1/1993
Collection
Furniture
Brief description
'Heron' chair with a metal frame and beige upholstery with a removable seat cushion, lumbar support cushion and weighted headrest, designed by Ernest Race, London c.1955.
Title
Heron
Object name
armchair
Object number
1/1993
Production person
Ernest Race (designer)
Production organisation
Ernest Race Limited (manufacturer)
Heal and Son Ltd (retailer)
Heal and Son Ltd (retailer)
Production date
c.1955 (designed)
Production place
London (retailed)
Period
Twentieth century (1900-1999)
Material
steel
wool
foam
wool
foam
Technique
upholstered
Physical description
The chair has a welded steel frame covered with plastic foam and beige dyed plain weave wool/acrylic (?) which is the original upholstery. The seat is a reversible latex foam cushion. The seat and backrest are supported by rubberised webbing. It is supported by four removable legs which are square section steel finished with stove enammelled satin aluminium paint.. Each leg terminates in a round plastic 'Armstrong quad' foot.
Dimensions
Height: 84cm
Width: 83.5cm
Depth: 90cm
Width: 83.5cm
Depth: 90cm
Website keywords
Decoration and furnishings
furniture
seating
furniture
seating
Label
Caption for Exploring 20th Century London website:
This chair and footstool were designed in 1955 by Ernest Race. Race studied in London and after the Second World War formed his own furniture manufacturing company using new technology and materials. During and straight after the War, when timber had been in short supply, Race worked with metal to design more modern furniture forms. The original owner of the chair and footstool was an architectural draughtsman who lived in Putney, not far from Race's factory and showroom in Clapham. He was in his late twenties and single when he bought the chair and footstool to furnish his sitting room in the late 1950s/early 60s. They were combined with other contemporary furniture and white-painted walls, giving a 'modern' feel despite the house being Edwardian. The sitting room was kept for best which explains why the original top covers of the upholstery have survived in such good condition.
This chair and footstool were designed in 1955 by Ernest Race. Race studied in London and after the Second World War formed his own furniture manufacturing company using new technology and materials. During and straight after the War, when timber had been in short supply, Race worked with metal to design more modern furniture forms. The original owner of the chair and footstool was an architectural draughtsman who lived in Putney, not far from Race's factory and showroom in Clapham. He was in his late twenties and single when he bought the chair and footstool to furnish his sitting room in the late 1950s/early 60s. They were combined with other contemporary furniture and white-painted walls, giving a 'modern' feel despite the house being Edwardian. The sitting room was kept for best which explains why the original top covers of the upholstery have survived in such good condition.
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