1950s Kone chair and other furniture by Australian, Roger McLay

Roger McLay (1922 – 2000) trained at the National Art School, Sydney, and then as an apprenticeship with printing company John Sands in lithography. After serving in World War II from 1939 to 1945, he returned to the Art School from 1945-47.

Roger McLay's Kone chair was contructed from plywood on a painted steel base, with a small amount of rubber to provide stability.

Production of the Kone Chair started in 1948. In its 12 years of production, two styles were manufactured: circular and circular with trimmed sides. Some chairs were upholstered. Like many other mid 20th century furniture designers, mcLay used wood laminate developed during the war, but his unique contribution was not to use moulding to create his chair. Instead the laminate was a single sheet bent into shape and fixed to a metal frame. The first chairs may be identified by the designers name and model. more... Descon made the chairs from the mid 1950s.

From: Carter's "Collecting Australiana", William & Dorothy Hall, published by John Furphy Pty. Ltd. 2005 less...