Description
Provenance and Background Info
(Written in 2016).
A stunning 3-seater sofa by highly acclaimed Module International of Bayswater, Melbourne. This is a brilliant design- it’s modernist, minimalist but also has stunning designer flair. This piece is either late 1970’s or early 1980’s. Module, one of Australia’s most highly acclaimed furniture makers of all time, went out of business shortly after the onslaught of cheap furniture started coming from overseas. I’d say this sofa came out right at the end of their tenure.
It’s really hard for me to sell this piece. I bought it in 2007 and I’ve put in all 7 places I’ve lived in during that time. I want to use it for styling work (because it would be ideal) but it’s really heavy and too hard to constantly put in and out of people’s homes. This is perfect for a private buyer though- the heaviness epitomises the quality you’re buying and you can be sure it was built to last. (I’m pretty sure the frame is steel or at least some of it.) You can pay $8000 and much more for something similar that’s new but you probably WON’T be getting the same quality. This piece is nearing 40 years old. The frame is solid and heavy- I can’t see how it could ever get damaged. The piece has VINTAGE (c.1970’s) HOWE leather tags on the underside of one cushion. In my eyes, vintage Howe leather is the absolute best leather you can buy- old or new. This is FULL-GRAIN leather.
This sofa is rare. I’ve had it for 10 years and been in this business for all of that time- I usually come across around half a million different pieces of furniture most years and I’ve never seen another one in this design. If it didn’t have various labels there’s no way I would know it was Module. Module is up there with the best of what was happening in furniture design in Australia in the 1970’s. Many of their designs (including this one) compete with the design heavyweights on an international platform including the likes of B&B Italia.
After many modern sofas have ended up as landfill this piece will be passed to yet another owner and another generation. There’s no better way to invest in your home and reduce your carbon footprint. Investing in furniture (or anything) that’s been built to last is our only way out of this mess.
