Richard Oedel - Fine Furniture Master 

Why Collect Furniture?

You may have noticed: Furniture is hot! In recent years, furniture by 20th-century designers like Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Jean Prouvé, and Isamu Noguchi has taken center stage in exhibitions, design magazines, and auction houses. The result: Prices are up, and we do mean up. Today serious collectors are going after furniture by virtually every known designer, from established favorites like Gustav Stickley to relative unknowns like Paul McCobb. Even recent pieces by living artists like Frank Gehry and Wendell Castle have soared in price.
Of course, valuing furniture as an art form isn't new. Any museum design collection worth its salt is built around furniture, from Frank Lloyd Wright's chairs to Sam Maloof's rockers. As the craft field has matured, more work by contemporary furnituremakers is entering museum collections and getting the at tention it deserves. From our perspective, this is really something to celebrate.
But what makes one chest of drawers worth $25,000 and another $5,000? How can you be sure that a $10,000 chair is a wise investment?
For starters, almost any well-made furniture will appreciate as long as it's maintained in good condition. High-quality materials and excellent workmanship ensure that a piece can stand up to heavy use. Remember, great furniture should add beauty, not stress, to your life. A fabulous designer sofa won't make you happy if you have to stand guard over your guests.
Auction prices are driven by attribution* and provenance*, so documentation is critical with investment-quality furniture. Maintain a record of every purchase, and be sure your pieces are signed or marked. Whether you buy online or through a gallery, learn about the artist's techniques and inspiration. Look for a solid history of exhibitions, publications, and collections. Find out where the artist trained, and how long they've been in the field. All of these factors affect pricing, and careful records will be invaluable if and when you decide to sell.
In short: Do your homework, buy what you love, treat it gently, and you'll have an heirloom on your hands!
*'Attribution' refers to associating the work with a particular artist.

*'Provenance' refers to the history of a particular piece's ownership