They preferred veneers to solids and discovered the modern joys of plastic that gave designers the ability to add more look to cases. Producing teak dining tables, chairs, sideboards and more, Parker Furniture soon established a reputation for quality and innovation that endured from the 1950s through the 80s. Now, while many of the furniture designs weve been showcasing so far today are what we would still call affordable that is, you may still be able to find them as relative bargains because they were mass marketed chairs like these Kofod Larsens, not so much. His furniture and cabinets during that time had exceptional materials and artistry making them instant collector's items. Professionally repolished. 01 of 05. Earlier, he co-founded Jamestown Sterling Corporation and, in the 1970's he held a number ofmarketing and sales positions at Pennsylvania House. Growing up in Australia, Meadmore spent most of his adult life in the US creating sculptures, many of which were on a monumental scale. HARRIS (Alex C.) Leicester manufacturers, makers of the "Gripper" sidewheel mower c1909. This article reported, Service, of course, is highly emphasized and rightly so, for it is service: before and after a sale, for which Fisher's is well renown among its customers. Parkers sensibility for mid-century Scandinavian furniture led to a range of Danish Parker Style furniture introduced in the early 1950s. . Want more savings? Abstract. Australian furniture designer Grant Featherston was a self-taught glass and furniture designer who became a creative collaborator with his wife Mary. NAMCO (National Art Metal Company P/L) is a designer and manufacturer of metal furniture and housewares. Galleries made the shopping experience more enjoyable, but ultimately succumbed to dealer resistance. more than one) from 1930-2000. Firstly, I really dont like the term brown furniture, currently used to describe Georgian, Victorian []. Fler produced furniture that had a hand-crafted feel and Scandinavian style, yet could be produced in large quantities. The company had made the commitment. Adam's impressive and imaginative portfolio continues to grow, and we find ourselves adding new must-haves to the list each year. More terrific Drexel designs to watch for: If you are a fan of flower power decorating, look no further than Drexels Plus One line made in the 1970s. SP01 creates beautifully detailed, timeless, contemporary designer furniture - conceived in Australia and designed and made in Italy. Saarinen tulip tables and chairs or vintage knock-offs made by Burke, Fiberform or other manufacturers. Fischers Wayside, Collegeville, PA was one of many similar stores featured editorially in Furniture Worlds late 1960s and early 1970s issues. Yet, we think that most of our people prefer their out-dated, 20 to 30 year old hand-me-downs to the typical Russian home goods shown in your exhibition in New York City's Coliseum. I got renters insurance and decided to post what I have to my blog. The Eames are renowned for their groundbreaking contributions to architecture, furniture design, industrial design and manufacturing. Global shipping available. Bloomingdales was the fashion leading pacesetter. were formed with interwoven strips that created a supportive webbing. 1956 Utrech Sofa- Gerrit Rietveld. Furniture design in the 60s encompassed a huge range of tastes. Political, social, cultural and aesthetic upheavals left noone unaffected. "Chuck" Redfern, Vice-President, Marketing Plastic Industries Inc., predicted in a March 1970 Furniture World issue that, Much will be heard in the 70s about plastic furniture for plastic's sake. This is in reference to the Italian influence of furniture molded in the most modern and avant-garde styles. Pair Mid Century Sleepy Hollow Armchairs from Artedeco. These sleek, white Valiants were hot off the production line in the Chrysler Australia factory at Tonsley Park, near Adelaide. At the time though, when Furniture World Magazine reported (December 1971) that furniture imports have increased about 40 per cent, but they still remain equivalent to about 2 per cent of domestic shipments, it was not a cause for concern. The Baby Boomers loved the idea of Levitz. Pam thinks he is having too much fun mixing mai tais. 61 3 9357 8126 Lama The Australian Furniture company " Established in 1985, Lama Furniture has grown to become one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of quality furniture nationwide. Plastics became big business for the furniture industry and were vigorously promoted. We try and stay on Witco patrol here at RR see our archive for photos of elusive wall panels, thunder god chairs and the all-time favorite Witco tiki map of the world. Its more just worn. Today furniture stores would account for 77.7 per cent of annual sales in the nation, and department stores, 22.3 per cent, based on National Association of Furniture Manufacturers' 1968 estimates. We got the single biggest order from any one store. I wonder what happens if you store your Tuesday clothes in the Friday drawer? Some of these stores had great snob appeal. He designed furniture as well. By the end of the decade, the Wayside stores had all but disappeared. The Australian label TH Brown, founded in 1911 by Thomas Howard Brown, became an exemplar of Mid-Century Modern style especially with the work of designer Peter Brown, one of Thomas Howards sons. 30-38 Victoria StreetPaddington, NSW 2021. According to Federal Reserve figures, approximately 80 per cent of the enormous middle-income group own a sizeable equity in their own homes. All right reserved. Early production model 304 four-seater lounge by Parker Furniture, Sydney, c. mid-1960s. By appointment only Mon - Thurs 8.00am - 3.00pm Friday - 8.00am - 1.00pm Saturday - Please Call Everybody said, youre crazy. As the name suggests, the Mid-Century Modern style gained prominence post-World War II, from the late 1940s to the 1960s. $1,000. He is known for collaborating with a number of big corporations including Apple, Montblanc, Nike and Louis Vuitton to name a few. In 1946, he set out on a mission to design a chair that was meant to be comfortable and sculpted from a single material but he ended up with so much more. 1960s cedar wine table by Johnson's Cedar Period Furniture. The now-iconic collection originated when Featherston dreamt of making a chair that would be an inversion of the human body; creating the concept of contour comfort. Their advertisements appeared frequently in Australian House and Garden . We have a vintage Drexel Declaration catalog archived here on Retro Renovation. For good measure, they also had branch stores in the suburbs with more space for furniture. More Information. Three freight cars are being unloaded simultaneously on a siding. Venetian / Murano glass, mirrors - mirrors, wall, period, age or style 8. Each piece that we produce is custom made at our workshop in Melbourne. There's no denying our fervent love for vintage furniture. What they created resulted in so much more; with many mid-century furniture designers and brands still influencing interior trends almost a century on. The format was an immediate hit with consumers and the Levitz brothers took off and never looked back. One room that really received unique features during the 1960s were kitchens. Despite a change of hands and a few decades away from the spotlight, TH Brown pieces have never gone out of style. Drexel Declaration is one of the first vintage furniture lines ever profiled on Retro Renovation. Clearly the (furniture) industry has a tremendous unexploited potential market.". 1954 - 1957 Mezzadro - Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. Numero IV preceded Numero VII (pictured) and consisted of units that could be combined in various configurations for sitting and lounging in a variety of spaces. The contribution of manufacturing to Australia's gross domestic product peaked in the 1960s at 25%, and had dropped to 13% by 2001-2 and 10.5% by 2005-6.. If you are puzzled how some of our dealers can offer $79 mattresses - half off - $39.50 - so are we, but despite our problems, we see a new era ahead for thefurniture industry. There was also a generalised push towards modernist principles; creating furniture with clean and pared-back lines, honest construction and sculptural forms. . Furniture Manufacturers in Australia. Remember when you married? In addition to discovering a new economic malady called stagflation, the industry had to cope with not one, but two hugely disruptive oil shortages and the prime rate hit 15 per cent and kept going. A few, like Toms-Price in Chicago, were agile enough to migrate to new formats, but most quietly went out of business. Breuer had taken what was commonly known as a 'club chair' and deconstructed it to its most basic elements and parts. About The Author: Michael Dugan is currently the Alex Lee Professor of Business at Lenoir Rhyne University where he served as the Chair of the Business School for five years. In 1971, Levitz had 34 stores with sales of $183 million and profits of $9.2 million. 158.00. By 1960, the 1940 war babies will be 20 years old and will begin setting up their homes. It was this fateful moment that they struck a partnership and opened their own small workshop. More importantly, they were not afraid of the upper-end and they understood the importance of brand names. The gallery concept made sense for certain manufacturers and retailers because consumers loved it. Services, such as delivery and set-up, are available at extra cost. Last Updated: 3/2/2023. Back through the warehouse, turning left to a Texas-sized parking lot, trucks, rented U-Hauls and conventional cars, ranging from Volkswagens to Mercedes, were being loaded from dollies or fork-trucks by warehouse attendants and customers. Then he came back another time and he wanted 500 ft. Then the last time he called he said itd take 3,000- 4,000 ft. Fax: 914-235-3278 The crisp, graphic look of Eero Saarinen's iconic tulip tables and chairs will be forever appealing . Haynes & Kane in Bennington,VT, Maple House in Westchester County, NY, and Coopers Maple Shoppe in Seattle, WA were among the leaders in this retail format that, in some ways, was the precursor of todays life-style stores. Above: I own a Burke dining room table and Fiberform chairs. Above: Cindys Heywood-Wakefield couch and coffee table from 306 photos of reader living rooms. This is about as modern as we'll ever get when it comes to traditional Australian furniture. By going into the field, manufacturing executives got hit with the truth, not the myth. This led to the then unusual practice of importing furniture and sourcing that bypassed the mainstream. See it over at the latest entry to my blog. It is stunning! No 1. Kafkas approach to craftsmanship and modern design was in marked contrast to the mass-produced furniture available in Australia in the 1940s and 50s. The crisp, graphic look of Eero Saarinens iconic tulip tables and chairs will be forever appealing even if you dont use these in your decorating, it is hard to frown when you see them. Retro Coffee Table from Coburg Hill Antiques. https://alphabitsinorangejuice.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/showing-off-update/. It was a game-changer and its phenomenal success made it a landmark in modern design. takes a big step forward. Dont be like Pam and let a Pearsall treasure-bargain slip through your fingers! A telltale sign of the furniture's maker is a manufacturing tag, label or stamp bearing the name of the creator. Manufacturers of the "Tournament Triplex" imported by Ransomes in the 1970s. Pam here: I am adding the bullets. $999.00. There are many exciting designs to suit your particular taste. Listen. $199.00. The stock went through the roof and countless independent retailers went under. Mid-Century G plan sideboard. on His design and crafting career evolved from humble beginnings as he made hand-turned wooden salad bowls, trays and lazy Susans with Ernest Rodeck under the name of Fler (sideboard pictured). In most cases, Pop typically ran the business, but Mom controlled what went on the floor. The pair branched into furniture and looked to the aesthetic of modernism, which represented the new way of living and a break from the old. And confessing: My main research go-to on these Broyhill lines is now, Drexel Parallel (Pam recently bought a 55 Parallel low dresser for her husbands office lovely lines. Their carefully edited assortments and knowledgeable sales help were very appealing to consumers. On the upholstery side, the Warehouse Showrooms were perfectly geared to sell motion furniture. These decorative details are based on the architecture of Oscar Niemeyer, who designed Brazils modernist capital city, Brasilia. This is a brilliant design, because it appeals to modernists and traditionalists, alike. Its super fun to shop for vintage furniture the thrill of the hunt! Recently expanded and renovated, the Library also maintains a state of the art, climate controlled room to house its large rare furniture bookcollection and sells books in High Point and through www.furniturelibrary.com. In Esperanto,we werent the first to do a Mediterranean group. . Nedlands, WA. He is also widely known for his revolutionary tulip table and chairs collection. France & Son as well as Ray and Charles Eames would top my list. But to get the conversation started, Pam and I brainstormed a top 10 list of our favorite vintage furniture some of which we own and some, we dream about and which, in general, are emblematic of the varieties/styles of midcentury furniture out there. Writing in September 1955, Harry W. Schacter, President of Banner-Whitehill Corporation, wrote in Furniture World, The furniture business is still in its horse and buggy days and must be brought into the second half of the Twentieth Century. Please select your primary business below to get the latest home furnishings industry news at no charge. Freiberg Australia. Such a marking or label may have been placed inside a drawer on an old dresser, on . Free delivery and returns on eBay Plus items for Plus members. Really, though, the point of this entry is that Kofod-Larsen is emblematic our nod to the scores of other high-end, mid century furniture designs out there for the hunting. In 1963, Ralph and Leon Levitz opened their first warehouse showroom in Allentown, PA, followed by one in Phoenix and another in Miami by 1965. Then again, when handled professionally, these reviews made it possible to correct flaws and to clarify misunderstandings. They would merchandise the accessories and everything else that went with it. They offer dreamy, high-quality beds made right here in Britain. Coffee table teak magazine rack MCM 1960s restored golden brown. What are the most collectible brands of vintage furniture? Included are circulars, 1940s-1960s; indexes of publications, 1960-1980s; bulletins 1970s-1980s; and other publications sent to AFMA members . Buy and sell almost anything on Gumtree classifieds. Not today. The term Mid-Century Modern was already being used as early as the mid-50s, but it wasnt until author Cara Greenberg mentioned it in her 1983 book, as a descriptor of the design aesthetics at the time, that it gained attention. Most loads were cartons, but some merchandise was free-standing and being roped down., Speaking of Levitz in an American Furniture Hall of Fame Interview, Lawrence Schnadig, founder of upholstered furniture manufacturer Schnadig Corp., said he, refused to sell Levitz in the beginning of their growth because there was a good deal of antagonism to them on the part of our dealer list. This is an acquisitive generation, used to spending. Never have we had a more vital marketing opportunity. Im sure a lot of us here eschew the timeless for the extremely dated. So Sears is alright with me. However, in the 1920s, interior and furniture designers embraced the Art Deco movement. A typical family also owns a refrigerator, range, vacuum cleaner, automatic clothes washer and dryer, freezer, dishwasher, toaster, steam iron, electric clock, electric mixer, electric frying pan, electric coffee maker, television set, two radios and a phonograph. B. VanScivers, and Cannel & Chafin among others. This house is considered, both nationally and internationally, as an example of modern Australian architecture. South Australian Made Adjustable Beds & Mattress. As recently as February, FORTUNE Magazine pointed out that the Bureau of Labor statistics shows these people spend an average of only $281 a year on furniture, well below the cost of a color TV set. Barbara D'Arcy's heart-stopping model rooms were redone every six months and re-opened with great fanfare like Broadway shows. Back in the day when the Baby Boomers entered the market and put their mark on it, there were many more stores; department stores really emphasized furniture; sales reps played a bigger role; furniture insiders controlled manufacturing; and relationships counted more. Kate - August 27, 2012, Updated: May 31, 2021. His furniture and cabinets during that time had exceptional materials and artistry making them instant collectors items. Vintage furniture also tends to be very affordable, compared to buying new. Although British manufacturers such as G-Plan, which was founded in 1898, did produce a range of modern furniture to suit all budgets for furniture hungry customers after furniture rations were lifted in 1952 it then introduced the Danish Modern Range in the 1960s to compete with Scandinavian mid-century modern manufacturers. The sleek rectangular shaped pieces with angular legs are back in fashion, with this original 1960s Long Credenza by I.B.Kofod-Larsen version costing 8,800. The Western Australian Furniture Manufacturers Association Inc (WAFMA) is an incorporated non-profit association formed to represent WA owned and operated furniture manufacturers where their entire manufacturing process is undertaken in WA using local labour. The modern joys of plastic that gave designers the ability to add more look to cases ; of! 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