A modernist proposal

In the minds of midcentury modern enthusiasts around the world, the Midwest is a magical place where every little old lady has a house full of Herman Miller furniture she bought in the '50s, and drawers full of sketches Mies van der Rohe left behind when he'd come over for pork chops, and could you do her a favor and get rid of all this old stuff? While this scenario may be a stretch, Chicago's rich architectural and design history does make it a hot spot when it comes to shopping for modern.

However, the increased interest in modern design over the past few years has been a mixed blessing. On one hand, a conscious effort to move away from "bad design" and toward "good design" is, well, good. On the other hand, haven't we seen enough egg, ball and tulip chairs in commercials, movies and magazines to last a lifetime? It's time to dig a little deeper.

Wheelers and dealers

"Fifteen years ago I would've bought a magazine just because it had a picture of a swan chair in it," Lawrence Converso says as he unlocks the gate to his 15,000-square-foot warehouse in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Tucked away on an unassuming residential street, this former repair station for Chicago's now-defunct streetcars is a virtual treasure chest of modern design.

Converso is one of those guys you see who's perpetually on his cell phone. While sometimes it's hard to imagine that such people could possibly be talking about anything of importance while they hold up the morning coffee line, conversation is vital to his trade. As a private dealer, he doesn't operate a retail store, but instead relies on selling to a short list of collectors and interior designers. He's constantly on the road, chasing after the next big score. His collection is diverse in style and price, ranging from Paul McCobb credenzas ($500–$700) to a Harry Bertoia sculpture with a price that's in the six figures.

Across town in the West Loop, some of the most important pieces of design ever to grace this earth are passing through the doors of Wright, a boutique auction house specializing in modern art and design. Founded in 2000, the auction house has gained an international reputation as a tastemaker, known for its ability to shed light on previously underappreciated designers. In the past five years, twentieth-century design specialist Michael Jefferson has witnessed significant changes.

"There's been a kind of natural progression away from that 'midcentury modernism' and toward a late 1960s, 1970s kind of look," he says. "People are far less strict in terms of what they seem to be collecting. They're looking for more of a fusion. I think that you can have some pretty inexpensive furniture, augment it with a few better pieces and it starts to look great."

Wright's auctions are known not only for their exceptional style and quality, but also for jaw-dropping prices (a secretaire by Piero Fornasetti and Gio Ponti sold at Wright's March 20 sale for $168,000). That said, there are deals to be had for the diligent. Most of Wright's clientele bid from the other side of the country, if not the world, so people sitting in the gallery have an advantage. Auctions tend to have peaks and valleys, and when excitement surrounds a particular group of objects, some attention is taken away from others.

"If you sit there and see what's happening, you can find some real deals," Jefferson says. Indeed. Whoever bought a Dieter Rams settee and chair for $700 got a steal, and a pair of Alvar Aalto side chairs recently went for $400. "We post the auction results on our website an hour after the sale," Jefferson continues. "In the days after, people are studying the results to see what didn't sell, and saying 'Hey, I want to buy that. What is the consignor willing to take?'"

Self-serve modernism

While some shop owners may be willing to tell you the life story of the chair you just sat in (which they quietly wish you'd get out of), others take a no-nonsense approach. Although inquiring about items at Lincoln Park's Urban Artifacts may yield a one-word response, owners Jim Mulroyan and Rick Farley let their prices do the talking. An Eames fiberglass armshell chair on an Eiffel Tower base runs $550 (yes, you could get a plastic reproduction at Design Within Reach for $299, but if you tire of an original, you can likely resell it for, say...$550). Urban Artifacts is a tiny shop that is constantly rotating a mix of both known and unknown designers. Other dealers make it a point to visit often, which should tell you that you'd be wise to do the same.

A couple of miles north sits Broadway Antiques Market, the place where "pickers" from the region bring their estate sale treasures to market. BAM's strength is in small decorative objects and housewares, but there's plenty of furniture to be had as well. Dealers are constantly rotating stock, so BAM can seem completely different week to week. If you like American iconic, scoop up a round Herman Miller table with four Eames wire chairs (with original bikini pads) for $850. If you're looking for something a touch more avant-garde, there's a great postmodern cardboard cabinet ($425) by Brian Chadwell. Like any other one-of-a-kind piece, it's unlikely to show up in everybody else's living room.

The mod squad

Broadway Antiques Market, 6130 N Broadway between Hollywood and Devon Aves (773-743-5444)

Converso Modern, 4800 S Honore St at 48th St (773-285-1944). By appointment only.

Design Within Reach, 1574 N Kingsbury St at North Ave (312-482-8661)

Urban Artifacts, 2928 N Lincoln Ave between Diversey Pkwy and Wellington Ave (773-404-1008)

Wright, 1140 W Fulton Mkt at May St (312-563-0020)