Decorating
Collectors' Alert! G Plan Furniture's Mid-Century Modern Appeal
It may not be widely known in Australia, but G Plan furniture is worth adding to your list of mid-century must-haves
Devotees of mid-century design are familiar with modernist leading lights such as Wegner, Aalto, Jacobsen, Panton, Saarinen and Le Corbusier. Could we squeeze Ebenezer Gomme into this exalted company? A household name in the UK during the last century, Gomme founded the company that became G Plan Design, an enterprise that radically changed post-war British homes. His legacy lives on as original G Plan pieces gain cachet for collectors outside the UK, and a reworked G Plan range from the ’50s and ’60s hits the UK market. Cast your eye over a fabulous vintage classic.
Pioneering mid-century designs
G Plan designs tapped into post-war optimism and desire for change. The teak, light oak and exotic timber pieces with bright, ultra-modern upholstery were a complete change from the heavy, brown furniture of the pre-war period.
Image: 1956 catalogue page: HWFA ref. GM10_05 courtesy of High Wycombe Furniture Archive
Is Mid-Century Modern Here to Stay?
G Plan designs tapped into post-war optimism and desire for change. The teak, light oak and exotic timber pieces with bright, ultra-modern upholstery were a complete change from the heavy, brown furniture of the pre-war period.
Image: 1956 catalogue page: HWFA ref. GM10_05 courtesy of High Wycombe Furniture Archive
Is Mid-Century Modern Here to Stay?
During the ’50s and ’60s, people were enjoying activities denied during the war years – home entertaining, television, music, fashion and new labour-saving devices. In response, G Plan designed cocktail cabinets, dining and bedroom suites, coffee and telephone tables, television chairs, and cabinets for china and glassware.
This marketing image demonstrates how G Plan targeted the glamorous house-proud mid-century homemaker with light versatile pieces for her new lifestyle.
Image: HWFA ref. GBX06_01, showing the Rotodiner table courtesy of High Wycombe Furniture Archive
This marketing image demonstrates how G Plan targeted the glamorous house-proud mid-century homemaker with light versatile pieces for her new lifestyle.
Image: HWFA ref. GBX06_01, showing the Rotodiner table courtesy of High Wycombe Furniture Archive
The Danish invasion
The influx of imported Scandinavian, particularly Danish, furniture in the late ’50s and ’60s led G Plan to contract Danish designer Ib Kofod-Larsen to try and recapture market share. The G Plan Danish range was produced from the early to mid ’60s, although many designs remained on the drawing board due to high production costs.
Image: HWFA image ref. GBX10_87 courtesy of High Wycombe Furniture Archive
The influx of imported Scandinavian, particularly Danish, furniture in the late ’50s and ’60s led G Plan to contract Danish designer Ib Kofod-Larsen to try and recapture market share. The G Plan Danish range was produced from the early to mid ’60s, although many designs remained on the drawing board due to high production costs.
Image: HWFA image ref. GBX10_87 courtesy of High Wycombe Furniture Archive
For collectors, the Kofod-Larsen gold stamp on a G Plan Danish piece adds considerable kudos and a higher price than other surviving pieces. Attributions to Kofod-Larsen appear frequently on dealer websites, but anyone planning to purchase should seek expert advice.
This partially upholstered c1962 Kofod-Larsen teak sofa, which can fold flat as a small double bed, was produced for the Danish range. Genuine pieces like this can still be found in reasonable condition, ready to be refreshed with re-upholstery and TLC.
Image: Pure Imagination
This partially upholstered c1962 Kofod-Larsen teak sofa, which can fold flat as a small double bed, was produced for the Danish range. Genuine pieces like this can still be found in reasonable condition, ready to be refreshed with re-upholstery and TLC.
Image: Pure Imagination
A controversial chair
One of G Plan’s most famous chairs, the Housemaster, is often attributed to Kofod-Larsen. The High Wycombe VADS archive doesn’t contain a Kofod-Larsen drawing for the chair, and it is believed by many to be by K.M. Wilkins.
The Housemaster, launched in 1970 in teak for £115 or rosewood for £135, wasn’t in production for long and is a sought-after collector’s item today. This rare and stunning rosewood specimen features original yellow Dralon upholstery.
Image: Pure Imagination
One of G Plan’s most famous chairs, the Housemaster, is often attributed to Kofod-Larsen. The High Wycombe VADS archive doesn’t contain a Kofod-Larsen drawing for the chair, and it is believed by many to be by K.M. Wilkins.
The Housemaster, launched in 1970 in teak for £115 or rosewood for £135, wasn’t in production for long and is a sought-after collector’s item today. This rare and stunning rosewood specimen features original yellow Dralon upholstery.
Image: Pure Imagination
With cushions removed, the impressive construction of the Housemaster is revealed. The masculinity of the chair contrasted with the more slender pieces in previous ranges. The 1974 catalogue describes the Housemaster as a “blissful creation … floated on a cradle of gleaming chrome-plated steel. The unique pentagonal base is specially designed to allow you to swivel a full 360 degrees, or gently rock to and fro, or just sit still – perfectly still.”
Image: Pure Imagination
Read about Tim Ross’s mid-century home
Image: Pure Imagination
Read about Tim Ross’s mid-century home
G Plan in the movies
The swinging ’60s were an exciting time for G Plan. Innovative marketing campaigns brought it to the attention of the movie and television worlds. The 6250 armchair, launched in 1962 and claiming to be ‘The World’s Most Comfortable Chair’, featured in the 1967 Bond movie, You Only Live Twice. It also starred in Goldfinger in 1964 and Get Carter with Michael Caine in 1971. The chair sold in 2014 for $16,000.
The 6250 was relaunched in 2013 in collaboration with Hemingway Design, renamed The Sixty Two. Its distinctive shape, with horned back, outswept arms, plush buttoning, orbital castors and star-shaped swivel base, has changed little in 50 years, and with the simple functionality of the matching footstool, is still a statement piece for modern interiors.
The swinging ’60s were an exciting time for G Plan. Innovative marketing campaigns brought it to the attention of the movie and television worlds. The 6250 armchair, launched in 1962 and claiming to be ‘The World’s Most Comfortable Chair’, featured in the 1967 Bond movie, You Only Live Twice. It also starred in Goldfinger in 1964 and Get Carter with Michael Caine in 1971. The chair sold in 2014 for $16,000.
The 6250 was relaunched in 2013 in collaboration with Hemingway Design, renamed The Sixty Two. Its distinctive shape, with horned back, outswept arms, plush buttoning, orbital castors and star-shaped swivel base, has changed little in 50 years, and with the simple functionality of the matching footstool, is still a statement piece for modern interiors.
G Plan in the ’70s
The Fresco range by V.B. Wilkins was introduced in the late ’60s. This is Wilkins’ drawing of the glass-topped Astro occasional table in afrormosia, an exotic African timber.
Image: HWFA ref. GBX02_01 courtesy of High Wycombe Furniture Archive
The Fresco range by V.B. Wilkins was introduced in the late ’60s. This is Wilkins’ drawing of the glass-topped Astro occasional table in afrormosia, an exotic African timber.
Image: HWFA ref. GBX02_01 courtesy of High Wycombe Furniture Archive
Dressing tables with mirrors attached appeared in many G Plan ranges. This Fresco teak version shows the floating top, attached mirror and curvaceous drawer pulls that are hallmarks of the range. Shield-shaped mirrors and sconce lighting also featured.
The Fresco seat was originally covered in vinyl, a new product at the time. This example was revamped in grey velvet.
The Fresco seat was originally covered in vinyl, a new product at the time. This example was revamped in grey velvet.
G Plan in the 21st Century
After a late-20th century downturn, G Plan lives again, a testament to its enduring appeal. Hemingway Design and British department store John Lewis collaborated to produce the G Plan Vintage range in 2012, cherry-picking timeless earlier pieces.
The 2016 launch of the G Plan Edit collection was inspired by fashion and the arts, with pieces named for Audrey Hepburn, David Hockney, John Lennon and David Bowie. The Fifty Nine corner sofa above in matt indigo velvet has the exterior frame detail so innovative at the time of its first release.
After a late-20th century downturn, G Plan lives again, a testament to its enduring appeal. Hemingway Design and British department store John Lewis collaborated to produce the G Plan Vintage range in 2012, cherry-picking timeless earlier pieces.
The 2016 launch of the G Plan Edit collection was inspired by fashion and the arts, with pieces named for Audrey Hepburn, David Hockney, John Lennon and David Bowie. The Fifty Nine corner sofa above in matt indigo velvet has the exterior frame detail so innovative at the time of its first release.
Vintage revamps
Because of their quality construction, vintage G Plan pieces respond beautifully to modern makeovers. These teak dining chairs, first made in the ’70s and upholstered in brown wool, were restored by Out of The Dark in jewel-toned velvet.
Find furniture restorers and upholsterers
Because of their quality construction, vintage G Plan pieces respond beautifully to modern makeovers. These teak dining chairs, first made in the ’70s and upholstered in brown wool, were restored by Out of The Dark in jewel-toned velvet.
Find furniture restorers and upholsterers
G Plan for Down Under collectors
There are plenty of treasures to be discovered in Australian vintage and antiques shops and markets, and online. A recent Lawsons auction sold twelve G Plan pieces, each priced well under $1,000. These pieces would have travelled to Australia with successive waves of British immigrants, as they would have been considered cherished pieces of household furniture to take to a new home.
The owners of this Adelaide home have a G Plan sideboard, adding streamlined storage to their dining room and a place to display their collection of vintage tableware.
There are plenty of treasures to be discovered in Australian vintage and antiques shops and markets, and online. A recent Lawsons auction sold twelve G Plan pieces, each priced well under $1,000. These pieces would have travelled to Australia with successive waves of British immigrants, as they would have been considered cherished pieces of household furniture to take to a new home.
The owners of this Adelaide home have a G Plan sideboard, adding streamlined storage to their dining room and a place to display their collection of vintage tableware.
My G Plan journey began when I spotted a great-looking sideboard in a vintage market in Bowral, NSW early this year. I was drawn to its balanced proportions, curvy details and quirky ring drawer pulls. The mellow oak timber positively glowed and the interior fittings were almost as good as new. I did some homework, then rushed back the next day to find the price had been substantially reduced. Serendipity!
The sideboard in this Cammeray home is almost a dead ringer for my lovely find.
The sideboard in this Cammeray home is almost a dead ringer for my lovely find.
If G Plan is on your wishlist, get familiar with identification labels. Look for mid-century pieces with a gold stamp or a red and white label. You’ll find small tables, chairs and stools on eBay and Gumtree at reasonable – sometimes bargain – prices. At the high end, you’ll find large teak pieces from the Danish range. For aficionados with funds, anything by V.B. Wilkins and Kofod-Larsen is a coveted prize.
Image: HWFA ref. GC64_001 courtesy of High Wycombe Furniture Archive
Tell us
Are you familiar with the G Plan name? Share your experiences with us and join the conversation.
More
Browse more homes featuring mid-century modern furniture
Thanks to the High Wycombe Furniture Archive for permission to use archival images
Image: HWFA ref. GC64_001 courtesy of High Wycombe Furniture Archive
Tell us
Are you familiar with the G Plan name? Share your experiences with us and join the conversation.
More
Browse more homes featuring mid-century modern furniture
Thanks to the High Wycombe Furniture Archive for permission to use archival images
When Ebenezer Gomme designed and built his first chair in the 1880s in a garage in Nettlebed, Oxfordshire, he wouldn’t have guessed he was founding a dynasty. Through the dying days of the Victorian era, two world wars, post-war austerity, the rise of modernism, the swinging ’60s and onto today’s revival of mid-century design, Gomme and the G Plan name captured home-making British hearts.
Would Ebenezer have envisaged this 2012 version of the Sixty Three sofa in ‘Bobble Charcoal’ from the relaunched G Plan Vintage range?