Mid-Century Modern Furniture Values: Lane, Broyhill Brasilia, Drexel, and More

Mid-century modern furniture from the late 1940s through the 1960s is one of the most reliable sellers at estate sales and in booths. A Lane Acclaim end table brings $200–$500, a Broyhill Brasilia dresser $600–$1,500, and Heywood-Wakefield or Drexel Declaration case pieces can top $1,500. The catch is that plenty of furniture from those years is ordinary, and the maker makes most of the difference. Here is how to identify it and what it sells for.

How to Identify the Maker

Pull out the top drawer and look inside it, on the back, and on the sides. American makers usually stamped, branded, or labeled their pieces there. Also check the back panel and the underside of tables.

• Lane: a stamped serial number inside drawers or underneath. On many Lane pieces, reading the last digits backward gives the date the piece was made.
• Broyhill: a stamp or paper label inside a drawer with the line name, such as Brasilia, Sculptra, or Saga.
• Drexel: a branded or stamped mark inside a drawer; Declaration, Profile, and Parallel are the lines buyers ask for.
• Heywood-Wakefield: a burned-in brand inside a drawer and a light wheat or champagne birch finish.
• Kent Coffey, Bassett, American of Martinsville, Stanley, and Thomasville: stamps or labels inside drawers.
• Danish imports: “Made in Denmark” stamps or foil labels on solid teak or rosewood.
• Herman Miller and Knoll: paper labels or medallions under seats and tops; these are the designer pieces.

No label? Look for the signs of quality that buyers pay for: dovetailed drawers, solid wood or thick veneer, tapered legs set at an angle, recessed drawer pulls carved into the wood, and sculpted details like the arches on Brasilia or the inlays on Lane Acclaim.

What Mid-Century Furniture Sells For

These are typical in-person prices for pieces in good original condition. Online design marketplaces list higher, but buyers there pay for delivery and restoration.

• Lane Acclaim end, step, or coffee table: $200–$500
• Lane Perception or Rhythm tables: $150–$400
• Lane cedar chest, mid-century style: $100–$300
• Broyhill Brasilia dresser or credenza: $600–$1,500
• Broyhill Sculptra or Saga dresser: $400–$900
• Drexel Declaration dresser or desk: $800–$2,000
• Heywood-Wakefield dresser or vanity: $800–$2,000
• Kent Coffey Perspecta or Tableau dresser: $600–$1,500
• Danish teak dining table or credenza: $600–$2,500
• Unlabeled walnut-veneer nightstand pair: $150–$400
• Vintage Herman Miller Eames lounge chair and ottoman: $3,500–$8,000; condition and authenticity are everything

What Lowers the Price

• Paint: a painted mid-century piece usually loses half or more of its value. Many buyers want original wood they can refinish themselves.
• Veneer damage: chipped or lifting veneer on tops and edges is the most common problem. Small chips are fine; large missing patches are a project.
• Water rings and sun fading: common and fixable, but price them in.
• Replaced hardware: original pulls matter, especially on Brasilia, Sculptra, and Kent Coffey.
• Size: long dressers and dining sets need a buyer with space and a truck, so they sell more slowly than end tables and nightstands.

Watch Out for the Label

“Mid-century modern” is used on almost any old furniture in online listings, including 1970s and 1980s pieces with heavy Mediterranean styling or particleboard cases. The label on the piece and the construction tell you more than the description does. Also be careful with reproduction designer chairs: copies of the Eames lounge, Saarinen tulip table, and Wegner wishbone chair are common and sell for a fraction of the originals.

How to Sell It

Clean the piece with a mild wood cleaner, and use a wax or oil for small scratches. Pull a drawer open and photograph the maker's mark, then put that photo first in any online listing. In a booth, style the piece with a lamp, a plant, or a stack of vintage books, and put the maker and line name on the tag: “Broyhill Brasilia, 1962” sells the piece before the buyer reads the price. Offer local delivery for large pieces if you can; it often closes the sale.

Found a piece without a label? Snap a photo with PocketPrice and get a price for your market. For more, see the furniture price guide and how to price antiques.