This VINTAGE (1930’s / 40’s) sofa is red vinyl. It can easily be re-upholstered or the vinyl could easily be re-coloured (cheaper than re-upholstery). I had to play with Photoshop and changed the colour to show how versatile the design is- it doesn’t have to be retro- it can be contemporary as well! The purpose of showing it in teal is to ignite the imagination and show how different the style is in a different colour.

This sofa is being sold from a regular seller’s home in ADELAIDE but can be transported Australia-wide for a reasonable fee (about $300 to Sydney). WE ARE OPERATING AS THE SELLER’S AGENT and will ORGANISE THE FULL SALE ON THEIR BEHALF. The listed price INCLUDES our commission fee.

Background and Provenance

(Written in 2020)

An art deco chrome sofa that’s sleek and stylish but also has wow-factor. At the moment in red vinyl it’s retro-wow but reupholstered cleverly this piece could be the epitome of elegant and sophisticated. I can imagine this piece in a duck-egg (light-blue) velvet or a weave-fabric in a light colour- it’d give your space a subtle focal point that’d still pop but won’t take all the attention. I can picture it in a space with a light-colour palette, sandstone and marble with furniture that has hues of light blue, soft accents such as throw-rugs and textures in the cushions … this piece would add subtle “wow-factor” but would still tie in with a look of understated elegance.

It’s an adaptable piece though which is why I was keen to take it on. It can also be retro-pop- I can picture it as is in one of those retro diners- the ones with retro-car posters, that chrome-machinery look and black and white chequered floors.

The thing I love most about this piece is that it’s a genuine 1940’s piece- it’s HEAVY- the quality is just incredible! This piece is already about 80 years old (!) but is as solid, sturdy and strong as the day it was built. I can’t see how it could ever break (unless you threw it over balcony onto concrete below!). It’s very likely this piece won’t last for generations … it will last forever. The tough-as-nails vinyl is also virtually impossible to kill. You could have this in a commercial diner or hair salon and it will keep on doing the job for many years (if not forever). It wouldn’t be a purchase but a very astute investment.

This is almost an antique already- this type of design was cutting-edge at the time and is still sought-after today, so you know the design is timeless. Designs where people create something truly new and “wow” become timeless stylistically. They supersede trends and people always want them. Can you imagine this coming out in the 1930’s / 1940’s amongst all that drab, oversized walnut furniture? Design like this caused a frenzy of inspiration and adulation. And it was designs like this that precipitated the whole design movement in the first place, prompting a new level of experimentation in utility objects such as furniture through the 1950’s and beyond.

This is not a purchase at all but a solid investment. This piece was one of the first like this the world ever saw- you’re investing in a piece of history. You know before you shell out a cent it was built to last. Even if you get it reupholstered to get a sleek new look when you experience this piece in the flesh no-one could possibly argue it’s not at least 70 to 90 years old! They just don’t build them like this anymore. These days, they cut cushioning out of synthetic foam (which sags and degrades very quickly). This sofa has been built with real cushioning- springs that spring straight back as soon as you get up.

Which brings me to comfort. I love this comfort. I have a bad back and want to be properly supported when I relax. I can’t use the sloth around new sofas of today- they don’t support my back and in 10 minutes I start fidgeting like crazy because my back starts hurting. I have a couple of friends who have these types of sofas in their homes and I hate them! This is a real sitting chair. The angles are spot on, the amount of spring in the seat and back is beautiful- this piece seems to cradle you. I could sit in this and binge-watch Netflix (not that I do that often!) and the comfort would be perfect for me. Everyone has a different idea of what’s comfortable but make no mistake this piece was designed with proper sitting comfort in mind- they didn’t skim over that 80 years ago- the purpose and practicality of every piece was very carefully considered back then. This rarely happens now- let’s just build a sofa, slap some synthetic cut-cushions on chipboard, whack polyester-fabric over it all and, voila, there’s your sofa!

There’s absolutely no guessing the quality on offer here. When modern pieces in a similar style end up as landfill, this piece will be passed onto yet another generation. Timeless, inspiring design, honest craftsmanship, durability- this is our only way out of this mess. There’s no better way I can think of to invest in your home and reduce landfill.

2006