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Holiday Gift Guide

eBay Picks

Once upon a time, you used to have to dig through mountains of junk at swap meets, sift through dusty barns at estate sales, or luck out at a goodwill to find desirable collectibles. Nowadays all the stuff in the world (or treasure depending on your point of view) is up for grabs on eBay, and the sellers are more savvy than ever. That being said, with a little patience and search optimization, deals can still be had, and that rare find is a mere click away. Here are some of my favorite finds of the moment. Happy bidding.
 

ebay eames dcm chair square

Eames DCM SIde Chair

The Eames were known to tinker with their existing designs, which is how we arrived at this version of the DCM chair in the early 1970s. The plastic-backed chairs feature an upholstered urethane seat and are a little higher than their wooden ancestors, which is good if you're tall like me. I love the way this chair looks, particularly from the back, and in white.
ebay how to see book george nelson square

How To See by George Nelson

The multi-talented George Nelson made a name for himself in architecture, industrial design, graphic design, and as the man who brought Charles Eames and Alexander Girard together at Herman Miller, but of his many talents, I believe writing to be the greatest, and most under appreciated. How To See is the perfect primer for the uninitiated.
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Mushroom Bowl by Kaj Franck

One of Finland's most masterful 20th century industrial designers, Kaj Franck, created work that, like Finns themselves, is generally practical and unpretentious. This simple enamel bowl comes to life with a cute mushroom design—and if you've spent any time in Finland, you know how much they like their mushrooms.
ebay votive square

Stellaria Votive Holder by Tapio Wirkkala

Another of Finland's 20th century design superstars, Tapio Wirkkala designed everything from hunting knives to lightbulbs to land art monuments. Wirkkala often retreated to his Lapland cabin to hunt, fish, and live off the land, and much of his work reflects this deep understanding, appreciation, and awe of nature. This simple votive holder transforms your tabletop into a melting ice palace.
ebay architctural record square

Record Houses of 1971

I pretty much never tire of books that compile modern houses. Generally there are some well known designers featured (Lautner, Jaffe, Noyes) but books like this one are also a great place to discover lesser known talents.
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Big Rac Attack by Charles Harper

I owe most of my Charles Harper collection to eBay. Prices have gone way up since his popularity exploded in recent years, but diligent searching can still yield some bargains. I've always loved the red barbecue in this print.
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Gustavberg Cat by Lisa Larsen

Sometimes you're better off searching eBay with generic terms than specific designers. You'll generally get a better deal if someone isn't familiar with an item's pedigree. Or you'll find something you wouldn't have otherwise searched for, like this sweet little ceramic cat.
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TWA Air Cargo Poster

Another random find, this is the kind of thing I would be happy to find at a garage sale or flea market. Great colors. Great Typography. Nice.
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