Vintage G-Plan dressing table in midnight blue with Art Deco diamond stencil

Is this a G-Plan Brandon dressing table, or a Librenza? The honest answer seems to be a bit of both. I found the evidence interesting enough to share, so you can make up your own mind (or decide it doesn't matter, because it is lovely either way).

What is certain: it is G-Plan, made by E. Gomme of High Wycombe. The gold E Gomme G-Plan stamp inside one of the drawers is the style used from the early 1950s to the mid-1960s.

The case for Brandon: the body is G-Plan's B837 dressing table, from the first Brandon range of 1953, designed by V. B. Wilkins. G-Plan's 1956 catalogue gives B837 as 27½ inches high, 18 deep and 42 wide, with "two quadrant drawers, particularly useful for cosmetics or jewelry" and a sectioned, lined drawer. This one measures 69 × 46 × 107 cm, which is 27.2 × 18.1 × 42.1 inches, and has the same swing-out quadrant drawers and divided, lined drawer.

The case for Librenza: the B837 in the catalogue is light oak, on splayed legs, with a rectangular mirror. Before I painted it, this one was tola and black: tola veneer, black quadrant drawers, and elegant black legs with brass feet, with brass loop handles that match ones sold as Librenza. G-Plan introduced tola and black in 1956. The name Librenza appears in G-Plan's own advertising that year, and dealers now use it for the tola-and-black pieces. G-Plan did mix and match, too: the High Wycombe Furniture Archive records a 1957 dressing table with "Brandon handles and legs" in a different finish.

What I haven't found is a catalogue picture of this exact combination, or of this rounded mirror on its wooden uprights. So my best reading is a late-1950s B837 made in tola and black, but that is a reading, not a fact. If you know more, I would genuinely love to hear from you.

Sources: the High Wycombe Furniture Archive at Buckinghamshire New University, including G-Plan's 1956 catalogue; the dating of G-Plan stamps from dealers' guides.

G-Plan was the furniture range of E. Gomme Ltd of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The business began in 1898, when Ebenezer Gomme, who had come to the town from Nettlebed in Oxfordshire, went into partnership with his brother-in-law to make hand-made chairs.

A new factory followed in Leigh Street in 1909, and in 1911 his sons Frank and Edwin became partners and the firm moved on to sideboards, tables and other cabinet furniture. Between the wars Gomme's were the first to offer a dining-room suite designed and made to match, and by 1938 the company employed 800 people. In both world wars it made aircraft frames, and in the Second, parts for the de Havilland Mosquito.

G-Plan arrived in 1953. Donald Gomme, the company's designer, created a modern range for the whole house that could be bought piece by piece as budgets allowed, and it was advertised directly to the public in magazines. The name, from "Gomme Plan", was coined by Doris Gundry of the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson.

It was a success: profits rose sixfold between 1952 and 1958. By the early 1960s hire-purchase restrictions and competition from Danish furniture had cost Gomme's its lead, but the company kept growing and by 1980 employed about 2,000 people.

The Gomme family sold the business to its directors in 1987, and in 1989 it was bought by Christie-Tyler. The High Wycombe factory closed in 1992. By 1996 the G-Plan name was being made under licence by two separate companies, one for cabinet furniture and one for upholstery.

Deciding to invest in a piece of vintage furniture is a sustainable choice in helping to save the environment and our planet. It gives you the freedom and the opportunity to create a truly personal, unique and stylish interior design statement for your home, your stamp, and your mark. It’s your chance to distinguish yourself from the crowds who are so easily led by fast-made, mass-produced and indistinguishable furniture, which, more often than not has been transported from the other side of the world.

Vintage furniture will make your home feel very special; it has character and soul and will be unique to you. My customers often say “That’s different”, to which I always reply “It’s good to be different!” Vintage furniture really can tell a story that no modern piece ever can: it gives a nod to the past and a smile to the future.

Owning a piece of vintage furniture can give you a sense of pride and nostalgia, a feeling you simply cannot experience from new furniture. My ethos is to respect the character of the piece while always delivering a structurally sound and fully functioning item of furniture ready for its new chapter in life.

A great deal of love, care and attention goes into every refurbishment I undertake so that you can enjoy your furniture for many years to come.

Building on a solid foundation

Before starting, every piece is thoroughly checked. Any faults, such as loose joints, surface damage, etc are addressed. You can be sure that I haven't just covered up problems with a 'lick of paint'.

Surfaces are fully prepared prior to painting to make sure that the finish will be durable and lasting.

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I only use high quality furniture paints and other specialist products that I know and trust. You'll find many of these products available in my 'paint shop'.

Out of sight, but not out of mind

It's not only the first impression that matters: details do too.

• All edges, where 'painted' meets 'not-painted', are taped to ensure clean lines.
• Backs of pieces are generally painted - not every piece will be placed against a wall.
• Underneaths of pieces are painted if there is any chance of seeing them when a piece is in place.
• The insides of cupboards, drawers, etc are cleaned and refreshed

Not just for show

Almost all furniture has to be practical as well as beautiful.

I apply varnish to surfaces that are likely to see heavier wear, so the painted finish will be protected.

Both before and after painting, all moving parts, such as doors or drawers, are checked for smooth operation.

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Should you be close enough, you are also very welcome to visit my studio near Belper in Derbyshire to inspect any pieces.

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I have over 10 years of professional furniture painting experience, and everything I have learned during that time goes towards making sure that you will be delighted with your new piece of furniture.

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If you need delivery to Northern Ireland, the Scottish Islands, Channel Islands, the Isle of Wight or Lundy, there is likely to be an additional cost. Please contact me prior to purchase with details so I can obtain an estimate for you.

I generally use couriers operating a single-person service. For larger items, that means that they will need assistance from you when delivering. If that is not going to be possible, then I will need to arrange for a larger delivery team. Again, please contact me prior to purchase so we can check if there will be any additional cost for you.

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I aim to have furniture delivered approximately two weeks from receiving the order.

This is subject to the availability of couriers, so may not always be possible, particular at busy times such as near Christmas.

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After an order is received I establish which of them is best-placed to carry out the delivery, and arrange for the furniture to be collected.

I keep you fully informed until the furniture has left me.

Once the furniture has been collected, the courier will contact you directly to arrange a delivery time. I will also give you the courier's contact name and phone number so you will be able to recognise their calls.

Please note that delivery is generally organised to be to the front door. Any arrangement to place furniture inside, and, in particular, to take it upstairs, is strictly between you and the courier and will be entirely at their discretion.

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I carefully protect all furniture with specialist wrap. Any vulnerable areas receive additional protection as required.

If the worst does happen, and your furniture arrives damaged, let us know immediately, including photographs of the damage, and we will discuss how best to remedy the situation.

As a general rule, treat your furniture with care.

• Use a damp microfibre cloth for cleaning
• Don't use harsh chemical cleaners, e.g. bleach
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Care pack

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The care pack will also include more detailed instructions on how to look after and clean your furniture.