De La Warr Pavilion Chair thumbnail 1
De La Warr Pavilion Chair thumbnail 2
Not on display

De La Warr Pavilion Chair

Armchair
2005-2006 (designed), 2008 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In 2004 the designers Ed Barber and Jay Osgerby were selected to design new furniture for the restoration of the De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, an iconic Modernist seaside leisure centre designed in 1935 by Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff. Perhaps the most striking feature of the new chairs was their tomato-red colour, which the designers picked up from the original plywood chairs by Alvar Aalto that had originally furnished the pavilion. The tubular arms and pierced decoration were responses to the severe Modernist forms of the building, notably the tubular metal hand rails on doors and staircases. Barber Osgerby reasoned that the chairs would mostly be seen from behind, clustered around tables, so gave the backs a twist with floor-level stretchers, creating complete loops of metal for the rear legs. About 80 red chairs with upholstered seats were supplied for the restaurant, and the same quantity without upholstery was used on the outdoor terraces. The manufacturer, Established & Sons, subsequently mass-produced the chairs, but the only red versions like this were for the De La Warr Pavilion.

Object details

Category
Object type
TitleDe La Warr Pavilion Chair (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Cast, tubular and pressed aluminium, nylon, foam padding, wool upholstery
Brief description
Red De La Warr Armchair, designed by Barber Osgerby, 2005-6, made by Established and Sons, Britain, 2008, aluminium, nylon, foam padding, wool upholstery.
Physical description
Red painted aluminium dining chair with arms, back stretcher at floor level, red upholstered seat pad, pierced aluminium back panel.
Dimensions
  • Height: 780mm
  • Width: 585mm
  • Depth: 565mm
Dimensions taken from manufacturer's information. Object not measured
Production typeLimited edition
Credit line
Given by Established & Sons
Object history
Originally designed as a commission from the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea.
Production
Attribution note: This particular colourway with upholstery was exclusively for a batch of 80 made for the restaurant of the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea. This is an additional chair made later for the V&A.
Summary
In 2004 the designers Ed Barber and Jay Osgerby were selected to design new furniture for the restoration of the De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, an iconic Modernist seaside leisure centre designed in 1935 by Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff. Perhaps the most striking feature of the new chairs was their tomato-red colour, which the designers picked up from the original plywood chairs by Alvar Aalto that had originally furnished the pavilion. The tubular arms and pierced decoration were responses to the severe Modernist forms of the building, notably the tubular metal hand rails on doors and staircases. Barber Osgerby reasoned that the chairs would mostly be seen from behind, clustered around tables, so gave the backs a twist with floor-level stretchers, creating complete loops of metal for the rear legs. About 80 red chairs with upholstered seats were supplied for the restaurant, and the same quantity without upholstery was used on the outdoor terraces. The manufacturer, Established & Sons, subsequently mass-produced the chairs, but the only red versions like this were for the De La Warr Pavilion.
Associated object
W.31-2008 (Colourway)
Collection
Accession number
W.30-2008

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Record createdOctober 8, 2008
Record URL
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