The Melbourne Chair Company made wooden cottage chairs, with spindle backs, featuring Australian motifs pressed into the top rail. The three most common designs were: the kangaroo back with banksia flowers (registered number 252), the emu back with ferns and gum flowers (registered number 253), the lyrebird back with ferns and the Sturt desert pea (registered number 254). There is a fourth design featuring the Australian coat of arms, but this is very scarce.

The Melbourne Chair Company, operating under the trade name Melchair Pty Ltd was trading until the mid 1980s but closed a short period after a fire destroyed the factory.

The so-called Federation chairs were made from about 1906 until the 1930s, although reproductions are now on the market, including carver and high chairs. Some of the original machines in fact are still in use, but the dies used to press the famous backs have been more...

7 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Dining chairs, made by Melchair, Melbourne, set of ten in…

Melchair's Quaker Style Two-Toned Dining Chairs (Set of 10)

Dining chairs, made by Melchair, Melbourne, set of ten in Australian oak & blackwood, two toned Quaker style with, arched spindle backs, height 100 cm

Three Australian pine spindle back cottage chairs, early 20th…

Australian Pine Spindle Back Cottage Chairs with Waratah Decoration

Three Australian pine spindle back cottage chairs, early 20th century, probably by the Melbourne chair Company, decorated with waratahs and flannel flowers, 97 cm high. Provenance: The Ruth Simon collection, 2005

A blackwood elbow chair, made by the Melbourne chair Company,…

Melbourne Chair Co. Blackwood Elbow Chair with Emu Design

A blackwood elbow chair, made by the Melbourne chair Company, 20 down St, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, date circa 1910, the top rail decorated by emus in a bush scene, 101 cm high, 57 cm wide, 45 cm deep

A set of three Australian blackwood and pine cottage chairs,…

Australian Blackwood and Pine Cottage Chairs

A set of three Australian blackwood and pine cottage chairs, probably by the Melbourne chair Company, the panel top rail steam impressed with a lyrebird flanked by a scrolling design of Sturt's desert pea, having turned stick splats and uprights, shaped…

Australian leadlight corner cabinet by Melchair Furniture,…

Melchair Furniture's Australian Leadlight Corner Cabinet

Australian leadlight corner cabinet by Melchair Furniture, Victoria, 132 cm wide, 190 cm high

A set of five 'Lyrebird' pressed back pine chairs, early 20th…

Set of Lyrebird Pressed Back Pine Chairs

A set of five 'Lyrebird' pressed back pine chairs, early 20th century, Melbourne Chair Company design pattern 254, the cottage chairs with spindle backs, shaped flat seats and flared turned legs with ringed and rod box stretchers, each with the impressed…

Lyrebird dining chairs. A good set of 6 by Melbourne Chair Co.…

Melbourne Chair Co. Lyrebird Dining Chairs - Set of 6

Lyrebird dining chairs. A good set of 6 by Melbourne Chair Co. Early 20th century.