Description
Background Info and Provenance
(This description was written in 2016. The piece sold within 4 days of being listed for $1995 back in 2016. I wanted a quick sale at the time- it was worth AT LEAST $2150 at the time in 2016.)
A G-Plan FRESCO teak sideboard made in the UK in the 1960’s with Afromosia timber bordering and handles. In its genre this piece is near the pinnacle- it has the original G Plan badge inside the left cupboard and it’s one of the rare ones in that it measures OVER 2m in length (-214cm). This piece easily EXCEEDS the quality of a Parker sideboard. With the esteem Parker is held in this may seem like a bold comment to make but it’s undisputable. This piece is constructed of SOLID timber with a quality teak veneer- Parker is just chipboard, extremely well-made but still just chipboard. The back edges on a Parker sideboard are unprotected (and virtually every Australian sideboard out there)- chipboard under thin veneer. When the back and side edges are knocked the edge falls away and little can be done to fix it. This one has been built to last the long haul- it will far outlive both you and I. Even the base is a notch better than virtually all of them out there. There’s an extra support piece across the front and cross-support pieces underneath for additional support to the legs. (These can just be made out in photo 3 if you look closely.)
Even though quality comes first- looks are important as well- after all, you may have to live with this thing for 20+ years! In this style you’d be hard pressed to find a more stylish unit. Usually stylishness and boldness don’t go in the same sentence but with this piece they meld together seamlessly. The style is “clean” and sophisticated yet also bold, geometric and classic. It’s no wonder Fresco sideboards are sought-after the world over. In Australia the popularity of this classic vintage design is unwavering- people have consistently wanted them for the full 15 years I’ve been in this business. They’re a mainstay- they are no longer “trendy” but have moved into the timeless category (and did so years ago).
A1 quality, A1 looks, A1 investment potential, timelessness which leaves functionality- obviously another big tick there. G-Plan is not going to create such a careful piece and forget that. Good elevation off the floor, this longer version has 4 central drawers flanked on each side by double cupboards so heaps of storage, removable shelves … even the dividers in the cutlery drawers are removable. You can’t get much more functional than that!
At around $2000 you can pay more for something that’s been flat-packed (and end up in landfill within years). I believe these are worth quite a bit more than $2000 which is the final reason I’m happy to offer this sideboard in my store.
This sideboard is about 50 years old. It’s in excellent condition after all these years because of the construction quality. Why spend money on items that won’t last? I can’t think of any better way to invest in your home and reduce your carbon footprint.
