Learn the hallmarks of authentic mid-century modern Mcintosh furniture by examining branding, design, materials, and construction techniques.
McIntosh furniture has been slowly growing in popularity over the last decade and is now one of the most sought-after items for adding a touch of class to contemporary homes.
And you can see why – it was built to last by the renowned McIntosh brand which placed an emphasis on quality craftsmanship and was designed with both aesthetics and functionality in mind.
However, because of the popularity of mid-century furniture contemporary manufacturers are making new items in this design, making it harder to identify authentic mcintosh pieces.
so how can you tell if a piece of furniture is genuine McIntosh?
There are a few things you can do to identify McIntosh furniture which includes, looking for the McIntosh brand name, considering its functionality, and looking for design features such as minimal clean geometric lines. other ways to identify include finding out the type of wood it was made from and the construction techniques used.
I will go into more detail below on how to examine these elements to determine if a piece is in fact authentic mcintosh furniture and not a modern replica.
Contents:
- What Years Are Considered Mcintosh Furniture?
- Look for the Mcintosh Brand Name
- Consider the Functionality
- Examine the Design
- Identify the Wood Type
- Check the Construction
– Key Takeaways
1. What Years Are Considered Mcintosh Furniture?
The Mcintosh furniture brand was founded in Scotland in 1923 by Charles Mcintosh. The company gained popularity after World War 2 when it embraced the mid-century modern aesthetic.
Mcintosh furniture produced in the mid-century modern style spans approximately from 1945-1970. Some of their most notable and collectible designs come from the 1950s and 1960s.
More specifically, the years between 1957-1969 are considered the peak period for Mcintosh’s mid-century pieces. Their Danish-inspired designs from this era are most coveted today.
So if you find a piece of furniture with the Mcintosh name that dates anywhere between the late 1940s to late 1960s, it is likely an authentic mid-century modern piece. Focus on the late 50s to 60s for the most iconic designs.
2. Look for the Mcintosh Brand Name
An obvious way to identify if a piece of furniture is actually made by Mcintosh is to check if it has the company’s brand name on it.
Original Mcintosh furniture will often have a stamp, sticker or plaque with the name “Mcintosh” or “C.R. Mcintosh & Co Ltd”. This is usually located discreetly on the back or underside of the furniture.
On smaller items, you may find the Mcintosh name stamped into the wood itself. It could also be etched on a metal label.
If you see the Mcintosh name, it’s a clear verification that the item is authentic. However, be aware that some furniture may have lost its original branding over the years. So don’t rule it out if there’s no name present.
Also look for indications of the place of manufacture, which for Mcintosh is Scotland. This can help date the piece if the location includes a town like Kirkcaldy where the Mcintosh factory was based.
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3. Consider the Functionality
When examining a piece of furniture, consider what purpose it was designed for.
Mcintosh embraced mid-century ideals of furniture that was multifunctional. For example, many of their cabinets incorporated both storage space and display areas.
Some specific items to look for that were functional yet fashionable in the mid-20th century include:
– Sideboards – for storage, display, and serving
– Drinks Trolleys – for transporting and preparing drinks
– Record Cabinets – to store and display vinyl record collections
– Writing Bureaus – compact desks and drawers
While these may not be common furniture types today, they were highly functional and modern at the time Mcintosh was manufacturing its mid-century furniture. The presence of these purpose-built and specialized pieces of furniture can help identify if a piece is authentic mid-century Mcintosh.
4. Examine the Design
Mcintosh followed the mid-century modern design principles of clean lines, minimal ornamentation and geometric shapes.
Look for these specific design elements:
Shape and Silhouette
Mcintosh furniture exhibits simple and rectilinear shapes – square, rectangular, or boxy forms rather than ornate curving carvings. The overall silhouette and profile will have a low, horizontal emphasis.
Wood Grain
The different wood surfaces will showcase the natural grain patterns. The wood itself takes center stage rather than being obscured by heavy lacquering or other treatments.
Lack of Ornamentation
There is an absence of decorative carvings, inlays, or other adornments. Surface embellishments are stripped away to reveal the elegance of the wood and structural form.
Legs and Base
Legs are often slim tapered rods, sometimes splayed outward for stability. Or pieces rest directly on the floor supported by a simple plinth base.
Use of Bent Plywood
Plywood molded into curved shapes adds subtle flair in cabinets, drawer fronts, chair backs and table edges.
Color Contrasts
Contrasts between wood tones, accents and upholstery add visual interest. Colors are muted earth tones, creams, black and white.
The overall look aims to be sleek, elegant and timeless. While these design qualities are common for mid-century modern, Mcintosh had its own stylish interpretation that was less austere than some brands.
Related articles:
- 15 Best Mid-Century Sideboards (1960s-1970s)
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5. Identify the Wood Type
Mcintosh used quality hardwoods for most of its mid-century furniture. Teak was a prominent choice along with other pale woods like ash, oak, and beech.
Examine the grain patterns and coloring to identify if a piece has solid wood or is made with veneer. Solid woods will show distinctive grain patterns compared to the repetitive grain of veneers.
Also, inspect edges and joints. Solid wood is less likely to have imperfect edges or gaps in joinery.
The highly figured grain patterns and smooth sanded edges point to the use of solid woods. This demonstrates the conscientious workmanship Mcintosh applied in constructing its furniture.
6. Check the Construction
Authentic Mcintosh mid-century furniture displays excellent craftsmanship in its construction.
Moving Parts
Examine how drawers, doors and other moving parts operate – they should function smoothly. Drawers should glide effortlessly. Doors should open and close without catching.
Joinery Methods
Mcintosh used high-quality joinery methods such as dovetail joints for durability. Check inside drawers and underneath for neatly interlocking joinery rather than crude nailing.
Hardware
Hinges, handles and fittings will be robust and cleanly fitted rather than crudely attached. Mcintosh favored simple brushed metal hardware typical of mid-century style.
This attention to construction details reflects the premium quality of original Mcintosh furniture. Marks of a meticulous build help distinguish it from lower-quality reproductions.
Key Takeaways
With its focus on blending quality craftsmanship and stylish design, McIntosh created some of the most notable mid-century furniture from the late 1940s to the 1960s.
While identifying mcintosh furniture has become harder due to reproductions, there are ways to determine authentic pieces through branding, design, materials, and construction. Keep an eye out for the McIntosh name, look for mid-century elements like slim tapered legs, check for solid woods and examine the finishing for clues that a furniture item is a genuine vintage McIntosh.
With some careful sleuthing using these tips, you’ll be able to spot the well-built and stylish originals from this iconic Scottish furniture brand.
