Chair Thing
Chair
1964 (designed), 1965 (made)
1964 (designed), 1965 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This chair captures the look and ethos of the Pop art movement of the 1960s. The simple form was created from a single piece of die-cut, folded card but required complex development. In 1967 the designer Peter Murdoch extended the range, which was marketed as Those Things: Fibreboard Furniture for the Young. The range of Chair Things, Stool Things and Table Things emphasised the multi-purpose, play-orientated function and reflected relaxing social attitudes towards children.
Over 76,000 pieces were sold in six months in 1967, retailing at less than £1 each. Despite several awards the potential for mass-production in the 1970s was never fully realised. Pop furniture was designed to be disposable so few examples have survived.
Over 76,000 pieces were sold in six months in 1967, retailing at less than £1 each. Despite several awards the potential for mass-production in the 1970s was never fully realised. Pop furniture was designed to be disposable so few examples have survived.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Chair Thing (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Polyurethane-coated laminated paper, die-cut and folded |
| Brief description | Child's chair, of polyurethane-coated paper, designed by Peter Murdoch 1965 |
| Physical description | Chair folded from a single piece of laminated paper. White with green spots. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Peter Murdoch |
| Object history | This simple form was made from a single piece of folded card but required complex development. Historical significance: Winner of Design Centre Award in 1968. According to the magazine 'Design' (May 1968, p.33), the earlier versions of the paper chairs were made in the USA, while Murdoch was still a student. Perspective Designs commissioned him to design a new range in 1967. These were manufactured by New Merton Board Mills for Perspective Designs. Perspective Designs was established by Philip Bidwell in 1966 to promote young British designers, with a particular focus on selling overseas. |
| Historical context | The range of 'Chair Things', 'Stool Things' and 'Table Things', emphasised the multi-purpose, play-orientated function and reflected relaxing social attitudes towards children. Over 76,000 pieces were sold in six months on 1967, retailing at less than £1 each. Despite several awards, the potential for mass-production in the 1970s was never fully realised and the disposability of Pop furniture means few examples have survived. |
| Summary | This chair captures the look and ethos of the Pop art movement of the 1960s. The simple form was created from a single piece of die-cut, folded card but required complex development. In 1967 the designer Peter Murdoch extended the range, which was marketed as Those Things: Fibreboard Furniture for the Young. The range of Chair Things, Stool Things and Table Things emphasised the multi-purpose, play-orientated function and reflected relaxing social attitudes towards children. Over 76,000 pieces were sold in six months in 1967, retailing at less than £1 each. Despite several awards the potential for mass-production in the 1970s was never fully realised. Pop furniture was designed to be disposable so few examples have survived. |
| Associated object | Circ.18-1970 (Colourway) |
| Bibliographic reference | Francis, Mark, Les Années Pop: 1956-1968, Centre Georges Pompidou, 2001 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.17-1970 |
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| Record created | February 2, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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