Hi Kristine.. Not sure about whether or not it's an investment, but just a heads up that DWR usually has that chair at their outlet in NJ for a fraction of the price. Just FYI if you decide to go that route!

While they don't often appreciate, they will retain their value much longer. See Troy's awesome post: 20th Century Furniture Design: The Scoop on Licensed Reproductions & Reissues

I suggest getting a licensed reproduction because this means that the designer or their estate gave the manufacturer the okay to produce them and our therefore getting a portion back for their design and are made to the exact same measurements. Knock offs are usually a few inches off in measurements somewhere and this may seem like it's not the big of a deal but it will be weird. If you can get a licensed repro, do it. You'll always stare at a knockoff and feel like "I should've..."

If you think its going to appreciate, buy two - one to sit in, wear out, spill coffee on - and one to wrap in plastic and keep in storage for forty years. Think what that will be worth then. Factor in the cost of storage, of course.

Um, apartment therapy just ran a post about this exact issue.

It's furniture, not a bond. Buy what you want and enjoy it. Don't buy everything with an eye toward resale value.

Neither would be an investment, though a licensed reproduction would retain some of its value, and if you buy a used or discounted one you might be able to sell it for as much as you paid. If you're really thinking of an investment, an authentic early one could increase in value in the future, assuming interest in mid-century furniture continues. Of course there are pitfalls to avoid when buying vintage/antique pieces...

Furniture is alot like cars:

It will depreciate from Day One until it's about 10-15 years old when it's pretty much worthless except as something to sit on/drive to work.

After 30 years or so, if it's in close to original condition, it will be worth about what it cost new - and in another 10-15 years it will be worth it's replacement value if it's still in immaculate condition or has been restored and is considered "desirable" (this doesn't work if you had the bad judgment to choose a Vega or Pinto, a Mediterranean TV Console or a plaid Herculon "Colonial" sofa & loveseat from Levitz)

Only until it hits 75-80 years old - and only if it's something incredibly rare and desirable - will it be worth anything significant as a restored "Barn Find". Your grandmother's Ceruised Oak James Mont credenza is a "Yes" - Her Sears chrome, formica and vinyl dinette is a "No".

As far as reproductions - It's anyone's guess, but I'm of the mind that they're so common that they will not appreciate like the originals, or at least not at the same time.

really?
an original piece from an up and coming artist is more of an investment.
furniture that is mass produced and used on a regular basis will not appreciate. if anything, they will depreciate less than others if they are lightly used.
But come on. Look at how many people (house tours alone) have that chair AND it's still in production.

i bet you could buy something incredible and hand made for the same price locally that would be worth more later on

This debate is getting real old. As is everything else on AT these days.

It all depends on the production of the particular piece. When Baker reproduced Finn Juhl's Chieftain chair 10 years ago it sold for about 3500. It had a very short production run unfortunately. Today those pieces auction for about 10000.

But overproduction and overexposure of reproductions and knock-offs does hurt the auction value of originals too. In the case of Le Corbusier's lounge chair, auction prices of these chair skyrocketed in the 90s. But authentic vintage pieces from the 60-70s auction for little more than they sell new at dwr today.

No. It will DEpreciate.

Why would anyone pay more for your used licensed replica Saarinen Womb Chair than they would pay for a new licensed replica? That makes zero sense.

Licensed reproductions don't generally appreciate, and even some of the originals aren't worth that much - unless they were never used and have set in cryogenic storage since the 1940s/50s/60s. The exceptions are things that are made in limited numbers, usually in a material that's unusual or not the norm for the product.

So my limited run of relatively anonymous 1960s Baker chinoiserie end tables? Worth gobs, amazingly enough, even though they're not in great shape. Yet another womb chair/Barcelona chair/Bertoia chair? Not much appreciation, if any.

Buy the chair if you love it and can't live without it and don't cross your fingers and hope it will go up in value. Save your investments for art, real estate and the stock market (and only the last two conservatively!)

Very few things in life actually appreciate in value, and if it were easy to predict what, those items would be more heavily produced and thus lose value! (My point is, buy what you love for what you can afford to pay. Don't buy things for investment unless you have a lot of money with which to speculate AND a great eye for things that will be in high demand later on AND a lot of luck!)

Dear Financial Adviser,
I would like to diversify my portfolio. Sell my stocks and bonds and buy chairs and tables, please.
Thank you.

Not sure about this particular chair, but check out a few auction sites for auction results and you may find out if this chair has sold for more or less than new. Try Wrights, Bonhams, Christie's and Doyle New York.

if buying mid-century classics is what you mean, then probably NO. carefully picked desireable new designs by new designers may well appreciate though. its all about exclusivity and foresight. choose something you love, live with it, and if you get luckily it may be worth 3 times as much when you're 3 times older! good luck.

Buy what you love. I personally only buy used because I'm trying to be environmentally responsible. Don't count on appreciation unless you buy something very rare and keep it pristine. I live on my furniture along with kids, guests and pets.

The only womb chair I would ever buy would be an original by Knoll. No point to buying a reproduction if you're thinking about resale value. A reproduction will never be a collector's item. Seriously, if you won't buy the original, just get something cheaper altogether. I actually found a knoll original for cheaper than what they're selling these on DWR (which is ridiculously expensive IMO).

Think of a piece of furniture as you do an article of clothing......if you purchase classic styles that are of a high quality and of a renowned name (think Hermes, Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta) you will have something that you can enjoy now. Not only will you enjoy knowing that you purchased something of quality, your purchase will be worth more than a comparable non-luxury item when it comes time to part with it.

The iconic mid-century pieces like the Knoll-Saarinen womb chair and the Herman Miller-Eames lounge chair are classics of impeccable design and quality that have endured the test of time. They will never go out of style.

As a designer; we always work with clients of various budget. It's all about affordability. If you make $100K a month then this chair is cheap. If you can afford it then why not; if you don't then get a good quality reproduction. I told my clients of the pros and cons of these two options and you'll have to decide. I have seen and bought good quality reproduction of the womb chair in wool as well as the Eames lounge chair and they're a fraction of the price...$1000 vs $4800. And the reproduction came with 5 year service protection plan. Needless to say most of my clients opt for the reproduction and they're happy with it. As for buying the original; to be honest, it won't appreciate value infact no one will buy a used womb chair. Will you buy a used chair where you don't even know who has been sitting on it? I hope not. I think the Knoll and Herman Miller's are way overpriced. A Knoll Leather Sofa for $13000? Puhleeze