ORIGINAL FURNITURE DESIGNS VS. NEW COPIES

The Financial Times of London checked prices to see if it was better to buy original 1920s-60s furniture or 2009 copies. Much of this furniture has full patent protection for the designs. Some copies are authorized by the original maker; others are unauthorized knockoffs that may be of lesser quality. The new licensed Egg chair by Arne Jacobsen sells for about $4,675, the "inspired by" knockoff for about $1,170. The new licensed Eames lounge chair and ottoman goes for about $8,750, the "inspired by" knockoff for about $730. An old original 1950s chair in excellent condition is an investment that will hold its value (an original old Eames lounge chair and ottoman in perfect condition sells at auction for about $7,000). A new licensed or "inspired by" chair is just used furniture with low resale value.