No home is quite complete without a smattering of vintage design. These are the pieces that will give your space an individual touch; the quirky details that nobody else will have. European Modernism in its various guises – from 1930s French to 1960s Italian, via midcentury Scandinavian – is still one of the most desirable eras to buy into, so we’ve put together our guide to Europe’s best vintage showrooms to help you build your collection. Whether you plan to visit in person (as we heartily recommend) or shop online, there’s something for everyone.
Galleria Rossella Colombari, Milan
Hailing from a family of antique dealers in Turin, Rossella Colombari is an acknowledged expert on 20th-century Italian design, which makes her Milan gallery a real treasure trove. Colombari was one of the first modern gallerists to champion the work of radical architect Carlo Mollino, and now showcases rare examples of his furniture alongside designs by Gio Ponti, Joe Colombo and Ettore Sottsass, as well as a host of other important names. Her stock spans every era, from post-war to Post-Modernism, and she also stages exhibitions with intriguing concepts behind them – one recent show imagined a home in which the boundaries between rooms had dissolved. Current pieces for sale include 1960s Vistosi lighting in Murano glass and one of Mollino’s famous angular desks, dating from the 1950s.
Nilufar Depot, Milan
Housed in a former silverware factory, Nilufar Depot was opened by famed gallerist Nina Yashar in 2015. The vast, warehouse-like space, which is arranged over three floors, represents Yashar’s unique vision, hosting “original encounters” between vintage and contemporary design. For inspiration on how to mix different eras and styles, you couldn’t hope for a better teacher: visitors will discover midcentury Italian classics alongside modern design-art, all presented in beautifully decorated room-settings and as part of sculptural installations. The unusual designers whose work is on sale include Osvaldo Borsani (midcentury founder of the Tecno brand), Brazilian icons Joaquim Tenreiro and Lina Bo Bardi, and 1950s Swedish heroine Greta Magnusson Grossman. There are also enlightening exhibitions to browse.
Howe London
Christopher Howe is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable antiques dealers in the UK and his huge inventory – which occupies both the Howe London showroom in Pimlico Road and a 7,000 square-foot Battersea warehouse – is as well presented as it is desirable, arranged in vignettes that will fire your decorating imagination. At one end of the spectrum you might see a 17th-century oak wainscot chair or an antique Persian rug; at the other, a rare Bauhaus-era opaline-glass lamp or a set of Chinoiserie-style bamboo shelves. Alongside this, there’s Made by Howe, a range of timeless furniture, lampshades and accessories designed to complement vintage finds.
The Old Cinema, London
A place of pilgrimage on London’s Chiswick High Road since 1978, and a favourite with many interior designers, The Old Cinema is a huge Aladdin’s cave. It’s spread over three floors, with 10,000 square feet of space and 40 dealers to explore: take a tour and you’ll encounter everything from Victorian antique furniture and mirrors to Art Deco pieces, architectural salvage, vintage artefacts from India and the Middle East, and decorative objects (think art pottery and Scandinavian glass). The selection of vintage movie posters is also worth a look – and if you can’t visit in person, it’s all shoppable online.
Jousse Entreprise, Paris
Philippe Jousse began his career in photography, but after discovering the work of mid century designer Jean Prouvé in the early 1980s – at the time, all but forgotten – he turned his eye to interiors. Its partly thanks to Jousse that Prouvé is now justly celebrated, and his gallery, Jousse Entreprise, has also revived the reputation of many a neglected French icon – among them Matthieu Matégot (known for his midcentury designs in metal), lighting designer Serge Mouille, and Charlotte Perriand, whose first retrospective Jousse organised in 1987, thus revealing her as one of the 20th century’s finest talents. Today, the gallery boasts pieces from various eras – among the current offerings are a 1980 carpet with sculptural upturned edges by Pierre Paulin, and Perriand’s colourful 1952 Mexique bookcase.
Klassik, Copenhagen
Billing itself as “one of the world’s largest providers of original vintage furniture from the 20th century”, Klassik has a flagship store in central Copenhagen brimful with 20th-century Scandinavian design classics, as well as a thriving online store. If you’re into that streamlined, understated midcentury Nordic style, this is the place to go – the work of design heroes such as Poul Kjaerholm, Kaare Klint and Alvar Aalto is well represented here. There’s also a fine selection of vintage artworks to go with whatever you buy.
Modernity, Stockholm
When in Stockholm, don’t miss out on a visit to Modernity’s elegant showroom at Sibyllegatan 6 (it’s also opened a London outpost on Pimlico Road). A specialist in 20th-century Nordic design, it has pieces by all the big names – including Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner and Finn Juhl – but also boasts one-off pieces, too. Beautiful vintage glass, ceramics and jewellery are other highlights – right now, look out for 1940s ‘Fish Grail’ glass vases by Edward Hald for Orrefors, which feature delicate hand-painted aquatic scenes, and colourful vintage vessels by the celebrated Gustavsberg and Rörstrand potteries.
