned,” says Drew Clark, owner of Stamford Antiques Center.

While the look and feel of contemporary design may be familiar, the market is anything but. Prices can be haphazard, and guidelines for condition, rarity and provenance are hazy. That’s why we turned to experts Leigh and Leslie Keno, stars of PBS series “Antiques Roadshow.” The affable, passionate pair take antiques very seriously — which is why we were surprised when they pointed to Stamford, Conn., as a mecca for contemporary design.

At Hiden Galleries II in Stamford, the Kenos are immediately drawn to a Heywood-Wakefield end table, priced at $3,000, in mint condition. But the truth is quick to come out: “The tag says ‘fully restored,’ as if it’s a good thing!” Leigh exclaims, explaining that he and Leslie would have left the table in its original state. Always ask about the basics: Is the paint original? What about the finish? Has it been restored in any way? “Restoration lessens value, especially for products manufactured in a limited number,” says Leigh.

Moving on, a set of four Knoll wire chairs with orange vinyl cushions, produced in the 1950s, beckons. “They’re made by Harry Bertoia, a famous sculptor; he’ll never go out of style,” Leigh says. He holds it up, inspecting water lines on the base. “These were outdoor chairs,” he says, turning over a cushion to examine the yellowed tag. “It has so much honest wear,” he says. The brothers snag the chairs and head to the storekeeper. Quickly and tactfully, they talk him down 35%. For only $292 for the set, they close the deal. A week later, they see the same set of chairs for $500 — apiece.

source MoneySmart 

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