SOLD Race Furniture Ernest Race Curlew Three Seater Sofa Mid Century Vintage Retro MCM

New Stock ✅

Race Furniture Ernest Race Curlew Three Seater Sofa Mid Century Vintage Retro MCM

£895

The name of this particular sofa is ‘Curlew’ and dates from 1962.

They were the last range Race designed before he left the eponymous company in September of 1962 to become a freelance designer, and were made at the new factory at Sheppey.

Blonde ash legs with an aluminium constructed frame and original rubber webbing on the underside of the seat. The seats have been newly reupholstered in black wool.

Ernest Race (1913 - 1964) was a key figure in early twentieth-century British design. He was born in Newcastle and studied interior design at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London. He first worked as a designer for London lighting manufacturer, Troughton & Young before establishing his own company, Race Fabrics, to produce and sell his textile designs.

After the war, Race founded Ernest Race Ltd (subsequently renamed Race Furniture) to manufacture his own furniture designs. The company was to produce some of the most iconic designs of the post-war era, including the BA3 and the Antelope chairs.

The BA3 chair was the first design issued by Race Furniture. In keeping with the government's Utility Furniture scheme, the chair was made of re-cast aluminium from now redunant British fighter planes, while parachute silk was often used as upholstery fabric.

The Antelope chair was designed for the 1951 Festival of Britain for use on the terrace of the Royal Festival Hall. In 1955 the BA3 and Antelope chairs won both Gold and Silver medals at the Salone di Milano, a first for British furniture design.

Race's designs are notable for their light and often playfully curvaceous, their innovative use of new materials and manufacturing technologies and their distinctive names: the Flamingo, Heron and Antelope and Roebuck chairs number among his designs. His works are now held in the permanent collections of the V&A Museum in London and MOMA, New York.

Dimensions
Height - 61cm
Width - 172cm
Depth - 77cm
Seat Height - 36cm

For any questions please message us on WhatsApp +447590146893 or please call us and follow us on Instagram @relicsofretro

Local delivery can be free depending on distance. National and international delivery is available at an extra cost which we can organise on your behalf.

Collection in person is welcome. We are West of Cambridge in Bourn CB23.

Please message before purchasing to confirm delivery costs.

Please note that vintage furniture may have some slight imperfections, which is to be expected in keeping with its age, as we do not offer returns on items sold.