Description

This pair SOLD to Dave (a haggler unfortunately- I’m surprised I even negotiated- I virtually NEVER will!!!) $1000 for BOTH chairs in 2019. These chairs sold under consignment from our client’s home in NORTH LAKES, North Brisbane. iNVISeDGE organised the full sale on behalf of our client. Today in 2022, I’d price this exact same pair of Don Rex chairs for $2095.

There is a display photos also included in this listing to give you an indication of what these chairs would look like re-upholstered. The red may work in your home or commercial space but may buyers want a neutral colour so the sculptural frames take focus (and not the fabric). At the listed price there’s money leftover for re-upholstery in a fabric OF YOUR CHOICE. (Re-upholstery for both chairs would cost about $300- it’s an easy job.)

Background Info and Provenance

Written in 2019

A pair of Don Rex armchairs from the 1960’s. These have a beautifully refined design that sits in line with Parker chairs of the era. Parker chairs in a similar design are now fetching approx $7000 THE PAIR NEW from David Jones (for the design that was re-released about 7 years ago- see the screenshot provided). This is the second Don Rex pair of chairs I’ve stocked- not because they’re not good but because there’s just not many around. This design is similar to the famed FLER Narvik design (with the lower back). The construction quality is certainly on par (they’re beautifully-made and as solid as a rock about 60 YEARS on). The design is also just as good as the FLER Narvik. These frames don’t have the shaped detail at the top of the armrest but they’re more sculptural and refined overall- they’re certainly up there with the best of this era.

Don Rex was a Brisbane-based business that operated in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Their work is highly respected and the quality of the construction has held up just as well as Parker and FLER but because it was a Brisbane business it’s lesser known and there’s a lot less of it around (there was a smaller market for items like this in Brisbane in the 50’s and 60’s). Some of these designs have found their way to Melbourne and Sydney but because of the geographical isolation (which was more of a challenge back then) this business had their work cut out for them to compete with similar businesses operating from Sydney and Melbourne.

I love the timber in these chairs. The highlights and patterning in the timber provide a subtle point of focus that seems to accentuate the sinewy sculptural flow of the design. The different cuts of timber are balanced and these tones give the chairs more scope to match in with any interior. In a light-grey fabric (or mid-grey) these chairs would pop!

Investing in vintage furniture such as this pair of Don Rex chairs is a great way to go- the construction of this pair has already proven itself over 60 years of use and the design is just as timeless. This restrained Danish styling is as popular as ever and this is not likely to change. There’s no better way I can think of to invest in your home and reduce landfill.

1906 and 1909