For me, the enjoyment is the design itself, not the designer label, if the quality seems good on the knock-off. Since there are no moving parts to wear out or be created from lesser quality materials, I'm not sure what would compel me to pay the higher price. Status? Sure. Investment? Yes, but only if I don't plan on keeping it. But I am one who would never buy a designer bag made out of recognizable ugly print fabric just because it's seen as a status symbol (nor would I buy a knock off). That seems to be important to lots of folks, so it will depend on your values around those sorts of things. I drive a high quality car, not for the status but .because I do appreciate the better quality. Coffee table, probably not.

What Oly says. But do try to check out the material of the knockoff. The wood quality is pretty important for this piece.

I think this is a tough question. I take pleasure in my things that are high quality or a work of art. Example: when we remodeled our master bath in 2010, we were looking for mirrors. At Ferguson, we found a mirror by Kallista designed by Michael S. Smith. I couldn't get it out of my head; we found similar ones from Pottery Barn for $169. and some others that were around 250., and the Kallista mirror was $2,000! And we needed two of them! Well, we went back and forth, and decided to get two of the Kallista mirrors; they were just so much more beautiful, so well-crafted. We said that if we sell the house, we'll replace the mirrors and take them with us.

The bottom line: I love my mirrors and don't regret buying them at all. I admire them every day. Yes, they were expensive, they are in my master bath so few people have even seen them, but they are a prized possession that makes me happy. (I just googled them, and they are now over $3,000. each, so there is that!).

So, if you would take pleasure knowing your table is a real Noguchi, it might be worth it to you. I am sure there are some differences in quality that only you would notice, so if that kind of thing doesn't make you happy, then the knock-off would be fine.

Thanks. Unfortunately I don’t think there is a way to check out a knock off. There are lots online especially on Ebay. But I have no idea how to find one to see/touch in person.

@decorpatti yes I share your sentiments! Though would still love to hear of anyone’s real world knowledge of the copies. I can’t imagine they have anywhere near the quality of the real one’s glass and wood -which are stunning!

@palimpsest yes I 100% get that. I even know (deep down) that I probably won’t end up buying a knock off of this. I however (thanks to the rabbit hole that is today’s internet), looked at the knock offs online anyway!

Pal expressed it well. If I could afford the genuine article, I wouldn't be content with a knockoff. I realize that's not really what the OP is asking, and yet maybe a nudge closer to considering the real Noguchi is appreciated.

I've worn a diamond bezel Rolex for decades, although I might not be able to easily tell the difference between it and the many fakes, knockoffs, and similarly styled watches, particularly since my eyesight isn't what it once was. That said, just knowing that I own the genuine brand does make a difference to me, because I have a familial history with the brand and still equate it with quality craftsmanship. Every day when I place the watch on my wrist, I feel a small bit of pleasure. And to me, that matters.

Buy the Noguchi.

I have a knock-off down in the man cave. Is fine, has held up well for a long time. I've never seen a real Noguchi let alone owned one, so I can't compare.

i've been using replicas for a long time now and I can say that if you treat them with care, they're just as effective as the "real deal". ordered an lc3 chair replica from mh designs and it's been wonderful. i think thy even have noguchis too

Depends on what you like about the table, of it's the concept of handmade quality and the patina of real wood I would shop Etsy to see if there is something similar

IMO they are all knock offs the original is in a museum. I think if the glass is the same thickness and the finish on the wood looks good go for it. On the other hand do not do a knockoff Corbusier lounger they do not sit the same as the "original". Neiter does the Corbusier ding table stand up like the "original" I have both a knock off and a DWR dining table the knock off is rusted ( we use these on our deck for outdoor dining) The orignal has been outside for almost 20 yrs and the base still looks like new.

As i mentioned there isnt a way (that I know of) to see a knock off in real life so I’d have to order one and if it was ”that bad” and I didn’t want it I would have to return ship it and I’m not interested in going through that trouble and expense. So I was hoping someone here has seen both just so i could get input on the comparison and learn where theirs was purchased. I don’t really trust online reviews, even bad ones which have been known to (often) be just competitors. Right now I am planning to spring for the real thing (museum original obviously notwithstanding lol).

I would just be very leery. I bought some knockoffs of Fritz Hansen Series 7 dining chairs. From a reputable company (Room and Board). And quality wise, they were fine. But they were never comfortable, and we eventually gave up and bought different chairs. I was in a vintage store last week that had real Series 7 chairs. So different. Flexible wood and slightly different proportions that made a huge difference in comfort. And the look was a bit lighter and more attractive.

A coffee table isn't going to have the same tactile feedback of a chair, or suffer the same wear. But the price difference between real and knockoff is often more than marketing--it's material quality, finish quality, and details like the exact proportions that really make the look. If your goal is "general MCM feeling" then go with the budget pick. But if you are in love with a particular item, I would get the real thing or go without.

Use Google Lens to see what your options are for this table.

K experience is that sometimes the knockoffs just aren’t quite the same Perhaps the proportions aren’t quite the same i would only buy it if it was objectively as beautiful

Of course there is also something to be said for being able to have relatively inexpensive good design even if one can’t afford the original. My parents had a knock off Eames chair. it was comfortable and durable. They gave it to me to help furnish my first adult apartment where it was fabulous as I could literally fall asleep curled up in it and certainly looked more elegant than a Lazyboy or honking old arm chair.

The Herman Miller Noguchi coffee table is authentic. If you buy it you are investing in a beautiful piece of furniture which will hold its value. Not unlike buying the genuine Rolex (which btw can be identified because the second hand sweeps), or genuine Persian rug. Good news is it is cheaper than a Rolex or a room sized Persian.

Here is what you want to know:

Authenticity
Isamu Noguchi’s signature appears on the edge of the glass top. An oval medallion with his signature and the Herman Miller logo is attached to the underside of the base. The configuration of the Noguchi Table is a registered trademark of The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum. Herman Miller was the original manufacturer.

You want one, you see it as an investment, you have the $2195.00, then do it. A knock off won't do it for you now. Of the four stains available, 3 are priced at 2195.00. The walnut is $300.00 more.

@BeverlyFLADeziner Interesting that every one of the knock-off thumbnails that show reviews have 5-stars. lol

@Helen My parents had a real Eames chair, and 20 years later my mom auctioned it off when she sold the house - and got a good deal. I've since seen several of the knock offs and to me (because I grew up with the real thing) the difference was extreme! (and obvious). If I hadn't grown up with one...I probably would not have had that reaction to the knock offs!

@judianna yeah. I've already resigned myself to getting the real one. And I did know about the authenticity stamps on it.

It's funny, in posting this thread I've only become more wary of how I'll feel with the knock off, despite some encouragement about it. In the end I have to acknowledge that I do have a high appreciation for good design, as many of you do, so... I'm going to fork it over and I know I will smile at it every day.

Congratulations on your decision. Knowing what you know, you would never be happy with a "wanna be".

The Noguchi table is a statement piece. If you love it, it would be the place to splurge and find other ways to economize in your overall furniture budget. I don't think you would ever regret paying more for this piece; as others have said, it will retain its value over time. Think of it as you would a verified antique or piece of art. It's a collector's item.

@Elbinay - Obviously not as fine as the authentic ones of course. But considering the price point they were fine for the television room in my parent's home and later in my first adult apartment. The alternatives wouldn't have been nicer or better.

This particular chair was comfortable and of fairly good design. Like I mentioned regarding the Noguchi table, often the details and proportions aren't quite the same so it really depends on what level of furniture you can afford. Most people can't afford the authentic - some of the knock offs are better designs than alternatives for more money.

If you wouldn’t be satisfied with a knock off, you won’t regret your decision.

Whoa! This just appeared in my Facebook marketplace feed. It shows its in Tampa, I know nothing about the seller.

Thought you might like to see the Herman Miller store in Boston (my neck of the woods).

https://store.hermanmiller.com/boston-store.html?lang=en_US

Maybe 15% discount AND free shipping will tip the scales…

Yep saw that! :)

I owned a replica for years and it looked great and performed admirably. If I could have afforded the Noguchi, I'd have bought it, but couldn't. I never felt any shame about having it in my home, for me it was the design that mattered. I'm sorry I don't remember where I purchased my knockoff, and agree that the wood is important, but there are good ones out there. That being said, if you can afford the real thing, go for it.

i do agree if the money is there do the real one. I love my Corbu lounger every day and IMO was worth evey penny it is 20yrs old the hair is wearing off the pony hide but has a nice " patina" nice soft leather under that hair.

I have a knockoff that i paid $50 for last week just to see if I’d like it in our space. If we keep it I’ll change the colour of the base.

I would happily buy an ”original” i.e. licensed version manufactured by HM but at $3,200 in Canada it is highway robbery and over priced. At best it should be around $1,500 manufactured in North America. I can afford to buy one at any price but the reason I’m in that position is because I try to not throw money away.

Buy a used replica. HM pricing is obscene for this table.

The look for less all the time every time. Value is in the eye of the beholder and how would furnishing that are not staying with the home elevate the price of a building? High end homes often sell emptied of all 'the best' stuff. An over priced item is devalued for me everytime if I pay anyone an inflated price.

Between real and reproduction and knock off and blatant piracy there are tipping points, though.

An Eames Lounge chair costs around $6000. Some years ago there was a literal feeding frenzy on FB because some site had Eames Lounge knock offs for $99.

It turned out to be an error, it was probably meant to be $599 or $999, and the ad was pulled, but a few people managed to purchase one and one guy spend literally days on the phone demanding he get his $99 chair or he was going to going to sue everyone he could think of or whatever.

But there was no thought at all that if the price were real that they would be paying 1.7% of the price of a real one and who would be making a chair so cheap. Even $999 is only about 17% of genuine. But at a $100 a chair for sure it is being made by slave labor somewhere. There seemed to be no ethical concerns about that.

And of course I got treated like I was being a socialist because who cares what happens in some foreign country, and at least they have a job, and didn't I know that 99% of the s--t that I have in my house is made like that, who did I think I was.

The thing is, I may not be able to control that my underwear is made by a 6 year old somewhere, unless I start making it myself. But I don't have to buy a fake designer chair made by slave labor because it's cheap. I have the option to not buy it at all.

That doesn't mean that I think $6000 is a great price and that I don't think some of that is intentional luxury pricing or that every knock off is assembled by some adolescent slave, but I see stuff below a certain price point, I start thinking about where it came from.

This is a moot point now when it comes to Herman Miller anyway because I think they have moved a lot of their production to China. It's not all American production anymore.

Actually, I checked before buying: the HM Noguchi table is made in the US - Michigan or Ohio. Not China.

Sooo why are you buying this table? So you can show off or because you love the look? The only way one is 'worth' so much more than the other is it feeds a need in you. If it were just the look you loved I don't think a knock off would bother you.

Buy the knockoff. Better yet, follow the estate sale websites and you can probably get an authentic one inexpensively. This isn't something that was hand-carved by the artist. It was mass produced by a company that makes office furniture. They are continuing to make this item--it is not some item where only XXX units were made in 1967.

I have the real thing, not the original. Yes it costs more upfront but will retain its value. There is the Nuguchi signature on the glass to indicate it is authentic authorized {Vitra}, and bottom of base and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Mine is Walnut. My parents owned the 1948 original in Cherry.

Difference from my discerning eye, Glass is thicker, Base has sinuous curves that are more delicate.

Really, if you have one made by the company, it is an original, it's still authentic. It's just not vintage. Some collectors are specifically interested in earlier production models but for the most part an authentic Noguchi table, or authentic Risom stools or whatever are still "authentic" if they are made in 2024 or 1984 or 1964. My womb chairs are not a pair, one is from 1955 and one is from the mid 1960s. But their value is roughly equal. Neither has the value of one from 1946, but they still have a retained retail value, and it doesn't make much difference that one is older than the other. And one from 2024 will retain a certain value as well, whereas a knock-off at some fraction of the price of the original from 2024 will just be a piece of used furniture of even less value in 2025, maybe almost no resale value at all.

People may think it's dumb that one piece of mass produced furniture costs a lot more and retains a lot more of it's value and something else mass produced that looks like it does not. But's that's just how it works. I agree with trying to find things on the vintage or resale market.