Designer furniture comes of age: TEFAF, Holland

The (smow) blog has more than once suggested that designer furniture is more than just a comfortable place to sit of an evening or a convenient ledge on which to place your coffee while reading the paper; and that a well constructed piece of quality designer furniture can be a real investment.

Proof of this theory, if it were needed, can currently be found at the TEFAF Maastricht – one of the world largest and most important art and antique fairs.

For the first time in its 34 year history the Dutch trade fair is officially including 20th century design, and for all designer furniture in its programme.

Frans Leidelmeijer at TEFAF 2006. Booth designed by Ron Arad (http://www.leidelmeijer.nl/)

We use the word “officially” because in dealers such as the Amsterdam based Frans Leidelmeijer have been sneaking modern designer furniture pieces into for a couple of years now. In 2006 Leidelmeijer displayed exhibits in a wooden booth designed by Ron Arad.

In addition to Frans Leidelmeijer a range of dealers from Holland, Belgium, France and the UK will be offering furniture and art works from designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, Le Corbusier, Jean Prouve and Isamu Noguchi, to name just a few.

Although auction sales of classic design furniture regularly occur, the inclusion of modern designers in a trade fair that traditionally concentrates on the more conservative and “stuffy” world of antiques and tribal art is an important event as it indicates the importance of the designer furniture market and the standing of designers such as Verner Panton, Joe Colombo or Eero Saarinen

Eames ETR Table by Vitra

Those of you in or near Maastricht -or indeed Holland or Belgium – between the 13 and 22nd of March and who have the opportunity should visit the TEFAF and not only marvel at the designs and creativity of the last century, but also chat with the exhibitors as regards originals and copies and whether a 1950s ETR Table by Charles and Ray Eames is more “genuine” than one from 2009 – there is enough reference material here in the (smow)blog.

And for those planning making investments for the future, smow stocks ever more designs from the 21st century, and who knows maybe in 30 years someone will display furniture from Boge and Frey in a landed by Eric Degenhardt.