Fred Lowen founded Tessa Furniture with his brother Howard Lindsey and design technician Sigi Danielzik in 1968. Initially named Twen, the company was later renamed Tessa in 1970. Prior to this, Lowen had co-founded Fler Furniture with Ernest Rodeck in the mid-1950s, which was sold in 1967.

Tessa Furniture gained a reputation for its Scandinavian-influenced design and high-quality Australian craftsmanship. The company expanded operations during the 1970s, becoming a national operation with international links. One of Tessa's most iconic designs was the T4 chair, which featured a laminated timber frame and a sling made from a durable, stretchy fabric. The design was inspired by the hammock that Lowen slept in on the Dunera during his journey to Australia as a refugee. The T4 chair became a symbol of Australian modernism and was highly sought after by consumers.

Lowen received a number of design awards for more...

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Tessa Tb chaise lounge, designed by Fred Lowen, bentwood ply…

Tessa Tb chaise lounge, designed by Fred Lowen, bentwood ply frame with sleigh legs, Slung canvas seat with brown leather upholstered cushions, height 85 cm, width 65 length 138 cm

T8 coffee table, designed by Fred Lowen for Tessa, c.1970s…

Bentwood Sleigh Leg Coffee Table with Smoky Glass Top

T8 coffee table, designed by Fred Lowen for Tessa, c.1970s bentwood sleigh legs, with square smoky glass top, height 32 cm, width 76 cm, depth 76 cm

Pair of T8 lounge chairs, designed by Fred Lowen for Tessa, c.…

Fred Lowen T8 Lounge Chairs with Tan Leather Upholstery

Pair of T8 lounge chairs, designed by Fred Lowen for Tessa, c.1970s bentwood sleigh legs, with Slung seat, and tan leather upholstery, height 81 cm, width 66 cm, depth 90 cm

Pair of T8 lounge chairs, designed by Fred Lowen for Tessa, c.…

Fred Lowen T8 Lounge Chairs for Tessa, 1970s

Pair of T8 lounge chairs, designed by Fred Lowen for Tessa, c.1970s bentwood sleigh legs, with Slung seat, and tan leather upholstery, height 81 cm, width 66 cm, depth 90 cm

T8 Lounger, designed by Fred Lowen for Tessa, c.1970 bentwood…

Bentwood Sleigh Lounger with Tan Leather Upholstery

T8 Lounger, designed by Fred Lowen for Tessa, c.1970 bentwood sleigh legs, with Slung seat, and tan leather upholstery, height 80 cm, width 62 length 138 cm

A Fred Lowen 'T8' Two-Seater sofa by Tessa, constructed from a…

Fred Lowen T8 Two-Seater Sofa by Tessa

A Fred Lowen 'T8' Two-Seater sofa by Tessa, constructed from a moulded hardwood frame, supporting a hammock style canvas sling. Two cushions crafted from rich Australian leather round out a sophisticated and comfortable modern masterpiece, height 84 cm,…

Fred Lowan for Tessa furniture, T 5 couch with splayed back…

Beech Frame Green Couch with Splayed Back Legs

Fred Lowan for Tessa furniture, T 5 couch with splayed back legs and plank form arms, beech frame with green wool blend upholstery. 140 cm width

Fred Lowan for Tessa, three piece lounge suite

Fred Lowan's Three-Piece Lounge Suite for Tessa

Fred Lowan for Tessa, three piece lounge suite

Pair of T4 chairs, by Fred Lowen for Tessa bentwood Victorian…

Fred Lowen T4 Chairs with Brown Leather Upholstery

Pair of T4 chairs, by Fred Lowen for Tessa bentwood Victorian ash with brown leather upholstery, height 82 cm, length 80 cm, depth 90 cm

Pair of armchairs, by Fred Lowen for Tessa 'T4', bentwood…

Fred Lowen T4 Armchairs with Leather Upholstery

Pair of armchairs, by Fred Lowen for Tessa 'T4', bentwood Victorian ash & clay brown leather upholstery, height 82 cm

Tessa chair, designed by Fred Lowen T4 bentwood lounge in dark…

Tessa Chair and Ottoman Set in Dark Tan Leather

Tessa chair, designed by Fred Lowen T4 bentwood lounge in dark tan leather with matching ottoman, height 86 cm

Tessa lounge & armchair, Monaco, bentwood teak, by Fred Lowen…

Bentwood Teak Lounge & Armchair Set by Fred Lowen

Tessa lounge & armchair, Monaco, bentwood teak, by Fred Lowen 'T8', two seater and single chair in Xanadu leather upholstery, height 87 cm

Pair of T21 swivel armchairs circa 1960's by Tessa Tasmanian…

T21 Swivel Armchairs in Tasmanian Blackwood and Leather

Pair of T21 swivel armchairs circa 1960's by Tessa Tasmanian blackwood and leather upholstery

Tessa laminated ply and grey tint glass table

Laminated Ply and Grey Tint Glass Table by Tessa

Tessa laminated ply and grey tint glass table

Pair of Tessa laminated ply and grey leather chairs and…

Lowen's Laminated Ply and Leather Chairs with Ottomans

Pair of Tessa laminated ply and grey leather chairs and Ottomans designed by Fred Lowen

Tessa T9 black walnut veneered laminated ply and black buttoned…

Black Walnut Lounge Suite by Fred Lowen

Tessa T9 black walnut veneered laminated ply and black buttoned leather upholstered five piece lounge suite designed by Fred Lowen

Tessa 'Atlantis' reddish maroon leather upholstered lounge…

Tessa Atlantis Red Leather Lounge Suite by Fred Lowen

Tessa 'Atlantis' reddish maroon leather upholstered lounge suite designed by Fred Lowen

A Tessa. Australia timber & geometric pattern upholstered…

Geometric Timber Settee with Lounge, Chairs, and Footstools

A Tessa. Australia timber & geometric pattern upholstered settee, includes three seater lounge, two armchairs, two footstools

Tessa T21 lounge suite, Tasmanian blackwood, three piece: two…

Tessa T21 Blackwood Lounge Suite with Swirl Upholstery

Tessa T21 lounge suite, Tasmanian blackwood, three piece: two seater lounge, & pair of swivel armchairs, c1970's, with black & white swirl design upholstery

Fred Lowen (German-Australian, 1919-2005), T5 two-seater sofa,…

T5 Sofa and Armchair by Fred Lowen for Tessa Furniture

Fred Lowen (German-Australian, 1919-2005), T5 two-seater sofa, c. 1975, manufactured by Tessa furniture, together with a matching armchair, sofa retains manufacturer's decal label (2), height 70 cm width 136 cm depth 85 cm (sofa), height 70 cm width 78 cm…

A Tessa T8 smoky glass top coffee table, modern Danish design.…

Modern Danish Tessa T8 Smoky Glass Coffee Table

A Tessa T8 smoky glass top coffee table, modern Danish design. 33 x 73 x 75 cm

A Tessa T21 brown leather swivel arm chair, designed by Fred…

Fred Lowen Tessa T21 Swivel Armchair in Brown Leather

A Tessa T21 brown leather swivel arm chair, designed by Fred Lowen. 87 x 75 x 75 cm

A pair of Tessa T21 swivel arm chairs designed by Fred Lowen,…

Gray Tweed Swivel Arm Chairs by Fred Lowen

A pair of Tessa T21 swivel arm chairs designed by Fred Lowen, upholstered in gray tweed. 92 x 66 x 80 cm

A Tessa timber framed armchair and ottoman

Tessa Timber Armchair and Ottoman Set

A Tessa timber framed armchair and ottoman