Out & About Summer 2018

Out&About antiques

furniture was the norm. Donald Gomme and G Gomme designed the 1950s post-rationing G Plan range of household furniture that could be bought piece by piece over time according to budgets. By the late 1950s, furniture had a very British sense of style. Husband-and-wife team Robin (furniture) and Lucienne (textiles) Day were designing for Hille and the furniture was very modern looking and extremely fashionable and is considered to be of value in the saleroom today. So popular were their designs that in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Habitat had a range of Robin and Lucienne Day sofas. By the end of the 50s, modern or contemporary furniture took more than half of all UK furniture sales and most young couples starting out in married life looked for G Plan or something similar as their first furniture. The popular G Plan we see in salerooms today that looks Danish in style is in fact from the 1970s. We sold an Ernest Race sideboard in the John Landaw auction in 2015 for more than £1,000. In the 70s, tastes were split on the one hand between the ultra-modern tubular style furniture and on the other, remakes of design classics and the pine Welsh dresser, which became one of the most desirable pieces of living room furniture, in particular oak Old Charm and Mellowcraft examples. These days, when space in a house or a flat is limited, flat pack and ready-made brands such as Ikea often fit the bill. However, we are seeing more and more a return to styles gone-by where people are buying at auction to mix and match their furniture at home. Scandinavian furniture, which is both aesthetic and popular among those who favour the minimalist look, always sells well at auction. Lounge chairs by Danish architect Philip Arctander and bentwood furniture by Finnish designer Alvar Aalto are just some of the examples that go under the hammer. This very potted history of furniture illustrates how over time it has evolved from being functional to becoming a statement piece or fashion accessory. For those who think individuality is key and like to ‘upcycle’, then a trip to an auction is also a great place to get a traditional piece and give it a makeover. 1: An Arts and Crafts commode seat sold £133 2: An 18th century oak continental chest of drawers sold £3,440 3: A Victorian mahogany campaign chest on chest sold £430 4: An Edwardian pine dresser sold £270 5: A George III walnut cross banded Batchelor’s chest sold £1,700 6. 1950-60s cabinet 7: A Victorian oak carved desk sold £180 

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