See more from Midcentury Modern Show 2011
Midcentury Modern is a wonderfully eclectic show that brings together mid-century antique dealers and new up and coming designers, inspired by the pared down aesthetics of the period. Held last weekend in Dulwich College the show spreads through the grounds offering enthusiasts the opportunity to rummage through stalls that offer anything from vintage buttons to cars.
The main hall (appropriately Mid Century) was filled with larger pieces of furniture, lighting and prints and fabrics.
Sarah Potter had a mix of vintage fabrics, some incredibly rare; with a meter or so of early Terrence Conran for nearly £500 – but with others at more manageable prices.
Travel on Paper specialise in original posters from the 1950’s to the early 1970’s. Pictured here is a poster from the 1950’s urging people to travel by bus. Handily providing a long list of costs associated with traveling by car. Flicking through the prints you can feel the influence of the wartime propaganda posters still running through the graphics of the time. With petrol rationing ending in 1950 the bus companies were keen to keep their passengers away from the temptation of car ownership.
They also showed some beautiful vintage Olympic posters just high light the standard London 2012 posters will have to stand up to; and if the logo is anything to go by it’d be very surprising if they become the collector’s items of the future.
Fragile Design had some beautifully restored Cavalier Armchairs by Howard Keith for Harrods, alongside a pair of 1950s marquetry side tables from Heals . They also had home accessories including these Ultima Thule glasses by Tapio Wirkkala for Iitalla .
Mid Century Modern is also an opportunity for designers who have been inspired by the period to showcase and sell their work. And for the public it was an opportunity not just to meet these designers but to buy from them; and take advantage of some great show offers. Al l offered some kind of special show discount, which was a bonus!
Zoe Murphy works with unloved pieces of the period; they’ve been badly damaged or their shocking gold handles just don’t go with our interiors now. Using off cut pieces of veneer and screen printing she transforms the old into something new. With her workmanship and attention to detail it’s no surprise that her work has become a regular feature in Liberty.
People Will Always Need Plates produce a range of ceramics which feature iconic modernist buildings backed with bright blocks of colour. From the beautifully preserved such as Berthold Lubetkin’s Highpoint and the De La Warr Pavilion lost forgotten buildings of the period. They have a special RIP range for those that have been bulldozed for progress.
Mini Moderns produce their own designs that have been influenced by work of the period from 1950’s textile designs to vintage toys and games. This year to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Festival of Britain; which started the careers of many of the big designers of the period; they’ve produced “Festival”. The print echoes the abstract and geometric shapes that were used across the original Festival along with other lost icons such as Sklon and the Dome of Discovery.
Textile designer Eleanor Pritchard showed her hand woven Welsh blankets. Both their muted colours, and abstract pattern reminiscent of Mid Century textile work, but they are her original designs.
Back into the old buildings of Dulwich College there were more vintage finds; stalls displaying room sets to others offering the chance to rummage. Haji & White had prints and home accessories; you couldn’t fail to notice Tropical by Villeroy Boch, so different to their ranges of the past 20 years!
Homescape had all kinds of home accessories from clocks to pots. The enamel coffee pots were a particular favorite of mine. Made by Wartsila Finel of Finland in 1957 they were in beautiful condition.
I’d love to think “yeah I can get that cheaper on ebay” but to be honest after getting a couple of less than perfect “bargains” the great thing about the Midcentury shows are that you meet the dealer, get really close look at their wares and learn a little more about a fascinating period or Design history.
