POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

'Michael Hirst' Chair by Clement Meadmore

Object No. 91/1326

During the 1950s, Clement Meadmore was known as one of Australia's most prominent young designers. He later became an internationally renowned sculptor. In the fifties, his designs for furniture and lighting were promoted nationally through journals and magazines such as 'Architecture and Arts'. Stools form part of Meadmore's line of steel rod furniture, which included chairs, at least one table, bookshelves and lamps.

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Summary

Object Statement

Chair, 'Michael Hirst' chair, plastic-coated steel, designed by Clement Meadmore (1959), made by Michael Hirst Pty Ltd, Melbourne, 1959-1965

Physical Description

White plasticised metal frame, splayed legs. Frame for back and seat made of a grid, converging towards top of tapering back rest.

DIMENSIONS

Height

945 mm

Width

410 mm

Depth

440 mm

PRODUCTION

Notes

Clement Meadmore was an important Australian furniture and interior designer of the 1950s. He worked as a sculptor in New York in the late 1980s.

HISTORY

Notes

A collection of these Clement Meadmore 'Michael Hirst' chairs were purchased for use in The Embers nightclub in Melbourne around 1960. They appear in Bruno Benini fashion photographs (2009/43/-5) and also in the Crestknit 'Modern fashion trio' fashion advertisements published in Vogue Australia Summer 1960 (p34) and Vogue Australia Spring 1960 (p21). In these publicity shots, The Embers Nighclub chairs appear to be painted black with soft dusty pink cushions. The Embers Nightclub (formerly known as Claridges) was on Toorak Road, South Yarra. The proprietor was Jimmy Noel. This intimate nightclub hosted leading American jazz musicians like Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine and Oscar Peterson who performed with Ray Brown on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums. Australian musicians were also invited to perform, including pianist Peter (Chet) Clark who often also opened many of the legendary American performances. Anne-Marie Van de Ven, Curator, 2013 References: Alex Hutchinson, 'Nostalgia', The Fab Fifties Musos Group, The Jazz Archiv http://www.jazzlegend.com/fab50s/jazzArchives.html (Accessed 19 August 2013) Biography, Peter Clark. http://www.artjazz88.com/pages/bio-1.html (Accessed 19 August 2013)

SOURCE

Credit Line

Purchased 1991

Acquisition Date

18 November 1991

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