Mid-century: Italian, Scandinavian, French, American — the tells
Everyone says "mid-century". But each school has its signatures. A guide to spotting a piece's origin at a glance.
1 MIN · 5 OBJECTS IDENTIFIED"Mid-century" has become a catch-all term. Yet a trained eye places a piece — Italy, Scandinavia, France, USA — in seconds. Here are the signatures of each school.
Italian
Brass, Murano glass, marble, sculptural and faintly theatrical forms. Stilnovo, Arteluce, Gio Ponti: elegance, colour, glamour. Costly materials worn without apology.
Scandinavian
Pale wood (teak, oak), gentle lines, warm functionality, craftsmanship. Wegner, Juhl, Aalto: restraint, never cold. The joints are jewellery.
French
Metal and wood, rigour and chic, often rarer. Prouvé (folded steel, rivets), Perriand, Royère (curves). Engineering that becomes style.
American
Moulded plywood, fibreglass, plastic, joyful mass production. Eames, Saarinen, Nelson: the democracy of design, pop colour.
A piece of uncertain origin? Scan it on Beyit: the school, the era, the value.
One photo, every piece identified.
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The pieces, at your budget.
Every piece mentioned, with its alternatives — from vintage to dupe.
Gallery
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