Douglas Burrage Snelling was an Australian architect and furniture designer who was born in England in 1916 and moved to New Zealand in 1926. As a teenager, he ran his own graphic arts and shop window design business. He later travelled to Hollywood and worked as a freelance sketch artist. He returned to New Zealand in 1938 and became a writer, broadcaster, and publicist. In 1940, he moved to Sydney and worked as a publicist and in a munitions factory during World War II.

In 1945, Snelling married NZ heiress Nancy Springhall and used her money to open a business designing shop windows and furniture. He designed chairs that featured parachute webbing and modernist design, and his furniture range was sold widely through major department stores in Australia. He also designed the case of Kriesler's iconic 'Beehive' radio.

Snelling was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's work during a more...

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Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), line armchair,…

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), line armchair, designed c. 1946, manufactured by Functional Products, cross-woven black webbing and timber frame, together with matching footstool, retains manufacturer's label (2), height 76 cm; 44 cm. Provenance…

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), Parachute dining…

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), Parachute dining chair, designed 1948, original red cotton webbing, retains manufacturer's label 'Form, function, structure, registered design Douglas B Snelling Associates manufactured by Sydney functional…

Douglas Snelling 1916-1985, two pairs of 'Snelling line'…

Douglas Snelling's Iconic Armchairs and Ottomans, c.1946

Douglas Snelling 1916-1985, two pairs of 'Snelling line' armchairs and ottomans, designed c.1946 and manufactured by functional Products P/L of Sydney. (2)

Dining chairs, designed by Douglas Snelling for T H Brown, c.…

Splayed Leg Dining Chairs with Red Vinyl Upholstery

Dining chairs, designed by Douglas Snelling for T H Brown, c.1950s Australian oak, set of six with, splayed legs and studded red vinyl upholstery, (missing some studs), height 85 cm

Dining table, designed by Douglas Snelling for th brown, c.…

Australian Oak Dining Table by Douglas Snelling

Dining table, designed by Douglas Snelling for th brown, c.1950s Australian oak, tapered edge table top with, splayed legs, height 77 cm, width 91 cm, length 152 cm

Pair of dining chairs, designed by Douglas Snelling, c.1950s…

Douglas Snelling Oak Dining Chairs

Pair of dining chairs, designed by Douglas Snelling, c.1950s Australian oak, splayed legs with lattice strapped seats, one stamped underside, height 81 cm

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), line armchair,…

Snelling Line Armchair with Footstool

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), line armchair, designed c. 1946, cross-woven brown and red webbing and timber frame, together with a footstool, stamped with manufacturer's label 'Functional Products' and dated '16 April 1952', webbing (A/F) (2),…

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), rocking chair,…

Cross-Woven Rocking Chair by Douglas Snelling

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), rocking chair, designed c. 1948, cross-woven grey webbing and timber frame, webbing (A/F), height 80 cm

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), line armchair,…

Snelling Line Armchair & Footstool Set

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), line armchair, designed c. 1946, manufactured by functional Products, cross-woven black webbing and timber frame, together with matching footstool, retain manufcaturer's labels (2), height 76 cm; 44 cm. Provenance…

Occasional table design by Douglas Snelling (Australia…

Splayed Leg Oak Table by Douglas Snelling

Occasional table design by Douglas Snelling (Australia 1916-1985), c1950s Australian oak, with splayed legs, height 44 cm, length 78 cm, depth 42 cm

A Douglas Snelling style chair and footstool, a Douglas…

Snelling-style Chair and Footstool with Webbing and Splayed Legs

A Douglas Snelling style chair and footstool, a Douglas Snelling style chair and footstool, with interwoven webbing raised on splayed legs

Display cabinet c.1950s by Douglas Snelling, Australian oak…

Douglas Snelling Australian Oak Display Cabinet

Display cabinet c.1950s by Douglas Snelling, Australian oak with, two glass sliding doors, on splayed legs, height 82 cm, width 91 cm, depth 38 cm

Dining suite c.1950s Australian oak by, Douglas Snelling…

1950s Australian Oak Dining Suite by Douglas Snelling

Dining suite c.1950s Australian oak by, Douglas Snelling (Australia 1916-1985), five piece suite, table and four Douglas Snelling chairs, with leather Strapwork upholstery, table height 73 cm, length 138 cm, width 85 cm, chair height 80 cm

Side cabinet c.1950s by Douglas Snelling (Australia 1916-1985),…

1950s Australian Oak Side Cabinet by Douglas Snelling

Side cabinet c.1950s by Douglas Snelling (Australia 1916-1985), Australian oak with, two doors on splayed legs, height 82 cm, width 91 cm, depth 40 cm

Five mid-century / retro webbed dining chairs by Douglas…

Retro Webbed Dining Chairs by Douglas Snelling

Five mid-century / retro webbed dining chairs by Douglas Snelling for functional Products Pty Ltd, St Peters N.S.W., 42 cm wide, 50 cm deep, 78 cm high

Douglas Snelling pair of chairs & four in the manner of, six…

1950s Australian Hardwood Chairs with Cream Webbing (Set of 6)

Douglas Snelling pair of chairs & four in the manner of, six chairs in total. Cream webbing over hardwood frame, (stamped), Australia, c 1950s

Attributed to Douglas Snelling pair of chairs, complete…

Red webbed chairs by Douglas Snelling (1950s)

Attributed to Douglas Snelling pair of chairs, complete restoration with new red webbing over hardwood frame, Australia, c 1950s, 73 cm high, 42 cm wide, 50 cm deep

Douglas Snelling set of four chairs, completely restored red…

Restored 1950s Douglas Snelling Chairs with Red Webbing

Douglas Snelling set of four chairs, completely restored red webbing over frame (stamped), Australia, c 1950s, 70 cm high, 42 cm wide, 50 cm deep

Douglas Snelling coffee table, curved shape, Australia, c 1950s,…

Curved Coffee Table by Douglas Snelling, 1950s Australia

Douglas Snelling coffee table, curved shape, Australia, c 1950s, 46 cm high, 79 cm wide, 70 cm deep

Douglas Snelling armchair, original webbing, blondewood frame,…

1950s Australian Blondewood Armchair by Douglas Snelling

Douglas Snelling armchair, original webbing, blondewood frame, Australia, c 1950s, 78 cm high, 62 cm wide, 74 cm deep

Douglas Snelling set of six chairs, completely restored, red…

Restored Douglas Snelling chairs with red webbing

Douglas Snelling set of six chairs, completely restored, red webbing over blondewood frame (stamped), Australia, c 1950s, 70 cm high, 42 cm wide, 50 cm deep

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985) line armchair,…

Douglas Snelling Line Armchair & Footstool

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985) line armchair, designed c. 1946 cross-woven black webbing and timber frame, together with matching footstool, stool labelled 'Functional Products' (2)

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985) line armchair,…

Snelling Line Armchair & Footstool Set

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985) line armchair, designed c. 1946 manufactured by functional Products, cross-woven red webbing and timber frame, together with matching footstool (2)

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985) line armchair,…

Snelling Line Armchair

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985) line armchair, designed c. 1946 manufactured by functional Products, cross-woven cream webbing and timber frame

Douglas Snelling pair of chairs, original mustard webbing…

1950s Australian Douglas Snelling Mustard Webbing Chairs

Douglas Snelling pair of chairs, original mustard webbing (stamped), Australia, c 1950s, 80 cm high, 42 cm wide, 50 cm deep

Douglas Snelling bow armchair, original mustard webbing,…

Douglas Snelling Bow Armchair with Mustard Webbing

Douglas Snelling bow armchair, original mustard webbing, Australia, c 1947, 80 cm high, 52 cm wide, 73 cm deep

Douglas Snelling side cabinet, Australia, c 1950s, 83 cm high,…

1950s Australian Side Cabinet by Douglas Snelling

Douglas Snelling side cabinet, Australia, c 1950s, 83 cm high, 90 cm wide, 37 cm deep

Dougls Snelling footstool, stool re-webbed in mint fabric,…

Mint Re-Webbed Footstool by Douglas Snelling

Dougls Snelling footstool, stool re-webbed in mint fabric, Australia, c 1950s, 45 x 48 x 39

Douglas Snelling dining setting of table & six chairs, chairs…

Douglas Snelling Dining Set with Mint Chairs (Signed)

Douglas Snelling dining setting of table & six chairs, chairs re-webbed in mint fabric (signed), Australia, c 1950s, 74 cm high, 139 x 85

Douglas Snelling low table, single drawer, featured in…

1950 Silky Oak Low Table with Single Drawer

Douglas Snelling low table, single drawer, featured in Australia Home Beautiful, October 1950, solid silky oak, Australia, designed 1950, 40 cm high, 93 cm wide, 43 cm deep

Douglas Snelling coffee table, Queensland maple, Australia, c…

Australian Maple Coffee Table by Douglas Snelling

Douglas Snelling coffee table, Queensland maple, Australia, c 1950s, 46 cm high, 85 cm wide, 85 cm deep

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), line armchair with…

Snelling Line Armchair and Footstool with Side Chair Set

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), line armchair with footstool, designed c. 1946, manufactured by functional Products, cross-woven taupe webbing, supported by four maple legs, with armrests, together with an additional line side chair (3), height…

A Douglas Snelling ottoman, cream fabric, webbing, on wooden…

Cream Ottoman by Douglas Snelling, 1950s Australia

A Douglas Snelling ottoman, cream fabric, webbing, on wooden frame (stamped), Australia, c 1950s

Douglas Snelling chair, orange webbing and blondewood (stamped),…

Orange Douglas Snelling Chair

Douglas Snelling chair, orange webbing and blondewood (stamped), Australia, 78 cm high, 43 cm wide, 50 cm deep

Douglas Snelling extension dining table and six chairs, black…

Snelling Extension Dining Table and Six Chairs

Douglas Snelling extension dining table and six chairs, black webbing (stamped), Australia, c1930s, table 75 cm high, 114 cm wide, 87 cm deep, chairs 79 cm high, 42 cm wide, 47 cm deep, fully extended 204

Douglas Snelling pair of armchairs, Webbed seat, Australia, c…

1950s Australian Webbed Armchairs by Douglas Snelling

Douglas Snelling pair of armchairs, Webbed seat, Australia, c 1950s

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), Saran Chair, c. 1957,…

Saran Chair by Douglas Snelling

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), Saran Chair, c. 1957, wood, original taupe webbing, height 77 cm

Attributed to Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), chaise…

Webbed Chaise Longue by Douglas Snelling

Attributed to Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), chaise longue prototype, brown webbed seat raised on four black enamelled steel legs, height 50 cm, width 171 cm, depth 60 cm

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), six dining chairs,…

Douglas Snelling Dining Chairs and Footstool (Set of 7)

Douglas Snelling (Australian, 1916-1985), six dining chairs, designed 1948, with black webbed seats, together with one footstool (7), height 79 cm, width 42 cm, depth 49 cm, (chairs), height 44 cm, width 47.5 cm, depth 38.5 cm, (footstool), labels: cf.…

Douglas Snelling chair, original cloth webbing (stamped), 80 cm…

1950s Douglas Snelling Chair with Original Webbing

Douglas Snelling chair, original cloth webbing (stamped), 80 cm high, 43 cm wide, 45 cm deep, c1950s, new Zealan cm deep

A 1950s fiddleback fronted Radiogram in the style of Douglas…

Snelling-inspired Fiddleback Radiogram

A 1950s fiddleback fronted Radiogram in the style of Douglas Snelling

Douglas Snelling, Snelling line chair, with interwoven strips…

Snelling Line Chair with Parachute Webbing

Douglas Snelling, Snelling line chair, with interwoven strips of 'Parachute' webbing raised on splayed legs

A Douglas Snelling New Zealand, Mid century green webbed…

Mid Century Green Armchair by Douglas Snelling, New Zealand

A Douglas Snelling New Zealand, Mid century green webbed armchair

Douglas Snelling (1916-1985), Saran chair and stool, c. 1957…

Douglas Snelling Saran Chair and Stool (1957)

Douglas Snelling (1916-1985), Saran chair and stool, c. 1957 manufactured by functional Products Pty Ltd, St Peers, Syd, Australia, chair with khaki webbing, stool with cream plastic webbing (2) (A/F). Height 74 cm, width 63 cm, depth 67 cm. Literature:…

Douglas Snelling (1916-1985), three section Modular sideboard,…

Modular Sideboard by Douglas Snelling

Douglas Snelling (1916-1985), three section Modular sideboard, from the Snelling Module line, c. 1940 manufactured by functional Products Pty Ltd, St Peters, Sydney, Australia, three multi-purpose interchangeable storage units, one two door, one with…

Douglas Snelling (1916-1985), coffee table, c.1955 manufactured…

Snelling's Free Form Coffee Table

Douglas Snelling (1916-1985), coffee table, c.1955 manufactured by functional Products Pty Ltd, St Peters, Sydney, Australia, free form shape, Queensland maple (A/F). Height 45 cm. Literature: Grant, Kirsty, mid-century modern, Australian furniture design…

Set of six Douglas Snelling style chairs (6)

Douglas Snelling-inspired Set of Six Chairs

Set of six Douglas Snelling style chairs (6)

Douglas Snelling (1916-1985), pair of webbed recliner chairs…

Webbed Recliner Chairs and Stools by Douglas Snelling

Douglas Snelling (1916-1985), pair of webbed recliner chairs and matching stools, manufactured by Functional Products, maple, later webbing factory stamp to one stool