Sofa thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Sofa

1988 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This sofa is in a simple, undecorated so-called 'minimalist' style. This emerging style strongly influenced design in Europe in the late 1980s. The sofa here represents an important collaboration between a talented young designer and a manufacturer determined to promote new design. This collaboration marked a new era in the status and importance of British furniture design.

The shape of the sofa was unusual in mainstream British upholstered furniture at this time. So too was the way it was raised above the ground on aluminium feet. However, its construction was traditional. The frame is made of beechwood, and the upholstery consists of a conventional coiled spring structure, supported by hessian webbing and covered with foam. This construction was considered unusual on the Continent, where manufacturers used elasticised webbing or injection-moulded foam in place of springs.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Sofa
  • Cushion
  • Cushion
Materials and techniques
Cotton and linen upholstery over foam and steel springs with a beechwood frame and cast aluminium feet
Brief description
Sofa, 1988, designed by Jasper Morrison for SCP Ltd
Physical description
Dark blue minimalist fabric sofa with two cushions and thin aluminium feet
Dimensions
  • Height: 83cm
  • Width: 215cm
  • Depth: 70cm
Style
Gallery label
  • SOFA Designed by Jasper Morrison (British, born 1959) Made by SCP Ltd, London, 1988 Upholstery over foam on wood frame, cast aluminium feet This elegant sofa represents the collaboration of a significant young designer with a progressive manufacturer determined to promote new design. Although the upholstered sofa is a perennially popular furniture form, it is not one that many progressive designers and manufacturers have satisfactorily addressed. This mass-produced example developed from a limited edition chaise longue. Given by SCP Ltd W.16-1990(1990-2006)
  • SOFA Designed by Jasper Morrison (British) Made by SCP Ltd, London Upholstery over foam on wood frame, cast aluminium feet 1988 The 1980s were a particularly good period for British furniture, This elegant sofa represents the collaboration of a significant young designer with a progressive manufacturer determined to promote new design. Like many mass-produced goods this one began with the manufacturer's desire to fill a market niche. The designer based his design of an earlier, limited production piece - a chaise longue - developing it further for mass production. Although the upholstered sofa is a perennially popular furniture form, it is not one that many progressive designers and manufacturers have satisfactorily addressed. And whilst the V&A endeavors to collect all furniture types, sofas are, due to limitations of gallery and storage space, only selectively acquired. Given by the manufacturer Acquisition 1990(1990)
Credit line
Given by SCP Ltd, London
Summary
This sofa is in a simple, undecorated so-called 'minimalist' style. This emerging style strongly influenced design in Europe in the late 1980s. The sofa here represents an important collaboration between a talented young designer and a manufacturer determined to promote new design. This collaboration marked a new era in the status and importance of British furniture design.

The shape of the sofa was unusual in mainstream British upholstered furniture at this time. So too was the way it was raised above the ground on aluminium feet. However, its construction was traditional. The frame is made of beechwood, and the upholstery consists of a conventional coiled spring structure, supported by hessian webbing and covered with foam. This construction was considered unusual on the Continent, where manufacturers used elasticised webbing or injection-moulded foam in place of springs.
Bibliographic reference
Wilk, Christopher, ed. . Western Furniture 1350 to the Present Day. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996. 230p., ill. ISBN 085667463X.
Collection
Accession number
W.16:1 to 3-1990

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Record createdNovember 29, 2002
Record URL
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