Made Local: How an Iconic Mid-Century Stool is Being Revived
Australia's oldest furniture brand is bringing back an iconic stool. Here's how it's being resurrected in Adelaide
During the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, the TH Brown factory in suburban Adelaide, SA, buzzed with the production of highly collectable mid-century coffee tables, dining furniture, stools, and lounges. Groups of artisans worked to cut, sand, construct, lacquer and upholster luminary pieces such as the Danish Bar Stools, which were then featured around island benches in newly open-plan kitchens in the most modern Australian homes.
In the wake of cheap, mass-produced imports in the 1980s the company, established in 1911, ceased production of household furniture, pivoting instead to commercial, and leaving an Australia-sized hole in local residential furniture manufacturing.
But today, TH Brown’s most beloved designs are finding their way back to us, thanks to the third generation of the Brown family returning to the fold. Produced under licence in Adelaide by Workspace Commercial Furniture, artisans are once again hand producing some of Australia’s most iconic mid-century designs. Here, we profile the rebirth of the Danish Bar Stool.
In the wake of cheap, mass-produced imports in the 1980s the company, established in 1911, ceased production of household furniture, pivoting instead to commercial, and leaving an Australia-sized hole in local residential furniture manufacturing.
But today, TH Brown’s most beloved designs are finding their way back to us, thanks to the third generation of the Brown family returning to the fold. Produced under licence in Adelaide by Workspace Commercial Furniture, artisans are once again hand producing some of Australia’s most iconic mid-century designs. Here, we profile the rebirth of the Danish Bar Stool.
Director of manufactuing and chairman of Workspace Commercial Furniture, Trevor Gould, and the master designer’s son, Simon Brown, in the Workspace Commercial Furniture factory.
Fast forward to when Simon and his wife Toni Briggs-Brown were planning the renovation of their Philip Cox-designed Sydney home. They realised that the Danish Bar Stool would be perfectly in place in their mid-century-style kitchen.
After contacting vintage furniture resellers, they discovered the bar stools were still sought-after, yet difficult to find in multiple quantities.
Fast forward to when Simon and his wife Toni Briggs-Brown were planning the renovation of their Philip Cox-designed Sydney home. They realised that the Danish Bar Stool would be perfectly in place in their mid-century-style kitchen.
After contacting vintage furniture resellers, they discovered the bar stools were still sought-after, yet difficult to find in multiple quantities.
The back catalogue of TH Brown’s production plans.
Intrigued, they contacted Trevor Gould, the chairman of Workspace Commercial Furniture to test the waters. Would he be interested in manufacturing the iconic bar stools once again? The last time the factory produced the stools was in 1982 when it was under the TH Brown ownership. Could he create them in his 150-person factory once again, under license? The answer was a resounding yes, so, aged 59, Simon returned to his life-long passion.
In 2017 Simon relaunched the family brand and the next year began to reissue the iconic pieces his father, master designer Peter Brown, had created more than 50 years before.
Redesigning your home? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz and browse their previous projects
Intrigued, they contacted Trevor Gould, the chairman of Workspace Commercial Furniture to test the waters. Would he be interested in manufacturing the iconic bar stools once again? The last time the factory produced the stools was in 1982 when it was under the TH Brown ownership. Could he create them in his 150-person factory once again, under license? The answer was a resounding yes, so, aged 59, Simon returned to his life-long passion.
In 2017 Simon relaunched the family brand and the next year began to reissue the iconic pieces his father, master designer Peter Brown, had created more than 50 years before.
Redesigning your home? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz and browse their previous projects
Each of the original designs is captured in historical slides.
Forty years on, the bar stools are once again crafted with the care and dedication shown to their forebears. This time however, the teak frame and vinyl upholstery is replaced with sustainably-grown ash and offered with a choice of upholstery (including Italian leather).
And, almost half a century down the track, the production process remains almost the same, with a harder-wearing two-pack lacquer the only difference.
Forty years on, the bar stools are once again crafted with the care and dedication shown to their forebears. This time however, the teak frame and vinyl upholstery is replaced with sustainably-grown ash and offered with a choice of upholstery (including Italian leather).
And, almost half a century down the track, the production process remains almost the same, with a harder-wearing two-pack lacquer the only difference.
The componentry, parts and raw materials arrive at the factory in Adelaide, SA.
Once the ash planks are cut to the original pattern, craftspeople complete each step by hand.
This is finished off with bandsaws, spindle and shaping.
Once the ash planks are cut to the original pattern, craftspeople complete each step by hand.
This is finished off with bandsaws, spindle and shaping.
Sanding the Danish Bar Stool’s back and seat.
Each part is then sanded by machine, and by hand, finishing with a rub down using 220-grit sandpaper.
Browse beautifully designed Australian kitchens
Each part is then sanded by machine, and by hand, finishing with a rub down using 220-grit sandpaper.
Browse beautifully designed Australian kitchens
One of the many craftspeople hand-sanding each piece.
The 25 components are then assembled into the stool using mainly dowels and glue joints.
Some of the components include the seat top rail, boomerang parts, back rails, the under-frame, the seat, and seat foam as well as mechanical parts.
Some of the components include the seat top rail, boomerang parts, back rails, the under-frame, the seat, and seat foam as well as mechanical parts.
Footers are placed on the base of each stool.
Workers go through the stools frame by frame, sanding and quality checking.
This Danish Bar Stool is now all sanded and ready for staining.
Master craftsman David Langdon has more than 27 years experience as a furniture polisher. He uses a spirit-based stain and two-pack lacquer.
He sprays two coats and then the colouring coat.
The polishing process takes two to three days, although extreme heat or very cold weather can affect the timing.
The foam is glued to the seat.
The next step is upholstering the seat. In its first incarnation the stool was available in vinyl or fabric. These days, this can be customised or offered in a Italian leather that ages to a beautiful patina.
Next, the upholstered seat for the Danish Bar Stool is crafted.
Finally, the seat is drilled into the frame (the stool pictured here was ordered with custom upholstery).
And here is a finished Danish Bar Stool. From beginning to end, more than 15 people are involved in its creation over a period of six weeks.
Each stool includes a TH Brown badge with a serial number, certificate of authenticity and a 10-year warranty.
Your turn
Do you have a beloved piece of TH Brown Furniture? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
See another great Australian manufacturing story at Made Local: How a Glazed Stoneware Basin is Moulded and Made
Each stool includes a TH Brown badge with a serial number, certificate of authenticity and a 10-year warranty.
Your turn
Do you have a beloved piece of TH Brown Furniture? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
See another great Australian manufacturing story at Made Local: How a Glazed Stoneware Basin is Moulded and Made
As so often happens, the latest, unexpected, chapter of the TH Brown story began with a change of life direction. As the grandson of TH Brown’s founder (Thomas Howard Brown), Simon Napier Brown’s early life was steeped in manufacturing, including working in his family’s factory during school holidays. However, when the company shifted away from residential furniture, so too did Simon, who left to work in IT.