'Antelope' chair by Ernest Race
Object No. 85/1840
Designed and manufactured by Ernest Race Ltd England in 1950, the 'Antelope' chair was developed for the 'Festival of Britain' in 1951. Intended to boost postwar morale and symbolise optimism in a rebuilt future, the festival exhibits were selected by the Council of Industrial Design using stringent criteria in terms of innovation, function and aesthetic qualities. Race designed two chairs for the festival, the 'Springbok' and the 'Antelope'. Both were used for public and restaurant seating throughout the festival and buildings, but it was the elegant 'Antelope' that captured public imagination. Available in single or two seater version, it was made of readily available steel rod with a simple rounded plywood seat in yellow, red, blue or grey. The 'Antelope' chair was intended for both indoor and outdoor use and the splayed legs allowed it to stack. The seat holes allowed for rainwater drainage, while the functional ball feet echoed the 'atomic' themes used elsewhere in the festival. Based loosely on traditional Windsor chair forms, the 'Antelope' nevertheless expressed the essence of contemporary style, from its innovative use of materials and slightly splayed steel rod legs. The design continued to be manufactured for general retail for some years.
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Summary
Object Statement
Chair, 'Antelope', wood & metal, designed by Ernest Race, made by Ernest Race Ltd, England, 1951
Physical Description
Chair frame made of white enamelled welded steel rods, back rail extending to form chair arms with four rods forming the chair back. Four steel legs ending in rubber ball feet. Seat of shaped plywood, painted yellow and rivited to the rod frame with four drilled holes to facilitate rainwater runoff.
DIMENSIONS
Height
805 mm
Width
555 mm
Depth
560 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Designed by Ernest Race [1913-1963] and manufactured by Ernest Race Ltd England, 1950. The 'Antelope' chair was developed for the 'Festival of Britain' in 1951. Intended to boost postwar morale and symbolise optimism in a rebuilt future, the festival exhibits were selected by the Council of Industrial Design using stringent criteria in terms of innovation, function and aesthetic qualities. Race designed two chairs for the festival, the 'Springbok' and the 'Antelope'. Both were used for public and restaurant seating throughout the festival and buildings, but it was the elegant 'Antelope' that captured public imagination. Available in single or two seater version, it was made of readily available steel rod with a simple rounded plywood seat in yellow, red, blue or grey. The 'Antelope' chair was intended for both indoor and outdoor use and the splayed legs allowed it to stack. The seat holes allowed for rainwater drainage, while the functional ball feet echoed the 'atomic' themes used elsewhere in the festival. Based loosely on traditional Windsor chair forms, the 'Antelope' nevertheless expressed the essence of contemporary style, from its innovative use of materials and slightly splayed steel rod legs. The design continued to be manufactured for general retail for some years.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased 1985
Acquisition Date
23 September 1985
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