Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Schooled

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man.  It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity.  It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition.  It lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge.  This is the dimension of imagination.  It is an area which we call- the Craigslist Zone.

Submitted for your approval, this ad appeared on the St. Louis Craigslist this morning.

SAARINEN BEDROOM SET - $7999 (ST. LOUIS METRO)

SAARINEM BEDROOM SET BY R-WAY IT IS FOR THE LOWBOY, HIGHBOY AND 2 NIGHT STANDS I HAVE THE ORIGINAL GLASS TOPS FOR THE NIGHT STANDS. IT IS EARLY 40;S DESIGN.
THIS SET WAS DESIGNED BY FURNITURE SRTIST ERNO SAARINEN WHO IS THE FATHER OF THE DESIGNER OF THE GATEWAY ARCH. THE FURNITURE IS MID CENTRY MODERN AND EAMES WORMEY KNOLL WOOD IN THE CENTER THE MIRRORS ARE NOT ORGINAL AND THE ORIGINAL MIRROR IS A LARGE OVAL MIRROR. THE LOWBOY IS LISTED ALONE ON THE INTERNET FOR $5500 AND WE WILL CONSIDER ALL OFFERS SEE PICTURES IT WAS REFINISHED ABOUT 10 YRS AGO SO IT IS IN ALMOST MINT CONDITION THERE IS A FLAW IN THE LOWBOY SEE PICTURES. THIS IS THE PERFECT SET FOR THE NEW CONDOS THAT THEY ARE DOING IN DOWNTOWN ST.LOUIS OR ANYWHERE.
PLEASE NO SEND ME ADDRESS AND I WILL MAIL A CHECK.
THANKS -




Given the numerous spelling/grammar errors and dubious references, any normal man would quickly write this listing off as either erroneous or a complete fraud.

But nothing is as it seems in the Craigslist Zone!

While I do feel that the pricing is out-of-whack, further research turned up evidence that this bedroom set was, in fact, designed by Eero Saarinen's father, Eliel Saarinen (not "ERNO" as the writer would have you believe).


source: vandm.com

Edit: Looks like there is more evidence over at Mr. Modtomic's place as well.

Who'd have thunk it.  Well, looks like I need to keep brushing up on my stuff. 

8 comments:

  1. Great set...and yet another Craigslist seller who thinks she can get 1dibs prices for something out of her home. ::shaking head:: I imagine she's about to get a reality check.

    My favorite spelling error was "Wormey." LOL

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  2. The same dresser and chest of drawers sold at that Ivey Selkirk Modernism auction I attended last year for a combined $775. The other neato thing is the pair of Broyhill Brasilia mirrors that are apparently being thrown in for good measure!

    Dana - unfortunately, I don't think these sellers ever really "get it". If you try to explain reality to them they think YOU are nuts or that you are just trying to scam THEM. Love the all caps though...that's pure class.

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    1. Sorry about the all caps but the Boryhill Premier Mirrors were my Mothers idea she was in her early 80's at the time and did not realize what she had at the time. This was the first bedroom set that they owned when they got married in 1945 and I was only going on prices that I had seen on the internet at the time I have since lowered the price to help pay for medical bills and other expenses. I have tried to explaine reality to my sister but reality but getting no where.

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  3. 8k, ummm, no. i wish i could be a mouse in the corner to see their reaction when the first person emails them and says, i will give you $800 for it, they will be so miffed!
    not in the same furniture class, but still laughable: i saw a craigslist ad here in Omaha the other day for an older solid oak table and chair set that they were asking $600 for. people who are scouring c-list for a dining room table just aren't going to pay those prices.

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  4. Though the price is out-of-this-world crazy, the part that actually surprised me most was that the seller's details about the set were (somewhat) correct. From the way that it was written, I just assumed that they had no idea. Just goes to show you that you've gotta do some research and can't make snap judgements like that.

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  5. Are we sure that the extra "9" was not put in by mistake :)....lol...my optimistic guess...among all the spelling and grammar issues, the seller must have meant - 550 when she/he said 5500 :)..(seriously!!).. people like get scared of such ads!!

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    1. I was going buy prices that I had seen on the internet in Florida just realized we weren't in Florida LOL the set has been lowered buy almost 70% to $1200 and the mirrors were my 80 yr old Mothers idea I told her they were wrong but she was strong willed and wanted them - - she has since passed and my sister told me to take them off - - haven't had the time since I am getting no help getting ready for the estate sale and selling the house was given 15 days to do everything.

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  6. We found a set of R-Way dressers at an estate sale here in saint louis a few months ago, they sold us both of them for 90 dollars TOTAL. They're gorgeous. I couldn't believe it. It was my actual first legitimate MCM amazing deal purchase. It's this set ( not my photos ) http://newportmodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/rwayset.jpg

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