In this context, the then young designer Alessandro Mendini dared what many did not: stop putting all the emphasis on creation and focus on the reinterpretation of objects consecrated as classics.
The first result was the mythical Proust Armchair, which marked the beginning of a design trend that falls in love and draws attention everywhere: that of vintage furniture.
What is vintage furniture?
Vintage designer furniture predates the modern and contemporary stream, and generally encompasses all pre-1930 furniture. This spans centuries of furniture design, so distinctions are often made depending on the historical period in which These pieces were created or from the artistic current to which they correspond.
Thereby, we have vintage art nouveau furniture, typical of the beginning of the last century, and if we go back in time, we come to Victorian furniture, Louis XV and finally to those in the Baroque style.
As nowadays it is very difficult, impractical and expensive to make exact reproductions of these pieces of furniture, instead we resort to creating pieces inspired by these styles, which reproduce the most intricate shapes and details using materials and techniques typical of our time.
This is how neo-Baroque, neo-Louis XV and neo-Victorian furniture were born, which are integrated into the term “vintage furniture”.
What makes vintage furniture special?
Design objects fulfill three fundamental functions: physiognomics, aesthetics and symbolism. Physiognomics is the purpose for which they were created: a chair is used to sit, a lounger to recline, and a table, to place objects on it.
But life would be very boring if we only designed objects focusing on their pragmatic function. So that's where the second aspect comes into play: aesthetics.
Contrary to popular belief, the aesthetic is not only the appearance of something, but encompasses everything that we can perceive of an object: its colors, textures, its temperature to the touch... in short, everything that allows us to enjoy and delight our senses.
Many designer furniture stays here, in the senses, but you can go further. There is a final step that gives new dimensions to what can be achieved with interior design: symbolism.
Design furniture with a symbolic charge represents ideas and concepts while evoking ideas and stories in the minds of observers, as they are part of the collective imagination
Returning to our initial question, what makes vintage furniture so special is that it meets this triad of characteristics in a masterful way:
-They can fulfill their purpose perfectly, since they were created with the knowledge and notions of anthropometry of the Renaissance, so their proportions and measurements are perfect for the human body.
-They are highly aesthetic, as they are richly decorated with intricate applications and details. If to this you add that as a general rule all surfaces are curved and convex, the result is an exquisite object whose design is far from the formal monotony that characterizes contemporary furniture.
-They have a powerful symbolic charge. These designs immediately inspire reverence and evoke ideas of grandeur, elegance, refinement and luxury typical of palaces and grand halls, embodied in modern materials and finishes that serve as a temporary bridge, and we will talk about this later.
Does this furniture have a place in contemporary design?
The first reaction of many people when hearing about furniture designed three or four centuries ago is to think that they have no place in today's interior design, but those who dare to experiment are very surprised.
The principle that makes these vintage furniture look phenomenal in contemporary interior design is none other than juxtaposition, that is, inserting an exotic-looking element into a “normal” frame for us.
In fact, there are entire currents of interior design dedicated to exploiting the use of vintage furniture in modern projects, and one of the best examples of this is transitional design. The results speak for themselves.
How can I get vintage furniture for my project?
Vintage furniture gives completely new dimensions to projects of all kinds: both commercial and residential. They can be seen in theaters, boutiques, hotels, restaurants, shop windows, libraries… in short, in any place where design and good taste have a place.
As you can imagine, not just any furniture supplier can produce the complicated shapes that characterize vintage furniture, and that is why there are manufacturers specialized in this genre.
In Mexico, the most important is undoubtedly NICHEO, which through its brands -POLaRT, POLREY and FLOQUEM- provide furniture of excellent quality and irresistible design to the entire country and even to foreign countries.
NICHEO vintage furniture is the master touch that can take your designs to the next level. Do not stay with the desire and consult our catalogs. We are sure that you will find a lot of furniture that you did not know you needed.
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