Chandler | Australia
The “Once Upon A Queenslander” Armchair was designed and constructed by Furniture Master Craftsman, Will Marx.
Inspired by a beloved Queensland icon, the Queenslander homesteads, the chair is made from old floorboards, ceiling beams and battens salvaged from old Queenslander houses that have outlived their original usage as a home and shelter. Queenslander houses are an architectural style unique to Australia, particularly Queensland, due to the unpredictable climate and the pests commonly found in this region.
Designed over 170 years ago, Queenslander houses were a reflection of the harsh hot weather and the pioneers’ exposure to the land’s insect and reptilian lifeforms. Constructed specifically to capture maximum amount of airflow through the house for cooling naturally and raised to protect the house and its inhabitants from the sudden and heavy downpours which resulted in severe flooding as well as the multitude of snakes, termites and other dangerous pests, the Queenslander home was a functional and beautiful architectural style unique to the Australian culture and heritage.
In the construction of this piece, each plank of reclaimed timber was personally sourced and selected. The timber planks were painstakingly and lovingly restored to it’s original glory by hand. Any remnant nails were removed and the timber sanded and prepared for it’s natural groove and grains to once again shine through. The timber is Queensland Hoop Pine, a native species to Australia and commonly used in the construction of Queenslander houses. It was known for it’s resilient and beautiful characteristics.
In the making of this piece, due care was paid into restoring the authenticity of the timber while giving it a second lease of life. As such, every piece of timber used contains a unique legacy of it’s previous life and history as a celebrated Queensland cultural icon. The upholstery selected for this handmade armchair was sourced directly from LifeLine. The old wooden blanket was used as the upholstery to complement the history and character of the timber frame. Together, these materials combine together to bring you the “Once Upon A Queenslander” armchair… an ode to an important and poignant part of our Australian heritage and history.
About the Artist:
Will Marx is a Queensland furniture designer and maker renown for his award winning Bespoke furniture. His passion for woodworking began as a child when he first helped his father tinker in the garage with restoring discarded sidewalk furniture.
He studied woodworking at school and went on to travel the world in order to learn and gain experience from Master Craftsman, including Brisbane’s own Robert Dunlop. On his return to Brisbane in 2000 after globe trotting through his early twenties, he started his own furniture making business, Marxcraft.
Over the years, Marxcraft has received many private commissions to design and construct luxury furniture for superyachts, businesses and private individuals. Will and his team have won several awards including the Queensland Furniture Awards in 2011, 2012 and 2013 for their range of handcrafted masterpieces. In 2013, Will expanded his company to open a flagship online furniture store, GHIFY, to cater to the requests he received over the years to design and create a range of furniture suitable for the home and office.
GHIFY now stocks and make-to-order a selection of Scandinavian, Recycled and Hamptons inspired furniture for Australian homes and offices. Some of the range has been on exhibit at the Queensland Museum and has also been featured on Elle Italy, Architectural Digest USA and Australia’s own Country Magazine to name a few.
Will lives and works from his acreage in Brisbane with his wife, son, baby daughter and their norfolk terrier.
$4900 AUD (purchases made directly with creator via website link above)
[…] Read about the “Once Upon A Queenslander” Armchair (pictured), designed and constructed by Furniture Master Craftsman, Will Marx. Inspired by a beloved Queensland icon, the Queenslander homesteads, the chair is made from old floorboards, ceiling beams and battens salvaged from old Queenslander houses that have outlived their original usage as a home and shelter. […]