Bench, 'Antelope', bent and painted steel, moulded and painted plywood, designed by Ernest Race ca. 1950, manufactured by Race Furniture Ltd. from 1951 for the Festival of Britain.

Bench with a slender, bent steel rod frame and moulded plywood seat. The steel parts are white-painted, the seat is pale yellow. The frame has a delicate curvilinear outline and balled feet. There are nine holes in the seat, on a horizontal line, side by side. The back is formed by nine vertical, straight steel rods ending in the horizontal steel rod of the frame. The arms of the bench are formed from the curves of the frame.

The 'Antelope' was produced to furnish the outdoor terraces of the Festival Hall at the Festival of Britain in 1951. It was available in either chair or bench versions. The seat was painted in the Festival colours of yellow, blue, red or grey. Race's 'Springbok' stacking chair was also designed for the Festival. The 'Antelope' demonstrates the economic use of material and form. The delicate curvelinear outline and distinctive ball feet typify the contemporary or festival style of the early 1950s. The design gained an international reputation for Ernest Race. Like Race's BA3 chair, the 'Antelope' received a commendation at the 1954 Milan Triennale. The Race Furniture Ltd. put it in commercial production in the mid-1950s.

Attribution note: The 'Antelope' was produced in different colours for the Festival of Britain in 1951. Race Furniture Ltd. put the bench into commercial production from the mid-1950s.

W.35-2010