labelled back of seat on label ‘Manufactured by / RIGINLS (N.Z.) LTD. / Box 1750. Auckland/ Design / by/ Garth Chester’

An important contribution to New Zealand design, and its connection with international modernism, was made by Auckland designer and manufacturer by Garnet Campbell (Garth) Chester (1915-1968).

The Kay’s French Beauty Salon barber’s chair is one of three he made and designed for Kay’s French Beauty Salon in Karangahape Road, Auckland in 1954.

Chester was a designer of wide interests and achievements notably in the experimentation with and creation of heat-moulded and bent plywood furniture. He also produced a series of design films throughout the 1950s.

In writing on Chester, Douglas Lloyd-Jenkins has noted that, ‘Chester was on the periphery of Auckland’s small design community and practised a distinctive modernism. In 1944 Chester had formed a chair from a single sheet of plywood. Known as the Curvesse (1944), this chair remains the most significant piece of furniture produced in New Zealand. Like many international designers Chester was fascinated by the possibilities of bent plywood producing a number of designs using plywood as the base material.’

Chester’s furniture only ever had a limited appeal to the public and by 1960 the designer had all but retired from furniture design.’

Auckland Museum has the major public collection of British and New Zealand made furniture. It concentrates on representing the significant stylistic trends and important producers, especially New Zealanders.

Kay’s French Beauty Salon barber’s chair, Garnet Campbell [Garth] Chester (born 1915 – died 1968), Auckland, New Zealand, 1954