The appeal of mid century design in contemporary interiors broadens with the rising popularity of design from the 1970s.

What is typical 1970s design?

When calling to mind imagery of modern 1970s interiors, it is hard not to envisage geometric patterns and bold earthy colour palettes, predominantly oranges, browns and beiges. However, the bigger picture reveals that 1970s design was far more complex and multifaceted. It was a period that consolidated design modes of previous decades as well as being one of eclecticism and bold contrasts. For example, there was continued experimentation with plastic in furniture design, a hangover from the plastic revolution of the 1960s. In contrast to smooth plastic, texture played a major role, with the emergence of shag pile carpets, heavily textured fabrics and plush velvet. These fabrics were used to upholster low slung curvaceous soft furnishings, with an emphasis on luxury and lounging. By contrast, many new furniture designs in wood moved from the curvilinear of the post war years back to angular. It was also a period where Brutalist ideas were further explored, often using industrial finishes to create monolithic forms in architecture, art, studio glass and ceramics etc.

What you should look for when buying 1970s Design

There is merit in collecting across the spectrum, from kitsch items that scream 1970s, to Brutalist works, to understated high end design pieces. There has been a sharp rise in demand across the board, but particularly at the upper end. Sofa suites, especially those by designers such as Mario Bellini, Vico Magistretti, Gerard Van den Berg and Michael Ducaroy have become increasingly sought after. In addition, 1970s furniture in natural wood finishes, including works by Afra and Tobia Scarpa and Murano glass and lighting by companies such as Mazzega, have seen increased demand.

Lot 221: Sam Herman (1936-2020), Asymmetric shouldered vase, 1970 

Sam Herman (1936-2020) was an American British artist who is regarded as one of the pioneering figures of the studio glass movement in Britain in the late 60s and throughout the 70s. Herman studied at the University of Wisconsin under Harvey Littleton. Co-creator of the small tank furnace, Littleton experimented with glass that melted at lower temperatures and created new tools allowing for greater expression between maker and material. It was under these conditions and Littleton’s tutorship that Herman’s groundbreaking techniques for sculpting glass flourished. After graduating, Herman accepted a scholarship at the Edinburgh College of Art, before proceeding to tour an exhibition of his works along with fellow Wisconsin alumni, introducing his revolutionary new techniques to universities across the UK.

Lot 244, Gerard Van den Berg (b.1947) for Montis, 'Oslo' two seat sofa, circa 1975 

Dutch Furniture Designer Gerard Van Den Berg received an early introduction to cabinet making, apprenticing at his father’s furniture company. It was during this period that he managed to hone his technical skills and develop a love of natural materials. By 1974, together with his brother Ton, he founded the now renowned Dutch furniture company Montis. With the freedom to create, he explored the relationship between materials and form, unusually often letting the former dictate the latter. Typical of the period, many of his designs contrast malleable, supple leather seats against angular wooden frames and supports.

Lot 313, Brutalist wall sculpture, circa 1970 

Brutalism was a design movement that began in the 1950s and was born out of a desire among architects to combat social issues in housing. It espoused the use of raw materials with an emphasis on texture and bold block like construction. The 1970s was Brutalism’s swansong, but some of its finest examples were realised in this decade, such as Erno Goldfinger’s Trellick and Balfron towers and the Opera Sydney house by Jørn Utzon. The above lot, with its combination of metals in different finishes and textures, illustrates the way in which the movement’s stylistic attributes permeated the arts.