Description

Provenance and Background Info

(SOLD for $440 THE PAIR back in 2014. These days in 2019 I’d only accept a set of 4 or more of these dining chairs- a set of 6 in this design and style are worth big $- at least $2400 the set.)

This description was written in 2014 so some information will be time sensitive and subject to change. Eg. the value of Parker spadeback chairs given in this listing has increased since 2014. 

Provenance and Background Info

A PAIR of Danish oak and seagrass dining chairs from the early 1960’s. I’m going to come out and say these are Danish- they are certainly not Australian anyway. They are perhaps by a different Scandinavian maker but I doubt it. They are in the style of Borge Mogensen’s work but for fear of researching the net for hours and not finding anything I am not researching them further. Any lover of mid-century furniture will know they’re special, they’re vintage and virtually never seen in Australia. I guarantee they are vintage. My estimate is 1960’s.

These chairs are similar in design to the Parker spadeback chairs from the early 1960’s. The Parker spadeback is one of the best furniture designs to come out of Australia and possibly the most sought-after of any Australian mid-century dining chair. Parker spadebacks are currently fetching $450 each in mid-century design shops. This pair should be worth more than that (ie. around $1000 the pair)- oak is extremely desirable and woven seagrass seats are a step above the other seats you’ll find in a mid-century chair. I personally love sea-grass- it’s earthy, textured, has a warm earthy feel and is durable. After 45+ years of use these seats are still going strong with no noticeable damage to report. If you have 4 Danish chairs and want to extend your suite to 6 this pair would be a great choice. They’d be perfect to use in another area of your room or house and pull into the dining table whenever extra seating is needed. Stylistically they match any Danish chair but the variation in the timber and seats will add a spark of interest.

I’ve been in this business 11 years and have never had an oak and seagrass dining chair so they’re very rare. These chairs are very nice to sit in and have a stunning look. The “ornate” natural figuring in the oak is in contrast to the modest sleek styling, creating a chair that’s sophisticated and whilst it attracts attention it will still nestle nicely into any environment.

These Danish chairs are a highly regarded piece of mid-century design and still going strong after 40+ years of use. There are very few better ways to invest in your home and reduce landfill.