Description
SOLD for $1190 THE PAIR back in 2018! Go to our NEWLY LISTED Category for new listings or follow us at instagram.com/invisedge
Background Info and Provenance
(Written in 2018) THE LISTED PRICE IS FOR THE PAIR OF SWIVEL CHAIRS ONLY.
A PAIR of vintage single-seater Tessa T21 lounge chairs from the late-1970’s. These chairs have the vintage label used by Tessa in the 1970’s confirming they are VINTAGE and over 40 years old. (This price is for TWO SWIVEL chairs however we also have a matching pair of 2-seater sofas available in this design and a side table- priced separately- all in brilliant condition.) This classic AUSTRALIAN-MADE pair of chairs won various Australian Design Awards in the 1970’s. They’ve been a main-stay at Tessa for well over 40 years now. There’s a reason for this- they’re bloody good chairs! There are some Tessa designs I will not stock but the T21 is a champion- PRACTICAL, luxurious so-dam comfortable (!), solid construction, durable, investment appeal, stunning and TIMELESS good-looks.
All of Tessa’s T21 chairs were MADE IN AUSTRALIA using old-age traditions passed on for decades- their furniture is SOLID and DURABLE and lasts the long-haul as this suite proves. This suite is over 40 years old and if used with any sense it will last forever- not just one or two generations- forever. There’s little furniture around this can be said for. This is why a pair of chairs like this retail new at Tessa today for over $8000 THE PAIR. This makes it an easy choice for the iNVISeDGE store- one eighth the new retail price and this pair were only used in the “good room” so they’re in brilliant condition for a suite like this.
The investment appeal is obvious. The fabric is neutral in colour and is soft and homely- but also very DURABLE- a great choice for in front of the fireplace, an Airbnb property but there’s a designer edge to these as well- used cleverly they could set off a myriad of interiors and if you ever move and want a different look the price listed here allows for re-upholstery. In black or cream leather these look incredible (see the Tessa website). At Tessa today, a pair in QUALITY leather fetches about $9 000- get these re-upholstered in leather and you’d basically get new chairs at a fraction of the cost. (I estimate that re-upholstery would be about $900 the pair in leather (for labour) plus the cost of the leather you get to choose.
The reasons for the Tessa T21 popularity are simple- bold, stylish looks combined with PRACTICALITY. These chairs have all you want in a chair. They swivel, the angles are perfect- they provide great ergonomic support for LONG-TERM COMFORT. You can watch TV in these, have long conversations in front of the fire, read a book- they’re plush, comfy and envelope you BUT the angles are also perfect for sustained PRACTICAL comfort. Yes, you can buy chairs that are incredibly comfortable for the first few minutes sit down but after that you regret buying them- NOT with these- you’ll never hate the comfort. This design is an Australian institution and Tessa may even keep them on the Australian market forever … but certainly not at this price!
Not many Australian manufacturers survived in the marketplace in the last 50 years- not even Parker. Tessa have and it’s because of QUALITY Australian construction and INTELLIGENT design. These chairs have evaded landfill for 40+ years and are ready for another generation of use! (Resources have been used in an intelligent sustainable way.) There’s no better way I can think of to invest in your home, our environment and local community.
(THESE ARE AN OLIVE COLOUR- very muted, earthy and natural- it’s not an in-your-face colour but settles into the background. These photos (that were taken by my client) show how the colour can change slightly depending on lighting conditions.
