Pair of Sculptural 'Tronso' Low-Back Armchairs by DON

Designer
Maker
Country
Date
Size
New Zealand
1967
W 73cm, D 73cm, H 77cm | Seat H 41cm
SOLD
$
3450
 NZD
Buy now
Enquire
Description

Sculpted aerodynamic curves in solid mahogany define this iconic set of armchairs from local producer DON furniture. The "world famous in New Zealand" maker was a leader in locally produced furniture and excelled in capturing the sleek Scandinavian style.

This design takes its inspiration from Fred Lowen's 'Narvik' range for Fler. It's a stylish offering defined by sharp hand-shaped armrests and refined hook-end uprights. The design has a lightness of form and timeless sophistication that remains relevant and will stand out in any contemporary interior.

Materials
+
Mahogany Frames. Textile: Bora Bora 'Spice' Mokum designer fabric from James Dunlop. Composition: 51% Recycled Polyester, 49% Polyester. Care: Please enquire for more details on this fabric.
Condition
+

Each piece is checked and carefully hand restored at our Kingsland studio workshop. Our focus is preserving the character and patina of the design while ensuring it displays beautifully in a contemporary interior.

Please note:
Frames Refinished.
Restoration
+

Each piece is checked and carefully restored at our Kingsland studio workshop. Our focus is preserving the character and patina of the design while ensuring it displays beautifully in a contemporary interior.

Our Process:
- Joints checked and reglued
- Timber cleaned and stains removed
- Veneer repairs if needed
- Surfaces polished / refinished
Viewing
+

The items showcased in our gallery are constantly changing – not all items are on display at once.

Please enquire if there is a specific piece you would like to view and we’ll make sure it’s in the gallery.

Collection / Delivery
+

All pieces are available for collection in person from our Ponsonby gallery. We are also happy to provide a quote for delivery throughout New Zealand.

Please enquire for delivery options.

No items found.

Pair of Sculptural 'Tronso' Low-Back Armchairs by DON

CALL
You can call us on 021 672 446
VISIT
We would love to see you at our gallery: 15 Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, Auckland.

Note: We showcase a curated edit from the Mr. Bigglesworthy catalogue. Please contact us to view specific items.
MESSAGE
Please fill in your details and we will be in touch as soon as possible.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
About 
DON Furniture
Veiw all 
DON Furniture
DON Furniture
DON Furniture
New Zealand
c1950s - 1980s

DON Furniture was one of the largest furniture brands in New Zealand during the mid-20th century. In the 1960s DON was at the peak of its popularity with a primetime TV advert proclaiming “Don brings you the cool, clear line of international design”. It’s a beautifully shot commercial, featuring the Scandinavian style ‘Danart’ lounge suite with a backing track of smooth sultry saxophone.

The DON brand was owned by Felt & Textiles of New Zealand Ltd (later Feltex). In the early 1960s, Feltex also acquired the popular Vono and Cintique brands from B.L. Hart & Co. This gave Feltex a considerable advantage in the wholesale furniture market as they could cover a broad range of buyers. Cintique for the traditional, conservative buyers, DON and Vono for the younger contemporary audience.

The 1960s was a golden age for DON furniture. New Zealand had introduced strict import restrictions in the late 50s to protect and promote local industry, this allowed DON to quickly gain market dominance. Through efficiencies of scale, DON was able to produce high-quality furniture at very affordable prices, effectively growing the market for modern furniture.

One of the unfortunate outcomes was that large makers like DON focused on growing their market share through advertising and mass production, not by investing in original design. It was more efficient and less risky to just copy successful products from other local and international makers, ultimately stifling furniture creativity in New Zealand during the 60s and 70s.

A common strategy also used by Feltex (which can often confuse collectors) was allowing the DON, Vono and Cintique labels to be shared across the same range of furniture designs, this allowed popular ranges to be sold to competing retailers who only had representation of one brand.

Today, the DON brand is ‘world famous in New Zealand’ with an enduring legacy of well-crafted and elegant mid-century furniture. DON was pivotal in promoting and popularising the modern aesthetic to a generally conservative New Zealand audience and will continue to be loved and appreciated by future generations.

Check out the classic 1960s Don TV commercial to see the brand in action.

Learn more +