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Pair of Model 449a Elm and Beech ‘Cowhorn’ Chairs by Ercol

£499.00

Elegant mid century armchairs.

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  • Description

    Two rare Ercol Cowhorn armchairs in sought-after light wood. Perfect for any living space, these beautiful chairs are made from solid elm and beech. They feature Ercol’s characteristic stick-back look, creating a greater sense of space and light. The open-legged design, raised underpart and oyster-shaped seat combine to make this a classic example of mid-century Ercol furniture. Extremely comfortable, they are a perfect example of Ercol's timeless style.

    In 1889, Italian-born Lucian Ercolani (1888-1976) immigrated with his parents to England, settling in East London. His father—who constructed picture frames for the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and took up work as a carpenter for the Salvation Army in London—urged Ercolani to follow in his footsteps. Ercolani studied drawing and design at the Shoreditch Technical Institute, before sitting the City & Guild exams in the theory and construction of furniture. In 1907, he made his first piece of furniture, a musical cabinet. At school he met Ted Gomme, the man who would later co-found G-Plan, and with whom he developed a lifelong friendship which outlived their working relationship, which lasted until 1920.

    In 1910, Ercolani was hired by the influential Harry Parker in High Wycombe from Frederick Parker furniture—which later became known as Parker-Knoll . Ten years later with the investment of local businessmen, Ercolani founded Furniture Industries in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, the company that became Ercol. His aim was to sell well-designed furniture, made by highly-skilled craftsmen who took pride in their work. This worked well for Ercol, and the company expanded in 1932, when Ercolani bought over Walter Skulls Ltd., a struggling but well-respected chair manufacturer.

    Like many British firms, Ercol supported the war effort, producing over 25,000 tent pegs a day, while both of Lucian’s sons, who worked in the family business, fought in the war. In 1944, Ercol was offered a huge contract to supply the Board of Trade with 100,000 low cost Windsor chairs. Ercol had uncovered a new way of utilizing elm, a natural resource in the High Wycombe forest that had been neglected as a timber due to its unruly and brittle nature. Using a special technique and new machinery, Ercol was able to manipulate the elm into a beautiful product. The process began with natural seasoning—drying the wood for one to two years outside—followed by kilning—steaming the wood in a large, enclosed room. In 1947, the first pieces from their Windsor Collection were available for purchase—which Ercol exhibited the year previously at the Britain Can Make It exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Ercol’s collection of mass-produced furniture found a ready-made market in post-war Britain, which demanded smaller pieces with simpler lines than their more bulky pre-war counterparts.

    W58cm x D47cm x H77cm - Seat Height : 42cm

  • Condition

    As can be expected with vintage pieces, this item may have minor wear. Please contact us if you have any queries regarding condition. If the sizes, colour, etc all work for you, we’re more than happy to make you a pre-purchase video to confirm condition, prior to you placing your order.

  • Delivery

    We can easily help arrange delivery via trusted furniture couriers who operate throughout the UK. The delivery part is simple. We send furniture to London and all parts of the UK every week of the year. We’re also happy to accommodate you if you’d prefer to collect in person. Prices do not include delivery.

  • Location

    We have two showrooms, in Ayrshire and Glasgow, and viewings are by appointment. We can arrange viewings day or evening, 7 days a week. Please call, Whatsapp or text Stuart on 07534323180 to arrange a viewing.

Description

Two rare Ercol Cowhorn armchairs in sought-after light wood. Perfect for any living space, these beautiful chairs are made from solid elm and beech. They feature Ercol’s characteristic stick-back look, creating a greater sense of space and light. The open-legged design, raised underpart and oyster-shaped seat combine to make this a classic example of mid-century Ercol furniture. Extremely comfortable, they are a perfect example of Ercol’s timeless style.

In 1889, Italian-born Lucian Ercolani (1888-1976) immigrated with his parents to England, settling in East London. His father—who constructed picture frames for the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and took up work as a carpenter for the Salvation Army in London—urged Ercolani to follow in his footsteps. Ercolani studied drawing and design at the Shoreditch Technical Institute, before sitting the City & Guild exams in the theory and construction of furniture. In 1907, he made his first piece of furniture, a musical cabinet. At school he met Ted Gomme, the man who would later co-found G-Plan, and with whom he developed a lifelong friendship which outlived their working relationship, which lasted until 1920.

In 1910, Ercolani was hired by the influential Harry Parker in High Wycombe from Frederick Parker furniture—which later became known as Parker-Knoll . Ten years later with the investment of local businessmen, Ercolani founded Furniture Industries in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, the company that became Ercol. His aim was to sell well-designed furniture, made by highly-skilled craftsmen who took pride in their work. This worked well for Ercol, and the company expanded in 1932, when Ercolani bought over Walter Skulls Ltd., a struggling but well-respected chair manufacturer.

Like many British firms, Ercol supported the war effort, producing over 25,000 tent pegs a day, while both of Lucian’s sons, who worked in the family business, fought in the war. In 1944, Ercol was offered a huge contract to supply the Board of Trade with 100,000 low cost Windsor chairs. Ercol had uncovered a new way of utilizing elm, a natural resource in the High Wycombe forest that had been neglected as a timber due to its unruly and brittle nature. Using a special technique and new machinery, Ercol was able to manipulate the elm into a beautiful product. The process began with natural seasoning—drying the wood for one to two years outside—followed by kilning—steaming the wood in a large, enclosed room. In 1947, the first pieces from their Windsor Collection were available for purchase—which Ercol exhibited the year previously at the Britain Can Make It exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Ercol’s collection of mass-produced furniture found a ready-made market in post-war Britain, which demanded smaller pieces with simpler lines than their more bulky pre-war counterparts.

W58cm x D47cm x H77cm – Seat Height : 42cm

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