Description

This chair is being sold on consignment by a regular iNVISeDGE seller in BAYSWATER, Melbourne. Michael also has a matching Tessa footstool in storage in Brisbane (with the pedestal base and second one in Geelong- both are different coloured leathers but it’s a separate cushion sitting on the base so the leather could be re-coloured or reupholstered easily to match). Call Michael on 0412 757 348 for more information or to discuss anything about this listing.

Interstate freight can be arranged through one of our preferred furniture carriers for a reasonable additional fee (APPROX. $180 to Sydney) or you can use a furniture carrier of your choice.

(IMPORTANT NOTE- This chair is in ORIGINAL FULL-GRAIN leather (from the 1980’s)- black. This is FULL-GRAIN leather which is the ONLY leather where the FULL-hide has been retained and has had little processing. Top-Grain leather is the TOP-GRAIN only- the underside has been split off (to make those really cheap, nasty leathers). The TOP ONLY is left- it’s the thin modern-day, CHEAP alternative that first came about when Chinese furniture started taking over the marketplace (around the late-1980’s). TOP-GRAIN leather is susceptible to splits, rips, deep cracks and splitting at the seams. If you see leather that has ripped, it’s virtually always TOP-GRAIN leather- it’s worth LESS than HALF the price of full-grain leather.)

Background Info and Provenance

(This description was updated in Jan 2026)

This is arguably the most sought-after chair to ever come out of Australia. The Contour range by Grant Featherston is probably the most collectable in terms of dollar-value, but this design, the T21 Delmont swivel chair, released by Tessa in the early 1970’s is, in my experience, the most asked-for chair. The value of T21 (and Delmont) furniture has sky-rocketed during COVID-19 lockdowns- the popularity has increased very noticeably since 2020. This design is technically not the T21 design but the Delmont. The Delmont design is less known only because there are so few around. After 25-years in this business, this is the forth or fifth time I’ve had Tessa Delmont furniture. I completely understand why so many people want these chairs. The quality just jumps out at you and the comfort … OMG!

The only real difference I can see between the Tessa Delmont and the T21 is a refinement on the T21. The exposed timber runs up the entire side of the chair creating a classier look, the cushions have been streamlined and the armrest protectors have been markedly improved. The extra timber helps “break-up” the overall look plus the timber becomes a focal point.

After a 50-year stint in the Australian Marketplace, making virtually ALL their furniture in AUSTRALIA, Tessa Furniture died late in 2019. It’s a sorry state of affairs when an Australian business can no longer do what they do so well because of cheap imports destined to end up as landfill. And this is the very reason why Tessa eventually died. Their designs are so well-made that the second-hand market for Tessa pieces ended up becoming more sought-after than new Tessa Furniture. And who can blame people going straight to the second-hand market for designs such as these? The QUALITY of these chairs is so exceptional that second-hand ones often still look basically new after 10, 20, 30, 40, even 50 years of use.

I believe this chair- the T21 Delmont swivel chair- by Tessa, is THE best investment in the furniture marketplace. People have lusted after this design for 50 or more years now- plus they are NO LONGER in production so more people will hang onto theirs for a lifetime of enjoyment and less and less will be coming onto the secondary market. T21 chairs retailed NEW in FULL-GRAIN leather for about $4,400 EACH just before Tessa went under- I’m nearly certain the Delmont was even more expensive- at my price (ONE THIRD retail) it should be obvious to anybody that the only way the value of these chairs can go, is up. This chair is about as good as you can get.

Additionally, you have to be careful buying Tessa Furniture. Tessa went through a stage (I believe from about 1990 to 2010) when cheaper leathers were used. I have seen several second-hand Tessa T21 chairs being sold online upholstered with cheaper leather- cracked completely through in the seat section, the back-headrest leather had cracked through and a seams were ripped apart- other cracking will be inevitable if you buy a Tessa chair in a cheaper leather. Some of these cheaper “leathers” can be completely wrecked within 10 years. This chair is upholstered in quality FULL-GRAIN leather, back in the days before they started grading it! (This is likely to be Howe Leather- a premium Australian leather). Pigmented FULL-GRAIN leather (like this) is the best leather you can buy and the most durable. TOP-GRAIN leather is NOT the best leather you can buy- it won’t last as long as full-grain leather.

This chair is about 45 years old and look at it! No guessing the quality here. After much of the world’s furniture ends up as landfill, this chair will be passed onto another user and eventually a whole new generation. Now that no Tessa Furniture is made anymore, I can’t see any reason why this design (made in AUSTRALIA) won’t slowly increase to the value they were selling for new (ie. $4,400 EACH). There’s no better way I can think of to invest in your home, the future of our environment and our local community.

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