Designer: Norman Marshall. Origin & production: Patented in South Africa in 1921; made in Durban for decades. It was a common, everyday kitchen/dining chair that many South Africans remember from grandparents’ homes. Design features: Solid bentwood frame with a distinctive, very strong bolt-together (knock-down) assembly system. This made it durable and practical — many original examples are still in use today because of that robust construction. The design is noted for its “plain simplicity” that hides real ingenuity. Later revival: Cape Town designer Haldane Martin re-issued a version around 2010, keeping the bentwood frame and assembly concept but hiding the bolts and offering modern finishes (raw beech through to bright colours
These chairs are collectible for their local design history and practicality rather than high-end luxury status. Restored sets appear periodically on South African sales sites (Bob Shop, Junk Mail, etc.), often with replacement seats. The Haldane Martin re-edition brought renewed attention to the design as a piece of South African design heritage.
If you have more photos (especially of the underside, joints, or any stamps/marks) or know the approximate age/provenance, that would help refine the identification further. In short: yes, a Globe Chair of this type was indeed made in Durban.
