Description
LOCATION- Vermont South, MELBOURNE.
We have a matching Catt extension table available at the moment in another iNVISeDGE listing, if you’re looking for a matching table as well.
$225 PER chair – we would sell 1, 4 or 5 chairs depending on your needs. Five swivel chairs were an option back in the day. Five swivel chairs fit exceptionally well around a circular table, a layout frequently seen in classic vintage suites. Rigid symmetry isn’t necessary for round tables- positioning five chairs around the circle creates a more organic, visually pleasing look.
Provenance and Background Info
(Written in 2026)
A set of CATT dining suite made in Canningvale, Western Australia. Catt Furniture (Charles Catt & Son) was founded in Western Australia in the mid-1960s by the father-and-son duo Charles Catt (an English cabinet maker) and his son Roy Catt (who was responsible for the designs) after emigrating from the United Kingdom to Perth. The table and chair bases were shaped out of Western Australian Jarrah- the seat shells were produced from fibreglass, taking the swan-chair design concept of the 1950’s to new heights.
Featuring high-quality, second-generation upholstery, these chairs were professionally updated approximately seven years ago. The fabric choice is exceptional-heavyweight, durable, and highly resilient. The light tone lends a fresh, contemporary aesthetic, while the subtle, indistinct pattern introduces a sophisticated point of interest without distracting from the stunning shape of the frames.
Designed in the mid-1970s, this exceptional Catt Furniture set is part of the iconic President suite. These are arguably some of the most comfortable dining chairs ever made- substantial enough to comfortably serve as a lifetime desk chair. The curves, angles, and back height are perfectly engineered, complemented by wonderfully plush, supportive cushioning. To top it off, the integrated swivel mechanism elevates the seating experience to an entirely new level of comfort.
The structural integrity of these pieces is just as exceptional. Having easily withstood the last 40 years, there is no reason they won’t endure another 40. The bases are crafted from solid Jarrah reinforced with an internal steel support, while the hidden craftsmanship beneath the upholstery is equally remarkable. The seats are moulded from steel and fiberglass to guarantee structural longevity. If dining chairs of this exact calibre and manufacturing standard were showcased on the floor of Space Furniture today, they would easily command a price tag of around $3,000 per chair.
Catt Furniture has many entries in the State Library of Western Australia. This highly-coveted furniture brand attracted much success in their day and deservedly so. This design helped Catt Furniture win the coveted Good Design Award in 1976 (beating out competition from Sydney and Melbourne). State Library photos show carpenters making the table that goes with this chair design. There are many archived photos that showcase their designs but it’s the photos of their workshop that captivate me. Every photo shows PEOPLE making Catt Furniture BY HAND with pride (yes, real people making something, can you believe?). While sitting on one of these chairs today, its humbling to consider the talent, creativity and determination that went into making this furniture all those years ago. These chairs were at the absolute pinnacle in their day and stocked by Grace Brothers in the 1970’s. I did a little digging- they were priced at over $1,536 for the set of 6 chairs in velvet back in 1977. With inflation this means this set of 5 is valued at about AU $9,054 in today’s values (but you can’t buy anything like this anymore so they’d actually be worth more).
So the investment appeal in the future is ensured- you’d be hard pressed to find something with this level of appeal and character ever again.
Above all, these chairs are an investment in the future of our environment- furniture made predominantly by hand that has stood the test of time is one of the best ways we can reduce landfill and your carbon footprint.
2608 1811 and 1910 and 2004
