Description

A vintage, very rare model teak sideboard designed by Tom Robertson and manufactured by A.H. McIntosh of Kirkcaldy in the 1960s. This much sought after, classic piece of Scottish mid century furniture features extensive storage with three drawers set in its centre, the top drawer lined in felt and with cutlery dividers in place. To the left is a shelved cupboard with drop-down door front and to the right is a shelved drinks cabinet. Hidden beneath the top of the sideboard is a super little formica topped slide-out tray. Handy for for mixing cocktails! The colour of the wood is fantastic. This piece has a lovely ‘honey’ tone which makes it a gorgeous and very stylish retro sideboard. The standout features of this sideboard though are the stunning ‘sunburst’ designs found on the cabinet doors. This clever use of radial veneer decoration seems to have been a McIntosh speciality and is a stunning feature which will have taken great skill to achieve . It certainly would have made it more expensive than standard pieces at the time .

Scottish furniture manufacturer McIntosh is best known on the vintage market for their mid-century style furniture, particularly for teak cabinetry and sideboards. Founded in 1869 by Alexander Henry (A.H) McIntosh (1835-1919) in Kirkcaldy, Fife. The business quickly grew in size, requiring new, larger premises just a decade later. In 1879, McIntosh bought a new factory and opened Victoria Cabinet Works a year later.

Though little information regarding McIntosh’s early designs is available, it is known that the factory—like many British enterprises—joined the war effort during the First World War. With most workers (including the founder’s grandson, Henry) called up to enlist, the McIntosh factory began manufacturing airplane wings and other parts for the duration of the war. During this time, Alexander Henry’s son Thomas Wishart McIntosh (1861–1933), headed the family business from London, where McIntosh had established an office.

Despite an aesthetic that could be mistaken as Danish modern, the company marketed itself, both at home and abroad, as a proud Scottish firm that utilized traditional processes and that employed local, highly-skilled cabinetmakers. The McIntosh label, which survives on many 1950s and 1960s pieces, shows the Scottish thistle and crown, a long-time symbol of Scotland. From 1948 until 1983, Tom Robertson worked as head designer for the firm; creating his most notable design, the teak Dunvegan sideboard (1960s) known for its sculpted handles.

W214 x D47 x H81cm