It's hard to think of Mid-Century furniture without bringing up one of its key elements- Danish Teak. But how did a tropical tree become associated with a cold, dark Scandinavian country and its sleek furniture designs? And how did it get to be so popular in the US? Here's some history roughly pieced together from around the web.
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There are rumors (We couldn't properly fact check this, so take it with a grain of salt but it does fit the timeline) that Danish King Christian X was in cahoots with the Royal Thai Family in the early 20th century. As part of that relationship, King Christian made a trade agreement that included importing the very tropical Teak wood to the very not tropical Denmark- there was suddenly a large supply which made it a cheap material. Danish Modern design was also beginning to take off during this time period because of industrialization and the Bauhaus school where many Danish designers studied and created together. These factors collided and thus Danish Teak became a staple of design. And despite its initial use because of its economical price/ease of acquirement, teak wood quickly became appreciated because of its functionality, durability, and color.
Then the European post World War II boom happened. There was a sudden need for fast housing and furniture. The teak pieces that had been hand-made in Denmark for years pre-war were easily adaptable to machine manufacturing which meant that they were perfect for the need of the time. Danish teak became the flavor of the moment throughout Europe (again, somewhat because of necessity). But! There were still many Americans still stationed in Europe post-war as things were being rebuilt. But when they left, the trend followed these service members as they returned to America, with fond memories of those warm-toned furnishings of Denmark. So Americans ordered Danish Modern pieces from catalogues to furnish their mid-century homes all over the country and into Canada. From dining tables to bedroom furniture to smaller items like dishes and trays, teak saturated the North American market through the 1960s.
So much so that old growth teak trees were almost completely wiped out from demand. This was an unfortunate side effect of the teak trend, but it also means the appearance of mid-century teak furniture is different than that of contemporary teak pieces which are made from new growth- the older pieces are generally more dense and have a more distinct wood grain it which makes them even more desirable now.
So there you have it- Danish teak in a nutshell (pun intended). 

In the world of mid-century modern furniture, there are many distinct and unique pieces. The Eames Lounge Chair, the tulip table, the gondola sofa, just to name a few. But there's also a lot to be said about the simpler elements of MCM design.

​Mid-century designer Florence Knoll was (and still is!) a ground breaking force in furniture and interior design. She pioneered the Planning Unit which was a design consultant service made up of a team of designers who would look at a project from all angles and put spaces together as a collaborative effort. She even invented the textile sample system that's still used in modern day interior design.

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But Knoll also designed her fair share of furniture. Her pieces are basic, sleek, and often overlooked because of their simplicity. At the same time, her furniture can be used as the "meat and potatoes" of a room- a term she humbly coined herself. Tables that are functional and discreet. Sofas that are perfect as a place to sit, but aren't the focus of a room. The background architecture that spaces need as much as they need bright showpieces.

And perhaps that's why, after nearly 70 years, Knoll's pieces are as popular as ever and even still being manufactured. She achieved the perfect balance of function and beauty- the backbone of modern design.

We have a lot of awesome customers and perusers here at Mid Mod Collective. And one of the top pieces of furniture they ask about? The Eames Lounge Chair. It's seriously the Holy Grail of mid-century furniture. Everyone wants one (or thinks they have one), companies and designers have been making knock-offs for years, and you see it constantly in film and television.

But Charles and Ray Eames were so much more than that (obviously incredible) chair. They were a husband and wife team that came up with incredible ideas and inventions, had an impressive portfolio of architecture and film work, and happened to design furniture as well. 

Their overall philosophy was that function is important to everyone- no matter who they who they are or what their status is in life. So even things that are incredibly "high end" or "designer" still come back to humans' basic need for functionality. Charles touched on this in a speech he made about design that has become known as the "Banana Leaf Parable." With that philosophy as their guide, Charles and Ray became some of the best well known designers in modern history- very much because their design was intended for all people.
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But with genius design and creativity, comes both popularity and mimicry. This is how the Eames became mid-century poster children. You can find plastic versions of their famous fiberglass shell chairs all over the internet now. Even a copy of their coat rack is sold with dorm room supplies every fall. People are buying things they don't even know can be credited to the Eames. All they know is they like it, it mixes well with many styles, and it's wonderfully functional and useful. 

So next time you walk into a hip coffee shop with a bunch of sexy seating or an office with sleek, modern chairs, notice how much of it can be attributed to Charles and Ray- you might be pleasantly surprised. 

AMC's hit television show Mad Men had arguably the best mid-century set decoration and costuming in modern day TV history (nods to The Wonder Years and That 70s show too, among others). They got every detail right- the furniture, the dishes, the wallpaper, even the technology. The show's plot started in 1960 and continued for many years after that, and the sets' styles impeccably changed with passing time.

​In season 1, the suburban New York homes are decked out in plaid wallpaper, colonial motifs, and fruity tablecloths. By the end of the series, the scenes are much more "Mod" with bright pops of color, lots of funky textures, and clean lines. Throughout the entirety of the show though, there are two consistent themes- Smoking and drinking- any amount, anywhere, anytime.

Besides entertaining the masses with retro drama story lines, Mad Men also had a noticeable effect on modern-day interiors. Suddenly folks realized how beautiful mid-century design was again or at least felt sudden nostalgia that had been long lost. Thus, the Mad Men effect.

Is it a blessing? Or a curse?

15 years ago, people were just trying to get rid of grandma's stuff. Huge ceramic lamps and orange sofas were being put out on the curb. Now you can't go to a thrift store without seeing prices that would make grandma blush!

But on the bright side- modern home interior design has gotten a boost of sophistication from designers like Charles Eames, Florence Knoll, Adrian Pearsall and many others who had timeless taste and ideas. Furniture has become sleeker instead of chunky. Color is alive and well. And ash trays and bars have made a comeback...even if smoking and drinking aren't the norm at every work lunch anymore. 

Some may call it trendy, but Mad Men has been off the air for 3 years now and mid-century design is alive and well. So cheers to that (it's what they would have done in the 60s) and many more years to come!