IKEA’s ‘TÄRNABY’ chair from 1984
(Picture: Casa Billy)A rare ‘TAJT’ chair listed for more than 35 times its original 1973 price tag is one of the stars of a first-of-its-kind IKEA archive sale this weekend.
Retro pieces from the Swedish furniture chain, which arrived in the UK in 1987, have shot up in value in recent years – and the €22.50 chair is now worth around £800.
London-based collector Harry Stayt started snapping up vintage designs five years ago, before launching online marketplace BILLY.forsale in 2020.
“People still see them as throwaway items,” says the artist, who explains that older IKEA furniture and accessories tend to be made of better quality materials like solid wood and fibreglass, which has proved key to their survival.
“These discountinued designs might not command the same respect as works by people like Alvar Aalto, but they deserve to be seen in person”.
He sources most of his pieces in Europe, as many were never available in the UK, and via his community of more than 8,000 Instagram followers. Over 100 of his acquisitions will be up for sale from Saturday, with many dating back fifty years.
Keen to stay true to IKEA’s ethos of affordability, Stayt has set the average price for a piece around £200, with smaller items like candlesticks, vases and tablewares starting at £15.
Among the most expensive collectibles on offer at ‘CASA BILLY’ are a set of four ‘ANIMA’ steel and leather dining chairs, designed by Törd Bjorklund in 1991, which are likely to be priced at £1000.
“It’s a shame that everything exists online these days,” says Stayt, who has collaborated with photographer Dexter Lander on an exhibition of photographs to be shown at the sale.
“I wanted to present the collection as an installation – this project is far more than just an online shop”.
His advice to those who suspect they might have an IKEA collectible on their hands? “Get in touch!”
