Simple No Frills

This heart rimu corner cabinet was designed and made by Wally Briggs for his parents Fitzroy home in 1948. Wally, who went on to establish the hugely successful New Plymouth furniture making business Briggs Furniture during the 1950s, was in the third year of his apprenticeship at Duckett and Marsden in New Plymouth at the time. He was the first apprentice the business had taken on and materials were scarce following World War Two. Some of the wood on the base of the cabinet came from a step to the original homestead on the corner of Sackville and Barriball Streets in Fitzroy. This is where the Fitzroy Primary School pool is currently. Wally describes the cabinet as a classic example of the sort of ‘simple no frills art deco style’ furniture which was typical during this period. All the mouldings on the furniture are made by hand, and all the fixtures and fittings are original. Animal glue was used in the construction. Wally designed the lead-lighting for the cabinet which was manufactured by Tingey’s on Currie Street. The French polish finish was provided by Wally Beard, who was in business on Devon Street West. The cabinet was custom made to fit a particular space in the house, with the bow end close to a door and an easy chair placed next to the straight end. Wally’s sister inherited the cabinet and took it with her to her family home in Geraldine, Canterbury in the 1950s. It remained with the family in Geraldine until it was donated to Puke Ariki in 2012. The business is still operating today run by his son Lou Briggs building bespoke furniture from his workshop in Heta Road, New Plymouth.