Items Similar to 1970s Fred Lowen for Tessa Black Leather & Teak T4 Sofa
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 19
1970s Fred Lowen for Tessa Black Leather & Teak T4 Sofa
About the Item
Low profile meets high comfort without compromise with this T4 Sofa. This particular piece is an early 70s release, and is designed by Fred Lowen for Tessa Furniture. Curved, bent-ply teak rails are the ideal frame to suspend the gorgeous leather cushions in a cozy, netted rope hammock. Stunning from all angles and crafted from the finest materials. This sofa is in excellent original vintage condition and we're certain you won't find a more sublime representation anywhere (if you can even find one). The hammock is like-new and provides all of the supportive capabilities it exhibited decades ago. This gently used sofa was clearly loved and pampered during it's earlier life. Our restoration team, of course, spent many hours detailing every inch and mitigating most of the blemishes on the teak frame. Only very minor, age appropriate flaws remain on the teak. A few small sections of canvas on the (non-viewable) reverse side of the leather cushions have small gaps where the stitching came loose.
We've had several 70s sofas over the years, and this T4 model is one of the most comfortable. The scoop style and high-back design cradles and supports the body all the way up to the head. The scoops allow your butt to sink down with a slight elevation of your legs. High enough for tall people to have head support, and low enough for short people to have their feet planted firmly on the floor.
This supple black leather is really the quintessentially perfect color for the style and tone of the teak frames. As tasteful and inviting today as it was 4 decades ago, the segmented, tubular ripple-style upholstery drips with texture and character. The leather has been thoroughly cleaned and conditioned. The color and texture are uniform throughout with no visible discoloration.
This set is from a long running successful Australian furniture design company which garnered several Australian design awards and became a household name. Established by Fred Lowen in the late 1960s Tessa made use of Australian timbers, engineered timbers and incorporated contemporary design trends in their furniture designs.
Tessa was an ambitious endeavor, scaling up production on demand, displacing smaller furniture manufacturers and exploiting export markets. Their heyday coincides with Fred Lowen's stewardship and a frenzy of award winning design output from the late 1960s to the late 1970s.
From its inception Tessa invested heavily in the tools and the people to produce goods of a superior build and finish. They also sourced the most productive partners to fabricate components beyond their means either technically or resource wise - in the process supporting other Australian industry.
In 1946 Fred Lowen (FL) set up a partnership with Ernest Rodeck (ER) - FLER. Lowen was supported in this early endeavour in 1948 when Fred Ward (Myer's staff furniture designer at the time) designed a wooden dining chair suitable for production in the Fler facility. An introduction to Lou Newton the furniture buyer for Myer completed the picture and Fler received an opening order for 500 chairs. The Fler SC55 from 1955 was the next big break with several interstate manufacturers licenced to produce them as well.
Tessa was established by Fred Lowen and his brother in 1968 after Fler was bought out. Tessa became the vehicle for some of Lowen's greatest designs which remained in production until June 2019. Lowen retired from Tessa in the mid-1980s.
T4 Sofa: 32.5"H x 36"D x 71"W
Sofa Seat: 22.25"D x 66.25"W 17.5"H.
- Creator:TESSA Furniture Co (Maker),Fred Lowen (Designer)
- Similar to:Florence Knoll (Designer)Percival Lafer (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)Width: 71 in (180.34 cm)Depth: 36 in (91.44 cm)Seat Height: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:Australia
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. VERY VERY VERY Good original condition. No rips in leather. Very minor imperfections in leather. Leather has been thoroughly cleaned and conditioned. Leather is soft and supple with uniform color and texture throughout. No discoloration.
- Seller Location:Chattanooga, TN
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2255334777402
About the Seller
4.9
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
Established in 2010
1stDibs seller since 2016
513 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Chattanooga, TN
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Teak & Smoked Glass 1970s Fred Lowen for Tessa Coffee Table & End Tables SetBy Percival Lafer, TESSA Furniture Co, Fred LowenLocated in Chattanooga, TNMinimalist Tessa T4 M square side table & rectangle coffee table set designed by Fred Lowen. The vintage 1970s side tables feature 3/8″ thick smoked glass to...Category
Vintage 1970s Australian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsSmoked Glass, Teak
- Tufted Leather Balinese Style Danish Modern Solid Teak and Cane SofaBy Finn Juhl, Peter HvidtLocated in Chattanooga, TNAlthough not marked by the maker, this exceptional, vintage (late 1970s / early 1980s) solid teak sofa has a distinctive Danish modern design but may actually be Canadian. The sofa f...Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Teak
- Solid Teak Original Cognac Leather Danish 3-Seater Sofa by A. Mikael LaursenBy Percival Lafer, A. Mikael Laursen, Illum WikkelsøLocated in Chattanooga, TNMade by A. Mikael Laursen in Denmark, circa late 1960s-early 1970s. Not your typical dainty Scandinavian Modern sofa. This hefty brute won't creek, wobble or bow under the weight of ...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Teak
- Original Cognac Leather Solid Teak Danish Sofa Loveseat Set by A. Mikael LaursenBy Percival Lafer, A. Mikael Laursen, Illum WikkelsøLocated in Chattanooga, TNMade by A. Mikael Laursen in Denmark, circa late 1960s-early 1970s. Not your typical dainty Scandinavian Modern sofa set. These hefty brutes won't creek, wobble or bow under the weig...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Teak
- Rosewood & Butterscotch Leather MP-163 "Earth" 3-Seater Sofa by Percival LaferBy Percival LaferLocated in Chattanooga, TNWe've had several Percival Lafer sofas and chairs over the years, and this MP-163 "Earth" model sofa is by far the most comfortable. The scoop style and high-back design cradles and ...Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Rosewood
- Adrian Pearsall Cloud Sofa for Craft Associates Fully RestoredBy Adrian Pearsall, Craft AssociatesLocated in Chattanooga, TNFULLY restored. A true jaw-dropper from every angle. The new faux leopard fur fabric contrasts perfectly with the old-growth walnut and black lacquer trim. Ultra soft to the touch...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsWalnut, Upholstery
You May Also Like
- Mid-century Fred Lowen Tessa Leather ArmchairBy Fred LowenLocated in LYON, FRTessa T4 lounge designed for Tessa Furniture by Fred Lowen. Bent ply Teak frames with a suspended hammock back supporting original leather cushions. Frames ...Category
Vintage 1970s Australian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsLeather
- Pair of 1970s Trix & Robert Haussmann for Knoll Black Leather Mirror Sofa SetteeBy Knoll, Robert and Trix HaussmannLocated in Berlin, DEPair of 1970s Trix & Robert Haussmann for Knoll 2-seat sofa settee. This pair is made in black leather and mirror. All original collectors condition. The Mirror Sofa...Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Settees
MaterialsMirror, Leather
- Rare Sofa, Italy, 1970s, Newly Upholstered in Pure AlpacaBy Percival Lafer, Sergio Rodrigues, Jean Gillon, Mario Bellini, Joe ColomboLocated in London, GBA superb and rarely seen sofa. As comfortable as it looks. Made in Italy the sofa nods to Brazilian mid century design. The wooden frame is in original...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Two-Seater Sofa, Lacquer & Leather, Italian Design, 1970sLocated in Antwerp, BEItalian Design; Lacquer; leather; leather straps; cushions; lounge chair; two-seater; 1970s; Mid-Century Modern; Comfortable Italian two-seater sofa designed in the 1970s. The fr...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMetal
- Marzio Cecchi Brown Buffalo Leather Sofa, Italy, 1970sBy Marzio CecchiLocated in Antwerp, BEMarzio Cecchi; Brown; Buffalo; Leather; Sofa; Italy; 1970s; Italian Design; Postmodern; Architect; Daybed; Adjustable Sofa; Cushions; A rare sofa by Italian designer Marzio Cecch...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Scarpa Soriana Sofa for Cassina, Bouclé Wool, Italy, 1970sBy Afra & Tobia Scarpa, CassinaLocated in Antwerp, BEScarpa; Afra & Tobia Scarpa; Soriana Sofa; Two-Seater; Cassina; Bouclé Wool; Italy; Italian Design; 1970s; Mid-Century Modern; This Soriana two-seater sofa, reupholstered in bouclé ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsChrome
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Fred Lowen
Tessa Vintage Furniture
Knoll 500
Knoll Set Teak
Er Chair
Florence Knoll Black Leather Sofa
Percival Lafer Black Leather Chair
Florence Knoll T Angle
Early Florence Knoll Sofa
Folke Jansson Orion
Fred Rigby Sofa
Gingham Couch
Gingham Sofa
Gunnar Sorlie
Hoffman Sofa
Jean-Marie Massaud On Sale
Kaare Klint 6092
Kabinet Cottonflower