Description

SOLD in 6 days of being listed on the iNVISeDGE website for $185 EACH (sold for $360 the PAIR) in 2019. 

THIS PRICE DID NOT INCLUDE THE WHITE SEAT-PADS. These seat-pads were custom-made specifically for these chairs and weren’t cheap. The seat pads cost me $110 EACH (I have a receipt for this). I may have been able to get slightly cheaper if I’d really shopped around but maybe not for such a small job. The cushioning was chosen specifically for these chairs as was the vinyl. This is TOP-QUALITY marine-grade vinyl so will last in full-weather. The seat-pads have been used for 18 months so have signs of use but they both present very well. The buyer paid an extra $65 EACH for the seatpads- the seat cushions also SOLD. 

I did initially buy generic outdoor seat-pads for these on ebay (for $25) that were mass produced. They were shit! Never again. The cushioning was crap (they did nothing- no comfort at all!) and they started falling apart within 2 months. They ended up in the bin within 3 months- more landfill. $25 just thrown away. These ones (made in Australia by an Australian business who is accountable for what they do) are holding up very well.

The matching 2-seater sofa is RARE and currently ON HOLD. There’s also more being listed on our website from this styling job soon. This apartment just sold so most of the furniture in the space will be for sale over the next couple of weeks- keep visiting invisedge.com.au- NEWLY LISTED Category so you don’t miss it.

Provenance and Background Information

This stunning pair of outdoor chairs is made in the same style of the famous Russell Woodard designs created in America in the 1960’s. This VINTAGE Australian production is of the same era (1960’s) and also made from spun fibreglass which is thick and solid. This furniture is very strong and sturdy- I’ve never come across any with a structural problem- that’s extraordinary for something that goes out in full weather. This suite has been out in full weather for the last 3 years- full sun, rain and salt-spray coming off the ocean- and it has not been cleaned in all this time. It came off the rooftop and was set straight up for the closer-up photos used in this listing. It hasn’t even been hosed down! I’d say this furniture has spent most of the last 50 to 60 years out in full-weather as well- I can’t see why it won’t last forever. I’ve been a huge fan of this vintage spun fibreglass furniture in the 18 years I’ve been doing this but this is the first of it I’ve ever had to sell.

When I was set with this task of styling this beach-side apartment, spun fibreglass furniture for the outdoor areas was the obvious choice. In my opinion it’s the best outdoor furniture EVER made- it sits at the pinnacle, alongside Flexalum furniture. It’s super-DURABLE, it doesn’t collect water so will not discolour after rain, it’s resistant to the sun, salt-spray and also the wind to a large extent- there’s a lot of negative space between fibreglass strands so the wind tends to pass straight through (the wide bases also add to the stability). I had a pair of spun fibreglass chairs without the arms on the balcony of this apartment (see the photos)- they blew over only twice in about 3 years- the plants blew over more than that! The armchairs were placed in an alcove on the rooftop terrace (they’re under the shade-cover in the aerial photo that was taken to sell this apartment). That shade-cover was installed for the sale of the property- the armchairs never blew over in that outdoor alcove- for something so lightweight spun fibreglass furniture also does well in the wind.

Apart from the incredible looks, the biggest tick for these is comfort. As far as outdoor chairs go these are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever sat in- the angles are spot-on, the strands are close together so you’re well supported and if you put a high-density seat-pad on the seat they’re very comfortable (the seat pads are $65 extra per chair- they were custom-made in Australia). When I was at this apartment, I often used one of these chairs as my “office chair” because it was more comfortable than the Warren McArthur dining chairs I put in the apartment.

The other advantage with these is that they’re easy to move- they’re lightweight AND they will never get dented, scratched or broken.

This furniture is in the original ivory colour. This is the colour of the actual fibreglass. Some people re-spray this furniture (sometimes in black and often in white). I think black doesn’t suit the design. And I don’t understand why people spray it in white either- vivid white is too brash for the design. The ivory colour (which is basically a more muted white) is perfect in my eyes. The beauty of the design is that it’s transparent- it’s not bold and won’t block off your space (it just adds a stunning touch to your area). Spraying it white means the design stands out more (it doesn’t need to)- the ivory allows it to blend into your space easier. You’ll see that the chairs on the balcony are not the same colour as any of the other furniture in this space but it works- ivory is neutral, white is not (it’s modern and clinical). Plus if you re-spray this furniture there is regular upkeep- the white paint will eventually peel off.

These chairs are in fully original condition. If outdoor furniture can look like this after 60 years, the quality you’re buying is irrefutable. The matching table (PRICED SEPARATELY) came out of the same home and has an old “We make it great in the Sunshine State” logo. It reminds me of my childhood. I’m a 1970’s Brisbane kid and this logo was used extensively on items made in Queensland in the 1960’s. The best thing about investing in vintage spun fibreglass furniture is the inspiration it evokes- it ticks every box and provides a benchmark for modern companies to work towards. This suite was built to last and will continue telling stories long after you and I are gone. There’s no better way to invest in your home and reduce landfill.

… And I almost forgot these chairs also have very solid investment appeal. Spun fibreglass furniture sells for way over double (and triple) this price in America. (See the screenshot provided.) It can only increase in value here in Australia.

1910