Cabinet, Queensland maple, designed by Douglas Snelling and made by Functional Products Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, c.1949

Cabinet of rectangular form made from a red / brown Queensland mable. The cabinet sits on top of fourangled legs and has four angled fronted drawers; and a hinged cabinet door with square handle.

Designed by Sydney architect Douglas Snelling (1916-1985). The cabinet belongs to the Snelling Module line that the designer launched through Functional Products Pty Ltd in the late 1940s. This 'series of multi-purpose interchangeable storage units scaled to the human form' was constructed in silver ash and Queensland maple and finished with clear lacquer. The plain rectilinear forms possessed the neutrality demanded of multi-purpose furniture. The Snelling Module was also promoted as a part of Functional Products' Snelling Line range, which included the webbed chairs for which Snelling is probably best remembered.

Made by Functional Products Pty Ltd. The company, was formed in 1947 and was managed and majority-owned by Terry Palmerston (b.1918). The other owners were Douglas Snelling, Douglas Davidson and Robert Shaw. Snelling designed the Functional Products factory that was built in St Peters, Sydney, in 1947. Snelling, Davidson and Shaw left F.P in the mid-1950s when it became a public company. Palmerston eventually sold the business in 1986.

The cabinet, and other Snelling Line furniture, was orginally owned by Nora Cooper, who wrote for the Australian Home Beautiful during the 1950s.

Purchased 1996

96/255/1-1

810 mm

910 mm

80 mm