A neighbor friend recently asked my opinion on a particular style of table. The “real” one is $2,000 and the “fake” one is $199. I’m all about being thrifty but when it comes to certain iconic furniture pieces I believe it’s better to get the real deal.
First example, Saarinen Table (Tulip Table) designed in 1956 vs. IKEA’s DOCKSTA Table.
It’s hard to see but the base on the Saarinen table is one piece of cast aluminum while the IKEA piece is three pieces of plastic (you can just barely see the seams in the photo). Style wise you can see how the Saarinen table looks a bit more elegant…the table top has a mitered edge and the base narrows ever so slightly toward the bottom while the IKEA version has a blunt edge and a chunkier base.
Another item you see being copied a lot is the Tolix Marais A Chair designed in 1934.
And it’s companion the Tolix Marais A56 armchair designed in 1956.
The Tolix chairs are made of galvanized steel and are still being produced in Autun, France. I’ve seen both versions of the knock-offs in person and if you only knew what a real Tolix chair looked like and felt like you wouldn’t even bother with the inspired-by pieces. It’s difficult to see in the photo’s but the fake chairs feature a faux-metal finish that looks really cheap in person (if you have your heart set on the fake chairs I would suggest buying the painted colored ones instead of the faux silver ones). Also, the fake chairs are lightweight compared to the Tolix ones and the construction is not nearly as sturdy. Yes the Tolix chairs are more than double what the knock-offs cost, but in this case it’s worth it.
Here are some other examples, but I haven’t seen the fake counterparts in person to know what the differences are.
Sure with the original you are paying for the designer name, but you’re also paying for the quality materials, workmanship and construction that make up the item. I think the big takeaway here is, if the deal seems too good to be true it probably is.
Thanks for looking.
-Melody
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