Description
Value NEW- $4200 (for all 8). These chairs SOLD immediately through iNVISeDGE in 2018 for $1720 for all EIGHT- 6 chairs + 2 armchairs.
THIS LISTING PRICE IS FOR 6 CHAIRS (the 6 without armrests and the 2 with).
These chairs were second-hand and about 15 years old when we sold them in 2018. I’ve had various enquiries from people saying they would have paid more than $1720 for this set of 8. Today in 2019 I’d price the exact same set of 8 at $1995 – $2200.
Provenance and Background Info
(Written in 2018).
A set of 6 dining chairs by international designer, Val Padilla. (The matching armchairs will be listed SEPARATELY.) These chairs were purchased from Hermon and Hermon, the interior design boutique store in Richmond, Melbourne about 15 years ago. With over 40 years of interior design experience, including 25 years running their own boutique retail store, Barbara and John Hermon are considered leaders in the interior design industry. These chairs were purchased for $550 EACH ($4200 for the 8). One of these chairs peeks above a dining room table in a Belle Magazine editorial for an interior created by the Hermons in 2017 (see the H & H website). Interestingly that same article also shows a Kenneth Cobonpue chair similar to a suite I recently sold through iNVISeDGE. The Hermons place particular emphasis on using quality hand-made products made from sustainable natural materials and fibres.
These chairs first came to attention at the Manilla furniture fair and have won several design awards for Val Padilla. Combining refined elegance with rustic earthy character these HAND-CRAFTED chairs stand apart with regards to design AND quality. They’re extremely well-built and I read somewhere online a few years back (when I first encountered this design) that the structure beneath the woven seagrass seats is steel for extra strength. They were built for high-end island resorts so they’re commercial-quality. After 15 years of use the chairs on offer here are perfectly solid and sturdy with no movement, cracks or repairs in any joint. The seagrass seats add to the quality. Seagrass is durable, resistant to staining and beautiful. Seagrass is the more expensive choice compared to standard upholstery and it’s comfortable too.
Vintage Parker spade-back dining chairs are currently fetching $3900 for a set of 6 from specialist vintage design stores- I consider these 2 steps above these Parker chairs in terms of quality. And I prefer the design of these too- they have a slightly different slant to the mid-century dining chairs we’re seeing everywhere at the moment. The Parker spade-backs have veneered backs and those Parker chairs can also have problems with the brittle plywood seats- the seats on these chairs are hand-woven from seagrass so much more durable.
Comfort-wise these are 2 steps above the comfort of Parker spade-back chairs as well. The backs are high (about 88cm) so your full back is supported- the back also kips back slightly for added comfort. Seagrass is also very comfortable in seating because of the “give” it has. All these advantages and priced here well below similar chairs (but similar chairs can be found elsewhere). In Australia, these were only ever sold through one specialist interior design store I’m aware of (Hermon & Hermon)… And I almost forgot- these chairs stack as well which further adds to the practicality.
These chairs are over 15 years old and still going very strong. The quality (as shown in the photos is irrefutable). After many modern dining chairs have ended up as landfill these HAND-CRAFTED chairs will be passed to another owner and eventually a new generation. There are very few better ways to invest in your home and our environment (if any).
In the same league (or exceeds the quality) of most Mid Century Modern Danish teak chairs such as Neils Moller, Hans Wegner and Borge Mogensen.
All eight of these dining chairs are in solid sturdy condition. There are NO repairs, NO movement in any joint- NO structural damage of any kind. They are ALL solid, sturdy chairs. The suite presents very well as a set but the surface finish shows signs of use and age. I have spent time rectifying the finish so that all chairs present well as a set. For people who appreciate quality furniture this will enhance the value of the chairs as it shows that despite use and age the chairs are 100% solid and strong (despite 15 years of use) so they’ll continue to be strong for many years to come. Nit-pickers will notice old signs of wear to the finish if they want to scrutinize individual chairs but would agree they present well as a set (as the photos show). Around a dining table they look great. Two of the chairs have been sanded back to remove the old lacquer and then re-finished- the other 4 have not. These two chairs look slightly different in tone but this is not noticeable when viewing the chairs as a suite (as the photos show). You could get an orbital sander onto the other 4 (it’s not a major job). I don’t have electricity at the storage unit otherwise I would have done this myself and asked a higher price for the set. The finish on every chair would then be virtually perfect (after using an orbital sander on them)- you’d be getting chairs that are basically worth $4500 (the price for a new set of 8) for less than half the price. The wear is to the surface finish of the chairs and I’ve restored this where needed as well- it does not affect the form nor function of the chairs and is superficial- barely noticed (study the photos carefully). The current finish does the job and is completely serviceable so the chairs are ready for decades more use.
There are no creaks or groans and no movement in any joint. I really can’t fault the set in any other way- the seagrass seats are also in great condition for the age. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Padilla Chairs. Measurements. Across- 45.5cm. Depth- about 53cm. Total height- 88cm. Seat height- 46cm. They stack cleanly into a stack of 2- you can get more onto 2 as well (at least 4 or 5 as a stack) but they start to sit up off each other. The pair of armchairs (AVAILABLE SEPARATELY!) stack cleanly as well. Across- 49cm. Depth- about 53cm (like the others). Total height and seat height- the same as the others. Read my 1200+ feedback comments (ALL for vintage furniture and decorative arts SALES) to be assured that all my items are described as accurately as I can.
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