What do you mean Florna_mcd? Sorry!

Caramel leather is in fashion right now.

vy, gee you have a lot of votes! Upholstering seems to be winning so far!

Tribbletrouble...yes it is...popped another email to the upholsterer to see how much it would cost stripped and polished..not important ..interesting to know..

might just get it reupholstered and timber cleaned and oil only..that way some character still but comfy new seats.

Leave exactly as they are if you are not fully decided. Next year...maybe

I would do what megadeath says. Anything they say. They may have a scythe.

And yet he is here on Houzz. How did he die?

Years of tee totaling, exercise, healthy diet & bible class. He had a heart attack on stage.

jeez...I now know how I am going to go! Must avoid drumming on stage for a while.

If anyone says "it's all right, it's just a stage", run!!

h2g, I think you might be pulling my leg about his lifestyle?

Well if the health regime didn't help him, hopefully the bible class helped him in the afterlife.

every time I sit on the dining chair I want them redone..at the moment I'm attempted to buy a new body..lol walked into Michael's today and got sweet talked into one lol so the reupholstering might have to wait..

Thought I'd just add a bit about Nore Furniture (for posterity if nothing else). As others have said above Nore was in Bayswater Victoria & the designer-furniture-cabinet maker was Norman Archibald. Pieces (chair & Ottoman - 'Tuk' Collection design) are in NGV & I think there maybe a donated collection in the Powerhouse. Tessa was also popular around the same time. Their styling & other furniture makers of the early to mid seventies evolved from the Scandanavian Danish design style whereas Nore was something new. They were part of the 'Australian' design movement which emerged in 1970s. Nore used Howe leather (first quality & full skins). The wood was Australian Ash (Eucalyptus Regnans). This was also called Tasmanian Ash/Oak,Mountain/Alpine Ash, Swamp Gum etc. Basically Victorian, Tasmanian timbers. In some they 'stained' the timbers used to match the leathers. The furntiture style was heavy or solid style, maybe even rustic with handsewn as well as machine stitching. It was distinctive & uniquely Australian which went on to influence O.S . The U.S picked up the style, particularly tables. Nore was invited & went to the Hanover Furniture Fair which took an Australian, handmade, arts/crafts movement product overseas to an elite international fair. There was I believe a relationship with Tessa as once Nore closed they repaired Nore & an old Tessa (very early) website had a section about Nore furniture. I know Nore changed their name for a period (Novara??) . It was/is very large furniture fitting the 70s high cathedral ceilings, mudbrick etc etc. You can see the influence in Nicholas Dattner furniture & other 'artisan' Australian furniture. It was built to last - generations. It is not popular with the mass market/collectors ...yet. It may take another generation but as with many items they end up on scrap heaps until discovered again.My collection had to be split but 4 large wall units, with glass doors, found a home with an artist who was quoted $3500 -$4000 to build 'one' unit. I sold all for $200 as I wanted them to survive. I still have & use the 7'6" refectory table & matching leather timber chairs, lamp & coffee tables. The lounge suite & ottoman went 'out' & disappeared from roadside within an hour. It was expensive, desired furniture in it's day & opposite style to Victorian which was 'the' collectable. (A wall unit about $1000 -$1500, Dining table similiar) You can still find on ebay etc as pieces would be now part of estates, downsizing or simply regarded as not midcentury danish style which is in. I think I'll go & polish my table.

70s style is back in, so don't get rid of your stuff, Pam!

Thank-you Pam with your accurate input of the history of Nore Furniture. It was interesting to read again and motivated me to find my original receipts, research, and notes from viewing the furniture in the NGV.

In 1983 our Nore 7 piece Dining Suite cost $2,590; the five piece Lounge Suite cost $3,380; the three heavy solid wall units cost $4,500 ($1,500 each). All furniture is still serving its purpose & cared for. Now that my husband is retired and set up with all his 'Festool' German made polishing & sanding machines, I hope to convince him to remove the medium stain, back to the original blonde Tasmanian Oak/Mountain Ash and allow me to change the avocado beautiful Howe leathers to another colour.

The Howe leather originally came with a five year warranty - still good after 35 years!

I have searched for more pieces but without success. No one seemed to know the designer or Nore brand. So lovely to read your contribution for prosperity. I will just have to regularly search on ebay?

Thank-you Pam. I will not get rid of my stuff as advised by Tribbletrouble. :)

Yes look ebay. Occasionally they pop up in auction or furniture retail. When I had to split I spoke to mid century specialists & they knew appreciated but practically could not store until market demands them. If you search Nore furniture from time to time you will find - Gumtree & other 'get rid of' prices. As living spaces become smaller they will not suit many, but they epitomise the Australian design 'handcrafted' movement of the mid to late 70s. Nore is listed in the Australian Art & Design database https://www.daao.org.au/bio/group/nore/  Denheld Industrial Design claim they did the first industrial design prototype for 'Nore' furniture 'Navara' (not Novara) & Tessa - the implication being they were working together. They said 'they were designed for comfort, generous proportions with hand rubbed native woods & crafted leathers'. http://denheldid.com

Pam,

Quite a lot of what you have said is correct, but not all.

Norman Archibald was the sole designer of the Nore Range of furniture, Denheld had no input whatever. He was employed by Nore for a period to produce components only.

Novara furniture was manufactured by a Robert Ives who stole and copied Nore designs after 1984. In 2008, Robert Ives was disqualified as a director for 3 years by Asic for operating a "Phoenix arrangement".

Nore furniture ended manufacturing in 1985

Nore was chosen as one of 7 Australian furniture manufacturers to represent Australia at the Cologne International Furniture Fair in 1980, not Hanover.

How do I know all this you ask, my name is Norman Archibald, designer and maker of Nore Furniture.

The basis of my designs was to utilize an Australian timber (Victorian Ash) and Australian leathers (Howe Leather) Both very much underrated when I first began making furniture.

My endeavour was to produce a range of furniture that could be passed onto future generations. (Solid Vic Ash timber, Howe leather etc)

You will note eg., the many cabinets I produced showed no hardware such as door pulls or obvious hinges (I designed and made my own hinges which were almost completely hidden) and the doors on the cabinets were opened and closed with Italian touch catches.

Both door hardware and hinges are inclined to date furniture.

Pam, you are correct, Nore does appear on Ebay and Gumtree from time to time, mostly lounge furniture.

It seems people hang onto most of the other furniture in the range that consisted of Lounge, dining, occasional, bar room, bedroom and many other pieces including custom built pieces.

Anyway, enough of that.

To those who currently own my furniture, I`m glad you still appreciate same. I spent many a sleepless night developing the range and loved every minute of both designing and making same.

Norman Archibald.

How wonderful to read your surprise and so important contribution Norman Archibald! Thank-you for your beautiful furniture range that has graced our homes since 1983. We continue to enjoy your solid wall units with Italian touch catches still working perfectly (three), comfortable dining suite and lounge suite all retired and happy in Barwon Heads. The Howe Leather in pastel advocado green is supple, comfortable and still going strong. We considered our purchase of your furniture to be a future investment for our family - to pass down an artisan, beautiful, unique furniture designed and made by yourself! We are now Grandparents and our 36 year old adult son, visiting over Easter from Perth, indicated he loved the solid well-made furniture, so a new future home is assured :) Thank-you so much for spending many a sleepless night developing the range, designing and making beautiful furniture. Your Norman Archibald Nore furniture lives on :)

Thank you for your kind words dmg72, you have made my day.

Back prior to 2007 I began making furniture at home with one of my son`s.

One of the units I made (which was one of my favourite pieces) was my buffet and hutch unit finished as natural Vic. Ash, something I had wanted to do for many years.

I lost that unit, my home and all my possessions to the black Saturday bushfires.

Back when I began making furniture, homes were very much dark stained beams and dark interiors which required furniture timbers that reflected the homes at the time, hence the stained timbers etc.

My preference was to finish the timber in it`s natural colour, but wasn't readily accepted at the time.

My biggest selling leather colour eg., was Aubergine, which as you know was a darkish colour with a hint of red.

Aubergine was exclusive to Nore for many years as it was originally produced by Howe at my request.

I handed John Menzies (Howe and Co`s CEO at the time) a ripe Avocado and requested a leather finish in that colour, hence the name Aubergine.

I became a furniture maker partly by accident.

I built a very much contemporary home when I was married in the 1960`s, couldn't find furniture that I liked that suited my home, so I designed and made my own, end of story. (By the way, that original furniture was finished natural )

I believe I didn't do badly for someone who was untrained in either furniture design or woodwork.

As I mentioned previously, I loved what I eventually ended up working at, and really appreciate hearing how much people appreciated what I created.

Regards,

Norman A.

Thanks for the corrections & 'appearing' here & you have made 'my' day. I really miss my wall units but I know they are being loved elsewhere. My refectory, coffee & lamp tables, dining chairs including 2 captains chairs (Aubergine leather) are happily living on King Island in a stone and timber cottage in 100 acres of Blackwood forest nature reserve. www.kingislandnaturereserve.com I doubt if they will cross Bass Strait again - but who knows. I love the hand hewn, rustic yet finished and uniquely Australian style which made a design mark & as you said led to copies. A quick search in the U.S and you'll find contemporary 'look very like' in the style of - currently being sold - and with the price tag to match. I am hoping that the refectory table will live on long after I am gone and the next and the next. May even start some mythology about the Norman Archibald designed dining setting... Thankyou.

Dear Norman, I came back to this old thread of messages and was surprised to see your reply. I am very fond of your pieces and today they stand out as quite courageous and bold - at a time when everything looks minimalist and Danish. I have been collecting pieces bit by bit each time they come up on auctions. Recently secured a nice buffet/cabinet which I will probably use as a sideboard minus the shelf. I wanted to ask if you have seen any web sites that showcase the range of designs you created at the time - so I know what else to look out for. I often see your work listed as 'post and rail' but your designs are less crude and feel more considered. Otherwise, I wanted to commend you on your designs and I will continue to be fond collector of your work. PATRICK

Treasure and look after your Nore dining chairs. We have eight of them in a similar design to those in the picture. except that there are no buttons on the seats or backs of our chairs. Our leather is Walnut in colour. We had the chairs made in 1981 and along with the chairs we had made a 5'6" circular dining table and an 8' buffet. They are much travelled - having moved from Canberra to Melbourne, then back to Canberra where they later moved to another house and seven years ago, moved back to yet another house in Melbourne. They are still in excellent condition and have been the site for many memorable dinner parties. The only "disadvantage" with our dining setting is its size: each time we have moved house, one determinant of where we live has been the ability of the dining room to accommodate our much loved and much admired dining setting. Our Nore dining suite is about to have another move, to where we have commissioned the architects and designers to produce an apartment with a dining room which can comfortable accommodate our Nore dining suite. (And if you think we are old fashioned in our furniture tastes, you may be correct because the adjacent lounge room in our new apartment has been designed to accommodate our 4 piece, seven seater Tessa lounge suite which is a year or two older than the Nore Dining Suite, but still also in excellent condition, and very, very comfortable. Dennis

I would keep them as they are. If you want new looking chairs then buy news ones for a fraction of the price. These have character and mid century charm and style - I could never justify completely reupholstering a whole set of dining chairs for that price. I think they look great as they are.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your postings. It’s been one of those years.

Me me like some of the posters have suggested I couldn’t justify spending that huge amount of money to do the chairs up. So no progress as such. Will leave them as is for now.

Illuminide Interiors,

They were bought in 1988-1989 so Novara not Nore. We loved them as they were well made and add warmth to the place. I’ve got the whole set. Dining table , seats, coffee table , 2 lamp tables and a buffet.

We used to live in a much bigger place. Now we’ve scaled down to a smaller place. I’ve had to bring the two lamp tables down to the beach house.

Hi All,

I have a 3m x 1m table and set of chairs that are almost identical to the pictures posted by Vy that has led me to this thread.

The timber on the chairs is in pretty good condition along with the leather,

however the table shows signs of wear on the top and what looks to be like water/heat damage (see picture 3).

I wish to sand back the entire top and refinish it without having to redo the chairs to match.

Is Mr. Norman Archibald (or anyone else for that matter) able to advise the correct colour stain and brand that was used back in the day?

Furthermore if I can match the stain what would be the correct top coat product to use over the top?

Thanks

Jess

It would seem my father did not reply to some questions. To Jess (Strons), that looks like an Eron setting. I would have to ask my dad about the stain, and I'm sure he remembers. However, I would imagine replicating it, would be quite difficult. He also put a lot of pride and skill into the finish.

G'day Folks,

My wife and I, like Jess (Strons) am a very proud owners of Nore Furniture, still used daily, and purchased in the late 70's!

The collection includes a dining Table/dining and lounge chairs, coffee/lamp tables, and a Buffet.

Interstingly, when we have visitors, the two Nore lounge chairs in the lounge are always taken before the modern lounge suite is used. (which annoys me, as the Nore furniture are the more comfortable by far)

The remaining items are used in our Family/Ding area.

Due to having constant use over the last 6 years with grand children, several of these magnificent pieces of Art are needing a little lift, re damaged finish.

If your father does remember the stain details, I would appreciate his advice!

The pride, skill, and love that went into this furniture still shines thru to this day!

Cheers Dennis

It gives me great satisfaction to hear such comments about my furniture and the fact that people like yourself still value the furniture.

The stains I used were mainly Watyl spirit based stains and the furniture was finished with Mirotone acrylic lacquer., both great products.

I hope this helps.

Regards, Norman Archibald.

I should add, the table is an Eron table and the colour is Watyl Walnut stain.

To repair the damage I would suggest you sand the top back to bare timber, re-stain and seal.

If your game to have a go you must sand with the grain, never across the grain and finish the sanding with a 320 grit sandpaper.

With a thick pad of cotton rag soaked in the walnut stain you apply length wise and let the stain completely dry.

On inspection, if the table looks like it needs more stain, apply another coat then seal.

Easy if you know how I hear you say.

Norman A.

Thank you for the tip Norman. Will use 320 grit next time I try my hand at sanding.

I also thank you Norman, absolutely thrilled to get the information about rejuvenating the table surfaces!

Cheers Dennis

Dennis, I would be happy to have a look at the "damage" to your table top, provided you are not too far away.

My email address is: narchibald3@bigpond.com if you are interested.

Norman A.

Norman,

Wow!!

Your offer is "Gold" and my wife and I are both thrilled with it!

However, the damage is not really serious enough to warrant you to travel to my home, but I can assure you that you would be very very welcome!!

I will remail you more information and my address.

Dennis

Dennis, my email address is: narchibald3@bigpond.com

I`m happy to have a look at the table provided your not too far away.

If your interested, send me a message.

Norman A.

Well done Dad! Aren't these people fortunate? Jeremy.

Good on you Jim, I really appreciate your comment, thanks.

Dad.

My name is Paul Archibald, i am the eldest child of Norman and Elizabeth Archibald, the eldest of eight sons and two daughters. And yes, we are of Irish Catholic descent! I was extrememley interested in our family bussiness and began working at Nore Furnitre as soon as i tuned 15 years of age every school holidays and on a full time basis from 1983 until the end of 1984, when horribly the company was liqudated. I say horribly because the impact on our whole family was devestating, espeecially my father, who had put his heart and soul into the unique and remarkable furniture that has left an enviable legacy, in my humble and quite possibly biased opinion. Every year we would exhibate at the Melboure Furniture Fair and The Melbourne Homeshow. Thats how my father met Fred Lowen, who was the founder of Fler and then Tessa. I liked Fred, he was a nice bloke. In 1980 that the Australian Foreign Trade Commision invited Nore Furniture to join a group of selected designersgoers/manufactuers to represent original Australian furniture design at the Cologne International Furniture Fair, the largest and most prestigious on Earth, (not Hanover, as was previously mentioned). The delegation was headed up by Fred Lowen, who was fluent in German. The reaction was overwhelingly positive, we recieved so many letters of interest from all around the World. I firmly belive that was the genesis of the subsequent design infuences that spread interntionally. I am extremely impressed and even humbled by this thread and and very impressed by the mostly accurate descriptions of the history Nore Furniture and our various pieces. However, i can add SO MUCH MORE, this is mereley the tip of the iceburg…my father is far too modest, so i feel obliged to throw in my two bobs worth. I’m not just referring to the history, but the thousands of other pieces of other Nore designs out there that the vast majority of people do not recognise as such.

Going back to my own experience working at Nore, by the end of 1984, I learned so much. By that time i must have amassed tens of thousands of hours at Nore. We genuinely cared deeply about the furniture and were absolutely striving for excellence in every single piece produced. Money was always seconary, which eventually was probably our Archilles Heel. I learned table making, cabinet making, spray polishing (i could spray polish every single piece of furniture we ever made). The same goes for upholstery, in fact in the final six months i was the sole upholsterer for Nore. And so much more… I enjoyed my time lmmensely and was gutted when we closed up shop. If anyone is interested i am more than happy to oblige.

PS, For the sake of clarity, with more info, and photgraphs from the original beautiful pamphlets we handed out at every Home Show and Furniture Fair. These were of the highest quality for the era still look great today and must have cost Dad a small fortune…i just have to check with Dad first about the photos. Sadly, we have very little photographs left, including the vast majority of our family photos. We lost the lot on Black Saturday. I have little doubt that i quite possibly was present when some of the previous commenters were on our exhition stand. Dad turnes 89 in three days, still hanging in there…still sharp. It probably goes without saying that i am extremely proud of my father, he is not a trained cabinet maker, as has been mentioned but rather an immensely gifted autodidact, almost entirely self taught with a brilliance at times approaching genius level. I am aware this sounds somewhat hyperbholic, but i was there and i was rather impressed with what i witnessed and experienced.

Your father and you have left you mark and schools be proud of the legacy.

Thank-you Paul for sharing your unique family history, experiences and talent in creating such excellent enduring furniture. Our family have enjoyed the comfort, style and superb workmanship of Nore Furniture since 1982 and still use daily a Nore dining suite with six chairs, a lounge suite of double couch with two chairs ( all solid mountain ash with pale advocado Howe leather in original condition ) in addition to three solid wall units of ash and glass doors with faultless Italian touch catches. What a wonderful legacy your father and you have left for Australian homes.

I wonder if younger generations of your family have continued with the passion and talent?

Best Wishes to you Norman for a very special 89th Birthday.

Thank-you sincerely for your artisan legacy and fabulous furniture :)

Congratulations & Kind Regards,

Dianne in Barwon Heads, Victoria.

Three generations of our family still enjoying the luxury and comfort of Nore Furniture :)

Thank you so much for your lovely reply Diane. In answer to your question as to whether the younger generation have taken up the passion…yes! I’m not so young, but still a rather sprightly 60 and i was just speaking to Dad on his birthday about makng a slimmed down Eron setting more suited to contemporary homes. I said to him i will make em and you can help with design. To my considerable surprise he was really keen on the idea! He has a shed on his property in Kinglake large enough to do it. We will do the chairs first and then a table. The artisan furniture scene in Melbourne has gone beserk and the Nore style is back in fashion. I think people are again prepared to pay for lasting quality rather than take a quick trip to Ikea…once again the wheel has turned. Oh and i passed on your message, he was very appreciative, says hi. I am also currently engaged in compiling some sort of history of Nore Furniture, if only for future generations of our family to appreciate Dad’s considerable achievements. This of course includes speaking to people such as yourself about the subject. i suppose i’m trying to compile a family history of sorts. My inlaws live in Drysdale and of course we often visit. Would it be too much of an imposition to meet up at some point and talk to you further on the subject and check out the furniture? I would be very interested to see how it looks after all these years and can tell you so much more on the subject. I have two daughters. Both are extremely artistic and would be wrapped to see Grandpa’s furniture out there, in some one else’s place besides our own and Dads. Feel free to give me a ring anytime, my number is 0452626896 or chuck me an email- paulanthonyarchibald@gmail.com. Thanks again for your knowledgable and very complimentary comments, they are hugely appreciated.

This is one of the nicest threads on the internet.