Description

This pair of armchairs sold through iNVISeDGE for $1250 in 2015. Today in 2019, I’d price the exact same pair at around $1350. UPDATE- 2022- I’d now price this pair of chairs at $1500 for both.

Background Info and Provenance

A PAIR of vintage single-seater Tessa Sling lounge chairs in fully original condition. This is a particularly rare design by Tessa. The Tessa T4s, T6s and T21s are regularly seen as well as some of the newer designs but this design done in 1981 is elusive. I tried to do some additional research on the Sling design but there’s nothing online. These are certainly Tessa originals- it’s 1970’s fabric plus it has the original Tessa factory label on both chairs used in the 1970’s and early 80’s. The early 80’s was a turbulent time for furniture manufacturers- cheap overseas imports were entering the market and it’s my belief that in 1981 (when this design was released) the design just couldn’t compete with other furniture being sold. Very few must have been sold and it would have been because of the high cost of manufacture. Creating curves in solid timber is not easy but creating a curve that runs from the top of the chair down to the top of the armrest is even harder. Furniture like this is rarely seen because (price-wise) it can’t compete with what else is out there.

The big advantage of this for who buys this pair is the quality of what’s on offer. These are solid, heavy chairs- they’ve been built to last and already have. As much as I like the award-winning T4 design- the quality is not as good- the netting sags over time and the frame is laminated timber. The quality of the Tessa T4 is excellent but the properties of the design mean things can go wrong- as an example the veneer on the frames can lift and bubble and chip off etc. The design on offer here is SOLID timber throughout- it’s basically indestructible and with normal use will last well after you and I are gone.

This design is also comfortable- it mixes sitting comfort (good support, good angles) with a lounge chair comfort (high back and plush comfort where you feel relaxed and comfortable).

Fred Lowen’s designs are award-winning. He achieved much respect in the 1950’s (various Lowen designs are held in museums throughout Australia including the Powerhouse Museum) but it’s his designs from the 1970’s that won the most acclaim. I believe this design done in 1981 is possibly his best (it’s up there anyway). I love the sweeping lines- like a flowing ribbon- and the superior quality of the construction.

To top it all off the Tessa T4 sells today for around $2500 EACH ($5000 the pair). I rate these one or two notches higher than the T4 design. This is an outstanding investment that should at least hold its value over the years- you’ll never get that buying new.

The advantage with investing in vintage furniture is simple- when chairs look like this after 35 years of use you have irrefutable evidence of the quality you’re buying. There’s no better way I can think of to invest in your home and reduce landfill.