Description

The 3-seater sofa (200 cm across) SOLD for $1500 in 4 weeks of being listed- keep following our NEWLY LISTED Category so you don’t miss any of our new finds! The matching 2-seater Tessa Sling sofa SOLD for $1250 in the first 2 hours it was listed in our NEWLY LISTED Category.

IT’S TAKEN ME 3 YEARS TO FIND ANOTHER SUITE IN THIS DESIGN. This design was only produced by Tessa for about one year (in 1981). I’ve had plenty of potential buyers express interest in investing in one of these suites after selling our last suite- this is the first Tessa Sling suite I’ve come across for 3 years now.

Background Info and Provenance

A 3-SEATER Tessa Sling lounge sofa in original condition and in top-quality vintage FULL-GRAIN leather. (THE MATCHING 2-SEATER SOFA AND ARMCHAIR SOLD SEPARATELY.) This is the rarest design ever done by Tessa. The Tessa T4s, T8s and T21s are regularly seen as well as some of the newer designs but this design done in 1981 is elusive. I tried to do some additional research on the Sling design but there’s no information available. These are certainly Tessa originals- the cushions have original Tessa factory labels used in the late-1970’s into the early 80’s. The early 80’s was a turbulent time for furniture manufacturers- cheap overseas imports were entering the market and it’s my belief that in 1981 this design couldn’t compete with other furniture being sold. Very few were released and it would have been because of the high cost of manufacture. Creating curves in solid timber is not easy but creating a curve that runs from the top of the chair to the bottom of the armrest is harder. This type of furniture is rarely seen because (price-wise) it can’t compete with what else is out there.

The big advantage of this is the quality of what’s on offer. This is a solid, heavy sofa- it’s been built to last and already has. As much as I like the look of the award-winning T4 design, the quality and comfort is not as good- the netting is problematic (it stretches and sags over time affecting the comfort) and the frame is laminated timber. This means the timber veneer on the edges can lift, bubble and chip off etc. The design on offer here is SOLID timber- it’s basically indestructible and with normal use it will last well after you and I are gone.

Another pointer of the quality is the use of FULL-GRAIN leather. Tessa began using cheaper leathers in the 1990’s (to try and compete with cheap Chinese imports). If the Tessa label specifies TOP-GRAIN leather on it, it’s the modern shitty leather- don’t be fooled! TOP-GRAIN leather is NOT Top-Grade leather but the top-layer only- two layers of the underside have been split off (to make those really nasty leathers). What’s left is usually heavily processed, thin, thickly painted and susceptible to cracking through, rips and splits, especially at the seams. TOP-GRAIN leathers will usually last about 10 years (depending on how the furniture is used). The FULL-GRAIN leather on this suite is about 40 years old and has had solid use (it was rarely cleaned and conditioned- if ever) but the quality of this leather has meant the suite is ready for another owner (after a dam-good clean, condition and revive of the leather). The leather on this piece shows minor signs of use- but NO cracks going through the leather, NO holes, NO splits, NOTHING major. If you want to use your suite, FULL-GRAIN leather is the only way to go (but it’s getting hard to get- it’s expensive and rarely used in furniture anymore.)

One last pointer of the quality of the Sling design is the use of FULL-GRAIN leather to cover the back as well. In virtually all other Tessa furniture canvas is used which fades, marks, frays and stains (canvas backs can also rip too). Leather is the better option (and much more costly).

This design is also comfortable- it mixes sitting comfort (good support, great angles) with lounge chair comfort (high back and plush comfort where you feel relaxed and comfy).

Fred Lowen’s designs are award-winning. He achieved much respect in the 1950’s (various Lowen designs are held in museums throughout Australia including the Powerhouse Museum) but it’s his designs from the 1970’s that won even more acclaim. I believe this design done in 1981 is his best (it’s certainly up there with the SC55 and the T5). I love the sweeping lines like a flowing ribbon (but in SOLID timber!) and the superior quality. It has the quality of the everlasting T21 design but not the bulkiness and is MUCH rarer than the T21 (T21’s were in production for almost 50 years).

To top it off the Tessa T21 3-seater sofas sold NEW just before Tessa went bust for around $5800 and I rate this much higher than the T21 sofas. This is an outstanding investment that should at least hold its value over the years as you get to enjoy it- you’ll never get that buying new.

The advantage of investing in vintage furniture is simple- when a suite looks like this after 40 years years of use you have irrefutable proof of the quality you’re buying. There’s no better way I can think of to invest in your home and reduce landfill.

NOTE- ANY ORANGE SHINE ON THE LEATHER IS FROM REFLECTION ONLY- there are orange roller-doors in the space I photograph in and the light / sun reflects off these at certain days of the day. There is no orange finish on the leather!

1801 and 2004