BEST OF BRITISH - KANDYA - FRANK GUILLE - CARL JACOBS

After the war, the age of utility was replaced by a youthful new look in art and design, influenced by Italy, America and the fresh but restrained Scandinavian look. As the various strands in British art and design converged, British contemporary took on a cohesive identity of its own in textiles, pottery, glass, appliances and furniture.
'These new design attitudes were polarised in the 1951 Festival of Britain, where constructions could be experimental and dramatic and designers were liberated from commercial constraints. Manufacturers began to employ young designers and the so-called Contemporary Style emerged, especially in domestic interiors and products.'

Kandya manufacturer of British furniture was at the forefront employing designers such as Frank Guille and Carl Jacobs and continued to make what is now seen as highly collectable mid-century modern/retro bristish furniture.

Kandya
of Silverdale Road, Hayes, Middlesex. Telephone: Hayes 1931

* 1947 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of Dinner, Tea and Table Trolleys with Heat and alcohol Resisting Trays. Stainless Steel Top Kitchen, Restaurant or Canteen Tables. Executives Wood and Plastic Desk Blisterproof Top. Plastic Kitchen Storage Cupboards. (Earls Court, 1st Floor, Stand No. 784)

* c1955 Frank Guille 611 room divider, for Kandya Ltd. Painted metal frame, agba wood, painted and veneered plywood, mahogany, glass and plastic laminate.

* 1956 Kandya Kitchen.

* 1959 Patent - Improvements in or relating to stacking chairs.

* 1961 Patent - Improvements in or relating to cabinets.

* 1968 Kandya Ltd formed a jointly owned company with D. Meredew Ltd. To be known as Kandya Meredew Ltd it was established to rationalise and increase both companies' export business. Kandya already exported 31 per cent of its furniture although Meredew had bigger resources. Kandya now used the large Meredew showroom in Ridgmount Place, which also housed the offices of the new company. Meredew's Planning Unit, also worked on export designs for the new company. As part of its concentration on exports, the new company specialised in furniture for hotels and oil companies. Kandya had considerable experience in package deals in these two areas, supplying diverse ranges of furniture on site: jobs included bedroom cabinet furniture for the Teheran Hilton, and all the furnishings for the Esso bachelor houses at Marsa Brega in Libya.

Model C3 'Jason chair Jacobs & Guille for Kandya 1953, C32 breakfast stool Frank Guille for Kandya Ltd, 1958, Model 374 table Paul K. Bridston, Kandya Ltd, Hayes. c. 1950. Drop leaf kitchen table Paul K Bridson for Kandya Ltd Early 1950's, Sideboard Paul K. Bridson for Kandya Ltd mid 1950s, Trimma cabinet Frank Guille for Kandya Ltd Designed 1956

Ref:
http://www.homespunvintagedesign.co.uk