Description

This mid century cabinet was made by Beaver and Tapley, a firm who created high end furniture for the British market. This stylish piece can be employed as a bookcase, drinks cabinet, hall cabinet or as a miniature sideboard. The shelves are height adjustable and removable.

Beaver & Tapley was founded in London by Newman Richardson, shortly before the end of the first World War, to deal in Government surplus. Surprisingly, there was never a Mr Beaver or a Mr Tapley. The name was created by Newman Richardson to sound as if the Company was old and established. This led to the sale of regimental ties and from that to screw-up tie presses and trouser presses which were a great success.
In the early thirties the company started manufacturing tea trolleys, utilising the same raw materials, which is how Beaver and Tapley became furniture manufacturers. The company made and sold an increasing range of occasional and some bedroom furniture, with a break during the Second World War, selling the product ranges wholly on price. In 1956 Roger joined his father Justin Richardson in the business and together they decided that just being cheaper than their competitors was not the way forwards in the long term. They decided on a number of new strategies; to use some top designers; to advertise nationally; to sell on quality and design and not purely on price.

Robert Heritage designed furniture for a number of British makers in the 1950s, 60s and 70s but is best known for his work for the top quality London maker Archie Shine. Archie Shine furniture was retailed by Heals and a few independent up-market provincial retailers. Robert Heritage was also an influential Professor of Furniture at the Royal College of Art from 1974-1985 .

W153 x D28 x H102cm