Description
SOLD in 2023 for MORE than the offers over price!
OFFERS OVER- $1200 PER chair. If you have any understanding of what you’re bidding on you’d know that Cassina cab chairs regularly sell for AU $1,400 – AU $2,200 EACH (PARTICULARLY IN A COLOUR OTHER THAN BLACK and PARICULARLY FOR 8 CHAIRS TOO). A matching set of eight Cassina Cab chairs is very hard to get. I’ve had a couple of interior architects over the years express interest in “any colour other than black”. The thing is, any other colour VERY RARELY comes up. We’ve sold several sets in black over the years (a couple of sets in black sold without a listing for more than $1200 per chair).
The last time we had Cassina Cab chairs in any colour other than black was a set of eight ivory ones back in 2016- it has taken us six years to get another colour. This is a very strong investment that will hold its value at least and should continue to increase in value in line with inflation forever. ALL Cab chairs have done this over the last 40 YEARS– they’re an astute investment for anyone who knows what they’re looking at. Try finding another set of 8 in ivory. (I looked on 1stdibs, there are NONE in Ivory for sale worldwide at this point- late-2022.) This set is about 15 to 20 YEARS OLD and has been extremely well looked-after. They have been nicely worn in but certainly are not worn out. They were purchased from SPACE Furniture BRISBANE and have been with these current owners since new (they’ve now retired). Most of these chairs have the original store labels- the age could probably be verified from the labels on the underside.
PICK-UP or DELIVERY from our private vendor’s home in NEWSTEAD, Brisbane. Delivery to Sydney would be about $330 for all eight chairs. The owners are beginning to downsize. There’s no urgency to get a result but they’d be happy to see them go to a loving new home before the end of Summer- they’re not expecting anything though and happy to just go with the flow.
They MAY entertain the idea of selling a set of 4 or 6 chairs- present offers to us via the phone number on our website Home Page. A phone call is preferred.
Prices for these chairs continue to increase- recently (2022), I saw NEW Cab chairs online priced at AU $2,800 EACH. We have spoken to SPACE Furniture in Brisbane, they’ve seen this listing and value these chairs at about $2000 EACH- this is a very astute INVESTMENT for the buyer.
The 8 chairs on offer have been photographed in front of a sliding-glass door in an outdoor area and inside an apartment (with grey carpet). The others (shown on a white background and outside) are display photos of Cassina cab chairs previously sold through iNVISeDGE.
Call or SMS us on the phone number in our CONTACT section to purchase this suite or to garner further information. If you’re overseas, contact us through INSTAGRAM! International delivery may be possible.
Provenance and Background Info
Most of this description was written in 2020, then updated in 2022. Any values given in these descriptions will be time-sensitive.
A set of 8 Cassina 412 Cab chairs designed by architect, Mario Bellini in 1977. The Italian Cab chair remains one of Cassina’s best-sellers and is part of the collection at the MoMA (museum) in New York. In Australia the Cab chair is stocked by SPACE Furniture and retails new in excess of AU $22,000 for a SET OF 8.
I have to admit it has taken me some time to comprehend the value of the Cassina Cab chair. I remember being in a Sydney auction centre back in 2005 (when I’d still only really experienced life in the outer suburbs of Brisbane) watching in amazement as a well-known dealer kept bidding until a set of 6 of Cab chairs in black went to $6000 (back in 2005). I couldn’t fathom how he could be on-selling them for more. These days I don’t doubt he had a client lined up for them but it was an eye-opener at the time.
I completely understand the appeal these days and confidently know the chairs on offer here offer a very astute investment. I’ve seen sets of second-hand Cassina Cab chairs like this CONSISTENTLY sell for around AU $15,000 – AU $20,000 for a second-hand set of 8 in Ivory. (NOTE- in AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS.) After experiencing the Cab design close-up I now understand why they are so valued. The skeleton of the chair is steel (virtually indestructible)- the covering is hand-stitched SADDLE leather- beautiful QUALITY and extremely resilient. I cleaned the last set of Cab chairs we sold and am happy to admit here that it was a pleasure. I know that sounds ridiculous but it allowed me to become very intimate with the chairs and yes I know that sounds even more ridiculous! I was astounded by how easy Cab chairs polished up. The previous set we sold had a decent number of scuffs, marks, bumps and signs of use but nearly all polished out with no effort. There were some where I was in disbelief when the chairs had come into contact with other things and it was the other item that came off second best. The saddle leather is FULL-GRAIN and the highest quality- super thick but soft. The leather itself would retail for about AU$400 a square metre (most likely more for this quality though). I estimate each chair would need about 2 sqm so that’s AU$800 just for the leather (and NO workmanship … but it’s the workmanship where the real value lies). It becomes plainly obviously why second-hand Cab chairs constantly sell for around AU$1,500 each in Australia- that’s about how much it would cost Cassina to make them. And this is where the recent replicas come unstuck- they use cheap leathers that crack on the backs after several years and end up in landfill (you have to ask yourself what the point of spending $500 each on them is). Others use vinyl / plastic covering but really if you want plastic chairs buy the injected moulded ones. They’ll not only look more eye-catching but MUCH cheaper than replica Cabs. What is the point of all this expert workmanship if you’re wasting it on cheap materials?
Cassina Cab chairs are top of the range and a joy to experience (and even get intimate with! lol). The comfort is incredible! Obviously great proportions- nice high back and the back in particular flexes to the shape of your body which is unusual in a dining chair (this helps create a dining suite that’s wonderful to enjoy long dinners in).
The thing I love most about this particular suite is the age of the chairs. They are about 15 to 20 years old so have worn-in beautifully (but are certainly nowhere near worn out!) The QUALITY is plainly obvious even if you’re merely casting your eyes over this set. The value of these chairs increases with inflation and has since the day they were made. I know for a fact that SPACE Furniture were selling these chairs new in the 1990’s for $1195 EACH. SPACE Furniture now sells Cab chairs for OVER AU $2,700 EACH! This is irrefutable evidence of the longevity of the design- both from a quality AND design standpoint. This chair has only become MORE ICONIC (and valued) over the years. Flashy, cheap designer furniture wears very thin, very quickly. Once the sizzle goes, the item carries little value. The design here is stunning, TIMELESS, ALL-CLASS AND the very best QUALITY money “Cab” buy!
Cassina Cab chairs have an inherent value that won’t ever diminish (except through neglect and abuse). There are many hours of craftsmanship in EACH chair- all done by Master Craftsman in Italy. Hand-crafted value can never be lost or reduced.
If we ponder this further, it becomes plainly obvious why quality vintage furniture is such a smart INVESTMENT. Cassina Cab chairs purchased in the 1990’s- that have had about 30 years of use by now, sell SECOND-HAND for the same price these days in 2022- but USUALLY MORE than they were bought for new! Invest in QUALITY design and you’re not throwing money into landfill … you’re not throwing your money away- PERIOD! Quality design increases in value along with inflation and even beyond if the market stays there for it (which is what’s happened with Cab chairs). Second-hand Cassina Cab chairs sell all over the world for AU $1,400 to AU $2,500 PER chair- and they have for many years. If the buyer looks after these (which is NOT hard because the quality is so exceptional) these chairs WILL continue to increase in value in the future (or at least hold their value). You just can’t (and never will) get that from buying mass-produced furniture. (Most of it is built to quickly end up as landfill for a start). Go to the dump for irrefutable evidence of that. Want to be completely dismayed with the state of this world?- Go to the dump!
Cassina chairs in ivory RARELY come up. They’d look great in many spaces- even a beachside apartment. QUALITY is sophistication (not flashy over-the-top designs) that lose there lustre very quickly.
Cassina Cab chairs consist of high-quality Italian saddle-leather stretched over a minimal tubular steel frame. The only additional reinforcement is provided by a rubber membrane plate that supports the seat and provides flex when someone sits down. (Cheap copies DON’T have this membrane.) Bellini’s innovation lays in using zips to fasten the leather cover to its frame- a zip runs up the inside of each leg, sealing the upholstery in place. The CAB (released in 1977) was the first-ever chair to feature a free-standing leather structure- inspired by how our skin fits over our skeleton.
When chairs look like this after about 15 to 20 years of use you’ve got full assurance of the quality you’ll be getting before shelling out a cent. Plus when a 45-year-old design stills still packs a punch (and is still in production today) there’s no better assurance of it’s timelessness. There are very few better ways to invest in your home financially PLUS you’re also reducing your carbon footprint. (If you use these with some sense they should never end up as landfill). PLUS by buying through iNVISeDGE you’re supporting a SMALL BUSINESS that’s been slogging their guts out building a “brand” for over 20 years! It’s win for you, a win for small LOCAL business and a win for the future of our earth!
2210, (and 170303 in search)
