Why did antique furniture and reproductions become popular after World War II?

After World War II, the popularity of antique furniture and reproductions grew significantly because many people found it difficult to live with the austerity of the modern functionalist movement.1

While the International Style emphasized rectilinear forms, glass, steel, and a lack of ornament, many felt these environments were cold, monotonous, and lacking in human warmth. As a result, there was an immense growth in the trade of old furnishings of all kinds, accompanied by a parallel increase in the manufacture of reproductions. This trend allowed individuals to incorporate traditional elements into their homes, effectively countering the perceived dehumanizing effects of the machine-age aesthetic. This shift reflected a broader human desire for comfort and personal expression that the strictly utilitarian, "machine for living" approach often failed to satisfy.12