Description
Provenance and Background Info
(This set of 6 dining chairs sold for $1650 in 2011. Today in 2018 I’d price the exact same set of 6 chairs at around $1800. The table is priced SEPARATELY.)
Written in 2011.
A set of 6 leather dining chairs made by Neil Grice Furniture of Brisbane in 1981. Neil Grice Furniture was some of the most exclusive furniture sold in Brisbane in the 70s and 80s and operated from their workshop in Milton. The best dining chairs of today fetch $1000 each- often a lot more. The construction quality is A1- the design is brilliant and they have a unique slant that’s Grice’s own. The leather is some of the best quality I’ve seen. It’s soft and luxurious after 30 years. A tag underneath reads, Howe Leather- this is an Australian-owned company regarded as one of the most prestigious leather suppliers in the world. The design of these chairs is highly reminiscent of the award-winning designs originating from Norway in the 1970’s. I like few of the designs from the 1970’s except the Norwegian ones. The lean profile and sweeping curves are not only stunning but also highly practical. The high-back is very unusual with dining chairs in this style and makes them extra comfortable. The higher-back coupled with the segmenting of the leather cushioning is unique to this particular design by Grice. This gives the design extra designer edge- it looks similar to Eames’ work. I feel that the segmenting really makes this design because it’s so timeless- many designs like this from the 70’s have buttons which I feel looks a bit “daggy” and dates the look.
These chairs are faultless in every category and symbolise that when something has been done well it lives on. The durability of the construction will mean they’ll also live on in a physical sense too- no dining chair would look like this after 30 years if it wasn’t made properly. And after 40 years this styling is still sought-after and I think always will be. The Neil Grice tag on every chair and the vintage Howe Leather tags give indisputable provenance to the suite adding solid investment appeal to top it off. In a throw-away society these tags guarantee verify the age and quality of what’s on offer here. There’s no better way to invest in your home and reduce landfill.
