Furniture as art a growing investment trend

Furniture as art is not a new phenomenon. The David Gill Gallery and the Carpenters Workshop Gallery in London’s Mayfair have been retailing it for many years, in a similar manner to how fine art is sold through galleries.

However, unlike paintings that cannot be touched, this furniture is mostly used for the intention that it was made.

The concept of furniture as art was first introduced to Australia through retailers such as the Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney.

“We call this ‘functional or sculptural art’,” says Dan-Cuthbert, pointing out the many chairs, stools, benches and mirrors that can be found in her gallery, which specialises in Australian and New Zealand creatives.

Some of these pieces can be pricey, selling for five-figure amounts, but collectors see them as solid investments that are likely to increase in value over time.

“There has been a 200 per cent price increase for art furniture in the past 10 years, in leading auction houses around the world – whether it’s Christies or Sotheby’s,” says Dan-Cuthbert, who opened her gallery in 2019.

There are a number of pieces at the gallery designed by Michael Gittings, including a coffee table, bench and mirrors. Made from stainless steel and copper, prices start at $6000 for a small stool and up to $30,000 for an armoire.

Pieces created by Trent Jansen and Johnny Nargoodah, who both live in rural areas and beautifully express the outback in a contemporary manner, are also at the gallery.

Nargoodah worked as a saddler in Fitzroy Crossing, in Western Australia, and his aluminium chairs often also boast leather features. Starting at a price of $7000 for a stool and heading north of $45,000 for a cabinet, these pieces are more for people investing, as much as buying fine art.