Description
SOLD quickly – 2026.
The last 3 photos are display photos showing a pair of Tessa T6 chairs from the 1970’s we sold through iNVISeDGE in 2006 (with chairs with buttons). The final photos (IN EUCALYPTUS LEATHER) are of the chairs we’re selling under consignment from a regular iNVISeDGE seller in Bayswater, MELBOURNE. I personally photographed this suite to become fully versed in what I was selling. iNVISeDGE has been employed by the vendor to co-ordinate all aspects of the sale on their behalf. Items can be sent Australia-wide for a reasonable additional fee (about $230 to get the pair of chairs to Sydney).
We have a 4-piece suite available. It’s very hard to get this number of matching pieces to choose from. Prices quoted below only apply if you buy all 4 pieces. If you want to break up our matching set, different prices will apply depending on what we’re left with and how saleable the remaining pieces are. It’s very hard to get a matching pair of 2-seater sofas- we’ve found that this combination is highly desirable. (Much more desirable than having only one 2-seater.)
2-seater sofas- $950 each
Single-seater armchairs- $875 each
Background Info and Provenance
(Written in 2018 but updated in 2026)
A Tessa T6 lounge suite from the late-1970’s. These chairs were designed by Fred Lowen in the mid-1970’s. Prior to the 1970’s, Fred Lowen achieved critical acclaim from his FLER furniture designs (from the 1950’s and 1960’s). This suite has the same or a very similar look to the Danish and Norwegian designs of the era (such as Farstrup and Falcon chairs). Since the last time I represented a T6 suite, I’ve learnt that this is a very elusive design. Why it’s so rare is beyond me. It’s one of Tessa’s / Lowen’s best designs. Look at the sinewy flow! This design is very graceful- minimalist and refined (but it attracts attention too). It has a very Scandinavian aesthetic which has now become timeless. In my opinion, this design is way better than the Tessa T8- T8’s are quite angular and boxy- the shape of these is more sculptural and dynamic. There’s definitely some magic happening here!
The Tessa T6 design was released in the mid-1970’s. I believe this design was soon discontinued (I think in the late-1970’s). To me the items in this listing are a 1990’s Tessa production though. The timber tone is light (nearly all Tessa furniture in the 1970’s had darker timber- often it was stained dark). The leather colour is 1990’s and the segmenting of the leather is a later Tessa derivative. The segmented cushioning is more desirable because it’s more timeless. The buttons date the overall look- buttoned upholstery was very popular in the 1970’s (and before). This segmented cushioning is VERY comfortable AND has a more contemporary look.
The leather is FULL-GRAIN leather (see the labels)- the best quality leather Tessa ever used. This leather will last for several generations if you periodically clean and condition the furniture. In the 1990’s, Tessa sometimes used TOP-GRAIN leather which is the inferior grade of leather- this is not. Just look at the condition after about 30 years! There are numbers on the underside of some frames- it could be the date ? 1997 ? That date fits with the look of this suite. What doesn’t fit is the T6 design. To my knowledge, the T6 design was not sold in the 1990’s. ? I’ve never come across another suite like this. The suite might have been restored by Tessa in the 1990’s- it’s a mystery to me. And is quite interesting (which makes my life appear very uneventful ;+) . The Tessa T6 design is basically never seen- why is this? It’s much nicer (and more practical) than the famed T4 model- it’s a more compact size compared to the Tessa T4 model.
This suite is priced to SELL! And has obvious investment appeal. They couldn’t even make this suite in China for this price (where they will cut corners so your furniture ends up in our landfill much faster.) This is PREMIUM QUALITY, AUSTRALIAN-MADE furniture using age-old traditions that have basically been lost in this modern world. This furniture was built to be passed from one generation to the next. The frames are basically indestructible, the leather, basically indestructible (Tessa leather after 50 years of use regularly presents close to how it was when new). This design is also timeless (it will never “die”). The leather colour, whilst very 1990’s, has really grown on me. I prefer this suite compared to if the leather was dark brown or black. This tone is neutral, lighter in colour (so it has a “fresher” more “pared-back” look) and the green tone will invite greenery out of the windows inside. This colour leather works extremely well if you have a leafy outlook.
Comfort is also ticked- great angles, great support and a nice amount of plushness. Because it’s Tessa, the durability of the construction is also assured. Research Tessa on-line for a few minutes and you’ll see that Tessa developed its reputation because of top-quality construction. Derivatives of the Tessa T6 retailed new a few years ago for around $11,000 for all 4 pieces (but they’re not as nice as the T6)- at this price, it’s an extremely solid investment. Tessa (an iconic AUSTRALIAN brand) closed in 2019 after a 50-year stint in the marketplace. It’s a very sorry state of affairs, but if you’ve got Tessa Furniture, values can only go up.
Buying vintage furniture that has already stood the test of time is, in my opinion, the best way to invest in your home and reduce your landfill. (It would be very hard for anyone to argue that it’s not!) Tessa Furniture has told stories for about 50 years and will continue to do so after both you and I are long gone.
2512
