February 26-March 3, 2004

cover story

Knock It Off

Solitary refinement: Though it resembles an original Eames chair, it's actually a Herman Miller reproduction. Photo By: Michael T. Regan

Copyrights, licenses and lawsuits for furniture? Oh my!

by Alexa James

Her smooth honey complexion reflects the sunlight cast through the window. The petite figure has aged gracefully as eras of American history rolled by, so gracefully that her fame has begat legend.

Today, at age 56, her asking prices far surpasses that of her younger counterparts. She's an Eames DCW (Dining Chair, Wood Legs), and if there was a Hollywood Boulevard for furniture, she'd have her star. Today, she lounges at Mode Moderne, a hot spot for classic midcentury modern furniture in Old City. And for $900, she's yours.

Or, you can take home Herman Miller's licensed reissue for about $500.

Or, you can find a knockoff at Ikea for less than $100.

So what are the differences between A-, B- and C-list brands, and how should a shopper navigate the gray space between originals and remakes? For the average consumer, it's best to understand the basics and consult the experts for details.

In a nutshell, copyrights protect original works and give copyright owners the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute and copy them. Now, furniture is considered a "useful article an object having an intrinsic utilitarian function," so nobody gets credit for inventing the chair. But visual arts, sculpture and architecture can be copyrighted, as can designs, so not just anybody can make a chair and call it the Eames DCW.

But you want to know why it's worth paying two, three or four times as much for a vintage product instead of a new model, right? And, if you buy antique, how can you ensure you're getting the real deal? Well, back to the Eames DCW.

In 1930s America, Charles Eames turned heads when he and fellow Cranbrook Academy of Art colleague Eero Saarinen won blue ribbons at the Museum of Modern Art's "Organic Furniture Competition." Their prizewinning formula? Molding plywood into complex curves.

Eames married assistant Ray Kaiser in 1941, and the couple proceeded to break ground in architecture and furniture design. Their innovations include the molded plastic and fiberglass chairs of the '50s, the tandem sling seating originally designed for Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in 1962, and museum exhibits for the likes of the Smithsonian.

That is why someone would pay thousands for an authentic design such as the DCW; because an Eames product has history and time has revealed that its influence was significant globally and domestically, rendering it a piece of art, an investment, an icon. And that is why the company that currently holds the license to reissue Eames' designs is the next best thing for the concerned consumer. (The Michigan-based Herman Miller Inc., currently the second-largest office furniture company in the world, has manufactured the Eames design since 1947.)

But if it's just the look you're going for -- less history for a lot less money -- a knockoff product is the way to go.

Ikea's Conshohocken store sells Peter Molin's Assar chair, made of birch veneer, clear lacquer and steel, for $69. The material is different and it's unlikely to become a collector's item, but minimal lines sell for minimum dollars.

When looking for the real McCoy, urges Mode Moderne co-owner Michael Wilson, shoppers should do their homework. Official measurements and materials are readily available, so pay attention to detail. These days, Wilson says, "All the good companies mark their products up the wazoo."

The Isamu Noguchi coffee table, a popular knockoff item, features a curved, three-sided glass top on a symmetrical wooden base. Wilson favors Modernica's replica, with glass thick and solid wood legs.

Inaccurate reproductions will shave costs by decreasing the surface area or thickness of the glass and base. And that's really all the average shopper needs to know.

"I don't sell anything that anybody needs," said Joseph Schiavo, partner at OLC, another Old City business that carries luxury furniture and lighting lines. "I can never tell you anything to make you pay $1,800 for a chair. It's a ridiculous amount of money. It's for someone who is less than satisfied with second best."

The secret is discovering what "the best" is before anyone else.

Wilson started selling antique furniture at flea markets when he was a University of Cincinnati photography student. Building a powerful antique collection was a natural byproduct of his affection for art and a shoestring budget. He grew accustomed to collecting old furniture when his peers decorated from curbs, porches and garages, and he eventually realized he didn't need to buy anything new.

If the price tags on modern classics sound steep, there are other options. Abandoned antique gems can still be found at yard sales and auctions.

"A lot of people have real phobias about buying used furniture," says Wilson of those who, when they see a sofa on a porch, think about lice and fleas. "Don't be afraid to buy something that's slightly beat up. That's what we do."

Yes, strapped-for-cash shoppers can still join the modernistic revival. They just need to make discriminating choices. "A few core pieces will elevate the whole room," says Wilson.

Buy the George Nelson Sunburst Clock by Vitra for $225, but your latest crush, the antique Achille Castiglioni Arco lamp with the marble base that sells for $1,495? Your affection could be satisfied with a floor lamp from Target or Ikea for less than $100. And, you can always keep your eye out for the next big thing. Today, stainless steel and chrome are cool but, Wilson chuckles, "for the longest time, you couldn't give that away."

So, will consumers someday pay hundreds and thousands for stuff from the '80s and '90s?

Wilson predicts good things for '80s silver plates, the radical designs of Ettore Sottsass and the Memphis group, wicker, bamboo and anything going out of production.

"Find an era that's already going out of favor," Wilson suggests. "Think for yourself. Find your own style."