Description

This 3-seater leather sofa and pictured footstool by Joe Rufenacht sold through iNVISeDGE for $1195 in 2016. Today in 2019 I’d price the exact same sofa for $1440 (for just the sofa only). Other items shown in the photos are priced SEPARATELY!

Provenance and Background Info

(This description was written in 2016.)

A 3-seater sofa + matching footstool in PREMIUM leather by South Australian furniture maker Joe Rufenacht. (SWIVEL CHAIRS PRICED IN A SEPARATE LISTING). I’d say this suite is early 1980’s but it could be 70’s. Rufenacht started in the mid-1970’s and by 1980 he’d pocketed more design awards than any other furniture maker in Australia. So why does everyone go gaga over Parker when furniture like this is better built and more highly regarded? Parker is everywhere- everyone knows it, everyone has seen it. Rufenacht’s designs are virtually impossible to find which means they slide under the radar but anyone with a honed eye knows what they’re seeing. His designs tick every box- a resounding tick for comfort, design, quality and especially investment-appeal. His swivel chairs won the prestigious Australian design award back in 1978 (we’ll be listing the two swivel chairs shortly- this listing is for the sofa only). Rufenacht told ABC in 2006 that it took him 40 different prototypes to get his dining chair right- the design here probably took the same or more.

This furniture is an obvious furniture investment. The design looks virtually as good as the coveted Norwegian Falcon chair. Falcon chairs in Australia have risen in value from about $1000 back in 2002 to $2000 EACH (and more) today- not a bad earner for something you get to sit in and enjoy in the meantime! Rufenacht’s furniture will also last while you’re using it. The quality of the frame EXCEEDS that of the Falcon chair (easily). The leather on this sofa is about 30 years old. (I’m pretty sure it’s prestigious Howe FULL-GRAIN leather.) With normal use (and if the leather is kept nourished / conditioned) this furniture will look virtually the same as it does today in another 30 years. This is an obvious investment not just financially but also from an environmental standpoint- it has been built to last the long-haul.

The other thing I like about this piece is that it comes with the matching footstool. This kind of modernises the design because an L-shape configuration can be achieved with the footstool. (Unfortunately there is no cushion for it so you’ll have to get something made or search for something suitable.)

After many modern pieces end up as landfill this sofa will be passed onto another owner and then an entirely new generation. It was said on the ABC in 2006 that Rufenacht’s furniture will be the antiques of tomorrow and after being in this business for 13 years I agree. JR furniture (Rufenarcht’s company) closed its doors in 2006 unable to compete with cheap overseas imports any longer. The 30+ year history of this Australian business has etched a permanent place in Australian furniture production history and if his work is not already in Australian museums and galleries, it will be.

And there’s one last thing to add. All the headrests screw off- easily and quickly. If you have a smaller space and need less-imposing furniture a more minimalist look can be achieved in minutes. I have a photo of one of the singles without the head-rest on. This photo and listing will be listed on our website within the next few months. (THIS LISTING IS FOR THE SOFA ONLY.)

Again this listing was written in 2016 when this suite sold.