Description

Full Suite (the table and 4 FULL-LEATHER chairs) SOLD to Michelle for $1,795 within 10 days of appearing in the NEWLY LISTED Category.

We SOLD this suite UNDER CONSIGNMENT from a regular iNVISeDGE seller based in ADELAIDE. This suite was transported up to Brisbane. WE OPERATED AS THE SELLERS’ AGENT AND ORGANISED THE FULL SALE ON THEIR BEHALF. The listed price INCLUDED our commission fee. I travelled to Adelaide specifically to work with these sellers’ items- these sellers are serious collectors and have many more amazing finds that will be listed in iNVISeDGE in coming months / years.

Provenance and Background Info

A QUALITY circular timber dining table by South Australian furniture maker Joe Rufenacht. (The chairs are listed in iNVISeDGE SEPARATELY.) I’d say this suite is early 1980’s but it could be 70’s. This is not only a stunning piece of design but very SOLIDLY built. NO shitty Parker / FLER “Weetbix” chipboard in this piece- just QUALITY materials and honest workmanship to be passed onto future generations. The finish is not an oil finish but a very-resilient coating that can be wiped down with just a damp cloth. (I think it’s a 2-pack finish.)

Joe Rufenacht started in the mid-1970’s and by 1980 he’d pocketed more design awards than any other furniture maker in Australia. So why does everyone go gaga over Parker when furniture like this is better built and more highly regarded? Parker is everywhere- everyone knows it, everyone has seen it. Rufenacht’s designs are virtually impossible to find which means they slide under the radar somewhat but anyone with a honed eye knows what they’re seeing. His work ticks every box- a resounding tick for comfort, design, quality and investment-appeal. Rufenacht won the prestigious Australian design award back in 1978. Rufenacht told ABC in 2006 that it took him 40 different prototypes to get the dining chairs shown in these photos right- the table probably took almost as much because the base is sinewy and slight but the top is SOLID timber- this minimalist base has to support a top that’s pretty heavy.

Rufenacht ( Rufenarcht ) furniture is an obvious furniture investment. The design of the chairs that marries with this table is very similar to the coveted Norwegian Falcon chair. Falcon chairs in Australia have risen in value from about $1000 back in 2002 and are now getting more than $2000 EACH today- not a bad earner for something you get to sit in and enjoy in the meantime! Rufenacht’s furniture will also last while you get to use it- the quality of this dining table EXCEEDS any Parker dining table (easily).

I personally considered keeping this base and putting a piece of rectangular glass on top instead (I wanted a small rectangular dining table for 6 chairs I have- I was looking for a minimalist look with designer-edge. It would be a basic job to take the current top off (all you need is an allen-key) and then find a glass-top from another 2nd-hand dining table. The base is built for a solid timber top- it will cope with a rectangle glass piece easily. If you do this keep the current timber top and put it in the back of a wardrobe or in the garage- the timber-top is in brilliant vintage condition and will service many people after you’ve finished with this table.

After many modern pieces have ended up as landfill this 35+ year old table will be passed onto another owner and then an entirely new generation. It was said on the ABC in 2006 that Rufenacht’s furniture will be the antiques of tomorrow and I agree. JR furniture (Rufenacht’s company) closed its doors in 2006 unable to compete with cheap overseas imports any longer. The 30+ year history of this Australian business has etched a permanent place in Australian furniture production history and if his work is not already in Australian museums and galleries, it will be. There’s no better way to invest in your home and our environment.

2002 and 2003