Description

The 2 armchairs SOLD for $370 THE PAIR (NO seat pads) in the first 24 hours they were listed on this website in 2019. Keep following our NEWLY LISTED Category so you don’t miss anything. In 2020, just 6 months later, I’d price the exact same pair at $440 if I was to find others.

The listing price was ONE armchair only (with NO seat-pad). BOTH SOLD IN 2019!

The matching 2-seater sofa (which is very RARE) has also SOLD. There’s more being listed on invisedge.com.au from this styling job soon. This apartment has just sold so most of the furniture in the space will be for sale over the next couple of weeks- keep visiting www.invisedge.com.au- NEWLY LISTED Category so you don’t miss it.

Provenance and Background Information

(Written in 2019)

This stunning pair of outdoor chairs is made in the same style of the famous Russell Woodard designs created in America in the 1960’s. This VINTAGE Australian production is of the same era (1960’s) and also made from spun fibreglass which is thick and solid. This furniture is very strong and sturdy- I’ve never come across any with a structural problem- that’s extraordinary for something that has gone out in full weather for about 60 years. I’ve had this suite out in full weather the last 3 years- full sun, rain and salt-spray coming off the ocean- and it has not been cleaned in all this time. It came off the rooftop and was set straight up for the closer-up photos used in this listing. It hasn’t even been hosed down! I’d say this furniture has spent most of the last 50 to 60 years out in full-weather as well- I can’t see why it won’t last forever. I’ve been a huge fan of this vintage spun fibreglass furniture for 18 years but this is the first of it I’ve ever had to sell.

When I was set with the task of styling this beachside apartment, spun fibreglass furniture for the outdoor areas was the obvious choice. In my opinion it’s the best outdoor furniture EVER made; it sits at the pinnacle, alongside Flexalum furniture. It’s super-DURABLE, it doesn’t collect water so will not discolour after rain, it’s resistant to the sun, salt-spray and also the wind to a large extent- there’s a lot of negative space between the fibreglass strands so the wind tends to pass straight through (the wide bases add to the stability). I had a pair of spun fibreglass chairs without the arms on the balcony of this apartment near the ocean (see the photos)- they blew over only twice in about 3 years- the plants blew over more than that! These armchairs were placed in an alcove on the rooftop terrace (they’re under the shade-cover in the aerial photo taken to sell this apartment). That shade-cover was installed only a month before the sale of the property- the armchairs never blew over in this alcove- for something so lightweight spun fibreglass furniture does very well in the wind.

Apart from the incredible looks, the biggest tick for these is comfort. As far as outdoor chairs go these are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever sat in- the angles are spot-on, the strands are close together so you’re well supported and if you put a high-density seat-pad on the seat they’re very comfortable (the seat pads are NOT included in the price). When I was at this apartment, I often used one of these chairs as my office chair because it was more comfortable than the Warren McArthur dining chairs I had in the apartment.

The other advantage with these is that they’re easy to move- they’re lightweight AND they will never get dented, scratched or broken.

This furniture is in the original ivory colour. This is the colour of the actual fibreglass. Some people re-spray this furniture (sometimes in black and often in white). I think black doesn’t suit the design. And I don’t understand why people spray it in white either- vivid white is too brash for the design. The ivory colour (which is basically a more muted white) is perfect in my eyes. The beauty of the design is that it’s transparent- it’s not bold and it won’t block off your space (it just adds a stunning touch to your area). Spraying it white means the design stands out more (it doesn’t need to)- the ivory allows it to blend into your space better. You’ll see that the chairs on the balcony are not the same colour as any of the other furniture in this space but it works- ivory is neutral, white is not (it’s modern and clinical). Plus if you re-spray this furniture there’s upkeep- the white paint will eventually peel off.

These chairs are in fully original condition. If outdoor furniture can look like this after 60 years, the quality you’re buying is irrefutable. The matching table (PRICED SEPARATELY) came out of the same home and has an old “We make it great in the Sunshine State” logo. It reminds me of my childhood. I’m a 1970’s Brisbane kid and this logo was used extensively on items made in Queensland in the 1960’s. The best thing about investing in vintage spun fibreglass furniture is the inspiration it evokes- it ticks every box and provides a benchmark for modern companies to work towards. This suite was built to last and will continue telling stories long after you and I are gone. There’s no better way to invest in your home and reduce landfill.

… And I almost forgot these chairs also have very solid investment appeal. Vintage spun fibreglass furniture sells for way over double (and triple) this price in America. (See the screenshot provided.) It can only increase in value here in Australia.

Ref- 1910