Here at BetzBuilt we love a bit of high-end design. One of our favourite furniture designers was the Sheffield based David Mellor whose use of plywood was legendary.
David Mellor was a renowned designer, silversmith, and manufacturer of cutlery and tableware. But he was also a pioneer in the use of plywood in furniture design, and his innovative work in this area has had a lasting impact on the design world.
Mellor began experimenting with plywood in the 1950s, at a time when the material was mostly used for industrial purposes such as packaging and construction. He was drawn to its strength and durability, but also to its aesthetic potential. Mellor saw that plywood could be used to create furniture that was both functional and beautiful, and that could be produced in large quantities at an affordable price.
One of Mellor's most famous designs is the "Plywood Chair," which he created in 1954. The chair is made from a single sheet of plywood, which is cut and bent to create the seat and backrest. The design is simple and elegant, with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic that was ahead of its time.
Mellor's Plywood Chair was not just a design statement, but also a practical solution to a problem that many designers were grappling with at the time. Traditional furniture-making techniques were time-consuming and expensive, and required skilled craftsmen to produce. Plywood offered a way to create furniture quickly and efficiently, while still maintaining a high level of quality.
Mellor went on to create a range of other plywood designs, including tables, desks, and cabinets. He was particularly interested in the way that the material could be used to create curves and shapes that would be difficult to achieve with other materials. His designs were often simple and understated, but also highly functional and adaptable to different settings.
The David Mellor Shop & Museum in Hathersage, nr Sheffield is well worth a visit.
https://www.davidmellordesign.com/shops/hathersage