Sale!

$1,090.00

Our listing price is for the 2-seater sofa only (in linen). We have a 2-seater sofa, pair of chairs and pair of matching footstools available. At this point only the 2-seater sofa, one chair and one footstool has been photographed. Call me if you have interest in this suite using the phone number on our CONTACT page.

This suite is being sold from BRISBANE (either New Farm area or Morayfield- it may be moved soon). This listing has also been uploaded for people wishing to sell a similar item. Call us for all BUYING enquiries. SMS us for all SELLING enquiries. Use the CONTACT section on our HOME page to make enquiries.

 

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Description

Our listing price is for the 2-SEATER SOFA ONLY! We have a 2-seater sofa, pair of chairs and two matching footstools available. At this point only the 2-seater sofa, one chair and one footstool has been photographed. Call me if you have interest in any pieces of this suite (get the phone number on our CONTACT page). The black leather chair and footstool have SOLD- those photos have been provided for display purposes.

LOCATION- BRISBANE (could be in the New Farm area OR Morayfield) but can be transported Australia-wide for an additional price (about $240 to get the sofa only to Sydney).

Provenance and Background Info

(This description was updated in 2022).

A squatters 2-SEATER SOFA created by Robert Dunlop in Brisbane in the late-1970’s (we have 5 pieces available in this suite that may be sold separately). This suite is part of his highly-celebrated Studio Line- most of these pieces still retain the original foil labels. The suite was produced in Dunlop’s workshop in Stafford, Brisbane- designed in collaboration with Danish-designer Tom Larsen in the mid-1970’s.

The design and craftsmanship is exceptional making it obvious why Dunlop’s furniture was so celebrated at the time. In the 1970’s Dunlop’s reputation was quickly cemented and as a result, he was commissioned to design furniture for Parliament House and the High Court of Australia in Canberra. By the early 1980’s Dunlop’s work was sold in 19 countries around the world. It’s almost impossible to believe that furniture made in Brisbane could become so celebrated but when you look at the design and craftsmanship it becomes plainly obvious. Dunlop seamlessly melded Australian bush furniture with modernist design aesthetics coming out of Europe. His use of exotic timbers such as Radiata Pine along with anodised aluminium tubing was a sensation at the time and compared to today’s offerings still stands out from the pack. The intriguing mix of timber and metal in furniture is something I’ve always loved. This suite is modernist and sleek, with an earthy slant … it also has a “realness” to it that eludes a lot of designer furniture these days.

Dunlop and Larsen has hit the nail on the head with this design and it’s not just me who thinks so. The Design Institute of Australia inducted Dunlop into the DIA Design Hall of Fame in October 2015. I don’t understand why they waited until Dunlop died before bestowing this accolade- Dunlop’s work is exceptional and has been celebrated through several eras- it should have been awarded long ago.

The other thing going for 3 pieces of this suite is that they retain the original upholstery from the 1970’s (although it isn’t in perfect condition). The off-white linen is a QUALITY covering so it has very little wear after almost 50 years (but a few very light / minor marks). The upholstery is thick and also beautiful to sit in (soft and comfy).

These days Robert Dunlop’s work is virtually impossible to find (much harder than Featherston’s) and more popular than ever. Various Melbourne dealers (including several in interviews) have stated that the value of Dunlop’s work will be well worth watching in future years. I agree and was eager to acquire this suite- it will give this iNVISeDGE buyer a very strong investment. You’ll be hard-pressed to ever find another suite like it.

Investment appeal aside, this suite ticks every other box. The look is timeless and stunning. Additionally, the durability box is ticked. Thick Radiata Pine, TOP-QUALITY upholstery, aluminium supports, saddle leather-hide with steel buckles ensure durability as does the superior construction qualities. The quality is plainly obvious- look at this suite after about 50 years of use! Finally, the comfort box gets a big tick too. With its generous proportions, this chair has a relaxed comfort and the angles can be adjusted using the belt buckles and cord lashing if needed.

Another interesting bit of information I gleaned from a Robert Dunlop furniture owner I talked to was how long it took for them to get their suite after ordering it. After several visits to Robert Dunlop’s workshop to check on the progress they asked Robert when it would be ready and he replied, “it will be ready when we’ve finished building it and it’s delivered.” I love it! I’ll have to remember to use that one. The moral of the story is- good things can’t be rushed- they take time to come to life. If you want anything special there will usually be a wait.

Robert died in 2014 leaving us with a legacy of stunning designs and exceptional craftsmanship. Let’s hope his entry into the DIA Design Hall of Fame encourages a new generation of designers and furniture makers in Australia. Recycling and valuing items where pride in both craftsmanship and design is the norm is our only way out of this mess. There’s no better way to invest in your home and reduce landfill.

(ACKNOWLEDGEMENT- Facts in this description have been found in a “Design Online” blog posted by Anita Lewis. Thank you Anita for your well-written and informative article.)

2211, 2205, 1807 and 2003

THIS PART OF THE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS SUITE. CALL ME IF YOU HAVE INTEREST IN THIS SUITE. This chair (and footstool, which is priced separately) is in amazing condition for the age. Both pieces are very strong and sturdy and will last for generations. There are NO breaks, NO movement in any joint, NO cracks around any joint- both pieces are as solid as a rock. The canvas slings are both strong and solid about 50 years on! The timber may have minor bumps and signs of use you'd expect from something that's over 50 years old but nothing that I spotted. Radiata Pine is a very hardy timber. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The FULL-GRAIN leather is in incredible condition on BOTH pieces. The leather has NO abuse, NO marks, NO stains, NO holes, NO odours, NO noticeable wear, NO scratches, NO seams prizing apart, there’s NO damage worth noting. The leather is about 50 years old so may have minor signs of use but is in incredible condition overall. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ All the leather straps including those underneath the pieces are in excellent condition with no damage at all. We conditioned all leather straps and the upholstery leather as well so these pieces are ready to be used and loved for another 50 years. The leather straps should be conditioned every 6 months or so (depending on how often you use air-conditioning). Once every 2-3 years should be enough if you never use air-conditioning. Keep an eye on the straps- make sure they're not drying out and cracking. This is the only thing that could possibly go wrong with this design- you don't want the straps becoming dry and brittle. Robert Dunlop used saddle-leather for these straps which is TOP OF THE LINE (very expensive to buy these days)- it needs minor maintenance. We can sell you the leather conditioner we recommend- let us know at the point of sale. Regular Maintenance Conditioning Cream from iNVISeDGE- $ for 350ml (in a sterilised 2nd-use plastic bottle). All our leather products (and timber-clean) products are sold in 2nd-use sterilised plastic bottles. We don't believe in buying new plastic bottles when so many one-use plastic bottles end up as landfill and in our oceans. Drink bottles are used for about 5 minutes- they are perfectly fine to be used again if they're sterilized. If you want a new bottle let us know and we'll add $3 onto the cost of each product. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Measurements. Chair. Height- 88cm. Depth- 97cm. Width- 79cm. Seat Height- 35cm. Robert Dunlop Footstool. 78cm X 58cm. Height- 41.5cm. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Read my 1200+ feedback comments (ALL for vintage furniture and decorative arts SALES) to be assured that all my items are described as accurately as I can.
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