Luxury Collectibles
Designer Furniture
Twentieth-century design canon and the makers who continue it.
History
The collectible design market expanded sharply through the 2000s as twentieth-century icons - Jeanneret, Perriand, Prouvé, Royère, Nakashima - entered the same auction rooms as fine art.
Today the market spans original twentieth-century pieces, authorised re-editions (Cassina I Maestri, Vitra Eames), and contemporary collectible design.
Buying Guide
- Provenance and originality of finish are the dominant value drivers for twentieth-century pieces.
- Re-editions are not investments; they are excellent purchases for use.
- Work with established dealers (Galerie Patrick Seguin, Demisch Danant) for blue-chip mid-century pieces.
Market Trends
- Chandigarh-period Jeanneret has stabilized after the 2018 to 2022 surge; the top examples remain firmly bid.
- Royère continues to set new auction benchmarks; Nakashima maintains a steady, well-documented market.
Preservation
- Avoid refinishing original surfaces; patina is value.
- Use professional restorers familiar with the maker; insurance and condition reports for high-value pieces.
Investment Considerations
- Original twentieth-century pieces with strong provenance remain a credible long-term hold.
- Contemporary collectible design is more cyclical and harder to underwrite as investment.