Obsessed with chairs.

It has been quite a while since I posted, but now I am on holidays I can do some catch up posts.  There seems to be something special about chairs suddenly, and in the last couple of months I have bought a few with no real purpose in mind.  The design of chairs is very cool, and every chair has a different personality.  Unfortunately a lot of people also share my enjoyment of chairs with unique design, and the really special ones are expensive when they are for sale.  Like the Eames chair (right) valued at about $3000 plus.  Replicas sell on eBay for about $600.


I am especially loving Tessa chairs.  Tessa is a company in Melbourne that sells beautiful chairs worldwide.  Designer Fred Lowen founded Tessa with his brother Howard Lindsey.  The Tessa T1 chair received an award in 1970 and the T4 hammock design chair was in the Cologne Fair in 1971 and they loved it.  Tessa still make leather chairs and lounges that are still popular today.


Recently at Abbey's auctions I watched a chair that looked like a well used Tessa style chair, together with 2 well worn footstools, come up for sale.  Even though the sale had a special Mid-Twentieth Century design section, no one really wanted the chair and footstools.  I hadn't really looked at the items to buy, but I jumped in.  I paid $50 on the hammer (about $60 all up).  They are pictured below.

During the auction, Sam and I sneaked a closer look at the chair.  We raised up the seat cushion, and what did we find, but a Tessa tag.  Of course we did.  NICE PICKUP!  They are all cute retro pieces.  Even though each one would be a great project, I decided to sell the footstools.  I have made my $60 back selling them alone.  The Tessa chair is a T8, without arms.  The seat is worn and coming away from the frame at the top.  T8s can sell on eBay in good condition for about $140.  I rang Tessa, who will redo their chairs to your specifications.  They can do any Tessa cushion design on my Tessa frame for $485.  Seeing that the chair has now cost me nothing, I don't know whether to list it as is, and get whatever I can for a worn Tessa T8 on eBay, or, get it recovered and keep it.  So, at the moment it is living in my shop room.  It's great to sit in while I look at all my shop stuff and think.

The chair obsession may also be contagious.  Sam loved this Wellington chair with a swivel base so much we HAD to have it.  It came from Mrs Secondhand in Brunswick.  Sam jumped into their moving truck to test sit on the chair, before it had even be unloaded into the shop.  I wish I had a photo of his legs sticking out from the back of the truck while he was test driving it, it was super funny.


This last chair I want to show I also got from auction, from Steven Graham Auctions. I got some cute children's chairs that day, plus this industrial style office or desk chair.  I can only guess how old it is and where it has been used over the years.  When I bought it, I had intended to sell the chair, but so far it's stayed on display in the hall way.  I love walking past it and appreciating the shape and unique design.  And the little Foo Dogs that my Dad gave me to guard the front door love sitting on it.

Shoppers Notes


I get my approximate valuations courtesy of www.carters.com.au
Tessa website- www.tessafurniture.com
Abbey's Auctions- www.abbeysauctions.com.au
Mrs Secondhand- www.mrssecondhand.com.au/
Steve Graham Auctions- http://stevegrahamauctioneer.com

2 lovely auto trolleys

Mid-Century Trolley

Unfortunately all holidays come to an end.  My last purchase for the holidays was a fantastic mid century auto (or drinks) trolley.  Auto trolleys are more commonly seen in dark timber with turned legs.  I did already have a beautiful art deco trolley that is now for sale on eBay.  See the two pictures to compare styles.  Which one do you like better?   I love both of them, but the retro style is my new passion and fits into my living room style.  I hope someone buys the art deco one and loves it though.

Art Deco Trolley

The art deco trolley I bought last year at Abbey's Auctions.  The mid-century trolley I bought last weekend at The Second Hand Shop.  I had seen the trolley on their website in the previous weeks and really liked it.  However, it wasn't until I read a tweet Saturday morning about them having a sale with 10-20% off most items, that I had the sudden urge to drive an hour across the other side of Melbourne to see if they still had it.  After parting with $200 I had the trolley and was heading home.  I have a few "barenalia" things on the trolley.  As you can see I like amber glassware (amongst many other things). 


Shoppers notes:

Abbeys Auctions have a general auction every Friday and an antique auction every 6 weeks.  They are located at 480-482A Station St, Box Hill.  See http://www.abbeysauctions.com.au/


The Second Hand Shop is located at 10 Binns St, Montmorency.  See http://www.thesecondhandshop.com.au/ or Facebook
& Twitter 2ndhandShop. 

The Beginning of Retro

Since buying my house, I have become obsessed with looking for retro furniture.  Some of the bizarres and shops in Melbourne stock fantastic retro furniture, as do the Mill Markets.  (I will list shops in another blog entry).  But at the moment, there is a lot of cool furniture to be found on eBay.  And, being holidays, it is so much easier to check out eBay listings in the comfort of your own home! Much of this furniture is well loved and shows some minor signs of wear, which is even more attractive, showing authenticity.  The problem with eBay is actually winning the auctions, which can prove tricky. 

Teak sideboard purchased from eBay $480

Dining detting purchased from eBay $260

I bought the two pieces above from eBay, the sideboard looks like Parker or Noblett or Chiswell or similar, but there are no markings.  A coat of Danish Oil has helped spruce it up, and I don't mind the small spots and marks that prove it has been around for 50-60 years.  Just imagine what life this piece of furniture has witnessed!  The dining table is a round marble look laminex in a tan/gold colour and there are four gorgeous orange buttoned vinyl swivel chairs.  This one dates from late 1970s-early 1980s.  The dining suite was made in Melbourne and possibly the sideboard was too.  Love them both!!