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
