Douglas Snelling
Australian
Douglas Snelling is an important Australian post-war architect and furniture designer. His furniture line, often referred to as the “Snelling Line,” was manufactured by Functional Products Pty Ltd in St Peters, Sydney, and became one of Australia’s first widely distributed modern furniture ranges from the late 1940s through the mid-1950s. The line included dining chairs, tables, cabinets, and webbed seating, with the webbed chairs becoming among his most recognizable designs.
Institutional references support both the designer and maker attribution. The Powerhouse Collection identifies Snelling pieces as designed by Douglas Snelling and made by Functional Products Pty Ltd, St Peters, Sydney, and notes that the Snelling Line was Australia’s first popular, mass-produced modern furniture range sold through major department stores. The National Gallery of Victoria also lists examples under Douglas Snelling, designer, and Functional Products Pty Ltd, Sydney, manufacturer.
Institutional references support both the designer and maker attribution. The Powerhouse Collection identifies Snelling pieces as designed by Douglas Snelling and made by Functional Products Pty Ltd, St Peters, Sydney, and notes that the Snelling Line was Australia’s first popular, mass-produced modern furniture range sold through major department stores. The National Gallery of Victoria also lists examples under Douglas Snelling, designer, and Functional Products Pty Ltd, Sydney, manufacturer.
