Description
SOLD in 2024 within hours of being listed.
The price of $260 is PER chair. These are hard to get as a matching pair so we’d prefer to sell them as a pair ($520 the pair). This design is highly sought-after and has virtually become impossible to find these days. The last pair we had like this (also with 3-strands) sold immediately without a listing for $2,000 the pair (in excellent vintage condition). These are structurally solid, very sturdy and HEAVY. They need no structural attention at all- I’ve never seen these designs with any structural issue. The surface condition of this pair is very shabby- hence the low price- but the surfaces can easily be sanded back and restored. If you look at the underside you will see that someone has painted them with a dark stain many years ago. This is starting to wear off on the armrests where people’s arms and hands have been going. The finish is getting brittle so it’s pretty easy to sand off. I spent a minute or two sanding an area near the floor (see the photos)- the old finish came off easily. Some of the cane bindings are missing- not many though- these bindings are purely cosmetic and not structural. The purpose of the bindings is to hide the joint areas- not to hold the chairs together- they’re purely cosmetic.
It’s going to take some time to get them back but they’ll look great when they’re done. I renovated a pair of these chairs for my own apartment a few years ago- I used an orbital sander and it wasn’t hard- just time consuming. At the time I didn’t want to renovate a pair but they were all I could find (and I’d been searching for many months)- in the end I was happy to get what I wanted by getting the orbital sander onto the pair I found (the interior shots show the pair I renovated some years ago.)
Alternatively, you could use this pair as they are (they don’t look terrible)- a good scrub with some sugar soap would get them looking more presentable.
This design is widely known as the Pretzel and was first designed back in the 1940’s by Paul Frankl. They’ve been in and out of production since the art deco era. They’re still being made new today (but the new ones look pretty cheap and shitty, with plastic bindings etc). This pair is certainly vintage and most likely from the 1940’s or 1960’s- they have age to them and are heavy and solid.
The cushion is certainly not original and in fact it was never made for these chairs- the cushions fit pretty well really and show that the cushioning and covers are a simple job. The current cushions do the job and are comfortable. I’d say that bleaching the cover should get it clean if you wanted to continue using it.
Background Info and Provenance
(The description below was written FOR A DIFFERENT PAIR OF CHAIRS in the Pretzel design).
A VINTAGE PAIR of cane pretzel armchairs. This is the first set of Pretzel chairs we’ve had in years. This type of design is extremely popular and getting really hard to source these days (particularly the AUTHENTIC ART DECO productions- which these are). The circular arms make a stylish statement without dominating your space. This particular production marries design flair with a refined sophisticated style.
This design is curvaceous and stunning, but it’s not as visually-dominating as the 5-strand variety. The 5-strand suites have a “boxy” look, they’re very bold and need a lot of space to “breathe”. In a smaller space, the 5-strand suites will make your space look cluttered and “closed-in”. This single-strand design is more-minimalist, open and airy so would look better in a much wider variety of spaces. The circular flow of this design also has a touch of magic many of the others don’t have.
Rattan is DURABLE and sustainable. These frames will last generations (and already have!) but to top it off this design is also very comfortable. The seat and back are set at perfect angles for comfort. The cushion inserts are top-quality and very dense, so they too were made to last. And they provide optimum comfort too- these are beautiful chairs to relax in- supportive with just the right amount of plushness.
These are also loose cushions sitting on frames. The cushions can be flipped over if one side gets dirty and the covers can be unzipped and machine-washed (on the gentle cycle or hand-washed) at any time (just put the covers back on whilst still damp to prevent shrinkage). Re-upholstery is the cheapest possible upholstery job- just take your fabric with the old covers to anyone with a sewing machine. It’s not difficult or costly. The pair of chairs could have a whole new look for around $300. Chairs like this are perfect in an Airbnb place or if you have young children. The current covers, whilst a little dated, are a really good choice. The covers nestle into the background allowing the stunning shape of the frames to take focus.
The transfer label shows that this furniture was constructed in Adelaide. This label has a distinct 1950’s look adding to the investment appeal of what’s on offer. This AUSTRALIAN-MADE suite has already lasted about 65 years and with sensible use is set to last another 65!
The beauty of investing in vintage design is knowing how the item will stand up to use before you shell out a cent. Look at these beauties after over 60 years of use! An item like this is the epitome of a solid investment because the design is practical, DURABLE and timeless in looks. There’s no better financial investment for your home and no better way to reduce landfill- this suite will continue to tell stories long after you and I have gone!
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