Description

Provenance and Background Info

I sold these through iNVISeDGE for $1500 for 6 back in 2012. I’d price them at least $1800 these days (2018)- maybe $1895. They are a very uncommon design and almost impossible to get as a set of 6.

(Written in 2012. Some information may be time-sensitive so may change slightly over time.)

A set of SIX (6) dining chairs designed by Douglas Snelling in the early 1950’s. It’s my understanding that the upholstered variety of this design came after the webbed chair and reached the market in the mid to late 1950’s. The fascinating part with these chairs is that they were actually produced by TH Brown and Sons of Adelaide. Each chair has a TH Brown ink tag and another stamp stating they reach Australian standards. Whether TH Brown produced this design under license or not I don’t know but the design is identical to Snelling’s. They’re certainly a 1950’s production. I think it’s an interesting twist- I was not aware TH Brown ever did this design before now. TH Brown is highly acclaimed for the quality of their work spanning several decades- their work exceeds the quality of virtually every other furniture maker in Australia operating in the 50’s and 60’s. This is great news for the new owners- they’re solid, sturdy chairs (more solid than all of the Snelling chairs I’ve had and Snelling chairs are great). TH Brown won several contracts to produce coveted Danish designs under license in Australia in the 1960’s. It was work like this that paved the way for this happening.

I love this design and actually prefer it to the webbed variety. The webbing can take a lot of attention away from the frames and I think it’s the frame that makes the chair. It’s fluid and flowing almost organic on one hand and jagged and harsh with regards to the leg angles. It’s the epitome of 50’s styling- these chairs look like they’ve come straight out of a 1950’s House and Garden magazine and have been time-warped into 2012. Don an apron and create a beehive on your head and become the perfect accompaniment to these chairs!

Aside from the aesthetics these chairs are highly comfortable, very durable (just look at them 60 years on!) and a great investment. Fifties designs have fetched good returns since the mid 1990’s- I believe they will continue to increase in value along with inflation (at least). Any new chair will lose its value by half (or more) the second you walk it out of the shop.

This is a captivating design you want to just keep looking at and a pleasure to use. After modern dining chairs have ended as landfill, these 60-year-old chairs will be passed onto yet another generation to enjoy. There are very few better ways to invest in your home and reduce landfill.