Restoration of a 1960s teak veneer dressing table from the firm G-Plan.
Ebenezer Gum
In 1898, Ebenezer Gomme (1858-1931) founded the E. Gomme Ltd. joinery and precision workshop in High Wycombe, England. It quickly became one of the most important centers for English furniture manufacturing until the 1940s.
During World War II, Great Britain faced a timber shortage, forcing all wood-dependent industries to offer products with a more utilitarian than design focus.
In 1953, Donald Gomme became convinced that a more modernist, streamlined, and radical aesthetic could find a place in the British market. He thus targeted a younger, more progressive audience. He took over his grandfather's company and renamed it G-plan.
In the 1960s, Scandinavian style conquered international design, and Danish imports far surpassed English furniture production. To compete, G-Plan commissioned Danish designer Ib Kofod-Larsen to create a new teak collection. Although Kofod-Larsen's designs are now highly sought-after collector's items for their clean lines and practical design, his work was not well received by the design community at the time.
The Restoration
A meticulous and complex restoration was carried out with finesse and exacting standards to achieve a uniform surface. The missing teak veneer was replaced by oxidizing and varnishing before being glued back in place. The original finish was cleaned and restored, and then a thin layer of wax was applied to harmonize all the surfaces.
To see previous restorations : https://ebenisterie-mathieuvath.fr/en-ce-moment-a-latelier/
