Category Archives: Auction Watch

Specific discussion on interesting/curious auction items/items for sale online.

Auction Watch # 25 – Selig Z Chair?

Another week, another interesting item of furniture from Melbourne.

Possible rosewood 1960's chair
Front on!
Mid Century Modern
6 pieces!

20th Century Salvation

It appears to be a version of the Selig Z chair, however in lounge suite form! We’re told it’s rosewood (kind of hard to tell from the photos, but you can catch a glimpse of it in one image) and that it was brought by a Chinese family from the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne in 1971 which to me would date it from the 1960’s. The original cushions were apparently filled with horse hair.

So we have –

  • Solid rosewood timber
  • Selig Z chair style/inspiration
  • Originating from the Chinese Consulate
  • Circa 1960’s
  • Price – no bids starting at $200

It’s a shame I’m 700km’s away otherwise this auction watch post might of come after the fact…..

To find, search eBay for – SIX 1960’s Rosewood Chairs.

Goodluck!

Auction Watch # 24 – Sunken Lounge Room Delight!

As soon as I saw this listing, the first thing that came to mind was a sunken lounge room!

Crown Casino Lounge Suite
Very cool!

The first thought came into yours was ‘here he goes with his big lounge fetish again’…..

But seriously though, can you blame me? How cool is this monstrosity of a lounge! Apparently it originated from the Mahogany room in Crown Casino – that might help explain it’s brown velour upholstery……..

So what are you waiting for? Buy now, build your lounge room around it later and then invite around 13 of your friends and converse the night away!

To find, search eBay for  – Large RETRO modular couch. But be quick, ending tomorrow PM with a starting price of $150!

Auction Watch # 23 – Viking Van Treight Lounge Suite

I’m really impressed with this corner lounge by Van Treight on eBay this week.

Mid Century Lounge Suite
Viking Series?

Consisting of 2 lounges (2 & 3 seater) which are joined in the corner by a nice matching coffee table it has a really nice shape – I love the sloping angles on the back rest/front of the arm rest. I’ve seen various pieces of Van Treight furniture in my time, and I must say that the quality is really, really high.

The same seller also has listed 2 single, matching arm chairs – one has a footstool. I think this presents as a nice opportunity to purchase quite a reasonable sized setting, all in one go!

1960's Australian Lounge Suite
Matching arm chairs!

With a good oiling and some fresh upholstery, I think you’d certainly be onto a winner here!

So what’s the current bid?  Well with all 3 auctions ending in 3 day, we have the –

  • Corner lounge suite and coffee table @ $51
  • High back arm chair @ $86
  • Low back arm chair with foot stool @ $87

Definitely one to keep an eye on. To find – Just search eBay for – Van Treight Viking Series

Happy bidding and Goodluck.

Auction Watch # 22 – Mid Century Corner Lounge

I don’t know what it is about them, but I’ve definitely for a thing for big lounges. Perhaps its the ‘look at me, I can seat 5+ people at once’ attitude that they give off, or the idea of the room it would be in and how it would be furnished that I’m attracted too,  but regardless, I find them really, really cool.

So it’s no surprise that I was impressed by this awesome corner lounge and two matching lounge chairs on eBay this week.

3 piece mid century corner lounge
Nice curves!
1950/60's Lounge
2 -tone vinyl!

In the right space, I think that it would look amazing! And all for the reasonable (starting price) of only $400!

To find search eBay for – ORIGINAL VINTAGE RETRO CIRCA 1960 VINYL CURVED 3 PIECE LOUNGE SUITE MID-CENTURY.

Be sure to have some strong men at your disposal and large double doors into your living/lounge room to save any heart (and back) ache! Until next time.

Auction Watch # 21 – Summertone Buffet

Tonight I thought I’d log a few images as reference of a Summertone buffet/sideboard currently listed on eBay.

1950's Sideboard
eBay listing for a Summertone Buffet

Condition is OK, but work is needed, and with a starting price of $500 I think it’s pushing the envelope a little. However I think it’s worth noting as Summertone pieces have a great design and seem to be a little harder to come across! Nice shot of the makers label – which is different to other (earlier?) versions I have seen which appear to be more so of a badge.

To find – search for ‘Summertone Buffet’.

George Doukoff

I’ve had a hard time over the last few weeks finding anything of great interest to share with you for my ‘Auction Watch’ blog posts. Tonight whilst trawling all the usual haunts again I was less than impressed (hey – maybe it’s me!) however a chair listed for sale on eBay caught my eye.

1950's Chair
Similarities?
1950's Mid Century Chair
Silky Oak

The similarity between it and my ‘Warwick library chair’ which I posted about here almost 3 years ago reminded me that I needed to post an update about the said chair in question.

I was contacted by Dean from Australian Modern and he referred me to an article he had written about the designer – George Doukoff. It’s well worth a read, and you can find that article here – https://australianmodern.wordpress.com/2014/05/25/george-doukoff-the-man-behind-the-volkschair/

Re-reading back through Georges history myself, there is every chance that the chair currently listed on eBay (search for Atomic Wooden Silky Oak Mid Century Chair – Buy It Now $75)  is an early version/prototype that was discussed in the article of the eventual ‘Volkschair’.

The A-frame legs and its curves looks very, very similar along with those little arm rests sitting atop. The materials used are right for the period in question (early 1950’s) and the location of the chair (Strathpine QLD) is just 20km’s north of Brisbane, where George had his store and workshop.  Could these factors just be a coincidence? Possibly, and without any hard documentation or makers marks it’s just speculation! I’ll leave you to make up your own mind.

Comparison
Side by side!

Auction Watch # 20 – 1960’s Swivel Lounge Chair

Tonight I open auction watch # 20 with a well known phrase – Credit given where credit is due.

What do I mean by that you may ask? See below…..

Auction Watch # 20
What a great picture!

How amazingly good is the main picture for the auction listing of a 1960’s swivel lounge chair!?! The way the sunlight is pouring through (I’d imagine a window) onto the backrest whilst creating subtle shadows and differing tones of colour on the rest of the chair is a real treat to look at. This image alone makes me want to be its new owner!

Of course there’s the great shape and design of the chair, along with the current bid – only being $71!

To find, search eBay for 1960s Swivel Lounge Chair, but be quick, there is just under 24 hours to go!

Mystery Solved – Fler Tub Lounge – Flerbelle

Following on from here and here, you can see I was a little stuck on finding out any more information on a Fler lounge suite I currently have in my possession. Well, that was last week! Fast forward to tonight and thanks to Dean from Melbourne  we have now solved the mystery.

Dean got in contact via the contact page and advised that he has the identical lounge suite, in the original, awesome lime green upholstery.

Retro Lounge suite - Australian
Original, Lime green Fler ‘flerbelle’ lounge suite.

Turns out that Dean’s parents brought the lounge suite new, and today it still looks just as good as it did when it came off the showroom floor. I asked how comfortable the lounge suite is, as I know for me it was possibly the most comfortable lounge chair I’ve ever sat it. He replied –

Yes, the single-seater tub chairs, when you sit sideways in them with your legs draped over 1 side, are just like sitting in a cloud!

So you may be asking now how have we identified the lounge suite? All we’ve got is an identical suite, with no real other markings or labels, right? Wrong!

Well, you see, as it turns out Dean’s parents also kept the original sales brochure! And he was good enough to send through some images of it also!

1960's/70's Fler Lounge Catalogue
Flerbelle – In all it’s original glory!
Prices for an original Fler Lounge Suite
Original Fler Catalogue with pricing!

So there we have it, Flerbelle – consisting of a single moulding of strong rigid polyurethane covered with soft foam.

How great is the original brochure – dimensions, original pricing, original showroom image! Super cool!

Again I must thank Dean J, from Melbourne for identifying my unidentified Fler lounge suite, without his time and effort to get in contact and send through the above images who knows how long I’d be searching the interwebs for! Hopefully it may help out others in the future with their quest for knowledge also.

As it turns out that Dean is moving apartments shortly, and unfortunately the Fler suite won’t fit and he will be looking to find a new home for it. So if you’re in the market for a 1 owner, original Fler Flerbelle 3 piece lounge suite in excellent condition with the original sales brochure, be sure to get in contact and I’ll pass on your details.

Auction Watch # 19 – 1950’s Classic Sideboard

Came across a familiar looking sideboard on eBay tonight – albeit in a slightly different configuration to one’s I’ve posted on before.

1950's Australian Sideboard
eBay listed Snelling Sideboard

With just over 2 days left and a starting price (with no bids) of $80 it seems to be flying under the radar.  Shame it’s interstate (Victoria) or I would be posting about this listing after the fact….. 😉

To find, search eBay for – 1950’s Australian Classic Sideboard. Goodluck.

Auction Watch # 18 – Mid Century Dining Chairs x 3

Fair range of goodies on eBay this week, however I picked these 3 Mid Century dining chairs to share.

Retro dining chairs
Auction Watch # 18

Described as a ‘Set of three Mid Century Dining Chairs to restore with a cool solid timber back handle’ I really love their shape. The lines of those angled A-frame timber legs and the white vinyl 1 piece seat/back support are just so clean. They actually remind me a little of the ‘volkschair’ I posted about on the blog previously – see here.

It’s a little hard to tell if the handle on the rear top of the back support is original, I’m leaning towards no, as the timbers appear to be different, along with the clash of styles although it does contrast nicely against the white vinyl upholstery and tie in with the dark stained timber base.

Retro Kitchen Chairs
Great shape!

Price? Buy it now for $67! Cheap as chips for such a great looking set of chairs. Yes they do need a little bit of work, and it’s a shame they’re missing the extra one to make a set of 4 however I think they’d be a great buy!

To find, search eBay for – Mid Century x 3 dining chairs retro vintage Danish Eames Style Atomic To Restore