Race Furniture and Ocee Design launch a revival of the Ernest Race Heritage Collection

After extensive research into the archive of iconic British designer, Ernest Race, Race Furniture and Ocee Design are enormously proud to launch a revival of the Ernest Race Heritage Collection. This much anticipated launch includes pieces that were made famous at the Festival of Britain in 1951, along with other true icons of mid-century furniture design. 

Ernest Race’s first chair, the BA3, was exhibited in the 1946 Victoria & Albert Museum exhibition, ‘Britain Can Make It’. Race began designing furniture with the engineer, J.W. Noel Jordan, as part of the Government’s post-war Utility Furniture Scheme. At a time of very limited resources, the manufacturing process for the BA3 was revolutionary. Salvaged materials were used, including recast aluminium from redundant aircraft and upholstery from recycled RAF cotton fabric.

Today, the BA3 is exhibited in collections around the world, including the V&A museum in London and MOMA in New York. Race was designing for a changing home where the TV was becoming the new focal point. Traditional heavy furniture was challenged by a new requirement for lighter pieces, which could create a sense of space and be easily moved.

In 1951, Race’s place in British design history was confirmed when the Antelope and Springbok chairs were chosen for the Festival of Britain site. His designs went on to be found everywhere from the suburban home to the most lavish ocean liner. Race received many international accolades and was appointed to the Royal Society of Arts Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry and was a Fellow of the Society for Industrial Artists.

Alistair Gough, CEO of Ocee International commented, “The investment following Ocee International’s acquisition of Race Furniture has allowed us to research Ernest Race’s work and revisit the original designs once more. We hope that today’s contemporary designers will enjoy using modern fabrics and finishes to add their creativity to these timeless classics.”

Race Furniture and Ocee Design have followed Ernest Race’s example by ensuring that the BA3 is made from recast recycled aluminium. Modern finishes have also allowed for more durable outdoor options for the Antelope and Roebuck chairs. Ernest Race designed furniture in response to the changing needs of the home and workplace. He created beautiful, relevant furniture through ingenious manufacturing processes using improvised or recycled materials, as such his story continues to inspire the furniture makers of today.

Race Furniture and Ocee Design will launch the new collection on Thursday, March 28th 2019 at an event in London, with international events to follow.

The Ernest Race Heritage Collection is availabble from:
Race Furniture Ltd
Ocee Design