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Dressing-table unit

Dressing-table unit

  • Place of origin:

    High Wycombe (manufactured)

  • Date:

    1953-1958 (manufactured)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Gomme, Donald, born 1916 (designer)
    E. Gomme Ltd (manufacturer)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Mahogany and plywood faced with oak veneer, mirror, glass, electric light fitting

  • Credit Line:

    Given by Mr C. G. Brookes

  • Museum number:

    W.3-1993

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

This dressing-table unit is part of a G-Plan bedroom unit. The firm of E. Gomme Ltd, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, introduced the G-Plan range of furniture in 1953. G-Plan furniture was designed so that all the individual items would be compatible in style and dimensions and marked the beginning of modular furniture for the mass market.

The chests of drawers in this bedroom unit could be freestanding, or combined with the dressing table that is suspended between them. The dressing-table unit could not be used independently and in fact was never actually installed until the Museum acquired it. The timber handles and clean lines were also used in the matching wardrobes.

G-Plan was promoted to the more affluent buyers who might be sympathetic to contemporary design ideas imported from Europe. These chests of drawers each cost £19 11s 6d and the suspended dressing table was a further £16 12s 6d. This was a considerable sum for new furniture in 1957.

Physical description

Dressing table unit, comprising of an oak-veneered top surface, hinged at the rear, that lifts to reveal a glass-lined storage compartment. The vertical front face of the unit is hinged along the lower edge and can be dropped. The underside of the lid is faced with a mirror, which is underlit from a concealed electric light source at the rear of the unit.

Place of Origin

High Wycombe (manufactured)

Date

1953-1958 (manufactured)

Artist/maker

Gomme, Donald, born 1916 (designer)
E. Gomme Ltd (manufacturer)

Materials and Techniques

Mahogany and plywood faced with oak veneer, mirror, glass, electric light fitting

Dimensions

Height: 840 mm when installed and lid is closed, Width: 710 mm, Depth: 460 mm closed

Descriptive line

Mahogany and plywood dressing-table unit, faced with oak veneer

Labels and date

DRESSING TABLE UNIT AND CHAIR
Designed and made by E. Gomme Ltd, High Wycombe
British 1953-8

Ebenezer Gomme founded a chair-making business in High Wycombe in 1898. By 1922 the company was employing 300 people. The G-plan concept was introduced around 1953 and consisted of a variety of co-ordinated home furnishings which could be built up over a period of time. These pieces were part of the 'Brandon' range and were bought at Selfridges in 1957 for £16 12s 6d.

Given by Mr C. Brookes
W.1-4-1993 [1993-2006]

Production Note

Made by E. Gomme Ltd, under the G-plan label

Materials

African mahogany; Oak; Plywood; Mirror glass; Electrical components; Sheet glass

Techniques

Cabinet-making

Categories

Furniture

Collection

Furniture and Woodwork Collection

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