chirp chirp chirp

I purchased a replica Nelson bench to use as a coffee table. the veneer is starting to chip off (first the bottom, which was not a big issue because you couldn't see it anyway), and now the top surface itself. Due to constant use, putting my feet on it, etc, you can begin to see evidence of some wear at the joints. I purchased it from InMod. I think it was about 1/3 the price of a real Nelson bench via Room&Board. If it lasts for another couple of years I will be satisfied.

Surprisingly enough, Overstock.com has a pretty wide range of cheap and affordable modern knock-offs.

I purchased an replica arco lamp and I love it and as most non designer obsessed people (ie most of the people I know) don't even know that its a designer replica, then again they would know the difference if I had bought the original. I love the look of the piece and I would never be able to afford the original.

If they are in my price range I will buy the originals but otherwise I am happy with replicas!

Buy the real thing, only cry once. We have a number of original pieces that have weathered many years, to be passed down to us. As well, we have new original pieces that hopefully will be passed down to our children.

@Tulsa_Retro - I agree. I want one of the slat benches on Overstock because I really can't bear to spend $300 on a real one just to put my plants on it. Plus, they'll both seat people.

@justinrich - Please... if i could afford the real thing I surely would buy it! I would love to pass wonderful originals down to my family. I simply can't - I don't have enough money! I bought four Eames knock off shell dining chairs for $400 (I couldn't even really afford that, but took the plunge) from Overstock.com. That's about what I would pay for a single, original chair. Of course the quality is not as good, but it's good enough. They serve the purpose, I enjoy them, and they improved the look of my home. I am really tired of people saying, "Just do it!" Some of us just can't!

+1 to GreenKey

looking at getting a knock off Eames Lounge soon. But I WAS able to spring for an original Papasan :D

I can't stand replicas. As a designer, I'd be mortified if something I had spent my heart, soul and time into creating was so quickly "stolen" and mass produced without consent.

I often think about the families/Estates of passed designers like Jacobsen, Eames, etc. A lot of their families/beneficiaries lose out on royalties due to the sale of cheaper, non-commissioned replicas. Some designers have their royalties donated to art galleries, museums and design schools to further support the creative arts - but all that money is lost to the replica market.

I got a Wassily knock-off from a college student who didn't know what it was.

$10.

That is not a typo. $10.

I love craigslist. I don't feel bad about it at all.

to borrow a phrase...

+1 to vjm

and -1 (or more) to the apartment therapy editors who, with one hand applaud the design-arts -- and with the other slap the face of the design industry by continually promoting knock-offs through editorial content. AT, you should aim higher.

... or, if you're going to promote reproductions, promote those that aren't still in current manufacture. modernica, for instance, reproduces quite a few pieces retired by knoll (and HM) years ago. however, the LC4 chase pictured above is still produced by cassina as are nelson benches, eames rockers, etc...

If AT's policy was to always promote original artists and their original designs, regardless of how unaffordable they are to most people, AT would have very little in the way of a real audience.

The fact is, the world is not full of rich fabulous people whose homes are opulently outfitted by amazing interior designers. The world is full of normal, every day people who can't spend $400 on a single dining chair, no matter how nice it was or how original it was.

Honestly, I think that real designer products won't ever LOSE business because there are knock-offs being made. Those who can easily afford the real thing would never buy a knock-off. I, for one, am very grateful when someone offers up DIY ideas to make something similar or if I have the opportunity to purchase a knock-off in my price range. The poor deserve beautiful homes, too! From a designer aspect, it hurts to have our products copied, but credit isn't taken, is it? It's still called an Eames knock-off and we all know who made it. Just my two cents.

I purchase original vintage pieces whether they have well known names or not. I buy them because they are well made. I'd much rather own one original piece even if it's small, than a house full of knock-offs

@vjm: I don't think that royalty money is lost because of the replica market. The people who buy knock offs buy them because they can't afford the real thing. If I was to take a principled stance to not buy knock offs, I would just buy some other modestly priced chairs, and there would still be no royalty money.

per vjm® comment: I am against replicas, but doesn it make me sympathise with "families" (e.g. offsprings doing nothing in life because they collect money they didn't earn) - no

doesn't his depend on who you can trust to sell you and original? how would anyone know? i guess if you do the homework and are familar with the history, even then you can get swindled.

Do variations/homage to the original designs count? West Elm, CB2, even Room & Board (hello Jake chairs!) sell stuff that look like the originals but do not necessarily pass off as knockoffs.

@vjm

As a designer too knock offs give me the heebeegeebees. While I was a wee young designer pedaling my portfolio to interviews.
I was not hired at one studio only to find my table design being sold on the interviewers website with a change of material. So yes
Cindy Hsu (who) designers DO loose money on knock offs.

I have a noguchi table and one of my friends asked "where did you get that knock off? It looks great?" I felt like this person never knew me :)!!! I simply said " I don't do faux-guchi"....ahh!

"If AT's policy was to always promote original artists and their original designs, regardless of how unaffordable they are to most people, AT would have very little in the way of a real audience"

there are plenty of affordable, well-designed pieces that don't carry designer-cache or extreme pricetags. in fact, if AT pimped more of these -- instead of the knock-offs -- there might be more of them.

even folks like CB2, westelm and ikea sell original-esque designs, but if you buy the highly inspired ___ (ant chair, etc.) from them, then you're only perpetuating the trend: high-priced originals and cheap knock-offs (by big-box retailers and chinese importers)... with few, nice mid-market options.

vote with your dollar. if you'd like to see more original-mid-market designs, buy them.

wait!? wasn't there some huge outcry about copying designs earlier in the week? hmmm.

I have purchased 3 replicas of iconic furniture that were manufactured by Alphaville (Nelson bench, Noguchi table, and Jacobsen's swan chair). I, for one, am very happy with the quality. They are all over 5 years old now and holding up fabulously with no signs of wear. And yes, I've seen the originals and frankly (maybe I don't have a discerning enough eye for detail?) they look and feel the same to me.

So... I can vouch for quality of pieces made by Alphaville.

That said, I have seen some really shabby knock-offs of iconic pieces by other companies... ones that, upon immediately looking at and touching them, and using them, i could tell were flimsy and made of cheap materials. It depends on what company you get your replicas from.

Now... if you are talking about replicas of pieces by living designers, designed in my lifetime (last 30 or so years)... maybe I would feel a little differently. I do think they should benefit financially from their original designs.

There is something to be said for both sides of the argument; but sometimes the authentic is just not realistic for somebody without a very high income. I know my dream chair is $25,000 for a certified reproduction [even a knock-off is in the $8,000 price range], and quite frankly I've been considering working with a local craftsman to re-create one instead of buying the authentic. Still high quality work but will fall closer into the knock-off price range.

there are plenty of vintage pieces that aren't "name brand" that would have the same effect on your home. just can't be picky ;)

The 'toothpaste is out of the tube' on this one. Those who care about only buying and displaying vintage originals--and can afford it, wil do so. Those who aren't as particular will purchase the replicas.
I feel particularly sorry for those who will only settle for the real thing but can never afford it.

For me, a replica is just fine. And when you look at soemthing like 'La Chaise' by Eames, which was designed for the 1948 International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design and is now nearly 10K for a replica at Hive, the irony is tangible. Was it ever sold at 'low-cost'? Doubt it.

I recently bought a knockoff Eames molded plastic side chair... spending $55 instead of the $200+ was definitely worth it. I know I won't need it forever, so it's definitely a good solution for now.

@alameda
Preach.

holla @ alameda.

at least with the midcentury designers, many of their pieces were originally intended to be low cost. now they're being sold for money nobody but doctors, surgeons, crazy people, and trust fund kids can afford? irony indeed.

@prah1230, what happened to you was theft/stealing and it wasn't right, I'm sorry. However, this article (and my comment) refers to a product that is well-known and out on the market at an unaffordable price that is then made into an affordable alternative (aka designer knockoff/"replicator of modern classics").

It's interesting when designers band together to rally against knockoffs or replicas. As a designer who also has many many designer/artist friends, we tend to share a "build it then let it free" mentality even for our best pieces. It's a stance many artists of the past shared. I just find it interesting when people argue on behalf of dead artist in the name of their estate.

Wasn't this post supposed to be about quality and not the ethics around making or buying knock-offs?

I have an original vintage Knoll end table. Paid $200 on craigslist, sells new for about $600 today. I also have two knock-offs in the same style, but they are not replicas. Paid $150 for each.

The faux-knolls are more attractive overall -- the veneer is actually better. They are weighty and functionally on par with the knoll. The aluminum bases are equally sturdy; however, the chrome is definitely lower end.

The big difference between them is in the teeny details. The knoll is nearly seamless in construction -- you can't see screws, there aren't any little gaps that you can measure in millimeters. The assemble-yourself overstock tables have visible screws and if I eyeball every join from from about 10 inches away, I can little gaps or uneven joins.

I understand the point of view that it would be preferable to purchase the originals. In the best of all possible worlds, with an unlimited budget, I would do exactly that. Unfortunately, that is not my situation. I enjoy looking a pieces I love and prefer that it was in my home as opposed to a museum or a high end furniture store. Most of the designers have passed away a long time ago, so I really don't feel that I'm taking anything away from them. It's probably all going to some big corporation at this point.

Slate just ran an article arguing that counterfeits are actually a net benefit for designers - they constitute free advertising, and often serve as a gateway (i.e., owning a fake Prada wallet or Rolex watch makes me want to own the real thing).

Anyway, I don't have a problem with knock-offs for ethical reasons, but I do have a problem with quality concerns. The whole point of iconic furniture items is that they have stood the test of time. Their price reflects their comfort, durability, and timeless design. Just what are you buying when you purchase a knockoff? If you find a replica of a $4500 chair for $1500, are you getting $1500 worth of chair (which should be a pretty darn nice piece of furniture), or are you getting one-third of a good chair, or are you getting something in between? What you are paying for may be a mere simulacrum of quality.

It would be great to get some input as to which replicas and knock-offs are of sound quality and which aren't. My experience with Canal Street accessories is that they're fun for a while, but ultimately an unsatisfying experience. If I have only $100 to spend on a handbag, I'd rather buy a durable leather bag of plain design by a designer I've never heard of than a fake Vuitton made of stiff pleather where the zipper doesn't glide easily. Ironically, I think the knock-off Vuitton is sold for a higher markup than the real thing, as it is probably worth only $5, whereas the real Vuitton is probably worth more than 5% of its selling price. So buying knock-offs can be a way of buying the "name" without the quality, even as people rationalize it as a way to *avoid* being overcharged for a fancy brand.

I'm actually about to spend some cash on a replica/whateveryoucallit sofa.

Whilst I could just about afford an original of SOME of the things I want, I ABSOLUTELY cannot afford the £8,000 on the sofa that I am lusting after. Just can't do it.

I like the idea of buying the real thing but the majority of those things would be via a vintage dealer or reseller anyway rather than direct with manufacturer. Not sure if that has a relevance/bearing on the 'supporting the designer' argument.

Can someone recommend a high quality replica of the barcelona chair?

@clutterbuggy
"It would be great to get some input as to which replicas and knock-offs are of sound quality and which aren't."

Hence this post, no? Too bad it hasn't been more productive. XD Well, thanks to urbancricket (and a few isolated ATers) for contributing to the actual topic, anyway...

well I'm sitting in a Eero Saarinen Executive 'style' chair from a London store called Interior Addict (www.interioraddict.com) which I can vouch for in comfort and build quality, at £199.

And all the things I've seen in their store seem good quality, albeit I am no expert in this area.

AND they have the sofa I covet but not at £8,000.... still, it is £1500 so in terms of what that would buy elsewhere I am expecting a high quality BUILD regardless of styling.

I agree that there is a place for replicas, which offer a good tradeoff between price and quality.

I'm not even sure I believe that the replica quality is always much worse. I have a mix of replicas and originals, and the quality of the replicas has been fine for my needs. I got a replica 'Eames' shell chair from Advanced Interior Designs for $100 and it has been great. Yes, it is plastic, not fiberglass, but is that 'lower quality' or just more modern materials, and will is last any less long, not sure?

I know many on here will disagree, but I also have little sympathy for the estate of designs that are 50+ years old. In most contexts, you get a patent that lasts for ~17 years, and then anyone can replicate your idea. I think this drives innovation. I don't feel bad buying replicas of older designs, just like I don't feel bad buying generic drugs when they become available instead of continuing to pay much more for the branded version.

I have a majority of authentic pieces such as Le Corbusier lounge, Tolix Marais chairs, Eames side chairs etc.... and some knock offs... depends on the manufacture, scale, proportions and the use you have of it. I've seen pretty bad repro turn very ugly after just a few month.... but some replica are worth!!

Being in the majority who can't afford the iconic originals in most instances, I've also dabbled in replicas. I'm hoping in 10 years I'll be far enough in my career I'll be able to afford a few more choice pieces, but for now I'm not losing any sleep that 50+ year old designs are being copied by others for those who can't afford them. Especially considering the ridiculousness of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk862BbjWx4

I have some ghost chairs by a couple different manufacturers. None of them are as good as the originals. The ones from www.munizplastics.com are just sturdy enough but are not 100% blemish free, nor are they without seams. The ones from www.stackchairdepot.com are very sturdy (more so than the original from Kartell) and seamless but have ugly rough edges on the bottom lip of the seat-back where the polycarbonate was injected into the mold. Kartell has an annual sale that makes the original ghost chairs much more reasonable. I'd recommend waiting for the sale if you can and can afford them; I'd like to eventually replace my munizplastics.com chairs with the Kartell ones.

There are a lot of Tulip table knockoffs out there- the ugliest probably being the DOCKSTA table at IKEA. The Wilco table looks great and is very reasonable; I got it from ViveDecor but I've seen it at a lot of places. I believe it's made out of the same materials as the table that inspired it; many of the tulip tables have fiberglass bases- this one is aluminum. I've only had it for 6 months or so but it's holding up ok. It's a super shiny surface so you need placemats or you risk scratching the finish... I wouldn't use a pen to write on paper on it without something under it.

Off the top of my head, I think it's inMod that makes a ball chair that is better than the original- bigger, more plush, and with integrated sound system.

I've heard mixed things about Eames lounge chair replicas. They never seem to be as comfortable as the original (not as plush) and the assembly isn't seamless. The edges are sometimes rough (not properly sanded) and it's not unusual for them to get damaged during shipping. Also the leather is often inferior and wears quickly. However, some people seem thrilled with them and are ok with the imperfections considering it's less than 1/4th the price of a licensed model.

I do have a couple original pieces, but by and large it's simply impossible for people like me to pay homage to our favorite designers without supplementing with replicas. For those of you for whom this isn't an issue (you have a mortgage, take an exotic vacation every year, and can live off savings for a few months...) GREAT! I'm honestly happy for you and the license holders. But don't be haters! Nobody's losing money, so the argument about residuals to legacy children/estates (who had nothing to do with the original creative process anyway) simply don't hold up in this circumstance. Please enjoy your superior originals, take pity on us design-loving peasants, and make a generous monetary donation to my bank account ^_^