Spend a few minutes in the showroom at Lots Road Auctions and you’ll quickly see that mid-century design isn’t just ‘having a moment’, it’s embedded in modern culture. The interest is steady, informed and – when the right piece appears – highly competitive on auction day.
What’s striking from the rostrum is how decisive bidders have become. When an original piece of design comes up, there’s little hesitation in bidding. Estimates are treated as a starting point, not a ceiling. We’ve seen exceptional hammer prices for rare lighting, early production chairs and sculptural cabinetry – particularly well-preserved pieces with good provenance. Original finishes, maker’s labels, untouched upholstery: these details matter, and buyers are always paying attention.
There’s a practicality behind the enduring appeal. Mid-20th century designers were thinking about how people lived in real homes – open-plan spaces, smaller city flats and a growing emphasis on comfort and design without clutter, which feels very familiar today. Storage was clever.
Many of our buyers would rather invest in one excellent piece than fill a room with fast furniture
At Lots Road, we’re seeing a growing appreciation for quality over quantity. Many of our buyers would rather invest in one excellent piece than fill a room with fast furniture. Mid-century design offers that sweet spot: highly functional pieces combined with warmth and tactility – design that doesn’t date.
Scarcity plays its part too. Production runs in the 1950s and 1960s were modest compared with today’s mass manufacturing. Some models were made for only a few years. Designs also moved between producers as licences changed hands and companies went in and out of business or were absorbed by others. When rarer examples appear in the catalogue, you can sense immediately that there will be significant interest.
These pieces often come with stories you won’t find in mass-produced furniture. Take the Arco floor lamp, designed in 1962 by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. The seemingly random hole in its marble base is in fact entirely practical – it allows a broom handle to be inserted so the heavy lamp can be moved more easily.
Tom Baker
Then there’s the controversy surrounding the Plycraft chairs produced under the bogus designer name ‘Bernardo’. The design was actually by Norman Cherner, who successfully sued the company and secured his royalties. Today, one of those early ‘Bernardo’ examples can be a fascinating and valuable find.
Interestingly, the buyer base is broadening. Seasoned collectors remain at the core, but we’re also welcoming younger buyers who arrive well researched and confident, often furnishing their first homes.
They know the designers and understand quality – and they’re prepared to compete for the right piece. For many, it’s about building a home around key pieces with character rather than chasing a look.
From our perspective, the appeal of mid-20th century design comes down to balance. It’s modern but not severe. Functional but not dull. Stylish without trying too hard. These are pieces designed to be lived with – and decades later, they still are.
As long as people continue to value thoughtful design and objects with a bit of history behind them, we expect demand – and strong results – to continue.
See more at Lots Road Auctions, Unit 9, Piper Centre, Carnwath Rd, SW6 3JX; lotsroad.com
