Description
Our refurbished Tessa T5 3-seater sofa SOLD for $1750 in the first HOUR it was listed in our NEWLY LISTED Category from Morayfield, Brisbane Northside. The matching PAIR of armchairs sold a week later (to the same buyer).
Background Info and Provenance
A T5 3-seater lounge sofa from the mid-1970’s by Tessa Furniture, a highly-awarded AUSTRALIAN company. (Price is for the sofa ONLY.) The T5 model is very rare, particularly the 3-seater sofas. In 18 years of trading I’ve only had a handful of T5 pieces and never a 3-seater sofa. The T5 model was in production for only a few years. 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 Lowen’s work closer you’ll notice that he achieved much success in the 1950’s AND then went on to create his best designs (and most-awarded) in the 1970’s as well. (There’s even a design he did in the 1980’s that I think is better than the famous T4 model.) The T5 was designed in 1975 and takes obvious cues from the Hans Wegner plank chair. I’ll probably be cut 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 about investing in Tessa Furniture is the assurance of its quality. Tessa Furniture is an Australian institution with a reputation spanning 50 years. They went out of business in 2019, unable to compete with cheap imports any longer. It will be a sorry state of affairs when Australia no longer produces anything for itself.
This sofa is VINTAGE (about 45 years old)- it’s strong, solid and still doing exactly what it should be doing after all these years use. I don’t see any reason why it won’t last forever.
You can add comfort to the long list of advantages here (this is a nice sitting piece- great angles to take pressure off your back and a nice level of plushness too.) It’s long enough to lie out in and perfect for having conversations in. Investment appeal is yet another advantage. These sofas are RARE- they’re MUCH harder to find than the popular T4 model. They’ve been out of production for over 40 years. Plank Sofas by Hans Wegner sell for about AU $4500 in Australia. (That’s being conservative- I’ve also seen them on 1st Dibs in America for over AU$5000- see the screenshot included in this listing.) This refurbished sofa is great buying- I can’t see it ever losing any value (providing you use it with some sense)- you’ll never get that from new furniture!
You can also add practicality to the advantages. The loose cushions sitting on the frame are so easy to keep clean. Remove the covers to spot-clean stains and, after every few years if they start looking grubby, machine-wash them on a gentle cycle to get them fresh again. Simply return the covers to the cushions whilst still damp to prevent shrinkage. Re-upholstery is the cheapest possible upholstery job- the sofa can also stay in your home while the cushions are re-upholstered. This piece is perfect if you have kids or an airbnb place. The lighter-coloured timber frame also adds to the practicality- this creates a more minimalist look which makes it perfect in smaller apartments.
Buying vintage furniture that has already stood the test of time is the best way to invest in your home and reduce landfill.
200622
