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Grant Featherston (1922-1995), Talking Chair manufactured circa…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
20-Nov-2011
Lot No.
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Description:
Grant Featherston (1922-1995), Talking Chair manufactured circa 1966-1970, unmarked, the curved high back and body of fibreglass and expanded rigid polystyrene, the back inset with apertures housing speakers, the padded circular seat concealing sound equipment operated by a pressure activated switch, upholstered in brown vinyl, (sound equipment no longer functioning, lacking the volume control knob), 115 cm high. Provenance: Purchased by the current private owner from management at Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria, circa late 1970s. History: Grant and Mary Featherston's Talking chair was commissioned by Robin Boyd as seating for the Australian Pavilion at Expo '67, Montreal, Canada. Two hundred and forty examples were produced, each housing sound equipment within its base, which transmitted to the sitter through stereo earphones a prepared programme, in French and English, on various aspects of Australian culture. According to the vendor, the present example was one of two owned by Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria. Given the differences between the limited production Expo Mark II Sound chair and the final design used at Expo '67, Montreal, it is thought that this chair May have been a prototype used in Featherston's submission for the design of the Talking chair for the Australian stand at the Expo. This may also be an explanation for the lack of a manufacturer's label on the chair. Reference: Lane, Featherston chairs, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 1988 p.55
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified