All Things Considered

Ernest Race
Posted by Simon Lewin

Following an education at St. Paul's School, London, Ernest Race studied interior design at the Bartlett School of Architecture in the early 1930s.

Having spent time working in lighting manufacture and textiles, Ernest Race Ltd. (later renamed Race Furniture Ltd.) was set up to design and manufacture his designs.

He's perhaps best known for the BA chair (designed in 1945) manufactured from re-cast aluminium and the Antelope chair designed for The Festival of Britain in 1951. These designs were awarded gold and silver medals respectively in the 10th Milan Triennale in 1954.

In the early 1960s, Race became Isokon's design consultant and it was during his time here that he re-designed the Penguin Donkey.

We were really pleased to find a 3-pieces Wing sofa and armchairs a few years ago. It was in fairly tatty condition and the fairly complex re-upholstery (with its metal frame, everything has to be hand stitched) stopped it being the bargain we thought it was. That said, it should last for years. You can see the sofa in a couple of our St. Jude's press articles.

Race Furniture Ltd. are still operating, mainly producing auditorium seating for concert halls and auditoriums.

Posted by Simon Lewin on July 15th, 2007