Description

SOLD in 2008 for $1,500 for all 4 Snelling dining chairs. (This set was produced by Functional Products of Sydney) in the early-1950’s. Tables are always priced SEPARATELY). Today in 2024, I’d price this exact same set of 4 chairs at about $2,400.

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This set is pretty much irreplaceable- I haven’t sold a matching SET of Snelling webbed chairs in FULLY ORIGINAL CONDITION since this set back in 2008.) Sets in FULLY ORIGINAL condition are VERY hard to get and make a very strong investment. The likes of Matt Blatt (who have played an important role in killing the AUSTRALIAN design and furniture-construction industry) have done replicas in this design made in China. Matt Blatt took these chairs overseas and got machines to make them as cheaply as possible- it’s only about money- these types of sellers obviously have no regard for the consequences of what they did/are doing. As a result, this design has not gone ahead in value as it otherwise would have. HOWEVER in saying this, these 4 chairs (sold in 2008) were ALL FULLY ORIGINAL with labels- the value has NOT slid backwards AT ANY TIME since we sold them back in 2008.

I need to add a very important note here … as I write this, during the “2019-2022 Pandemic” (which I’d like to re-name “The Great Global Reset”) many people have stopped to contemplate their lives and our future. Vintage furniture has been VERY highly sought-after since the start of “The Great Global Reset”. (Therefore, we’ve been getting regular enquires for original Snelling furniture in recent months.) I now value the chairs shown in these photos at $2,400 today (March 2021) and believe Snelling Furniture will continue to enjoy steady gains in the future. I DO NOT HAVE THE PICTURED CHAIRS ANYMORE- THEY SOLD BACK IN 2008. If you were the buyer of the set in the photos and want to sell them please contact me. I’d LOVE to work with this set again! (You’d make a tidy profit if you now want to find another home for them these days.)

THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH WAS WRITTEN BACK IN 2018 … The Functional Products factory used a different type of webbing on Snelling chairs back in the EARLY-1950’s (compared to what is used to today). This EARLY Snelling vintage webbing is FAR SUPERIOR to what’s on the replicas or vintage chairs that have been re-webbed. (I haven’t seen this plastic-type webbing used in furniture since the EARLY-1950’s. It is my opinion that Functional Products changed the webbing they used in the mid-to-late fifties after supplies of this plastic-type webbing, used in parachute-making, ran out.) Part of the appeal of the old plastic webbing is that it can be cleaned COMPLETELY with just a wet cloth. This is why this set of Snelling DINING chairs look amazing after 60 years of use- just incredible!

BELOW IS THE FULL DESCRIPTION I WROTE FOR THESE CHAIRS WHEN THEY SOLD BACK IN 2008 (it’s not great but acceptable).    

Provenance and Background Info

NOTE – This description was written back in 2008. Some information will be time-sensitive!

The Douglas Snelling webbed chair is a design icon- chairs like this have been a favourite for over 55 years now (written in 2008). Designed after World War II, by Australian designer Douglas Snelling, the webbed chair was conceived to make use of the abundance of parachutes leftover after the war. The Great Depression forced people to become very resourceful- they re-used everything. Snelling chairs are a great reminder of the mindset the Great Depression prompted (this suite has HUGE historical significance). These chairs have a graceful shape and style that certainly grows on you over time. Various design elements of the era are showcased, giving the design a distinct 1950’s look. (I love 1950’s stuff- such cool styling- fun but also stylish. I also prefer lighter timber tones).

This suite is an ideal example of investment furniture- Snelling chairs are starting to enjoy a resurgence and as such should only increase in value in the future. This authentic Snelling set is a VERY RARE investment- many of the VINTAGE ORIGINALS hitting the market these days have broken webbing. Usually the original webbing has been been removed and canvas straps have been applied as a replacement. These chairs by Douglas Snelling IN FULLY ORIGINAL (and incredible) condition are getting virtually impossible to find. These chairs are a true, dinky-di VINTAGE suite and will become more collectable in coming years- soon the only place you’ll come across a suite like this in fully original condition is in a museum. Why buy furniture when you can invest in it?

approx. 1906, ad 1910 and 2102