According to several appraisal houses and auction houses such as Bruun Rasmussen and Lauritz.com , Nordic design classics have experienced price increases of between 200% and 500% over the last 20-30 years.
Nordic furniture design has long been known and loved for its simple aesthetics, functional elegance and timeless quality. But in recent decades, something special has happened: Design classics – especially chairs – have gone from being everyday furniture to sought-after collector's items. Many of them are now as valuable as works of art.
Chairs designed by architects such as Arne Jacobsen , Børge Mogensen and Hans J. Wegner are now being sold at prices that far exceed what they once cost – and the trend only looks set to continue.
♻️ From functional furniture to design investment
According to several appraisal houses and auction houses such as Bruun Rasmussen and Lauritz.com , Nordic design classics have experienced price increases of between 200% and 500% over the last 20-30 years.
An investment in more than furniture
It is easy to see the price increases as a reflection of market forces alone – but it is also about something more. A chair from a well-known Nordic designer is not just a piece of furniture, it is a statement: A choice to prioritize quality, cultural heritage and sustainability over the mass-produced and short-lived.
That's why many people today choose to buy thoughtfully – not just based on need, but with an eye for value and durability. It's a new way of thinking about consumption: A piece of furniture that you can use, love and maybe sell on one day – for more than you paid for it.
🪑 Furniture that has risen over time
Chairs in particular have proven to be cornerstones of the Nordic design tradition. They are both useful, decorative and easy to handle and store – making them ideal as investment objects.
Take Arne Jacobsen's iconic 7'er chair (model 3107) , for example. This stackable shell chair from 1955 was originally mass-produced and used in everything from canteens to meeting rooms. But today, it's a different story.
Examples of price development:
- Arne Jacobsen's Egg
- Price around the year 2000: approx. 30,000 DKK
- Price today (new from Fritz Hansen): up to 84,000 DKK
- The 7-seater chair (model 3107)
- Price in the 1990s: approx. 1,500 DKK.
- Price today: DKK 3,000–12,000 depending on material choice
- Rare vintage editions: up to DKK 15,000–20,000 per chair
- Børge Mogensen's Spanish Chair
- Price in the 90s: 7,000–10,000 DKK.
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Price today (Fredericia Furniture): approx. DKK 34,000.
(Source: Fredericia Furniture, Lauritz.com) - Hans J. Wegner's Y-chair (CH24)
- Originally under 2,000 kr.
- New price today: approx. 6,000 DKK.
🌍 A global market for Nordic minimalism
It's not just Danes and Swedes who have noticed the architect-designed chairs. International interest has exploded. Buyers in the USA, Japan and Germany in particular appreciate the pure expression and timeless craftsmanship that Nordic design represents.
Rising global interest has helped push prices up. What was once easy to find has now become a limited resource – especially when it comes to original productions in good condition.
💬 Why are prices rising?
The price development is due to several factors:
- Limited supply : The original furniture is no longer produced or only in small quantities.
- Materials and craftsmanship : The furniture is built to last for generations – and it shows.
- Sustainability : Recycling and long-lasting products have become a core value in modern consumption.
- The DNA of the design : Timeless design means that the furniture will not “go out of style”.
🔮 Future classics are created today
While the focus is often on the iconic architects of the 20th century, it is worth noting that today's designers are increasingly creating furniture with the same approach to durability, aesthetics and quality. This means that the furniture we invest in today could be tomorrow's collectors' items.
✨ A chair is not just a chair
Nordic designer chairs are no longer just for sitting in – they are part of a cultural heritage that is valued globally. And with the right model, the right condition and a little patience, a designer chair today can be an investment that increases significantly in value over time.
So the next time you sit in a 7-seater or a Y-seater, remember: You may be sitting in more than just a piece of furniture. You are sitting in a modern classic – and maybe even a future fortune.
🔗 Sources: