During the period between the World Wars, Triang produced a range of quality wooden furniture, called ‘Period Furniture’. This range has become very popular with collectors, and can be quite expensive to buy.
Throughout World War 2 the Triang factory at Merton made range of military hardware, including 14,000,000 magazines for Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft, as well as shell cases, land mine cases and special optical apparatus to help troops see in the dark.
After the War from 1946 until the early 1960’s Triang did not produce any furniture to furnish their every growing range of wooden doll’s house.
Triang had been producing a range of Spot-On vehicles made from metal and moulded plastic. So it followed that they would produce a range of doll’s house furniture using similar materials.
This picture shows the G Plan Wing Setee, two Wing Arm Chairs and the TV Chair.
In the 1960 Triang Catalogue, it states that ‘… from the combined bookshelf and double-bedhead to the dainty dressing stool, wardrobe chest of drawers and dressing-table have that undeniable High Wycombe look ……’ High Wycombe was well-known for chair making and woodturning, in particular the Windsor Chair. Furniture designers and manufacturers such as Ercol, Gomme [G Plan] and Parker Knoll, had factories in the area. These furniture makers are still popular today.
After the war the Board of Trade set up a Utility scheme which meant a limit on types of furniture on sale. This came to an end in 1952, opening up the opportunity for furniture manufacturers to design a new ranges of modern furniture. The same designs were available for several years so people could furnish their homes as they could afford it. This was made more possible for many with the advent of hire purchase. Triang were to pick up these new modern furniture designs and produce dollhouse furniture in the style of popular British furniture manufacturers.
In the mid to late fifties there was a move away from the light Beech, to a darker furniture, using African Mahogany with black ebonised legs or frame and brass fittings. This range by G Plan was called Tola and Black. It seems to be the style that Triang used for much of their furniture.
Although the above Dressing Table is not from the G Plan Tola and Black range, you can see how Triang used the above design in the Dressing Table below.
This might be a very tenuous link but it is possible that the Triang single bed [pictured below], could have been inspired from the furniture factory of Ercol.
Designed by Lucian Ercolani, who also had worked with the Gommes [G Plan], and before that Frederick Parker who became Parker-Knoll. Ercol furniture was in the style of the Windsor Chair.