Australian Design Gold: Grazia & Co Breathes New Life into Meadmore’s Mid-Century Classics.

Meadmore Recliner and Armchair.

Meadmore Leather Sling Chair in Olive Leather.

Meadmore Side Table.

Meadmore Recling Chairs.

Meadmore Leather Sling Chairs in Black. All location shots photographed at a project by Wood Marsh Architecture.

Melbourne’s design scene just got a serious dose of mid-century brilliance with Grazia & Co’s revival of Clement Meadmore’s furniture and lighting designs. Enhanced by the introduction of innovative materials, these pieces can now be enjoyed outdoors as well as in domestic and commercial interiors.

While many Australians would know Meadmore for his renowned sculptural works, fewer might be familiar with his contributions to Australian furniture design that predated his international acclaim.

Meadmore’s journey into design began at Melbourne Technical College (now RMIT) in 1948, where he was part of the first intake of the newly introduced Industrial Design course. Influenced by the principles of Bauhaus and De Stijl movements, Meadmore created his first commercial design—the Corded chair in 1951—as a three-dimensional interpretation of Mondrian’s Composition paintings.

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Clement Meadmore in 1952.

Meadmore Standard Lamp and Sling Chair in Black Saddle Leather.

Meadmore Corded Chair, Side Table and Calyx Table Lamp.

“We’re delighted to see these enduring designs brought back to life, ready to inspire a new generation” —Quentin & Jade Meadmore

Grazia & Co worked closely with the Meadmore family, as well as Meadmore scholars and collectors Jeromie Maver and Dean Keep, ensuring the designs stayed true to Meadmore’s legacy. The revitalised collection includes several standouts that showcase the collection’s distinctive linear forms.

The Corded Furniture Range features the award-winning Corded chair, armchair, stool, and recliner—now crafted with solid stainless steel frames and hand-roped with Australian-made marine grade or cotton cord, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

The Calyx Lighting range, which earned Meadmore his second Good Design Award from SIDA in 1954, has been updated with low-voltage LEDs and contemporary colour options inspired by the Australian landscape.

The Leather Sling Chair (Model 248), part of MoMA’s permanent collection since 1967, now features a polished stainless steel frame and hand-stitched saddle leather in natural, black, and olive.

The Meadmore Side Table (1954) with its deceptively simple yet mathematically stable triangular forms is now available in two sizes, crafted in stainless steel with tabletops in Jarrah, Spotted Gum, or natural stone.

Meadmore Calyx Floor Lamps.

Meadmore Sling Chair in Polished Stainless Steel with Tan Saddle Leather.

Meadmore Reclining Chair in Black Powdercoat and Natural Cotton Rope.

Meadmore Recliner, Sidetable and Armchair.

Meadmore Corded Stools.

“I’m delighted to see these enduring designs brought back to life, ready to inspire a new generation,” said Jade Meadmore, the designer’s granddaughter, at the collection launch last week to Australia’s leading design professionals who gathered at Melbourne’s Royal Botanical Gardens. Quentin Meadmore added, “Grazia’s team has faithfully honoured Clem’s vision, adapting it for modern living.”

As original Meadmore pieces have become increasingly rare and sought after by collectors and institutions, this collection ensures that a vital chapter of Australian creative history remains accessible, inspiring contemporary designers and design enthusiasts alike.

Alongside their own designs, Meadmore joins Featherston as part of Grazia & Co’s commitment to preserving Australia’s design heritage. These two legacy ranges honour the past whilst reimagining the iconic work of these designers for contemporary living.

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[Images courtesy of Grazia & Co. Photography by Danny Smith.]