Have I got your attention? Ha, thought so! Now don't get the wrong idea, mind out of the gutter people. I know we all fantasise about our dream furniture find from time to time, even if some may be a little coy about it. I know I do anyway, and these fantasies can be quite elaborate and change from time to time depending on my mood. Usually my object of affection is a Grant Featherston chair, a big brother or sister to the little one in my blog header. There are many different styles of chairs and truly I'm not fussy, any one will do.
So this is how my furniture fantasy goes, first scenario is finding a Featherston chair kerbside on council collection day, a freebie if you like. Can you imagine? I think I would almost crash my car in my quest to get it! Now usually in my fantasy the chair is outside an old Queenslander home or something of similar vintage owned by a little old lady. I feel a little guilty at taking something so valuable for free from the kerb of said little old lady's house so I go and knock on the door and ask her if she is throwing the chair out (meanwhile holding chair to make sure no one else gets their mitts on it). Little old lady says "yes dear, I don't have any need for it anymore" to which I then offer her $50 for the chair, to soften my guilt (this amount differs depending on my mood - and depending on how nice little old lady is).
Sometimes the scene is a second hand store in the middle of nowhere selling a Featherston chair for $20 or something ridiculous. I once read in a magazine about this happening to someone, so yes it does happen apparently. Maybe not here in Queensland though. Today I saw a Featherston chair (not even a big daddy like the chairs above) going for just under $2500 in a vintage store near the city. Anyway the shop owners in my little fantasy had no idea of the chair's value, so good for me, Yay. Not a highly original fantasy but good just the same.
My husband even had a dream the other day about finding a Featherston chair whilst giving someone a Quote and offering to buy it from them for an equally paltry amount of money. And they said yes. See even hubby is in on the furniture fantasy action. So proud :)
So my question to you is: What is your furniture fantasy? If vintage is not your thing then a coveted piece of designer furniture (on sale) is perfectly acceptable. Spill.
Images: Antiques Reporter; Shapiro Auctioneers
Mine is a Douglas Snelling webbed lounge chair with matching footstool being given to me by a reader who loves my blog. Ha! I'm dreaming!
ReplyDeleteJulie you are going to hate me but I got my first Grant Featherston Contour chair for $120 from a secondhand dealer in Brisbane who knew that it was Featherston but not what it really was. She even delivered it to my house for free. Mind you that was in the early 90s so I suppose it doesn't really count. Anita you'll be disappointed to know that as much as I love your blog I have no Snellings for you so Florence Broardhurst cushions will have to do. As to my furniture fantasy? I'm lusting after so many things I can't choose.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Did you know that Matt Blatt is selling reproduction Contours for $1250 so maybe that original one for $2500 is a steal.
I really don't know, my taste changes so often from contemporary to vintage, maybe with a little Louis style thrown in.
ReplyDeleteLove you curbside chair/little old lady fantasy :)
loving your blog - just saw via Leslie's blog that we'll be in the e-course together, i say bring on the teachings of such lovely ladies. x
ReplyDeletebrismod - Ooh good thinking ;) How about I give you a Snelling will you give me a Featherston?
ReplyDeletemidcenturyjo - Oh no way!! That is awesome, lucky you :) I have seen that Matt Blatt are selling them now, made me a little sad (and I must admit a little tempted). The chair I saw today was a little A350 I think it's called, the armchair version of my dining chair - just a wee little one. If it was one of the larger contours maybe...
Jaclyn - Thank you, I'm really looking forward to the course too!
Hi Julie, just came back for a peek at the furniture fantasies. Ha! If I find a Featherston for $120, I'll be sure to call you. But I don't think we can be as lucky as Jo!! The Snellings are more affordable though.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie (and everyone else here too)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful subject! I have a fantasy that actually happened and a slew of ones that haven't (yet!)
Years and years ago I found an original George Nakashima straight backed chair in a trash pile next to a cottage I was moving into! I fell in love without knowing what it was! A few years ago a remake was issued: http://www.dwr.com/product/designers/m-p/george-nakashima/nakashima-straight-backed-chair.do?sortby=ourPicks
As for Fantasy: I've spent a lot of time time thinking about what I'd just love to happen upon. Since patience isn't one of my best virtues I just painted them all: )
http://www.jenrenninger.com/modern-design-deck/
Jen - Hi and welcome. Your George Nakashima chair is gorgeous! There are quite a few things in your Modern Design Deck that I covet too, you're very talented. Thank you for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE these old school wing-backed chairs. A few weeks ago I found a LIME GREEN Queen Anne Chair at a local thrift store. They were having a sale that day for 30% off everything and I just couldn't pass it up. I don't really have room for it in my current apartment, but since I'm hoping to move into a home in the next year or so I justified the purchase. :)
ReplyDeleteNow I just have to decide if I want to recover it or not. At first I wanted to, but the lime green is growing on me. :)
Bre @ http://theredbungalow.blogspot.com
I've had similar fantasies to yours about finding a papa bear chair. Oh, how sweet that would be.
ReplyDeleteGreat question...I think my furniture fantasy would be finding an original Eames during Council hard rubbish collection! Actually, I think I'd be happy with finding any kind of cool chair (doesn't have to be Eames or designer) on the footpath!
ReplyDeleteUm, there seems to be a pattern here - has anyone noticed that we all chose chairs! Chairs really are the king of the furniture world aren't they?
ReplyDeleteJx
really interesting to see such nice collection..The chair is the most important item you can buy, as it is this which will be in contact with your body throughout the working day, and it is this which will need to supply the support your body needs.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving that daydream...i have those kinds all the time! The chair in mustard yellow is screaming at me to take it home now!
ReplyDeleteIt's not furniture but I once read about a woman in California somewhere who picked up 3 vintage Hermes Kelly bags at a garage sale for like $2 each. Urban myth?? I like to think it's true and one day it will happen to me!! xx
ps. loving the blog!
You have brought back a terrible memory for me Julie! When I lived in Australia, I had put a deposit on a Featherston chair, but when I went back to pick it up, the guy had sold it to someone else! I was sick (and wanted vengeance ;), but I had to let it go. Your chair fantasies are similar to mine....one day I will get one of these amazing chairs. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeletePinecone Camp - Oh no. That would have broken my heart. Hope you have a lovely weekend too :)
ReplyDeleteHi i have an original contour featherston dining chair (like the one in your header image). I am thinking of selling it on but dont know how much i should ask for? It seems like you know alot about featherstons...could you give me an indicative price for one of these? thanks so much. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Katrina, hmmm that's a hard one, I'm flattered that you think I may be able to help though, so here goes.... sorry I tend to ramble on :)
ReplyDeleteThe price depends a little on demand, where it is being sold and also what kind of condition your Featherston is in. For example if your chair is in good original condition (so good that someone doesn't need to reupholster it) you may get perhaps $400-$500 on ebay or if in a vintage store I would think they would charge upwards of $700 - $800.
If it is in fair original condition (definitely in need of reupholstering) then I would think you would get about $300-$400 for it, maybe? I bought my chairs about 3 years ago and paid $300 for one and $250 for the second one on ebay. They needed reupholstering and also had some dodgy repairs to the timber legs using screws etc. I then spent at least the same again in fabric and labour for reupholstering.
So, if your chair is a reupholstered chair in very good condition I would think that you would be able to charge maybe $500-$700?? The dining chairs are a lot smaller than the other chairs so don't tend to reach the same prices. The chair I saw going for $2500 in the vintage store was the armchair version of our dining chairs with a small cut out in the back - it was in original conditon however I would have recovered it myself if I had bought it.
Of course if Featherston are very rare and in demand where you live then you may be able to get much more than this, however if they are little known then the opposite may apply.
Another thing to keep in mind is that they are still made under licence by Gordon Mather Industries here in Australia - to buy a new licensed version (not a replica, they are actually authorised to reproduce them) a few years ago was $1500 plus fabric. Matt Blatt are now producing reproduction large contour chairs for around the same price.
I hope some of this helps you! Good luck Katrina :)
I've been dreaming of owning a McCobb Planner Group desk. Unfortunately, the NYC market for McCobb and midcentury furniture in general has gotten insane! Also, at this point I don't even have room for the desk. But a girl can dream! Of course, I too have a few chair fantasies, including an eames rocker.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I found your site through BYW. Love it!
I love your blog. I am upholsterer - furniture is my passion. Please visit my website if you want to see what I have recently done: www.upstairsupholstery.co.uk
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