"Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but when it comes to design, it can also be the most insulting form of commerce.

Take the classic Ball Clock created by George Nelson, a master of midcentury industrial design. A simple configuration of metal rods and painted wood, the 1948 timepiece, then priced less than $25, was an icon of peacetime that transformed the structure of an atom into a whimsical decoration. On Sunday, Los Angeles Modern Auctions sold a vintage Ball Clock for $1,300. As the hammer fell on the final bid, Ben Storck of Modern One asked: "Don't people ever tire of that clock?

Apparently not. The Ball Clock is one of the most recognizable — and most copied — products of the fabulous '50s."

Link: LA Times
Reference: Ikea and DWR