Description

SOLD to an interior designer in the first day they were listed (2025).

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Four upholstered dining chairs designed by Douglas Snelling in the 1950’s and produced by TH Brown & Sons, most likely in the late-1950’s. This is only the third time I’ve had chairs in the upholstered variety over the 25 years I’ve been in this business. Retains TH Brown& Sons markings from the 1950’s. The construction quality is exceptional and the design equally as exceptional- very pleasing on the eye with this fluid shape but still with that 1950’s quirkiness- love these!

Original vinyl from the 1950’s. Thick, durable, easy to look after and love the houndstooth patterning.

Price is for all FOUR CHAIRS.

Included is a display image showing a set of these chairs iNVISeDGE sold back in 2011.

Location- Eagle Junction, Brisbane 6km from the city.

Provenance and Background Info

(Written in 2011 but updated in 2026.)

A set of SIX (6) dining chairs designed by Douglas Snelling in the early 1950’s. It’s my understanding that the upholstered variety of this design came after the webbed chair and reached the market in the mid-to-late 1950’s. The fascinating part with these chairs is that they were actually produced by TH Brown and Sons of Adelaide. Each chair has a TH Brown ink tag and another stamp stating they achieve the S1 Australian furniture standard. Whether TH Brown produced this design under license or not I don’t know, but the design is identical to Snelling’s. They’re certainly a 1950’s production. I think it’s an interesting twist- I was not aware TH Brown ever did this design before 2011. TH Brown is highly acclaimed for the quality of their work spanning several decades- their work exceeds the quality of virtually every other furniture maker in Australia operating in the 1950’s and 60’s. This is great news for the new owners- these are solid, sturdy chairs (more solid than all of the Snelling chairs I’ve had and Snelling chairs are great). TH Brown won several contracts to produce coveted Danish designs under license in Australia in the 1960’s. It was work like this that paved the way for this happening.

I love this design and actually prefer it to the webbed variety. The webbing can take a lot of attention away from the frames and I think it’s the frame that makes the chair. It’s fluid and flowing almost organic on one hand and jagged and harsh with regards to the leg angles. It’s the epitome of 50’s styling- these chairs look like they’ve come straight out of a 1950’s House and Garden magazine and have been time-warped into 2026. Don an apron, create a beehive on your head and become the perfect accompaniment to these chairs!

Aside from the aesthetics these chairs are highly comfortable, very durable (just look at them 60 years on!) and a great investment. Fifties designs have fetched good returns since the mid 1990’s- I believe they will continue to increase in value along with inflation (at the very least). Any new chair will lose its value by half (or more) the second you walk it out of the shop.

This is a captivating design you want to just keep looking at and a pleasure to use. Both COMFORTABLE (with it’s high back and curve in the back) and DURABLE, with the meticulous attention to detail. After modern dining chairs have ended as landfill, these 60-year-old chairs will be passed onto yet another generation to enjoy. There are very few better ways to invest in your home and reduce landfill.

1803 , 2601