Our Growing Obsession with Mid-Century Catalogues
Our Growing Obsession with Mid-Century Catalogues
We’re absolutely thrilled to be diving deeper into the world of mid-century modern furniture catalogues, and we can’t wait to share everything we discover with you.
At Melbourne Furniture Vault, research and education are becoming a big part of what we do. We’re committed to sourcing original catalogues ourselves, hunting down rare finds, and also sharing high-quality scans and references we find across the web. Our goal is simple: make accurate identification easier for everyone who loves Australian mid-century design.
We’ve already started adding more catalogues to our website, and we have plenty more in the works. These documents are pure gold — they show the exact designs, measurements, fabric options, and details that help separate the genuine pieces from the look-alikes.
Come Follow Along on Instagram
If you want to see our latest catalogue finds as they happen, head over to our Instagram. We’ve been posting fun reels showing recent discoveries, page flips, and the beautiful details hidden inside these old booklets. It’s the best way to stay updated on what we uncover week to week.
We’re Always Looking for More Catalogues
Do you have old furniture catalogues hiding in a drawer, cupboard, or garage? We’re actively looking to purchase original mid-century catalogues — especially Australian ones from the 1950s through to the 1970s.
We’re also more than happy to accept donations if you’d like to see your catalogues preserved and shared with the wider community. Every single one helps us build a better resource for collectors, restorers, and lovers of Australian MCM design.
While our main focus is Australian mid-century modern (Parker, T.H. Brown, Fler, Tessa, Standis, Kalmar, Noblett , and other great local makers), we’re also interested in quality international designers from the same era. The more we learn, the more we can share.
If you have catalogues you’re happy to sell or donate, please get in touch — we’d love to hear from you. Your contribution could help many others correctly identify and appreciate these iconic pieces.
We’re genuinely excited about this project and can’t wait to keep growing our library of resources for the community.
Have any catalogues at home? Drop us a message or comment below. We’d love to see what you’ve got!