Catalogue of the General Specification for utility furniture made during 1941-1953

Catalogue with cream-coloured card cover which is stapled at the edge, near the spine, with three staples. The catalogue includes pages of instructions and indexes and designs for furniture. It includes spring units for bed settees, settees and chairs.

Given by Mr. O. Tybulewicz

'With the outbreak of the Second World war in 1939, nearly all design and manufacture in Britain went towards the war effort. After two years, Britain experienced problems with materials supply, particularly wood from the USA. In 1941 the Government Board of Trade set up the Utility Furniture Scheme as a means of rationing production and consumption of furniture. the board introduced specifications for controlling the dimensions and materials of pieces of furniture for all over the home: from chairs, kitchen cupboards and wardrobes to babies' play-pens. The resulting furniture was straight edged, plain and unembellished, in which form very much followed function and construction. The restrictions went on until 1953, and although Utility furniture furnished many middle-and lower-class homes, it was seen as an austere necessity during the war, and was son therefore rejected after the restrictions were lifted.'
Fiona Leslie Designs for 20th-century Interiors London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2000, p.18.

E.640-1999