About
Chambers@241 Limited was established by Barry and Ali Holliday, in 2003 and is now wholly owned by Ali Holliday. Chambers is a small New Zealand company specializing in hand built limited edition furniture designed to last using solid wood frames and cow hide rather than bi-cast leather. The difference between genuine leather and bi-cast leather is an important one for the following reasons.
Bi-cast is actually a man made product and is used on mass produced furniture since it is considerably cheaper than hide. This ‘leather furniture’ is bought by retailers at trade fairs out of China but its’ labeling may imply that it was made in Italy or another country that suggests quality to the purchaser.
Bi-cast leather is a composite material made by bonding polyurethane to an inferior and very thin section of animal hide then treating it to look like the real thing. Eventually the surface of the ‘leather’ delaminates and falls apart. This can happen quite quickly and may be the reason why a guarantee will rarely extend beyond a two year warranty.
Genuine hide lasts a lifetime and sometimes more. It is extremely strong and resilient and actually gets better with age especially if oiled once or twice a year to keep the hide supple. Our leather is supplied from a family run tannery, now fourth generation, which also supplies the European and American market.
The quality of our leather has been independently tested here in New Zealand by Pelle Leather Care who are a Timaru based company specializing in making all kinds of product for leather furniture. This is what Peter Burt the M.D. had to say about Chambers products “(The) leathers are of a very high quality and well beyond what is becoming a standard in the industry”.
We make furniture in Java in our own small factory and also in various workshops depending on the product required for we make more than just leather chairs. Mirrors, tables, lighting and artwork also feature. These are often made from highly textural materials such as pandan leaf, banana leaf, cocostick, cocoshell, teak root, plaited leather, bamboo and pumice stone. Occasionally terracotta is used to make lamp bases or garden urns and sometimes we make more glamorous items such as Venetian glass mirrors or beds that have been decorated with gold leaf.
The ability to have flexibility, creativity, availability of labour and wide ranging artisan skills all contribute to Chambers survival in a highly competitive market place. However we are not alone in our country of choice, Java is also a manufacturing home to many top end, big name manufacturers such as Christopher Guy and Theo Alexandre to name but two top end, big name suppliers.
Whilst the classic English leather club chair and sofas - all with cushions that can be stuffed with soft layers of alpaca from home grown N.Z animals - remain perennial favorites new styles are now available which broaden Chambers distinctive range. Recycled teak dining and console tables have been introduced to match the high back leather chairs of which 4 designs are now available, and 7 new designs for occasional chairs have arrived which broaden and refresh the choice available and take Chambers style beyond the ‘Lodge Look’ and into the drawing room.
Interior Designers, Architects, Developers
Having worked out of Java for the last seven years I have built up an invaluable network of contacts in many disciplines, people who I know I can trust and who trust me and who can produce almost anything that I want made. This means that I can make to order and in any quantity at highly competitive prices and ship anywhere in the world and know that not only will the goods arrive on time but will meet the quality expected. This is worth remembering if you want to create your own unique look and have the best value for your money.
