The Rondo chair was originally designed by Gordon Andrews in 1956 and first featured in the Sydney showroom he designed for Olivetti. In the early 1960s he changed the splayed-base to a star-base.

According to Gordon Andrews, he had the Rondo chair components made up by different firms and then he assembled the pieces himself. The original shell was developed from two flat marine plywood shapes brought together and cemented to a timber spine. This fibreglass shell is the second version.

The Rondo design first appeared in the Olivetti Sydney showroom in 1956. The Rondo with the star-base appeared in the early 1960s.

According to Gordon Andrews, the chair was first featured in a showroom he designed for Olivetti.
The curator has been able to establish that Bill Luke - Melbourne dealer in art, rugs and furniture - was the previous owner. He purchased this and another Rondo chair (not in as good a condition) from a Melbourne man who had worked as an agent for a couple of Sydney furniture manufacturers as well as Danish Deluxe, a Melbourne furniture manufacturer. This man had assembled his own private collection of furniture to which the two Rondos belonged. In all he sold 30 pieces to Bill Luke before retiring overseas. Bill Luke had the two Rondos re-covered, having discussed the correct upholstering method with Gordon Andrews. He then sold the two chairs to the current vendor.

Chair, 'Rondo', aluminium / wood / fibreglass / fabric, Gordon Andrews, Australia, 1956.

Chair seat and back curved in scoop shape, with the fibreglass form upholstered in red wool fabric with vertical central seam. Exposed, laminated wood spine curving down outside the back and under the seat. Splayed four-legged aluminium base, painted charcoal grey.

Designer: Andrews, Gordon; Sydney

Maker: Andrews, Gordon; Sydney


User: Olivetti

Owner: Luke, Bill

95/179/1

790 mm

770 mm

600 mm