The new vintage!

Retro furniture is more popular than ever before, but what if you want something more unusual than a standard Eames reissue? Our guide to the lesser-known designers set to make a comeback reveals what to look for and where…

Vintage design is everywhere. There’s not a stylish living space around these days that isn’t home to either an Eames lounger or an Arne Jacobsen dining chair. The mid-20th century Modernist look has taken off on a scale unheard of since the Fifties, whilst retailers like Ikea cash in on its popularity, and the nation’s homes show of clean-lined wooden furniture and vintage-chic ceramics. But despite this ubiquity, dealers like Lucy Ryder Richardson of south London emporium Showhome say vintage is still a growing craze and it’s unlikely we’ll see a downturn in demand. ‘I’ve half been expecting a backlash for the past five years, but it’s never materialized,’ she says. ‘I think in part it’s because vintage is so eco-friendly; you can’t get much greener than buying second-hand furniture.’ David Tatham of east London store The Modern Warehouse, agrees. ‘People just love the look and the quality of vintage pieces,’ he argues. There’s also the allure of owning something that’s classic and untainted by fickle trends. ‘Vintage is not about fashion,’ says London ceramics specialist Gary Grant. ‘Good design is like art; it increases in value and becomes iconic and timeless.’

But all three experts believe vintage is moving on. Savvy buyers are looking further afield for the next big thing, and lesser-known designers are coming into the vogue. ‘People are getting hooked on the more unusual Scandinavian designers like Bruno Mathsson, Jens Quistgaard and Tapio Wirkkala,’ says Lucy Ryder Richardson. ‘My hot tip is bar stools by Danish designers Erik Buck, which are fetching huge prices in the USA.’ On the UK front, Gary Grant points to mid-20th century British ceramicist Mitzi Cunliffe and Scottish textile designer Robert Stewart. David Tatham also thinks we should keep our eye on home-grown talent: ‘The work of British designers like Ernest Racxe is fantastic yet still quite overlooked,’ he says.

‘Alternative’ vintage is not just the next big trend, it’s a must for anyone who wants to make an individual statement in their home. These are our top tips for names to keep an eye out for, plus hot boutiques and design fairs to make your new hunting ground!

BLENKO

Who are they?           
This US-based company has specialized in glass for more than 100 years – think strikingly coloured vases, tableware and decorative pieces. Owned and run by the same family since its inception, it has an ethos of craftsmanship – everything is made in small batches and blown by hand.

Best Buys                  
It’s oversized, bold primary-coloured Sixties pieces are the most collectable.

CURTIS JERE

Who are they?           
Possibly our top vintage discovery this year. Curtis Jere is the compound nom-de-plume of artists Curtis Freiler and Jerry Fels, who worked together in the US from the late Fifties to the late Seventies . The value of their wall sculptures is increasing all the time and should prove a great investment.

Best Buys                  
Their abstract pieces primarily in copper and steel and created between the mid-Sixties and late Seventies, are among their finest work, but beware of poor quality reproductions – buy only signed and dated pieces.