What's your best bargain/find ever? (part 1)
Hi, mod fans!

I've heard some great stories through the years about people finding expensive and rare designer items in containers, in the basement of their new house or at a antique store where the owner was completely unaware of what they had standing in the corner of their shop.

Do you have such a story to tell? - what's your best find/bargain ever?

.
. . .The lesson in that being, the uninformed retailer may not live to play another round. . .?

best find
My best find would have to be my vintage Knoll Saarinen Executive side chair (the "A" Series?) with wooden legs. I first spotted it in a parking lot of a McDonalds. I had no idea what kind of chair it was or who the designer was - I just knew I liked the chair! So, when I pulled out of the drive through, I opened up my trunk and threw the chair in the there. As I was leaving, two McDonalds employees ran out trying to stop me but it was too late! I think an employee may have taken the chair out of the office to use outside on her lunch break and didn't bring it back in.

When I got home, a little research told me I snagged myself a true gem. The chair retained all it's original labels, older Knoll/New York sticker on the bottom, dated delivery labels, and the rare, no longer produced wooden legs. No tears or stains to this little beauty, a good professional steam clean got out the french fry smell. It's in a beautiful hopsack fabric in the trademark McDonalds yellow (a pair of these chairs next to each other would form the iconic "M").

I will always consider this my best find because it's now the only vintage Knoll piece I didn't have to pay a dime for!

I stole from a multi-billion dollar international corporation
I don't think they'll miss their chair one bit!

Bad karma!
I hope that the McDonalds employee didn't have to fork over some of their paycheck to replace the chair. Or worse yet, lose their $5.15/hr job. I don't corner the market on morality but for sure I'd return the chair.

YOU,
Should you get the chair....electric!YET:Paying vastly less for something other than its true worth can seen as theft,in some religions/societies.

420, Your rearview mirror...
420, Your rearview mirror observations are much more impressive than your scruples. Return the chair.

enough of the moral ramifications, already
Not to change the subject from the moral dilemma; but if anyone cares I've got two favorite finds. And thought I didn't "steal" either of them I'm sure my soul is going to rot in Hell just the same. So 420, save me seat next to you in the proverbial handbasket, we can chat about Saarinen for all our firey eternity.

Best find: A Nelson Starburst Clock (with walnut "spikes") in beautiful condition; at a yard sale two years ago.
Price" $3.00(US).

Second Best Find: A Thonet Plywood Chair (in either natural maple or birch), reminiscent of the Eames DCW; at a sidewalk sale of a junk shop several years back.
Price: $12.00(US).

And 420, though what you did was probably not going to earn you the "Citizen of the Year" award...I probably would have done the same thing.

trash
A P40 lounge armchair by Borsani and a Luisa chair by Albini in the trash one hundred meters from my flat. I think I will never move from there.

Security
You could tell security you are taking them out in the parking lot to use on your lunch break and then have 420 come by and pick them up for you.

it's brandon's fault
i just sprayed my pc monitor with spit.

Arne Jacobsen 4130 (1955)
Considering that this seems to be the place to admit morally doubtful behavior I willing to accept your jugement on my best find ever. Picking up a collegue in the morning I recognized a Teak A.J. chair (not unlike the "ant" but with teak laminated legs and more angular in the back rest) amoung the garbage of my collegue's neighbour. I picked it out of the garbage and puty it in my trunk. Later that night at the modelworkshop that is part of the office I started to draw some different curves to see if I could improuve some of the detailing of the chair. Finally I put the backrest on the bandsaw and cut the new shape. It is still sitting there because I did not have the time it sand and refinish it, so, I am still not completely sure that it is better than the original but I guess that what preceeds amounts to a morally doubtfull act....than again, I am not a collector, I am a designer...by the way if I found a Barcelona, I would try to straighten out just sio slightly, the curve of the front "legs". I suspect that it would look even better.

I expect
the same problems, but I still would like to try...just to see if it is possible to make (keep) it elegant without that "fatigued-spring-like" look....just a thought

Back to the best bargain ever!!!
Hey guys,

This message board is degenerating!! The topic started weeks ago was the best bargain ever and there haven't been many entries in that recently!! Can we get back to that?

I would like to propose my best bargain which was a modern sofa, designer piece, by B&B Italia. It is a design classic by Gaetano Pesce and I bought it for 25% less than at the local store in NY! It is simply the most comfortable and shocking armchair I have ever owned. I have attached a link to the picture!
http://www.europebynet.com/home_all.asp

Pesce piece
I like it! -- Is the ottoman (?) included, and do I see a tether? Is yours the same color? It looks like it could be comfortable -- and VERY Italian (or French?)

FPE chairs
just got 2 opaline, 2 red & 2 cobalt blue FPE chairs by ron arad for free.

they were props from a garments retailers. the chain stores were getting rid them after the season and my friend who works there took a picture and asked if i want them thro' e-mail. thinking they were fakes, i replied yes anyway because i was going to get their other wood outdoor chairs.

after i moved them into my office (they fit in nicely), i fliped them and saw the kartell debossed logo!


this beat my other find - 2 rarely used wassily chairs by arrben in a used office furniture store for us $25 each.

bertoia
for me... a harry bertoia kinetic tabletop sculpture mislabeled on ebay for a 200 dollar buy it now.
i sold it at wright 7 months later for 29k.

a good find...

As to
the shape of the Barcelona legs, as mentioned by Mark, above: nothing in any of the literature I have shows any such flattened portion at the floor. What could he be looking at?

I was pleased with a very cheap plastic table lamp purchased in the early 70s at Woolworths -- a translucent ivory hemisphere atop an opaque brown tumpet-shaped base; sort of modern shape/arts & crafts color, bridging my two predominate tastes. I subsequentlly found its mate at a sidewalk sale, 15 years and 3000 miles later, for even less.

And. . .
if YOU lost a gold bracelet in a club. . .?

I once found a ...
rare Lyfa hanging lamp designed by Finn Juhl at a local fleamarket. It was the more rare two-tone blue version, though the lamp is in itself very rare. I almost didn't buy it because it was simply to good to be true when I saw it there on a seller's table. I couldn't believe my own eyes. Anyway, I bought for $45 and sold it at an auction for $800. A good price considering it had bumps, paint chips and some rust.

Best buys....
I think that my Eames lounge with ottman was a good find. An early production,feather cushions, nice soft gently worn leather...beautifully aged.
I paid $800 CAN, definitely not a garage sale find, but for the enjoyment and comfort it gives, I think it is great.
A good bargain I recently picked up is a George Nelson wall clock in original vintage condition. It is the model made with a seat from a Fritz Hansen teak stool. $8.99 US on eBay, the description was "Wintage Clock" (sellers spelling error, not mine).

Very well.
Now, if we can figure out what Koen finds wanting in the legs, maybe old Mies can stop spinning in his grave!

One does wonder about this chair's ability to dent or scratch a floor; do you suppose there are hidden glides, there?

It's endless, isn't it?

SDR

20 Eames orange shell chairs
Driving past a yard sale in Salt Lake City, I noticed over 20 orange Eames chairs. I asked the young kid (he couldn't haved been more than 25) "How much?" He replied "$1 each"
Needless to say, I handed him a $20, picked them up and pulled away so fast. I checked behind me to see if anyone was looking or if it was a joke. I have given a few away, but I still have 10... sitting in one right now as I type!

why
why?

Jacobsen Swan Chairs
I found two Swan chairs sitting by a dumpster at the University of Minnesota. Later in the day my partner found another near the same dumpster. A few months on we rented the chairs to an ad agency and made $1,500.

My partner and I share a...
My partner and I share a similar affection for Scandinavian modern set in cozy settings. Yes, ad people can beat up props, but, in this case, they were kind.

Freeform Sofa by Noguchi
I got a Freeform Sofa by Noguchi from thisisfurniture.com for only £1500. I mean most shops try and charge that much for the fabric alone.
http://www.thisisfurniture.com

I, thief.
I, too, worked for a billion dollar company and they were throwing a bunch of furniture away so I called my dad and we toted off a bunch of stuff and this odd little cushy, sturdy, purple chair. And when I got it home I looked it over and it turned out to be a signed Herman Miller. It is extremely cozy and heavy and firm. It was my first piece of designer furniture.

Yikes, 420.
Uh, just to be clear, after thoroughly reading 420's post, the Herman Miller chair I found was being thrown away. I didn't steal it, I had to get approval from security to take it off the lot because it was going to be disposed of. I did check my rear view and no one was running after me. I still consider it a find because it was the result of corporate dumpster diving. I am not a crook.(making peace signs.)

That is...
"rescued items" from those who don't know or have no comprehension of what they hold...

two saarinen tulip chairs
I really don't know if it was a bargain: I bought two old single piece tulip chairs exact to the ones of Saarinen (not similar or "the same style"). I payed 100 eur for both of them. The foot is also in fiber glass, and a bit thicker (is the only difference). Somebody told me that they were copies, because the authentics were in two pieces (although Saarinen would have prefered to make them in one piece) so I've been looking for other two copies to have four, and I've realized that there is nothing similar anywhere. I wonder where they come from, and how much are they worth. I found them in a 2hand market in Palma de Mallorca (Spain) where, due to some political reasons that kept it cutted off from Europe till 1975, is very difficult to find anything from the middle of century.

damn. your eames and platner...
damn. your eames and platner find made my ass hurt.

thrift store finds...
Couldn't resist adding to this thread... Let's see, so far - it's a four-way tie -- the Haywood-Wakefield M166G Gateleg Dining room table for $30, a three drawer Paul McCobb Planner Group dresser for $75, a Maria Poveka (Martinez) blackware plate for $1, or the latest find - an Eames 670 knockoff by Plycraft with matching ottoman for $50 at Goodwill. ;)

best find ever
I was looking at a old chrome
chair at a flee marketand the guy said I will take 5.00 bucks I said o.k. and did not even try to get a better price ,I have been out buying
chairs for the last month and looking at books so I knew the chair was
a Z chair by Gibert Rohde made by Troy sunshade company made in the the late 30's and early 40's the chair is wonderful and it is being reupulisterd
right now in black and white leather
tooo cool for words

This is for Arch who posted...
This is for Arch who posted that they bought a noguchi freeform sofa on thisisfurniture.com....I was wondering how did your furniture turn out? Is it just like the original one?

This web site...
Its free and there are some persons with design smarts willing to share. Thanks.

Garbage day
I grew up in a house surrounded by Artifort furniture. My parents were fans in the last 60's early 70's.

A few years ago on a thursdaynight I was making one of my long phonecalls to my father. During these phonecalls I tend to walk around a lot. At my third round in the livingroom of my apartment I saw the trash outside that was put their to be picked up the next day. Covered by a few garbagebags I saw some black parts of a chair and I recognized the F598 of Pierre Paulin for Artifort.

I hang up immediately to run outside and save this beautiful chair. I cleaned it and used it with a lot of pleasure. A few years later I gave it to my father. Without him I would have never been able to recognize and enjoy he beauty of this chair.

thonet for four bucks
..was driving by a little yard sale yesterday and noticed two maple chairs holding up some junk..
stopped and asked how much they were but the woman said they were not for sale-that they were using them to hold stuff they were selling..So I said would you sell them? and she said-I don't know why you want those old things-four bucks for the pair..needless to say I bought them and drove right home..flipped them over and realized they are thonet..bentwood-maple plywood and in great shape..saw some on ebay recently selling for a hundred and fifty each in rough shape. These are keepers-I love chairs..I have a huge house,not much furniture but we always have an extra chair..lol..
this morning we went to some more sales and my four year old son found two molded plasic shell out school chairs but teeny tiny like they are for a two year old..he likes chairs too and after paying twenty five cents for the pair I can see I trained him well

my best finds
I have the good fortune tol ive in alabama (well when it comes to design anyway) and people here just don't seem to get it when it comes to modern design. I have founf at thrift stores a Mies brno chair knoll tag and mint for $3, a Mies barcelona table for $35, a 60 inch around burke table with 6 chairs for $50, about 10 or so eames shell chairs for no more than $7 and a florence knoll table with old Art Metal tag for about $9 i think, and oh yeah a george nelson bubble lamp given to me by a customer after i did some electrical work in there house.

Not too long ago ...
a man found a huge, multicoloured Verner Panton 'Ball' lamp in a box at a fleamarket. He bought for $10, had it in his home for a few years and then decided to sell it. It was sold at Denmark's largest auction house for $21500.

Since then I've been looking in ALL boxes whenever I'm at fleamarkets.

70s Wassily
Being thrown out. On a curb in the Bronx by the Bruckner Expressway.

One arm strap needs restiching. Otherwise in good shape.

Irving Morrow furniture set
the best "bargain" I ever had was a set of five pieces, each one of a kind, built by and for the home of Irving Morrow (the consulting design architect for the golden gate bridge). The pieces were given to me for free, as to find a good home for them.

My "Find"
I´ve found two Eames Armshells in a hospital and Five first-series-Panton Chairs on a street in Hamburg/Germany...

They were 1,000 plus in the...
They were 1,000 plus in the 70s when they first came out some vinyls out perform leathers...

tons of finds
I went to an auction about 2 months ago where I got the deals of a liftime

goodform desk and chair $3
Heywoodwakfield chairs (2) $5
8 herman miller fiberglass stacking chairs $4
heywood wakefield maple desk $5
2 starburst clocks $7

I also found in the trash street corner in Providence RI last year around the corner from my house 2 herman miller fiberglass chairs the real nice ones one was an office chair with rollers the other metal 4 leg base ladys was setting them out and i was liek is that the trash and she said yeah take whatever.
Hells yeahs

a pair of Wassily chairs...
.. or at least a couple of decent knock-offs. They were sitting in my neighbor's trash. He's renovating an old Arts and Crafts home and the chairs were left from the previous owner. Each chair had a broken arm strap so I consolidated the two good ones, reconditioned the leather (it had been dried out by countless years in the attic), and polished up the chrome. Voila! Now I'm off to get the two straps repaired -- hopefully a local shoe guy can do it.

.
Good stuff ! EIGHT flat-bar Brnos for a total of $32 is some kind of record, surely. . .!

Keep em coming, folks -- this topic has been a hit. . .

Free Frank Gehry
A neighbor's house built by Frank Gehry that I get to look at every day from my window! (does that count?).

Today I live in New York,...
Today I live in New York, but I grew-up in Memphis, Tennessee.

My greatest find requires a little back story.

In 1949, a Memphis department store named Lowenstein's opened its newest location at the North-West corner of Polar & Highland. At this time, the intersection was considered the edge of the city. They spared no expense, and made the largest department store in Memphis into an cutting-edge Art-Deco gem. Most of the fixtures, fittings and finishings were custom made.

On every counter in the cosmetic department, there were matching chrome Art-Deco lamps- a heavy rectangular slab chrome base with two 1/2" extruded square rod chrome legs of about 18" height supporting a downward facing chrome shade in the shape of a half-cylinder on its side. I hope that is descriptive enough to visualize.

When the department store finally closed its doors in the mid 80s, the employees famously looted the store blind of it famous fixtures. These particular aforementioned lamps were the most coveted pilfer. I've only ever seen one available for sale in excess of $3000 (that was in about 1990). On Central Avenue there is an excellent furniture store that specializes in 50's retro pieces. To this day they have two of these lamps on their jewelry counter with tags that read "NOT FOR SALE." (see link below)

So...

In around '92 or '93 I was in this huge antique store on South Front Street in Memphis named Galleria of Antiques. The store specializes in Southern Antebellum antiques. Deco was out of their element. In the back room on the third floor was a "junk pile" of unpriced items (chairs with broken legs, old luggage, odds-and-ends, misc. bric-a-brac). The left over detritus of otherwise fruitful estate sale purchases, literally thrown in a big disheveled pile on the floor. There, sticking out of the heap, I saw a shiny chrome cylinder. I carefully removed the completely unscathed, impeccably maintained (and rewired) authentic 1940s custom made Lowenstein's cosmetic counter light fixture and asked, "What do you want for this?" With barely a passing glance the reply was "$35". I gave them cash and walked out the door. I still own that lamp.

-----

FYI-
This is my first post. My wife and I recently purchased a new home, and we're still looking for a few more pieces to complete our furnishings. That is how I stumbled across this site. I'm an Art Director who works in advertising. My educational background is architecture. I have a feeling I will be coming back to this board again.
http://www.flashbackmemphis.com/

Wow, that's some good bargains!
... keep 'em coming, boys and girls. Amazing stories, I must say.

Bertoia diamond in the rough
Sorry for the cheezy tag line
My younger brother Jacobo (he was about 8 yrs at the time) found a Bertoia large diamond chair with the orginal cover for $12 at an antique store in Dallas. He didn't know what it was (he's not a genius), but he told my dad "hey, Dad look at this cool chair, you should get it for Charles"
I still owe my little bro dude for that find

saarinen tulip/swivel chairs and table
i was in mexico camping near a poor farming village this weekend. I went to have breakfast at a place that had a letrine for a bathroom. Inside, was a set of 4 saarinen tulip chairs with original upholstering. The owner said that in the early 70's a guy came around selling used furniture and she bought the entire thing for about $20 back then. I asked her if I could buy one of the chairs and she said "you can have the whole thing!" She said that the chairs weren't good for her kids because during meal time they wouldn't stop swiveling in them and tilting over. I felt really guilty about taking the chairs (the table is at her son's house)and so I only took one (I couldn't help myself), but I expect to go back to pick up the rest (and the table) if I ever go back there. I will make a donation to her restaurant, though.

My mouth is watering...
..I've been reading this thread and can hardly wait until the next flea market in the area, but I do not have near the knowledge of all these wonderful design addicts. Can someone please point me in the direction of a good, all encompassing book that lists these types of furniture pieces? I'm not in the industry, just someone who is slowing feeding the "design fire" the last few years and would love to be able to recognize pieces like you all have been describing.
Thank-you!!

Model 670 lounge chair and Model 671 ottoman
I just got these - which may be a reproduction. I have no idea how to tell. I saw reproductions selling for about 3K on line. If these are a 1956 or 1960 model what are they worth?

In the same Research and...
In the same Research and Development Center where I got my Eames sofa for free a friend and I just rescuds 5 more cool sofas before they were thrown out.

Two are modular units like the George Nelson seating. One is a 3 bay with all seats and one is a 3 bay with two seats and a side table. It was made by the Troy Sunshade company. Not Herman Miller, but it looks great. I also got 3 Steelcase Knoll type sofas with the cushions stitched in a square pattern and with chrome legs. Not bad for free! They look nice.

.
The one with the famous "mask/face" logo by Rand...

I am not really sure. Our...
I am not really sure. Our Research and Development Center is now our Institutions for Higher Learning. I don't really know much about its history other than the fact that the building was completed in 69-70.

A friend's mother used to work there then. She said the place had nelson benches lining the entire huge glass wall expanse. They were full of arm shells, DCMs, side shells, Steelcase and Herman Miller sofas, etc. Most of the items were given to employees as they replaced them. I asked one older worker about it and all he had left that he hadn't thrown out was an old DCM covered in paint from the last time he repainted his barn. He used it to stand on.

Pink and black floral... Pretty!
If they're her sofas... The only "floral" Florence "Shu" Knoll approved of were Shasta Daiseys in a clear glass vase...

Pardon the digression: Paul Rand logo
azurechicken:
Maybe this is another thread. I was never one of those who saw a face in the circle-W (right away, anyway). A lightning bolt, a wiring diagram, a crown?sure. Alas, Rand's influence was brief; the strong but short-lived graphic/product design culture of the 70s was brushed off by swaggering philistines.

kukkapuro's ateljee 5euros
a few years back my mom bought kukkapuro's haimi ateljee(with headrests,black leather and in great condition) at a fleamarket for five euros. needless to say, the story has turned into a living legend in our family.

Where the hell did you get...
Where the hell did you get such a deal? Now that you have it you can share your secrets?

zzzzzzzz.
zzzzzzzz.

Thank-you!
Thank-you so much for responding to my question--I know it wasn't in the correct post, but reading all of those finds got me to thinking that I haven't educated myself near enough.

I already have a lead on the books.
Thanks again!

damn i'm jealous. if he was...
damn i'm jealous. if he was really your friend he'd give it to you :)

They are shell chair. I...
They are shell chair. I forgot the word...;)

You know, a lot of people sai...
You know, a lot of people said me that ! They have chance ! Why they can't give for it a Yanagi's butterfly, a Eames's LCW or something else like that ? I want to "troc"...if somebody is interested...

Yes... because what can i do...
Yes... because what can i do with 32 chairs ? Sell it ? Yes, perhaps, but i wanna trade, i prefer... so... we will see.

Yes. It's : lalalolita@mycabl...
Yes. It's : lalalolita@mycable.ch

Saarinen Table
Just found last week, Knoll Saarinen Coffee table $15.00 Canadian. Found it at a thrift store just down the street from my place.

*giggle* Knoll Pollock -- pt 2
Just found an original magazine ad listed on ebay for this chair. My chair matches the 1976 ad, so I figure it's from that era. Don't know much else about it...but I'm still grinnin' like a Cheshire cat :-)

Chu Teh-Chun Painting
My apologies for posting this story(twice) in the wrong area. My ABSOLUTE BEST FIND was late this autumn. I found a 1962 Chu Teh-Chun painting at a local thrift store. I am selling it through Sotheby's this April in Hong Kong. It should bring a small fortune.
I STILL can't believe my luck on this one!

rare Danish cradle
Hi, all--new here but have been collecting awhile.

I go to a lot of local auctions and have gotten some real finds. Probably my best ever was a rare cradle by Danish designer Nanna Ditzel. It was at a really snooty, somewhat shady auction house that I don't normally patronize but happened to go this once.

I spotted the cradle in the back with garden junk piled in it. There were some dealers there who buy mod stuff so I didn't want to look too interested init. I looked as closely as I dared for a mark but didn't see anything. The lighting was bad and the thing sitting in it was heavy and too hard to move, plus those jerks didn't like patrons messing up their precious displays!

Anyway, they started the bidding at $30. I just assumed that I'd have to pay at least $100 for it, so I said OK. But then no one else bid! I got it for $30.

I paid my bill and took the cradle outside (someone else bought the garden equipment). There under the foam mattress was the "Made in Denmark" sticker. Woohoo!

Went home and looked it up---Nanna Ditzel. The only mention I could find on the internet was on the mobelkunst.dk site and they didn't even give a price ("on request"). I wrote and asked and it took awhile for them to get back to me, but it was worth the wait: US$3600!

My older daughter saw it and said, "mom, you can't sell this!" And she's right, I can't. She is a fan of good mid-century design and just got married and they plan to have kids. I can't NOT let my grandchildren sleep in this cradle, even though we could really use the money!

A few other auction finds:

Saarinen tulip table & two chairs, $5 (condition kinda rough, but still)

very thick, long flokati rug, 6x9, $3

Arteluce 3 arm chrome globe lamp, $80 (not dirt cheap but I love it dearly--I THINK it's Arteluce)

Nessen table lamps for $2 each

Arabia art pottery bowl, $5 (sold for $375 or something like that)

several Saarinen tulip dining table bases for very cheap - they have the exact profile of the Saarinen ones but I've never been able to tell if they are real or not (not that I care much)

Damn, Spaky
... as a huge fan of the work of Nanna & Joergen Ditzel, I really envy you. I've only seen this cradle myself twice, at Dansk Moebelkunst' showroom (www.dmk.dk) and at Kolmorgen's showroom (http://kolmorgen.com) further down the street. It's a quite a rare find so please promise you'll take good care of it :)

no prestigious labels, but
My best thrift-store "score" ever was a Saarinen-esque couch that I found in Eugene, Oregon, 10 years ago for $11, in very good condition, made in Sweden. The best part is that it's extremely light, and the aluminum legs come off very easily, so it's very easy for one person to move (which is good because I've had about 6 addresses in the past 10 years). Another cheap thriftstore item that I enjoy having around is a knock-off Eames wire chair with a rocking base and a bright orange cushion -- $5. I shop at thrift stores fairly often and those magical "scores" seem to be more and more rare in recent years.

Also, a Thonet bent plywood chair, vaguely similar to the Eames LCW, which I got for free through my work. Not in great shape but it came from the set of the movie ALI, so it's sort of a conversation piece.

Maple?
Ok, the only two examples I've ever seen in real life, were made in oregon pine. But I can't really find any add. info on this cradle. As far as I could tell, they were only oiled slighty, nothing else. They were intented to be used and affordable for most families. The choice of wood, oregone pine, confirms this as it's a cheap sort of wood. However a few examples in maple might have been produced to be bought at a higher price. It was not uncommon for designers to have the same chair or table produced in different kinds of wood.

I actually knew Nanna Ditzel and she invited me to her house for coffee a few times shortly before she passed away. I wish I could ask her about this cradle. She would have loved to show me her original drawings and provide interesting info. I wish she was still here among us. God, I miss her.

Anyway, Dansk Møbelkunst lies in the middle of Bredgade, that long road that begins right by Nyhavn and Kgs. Nytorv. Kolmorgen has a small showroom in the same street, right at the start.

a few
10 Arne Jacobsen Swan chairs, $75 CDN each, from a folk club...

Egg chair $250, from an aunt of a friend..

Teak Finn Juhl sofa $20 at a yard sale

20 Eames side chairs for $100

a friend just bought 40 Iitalla glass peices, many different, for $75 CDN at an auction..

last one, I just found a product I designed at Goodwill for $4 - one of the proudest moments of my career.

Oregon pine
You're right, the cradle is Oregon pine. It's about the color of maple and that's all I remember from the last time I really looked at it, but now I recall that the grain was not maple-ish.

That's wonderful that you knew Nanna Ditzel. That's one of the things that impressed me about Denmark and Danes, that it's a small country and celebrity isn't hyped the way it is in the U.S. I was recently telling a Danish friend about a Peter Hvidt table I got at auction and it turned out that she had dated one of Hvidt's sons in high school or college and spent a lot of time with the family. I think Danes live in a pleasantly small world.

Peter Hvidt & O. Molgaard Nielsen for France and Daverkosen Denmark teak sideboard
At a garage sale in my small logging town for $165 I found a Hvidt credenza. I had no idea what it was at the time as there were no markings anywhere, but it is in perfect shape and has that great teak smell.
http://www.planetoranj.com/detail.asp?id=5358

4 Warren McArthur Aluminum Folding Chairs
for a hundred bucks each

Macintosh Apple IIE
Found a fossil of an Macintosh in my basement. It still works. I have it plugged in and running on my shelves.
http://www.jibhunt.com

Eames DCW Ebony
My first piece was 2 years ago. I found an Eames Dining Chair wood in the loft of my dads barn. I asked for it for christmas and was disappointed to notice that it wasnt in the house when I came home. I mentioned it to my father and he said "oh.. the chair in the barn? Oh yeah just take that..."
Apparently he had found it at the town dump and he thought it was too ugly to leave there. Sadly the backrest had been snapped off the shockmounts and redrilled (shudder) twice. And it was painted black. Next summer I'm planning on restoring as much of it as I can back to its former glory.
Other good finds: In two weeks I found two near perfect lemon yellow shells for 100$ each, and yesterday I bought 8 academic base shells for 150$...for the lot! 20$ a chair aint bad!

3 mcarthur aluminum folding chairs, free
arts department at my university had three red folding mcarthur aluminum chairs in original condition. i was giving my (philosophy) students' exam in the art history lecture hall when i saw them. i asked the chair of the art dpertment if i could have them, and she sais, "sure, in 3o years i've never seen them touched." Toal cost: $0.00

Never found any.. not in aust...
Never found any.. not in australia..