Chair
1942-1948 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
As part of the war effort during World War Two (1939-45) the UK government imposed rationing on the entire population with regard to the buying of paper, food, clothing, furniture and petrol: the consumer was guaranteed a certain amount but also limited to that amount. The manufacture of some categories of goods was also regulated with the Utility Scheme to avoid waste, and promote good and efficient design.
It might be thought that wicker furniture like this would be considered too flimsy to be worthwhile making, under the circumstances. But wood was one of the scarcest of all materials, and furniture therefore one of the most tightly controlled classes of goods. Solutions to the question of furniture supply which used a minimum of wood, or none at all, as here, were particularly welcome.
It might be thought that wicker furniture like this would be considered too flimsy to be worthwhile making, under the circumstances. But wood was one of the scarcest of all materials, and furniture therefore one of the most tightly controlled classes of goods. Solutions to the question of furniture supply which used a minimum of wood, or none at all, as here, were particularly welcome.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Bamboo and wickerwork |
| Brief description | Child's chair with basketwork seat and back; made under the Utility Scheme in the UK, 1942-48 |
| Physical description | Child's armchair with a bamboo frame, arms and legs, and a continuous wickerwork back and seat finishing with an apron front. The back and the open-sided arms are curved; the top rail extends into open-sided wings; and the arms and legs are formed by an inverted U-shaped piece of bamboo on each side of the seat. The legs are slightly splayed at the front and are reinforced at the back by the back stays. The chair has a curved cross-piece immediately beneath the seat, angled reinforcements between the back of the seat and the legs, and cross stretchers. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions | CC41 (On front of cross-piece beneath seat)
|
| Credit line | Given by Mrs A P M Davies, Mr S D B Sutton and Mrs M Swann |
| Object history | Used in childhood by the donors Mrs A P M Davies, Mr S D B Sutton and Mrs M Swann [Anne (born 1945), Stephen (born 1948) and Mary (born 1951) Sutton]. (RF 85/2090) |
| Summary | As part of the war effort during World War Two (1939-45) the UK government imposed rationing on the entire population with regard to the buying of paper, food, clothing, furniture and petrol: the consumer was guaranteed a certain amount but also limited to that amount. The manufacture of some categories of goods was also regulated with the Utility Scheme to avoid waste, and promote good and efficient design. It might be thought that wicker furniture like this would be considered too flimsy to be worthwhile making, under the circumstances. But wood was one of the scarcest of all materials, and furniture therefore one of the most tightly controlled classes of goods. Solutions to the question of furniture supply which used a minimum of wood, or none at all, as here, were particularly welcome. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | MISC.549-1985 |
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| Record created | January 23, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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