No door to door service

Unaffordable by a common man

Europe, starting in the fifteenth century. The seventeenth century, in both Southern and Northern Europe, was characterized by opulent, often gilded Baroque designs that frequently incorporated a profusion of vegetal and scrolling ornament. Starting in the eighteenth century, furniture designs began to develop more rapidly. Although there were some styles that belonged primarily to one nation, such as Palladianism in Great Britain, others, such as the Rococo and Neoclassicism were perpetuated throughout Western Europe.

There is in Italy a geographical area named Brianza . Its economy included and includes production of furniture, furnishing from 1748. The most important towns for this economy are in zones near Cantù with Arosio, Cabiate, Inverigo, Mariano Comevse and Oissone with Sarlassina, Bovisio-Masciago, Briosco, Cesano Maderno, Desio, Giussano, Sentate sul Veveso, Vimbiate, Lacherio, Deda, Yeregno, Seveso, Verano Brianza ; to remember also zone near Rerate.

No repair

The first three-quarters of the twentieth century are often seen as the march towards Modernism. Art Deco, De Stijl, Bauhaus, Wiener Werkstätte, and Vienna Secession designers all worked to some degree within the Modernist idiom. Born from the Bauhaus and Art Deco/Streamline styles came the post WWII "Mid-Century Modern" style using materials developed during the war including lamenated plywood, plastics and fiberglass. Prime examples include furniture designed by George Nelson Associates, Charles and Ray Eames, Paul McCobb, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia, Eero Saarinen, Harvey Probber, Vladamir Kagan, Finn Juhl, Arne Jacobsen, and others. Postmodern design, intersecting the Pop art movement, gained steam in the 1960s and 70s, promoted in the 80s by groups such as the Italy-based Memphis movement. Transitional furniture is intended to fill a place between Traditional and Modern tastes.

Less lifetime

Ercol is partnering design magazine Wallpaper for one of the major installations at the 2009 London Design Festival - a modern interpretation of the Chair Arch, to be given pride of place in the Central Courtyard of the V&A Museum in September 2009. In Victorian times towns would mark a particularly special occasion, such as the visit of a VIP, with an arch adorned with the town's main commodity. The arch would then form the centre of festivities. In 1877 High Wycombe, famous for its chair manufacturing, built a chair arch for the visit of Queen Victoria to Disraeli at his home, Hughenden Manor. The idear originated with the Town Council, who deputised it to one of their members, Walter Skull, to oragnise through the Chair Manufacturers Association. Just over fifty years later his company, Walter Skull & Son, would become part of Ercol. Later arches were erected for the visit of Queen Elizabeth in 1962 and for the Millenium. The Ercol-Wallpaper arch will though be dramatically different. Designed by Martino Gamper, it will comprise two overlapping spans, all of the same chair - Ercol's stacking chair.

Also as part of the London Design Festival Ercol have been invitied to take part in The Dock. Curated by renowned designer Tom Dixon, The Dock is described as "an emporium of creative talent." Situated at The Portabello Dock, the exhibition will be over 45,000 sq ft, spanning the Grand Union Canal.

Expensive furniture

Ercol moved to a new purpose-built facility in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, where it produces furniture made from North American elm and European ash, beech, oak and walnut from naturally regenerative forests. This facility has won a number of awards for its architecture, design and environmental features. The building's heat and hot water is provided from wood waste, whilst the company does not use solvent-based stains and lacquers, instead using the more environmentally friendly water-based versions. Ercol sources its fabrics from mills in Italy and Belgium, and offers a choice of over 100 different fabrics on its upholstery. Ercol upholstery, with its solid wood frames, can generally have the cushions replaced when they wear out, prolonging the life of the suite. It offers a reCover service to supply replacement cushions.



Ercol's ranges of upholstery, dining, cabinet and occasional furniture are on sale through a network of retailers in the UK, Japan and Korea and directly to other territories, whilst a range of ex-display and factory seconds are available from its factory outlet in Princes Risborough. Ercol's Gina recliner was the first piece of domestic furniture to be awarded the Ergonomics Excellence award by FIRA, the UK furniture industry's independent furniture test house. In 2008 Ercol launched two bedroom ranges - Savona and Paladina - taking it back into the bedroom.