Description
SOLD TO MICHELLE FOR $1195 the PAIR in 2018 – through INVISEDGE.COM.AU. Regularly visit our NEWLY LISTED Category so you don’t miss any of our new finds.
Background Info and Provenance
A PAIR of vintage single-seater T5 lounge chairs from the mid-1970’s by Tessa Furniture, a highly-awarded AUSTRALIAN company. (Price is for BOTH chairs.) The T5 model is particularly rare. In 17 years of trading I’ve had only 2 pairs of T5 chairs. This design is another of Fred Lowen’s highly-celebrated designs which can be added to a list of hundreds. The prolific output of Lowen floors me- Lowen is the most celebrated Australian designer ever, perhaps only behind Featherston, but when you study closer you’ll notice that Lowen achieved much success in the 1950’s AND then went on to create his best designs (and most awarded) through the 1970’s too. (And there’s even a design he did in the 1980’s I think is better than the famous T4 model.) The T5 was designed in 1975 and takes obvious cues from Hans Wegner plank chair. I’ll probably be shot down for saying this but I think it’s a step above Wegner’s design. I like Lowen’s addition of circles to the design (in the upright posts and in the detail at the top of the canvas backs)- these circles create a contrast to the geometric plank-like styling elsewhere in the chair.
The best thing with investing in Tessa Furniture is the assurance of its quality. Tessa Furniture is an Australian business that boasts a reputation spanning 40 years and remains in business to this day largely because of their construction quality. This pair is VINTAGE (over 40 years old) and are still extremely solid after all these years use- they’ve already proven themselves and I don’t see any reason why they won’t last forever. Incredibly this is also the original upholstery- it’s 100% wool (and I’d say Australian wool too)- thick and very hard-wearing.
You can also add comfort to the list of advantages (these are a nice sitting chair- perfect for having a conversation in- the angles have been carefully considered for comfort). Investment appeal is yet another advantage. These are RARE- they’re much harder to find than the popular T4 model. The T5 had a short production run and they’ve been out of production for over 35 years now. Plank Chairs by Wegner sell for about AU $4400 the pair these days. (That’s being conservative- I’ve seen them on 1st Dibs in America for over AU$7000 the pair- see the screenshot included in this listing.) This pair is good buying- these famous Australian chairs should never lose any value (if you’re sensible with them)- try getting that from new furniture!
Buying vintage furniture that has stood the test of time is one of the best ways to invest in your home and reduce landfill.
1901
