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Design for the 'Viking' range of chairs

Design
2nd May 1977 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This rendering is a presentation drawing showing the 'Viking' range of furniture in a domestic setting. The range of hi-tech tubular metal furniture, painted in bright 1970s colours, represented a complete departure from the traditional cosiness of British furnishings. The industrial look of the seating and tables fitted into the new mid-1970s fashion for converting industrial premises and warehouses into living spaces, where the old boundaries between the domestic and work space were being blurred. Like much of Conran's furniture, this range was intended equally for domestic or business use.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Design for the 'Viking' range of chairs (generic title)
  • Tubular chairs (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Colour felt-tip pens and watercolour on paper
Brief description
Drawing of a living room showing the 'Viking' range of furniture, G.P. Wood for Conran Associates, Great Britain, 1977
Physical description
Drawing of a living room showing the 'Viking' range of furniture, two figures seated on a chair and sofa with green tubular metal bases. Other furniture around the room. A red metal lamp hangs from the ceiling. Inscribed and dated in pen: (c) 1977 Conran Associates.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.6cm
  • Width: 41.8cm
Dimensions taken from departmental notes
Marks and inscriptions
© 1977 Conran Associates (bottom right corner)
Credit line
Given by the Artist
Object history
One of 4 design drawings for the 'Viking' range of low bank contract seating units for Dual Furniture Ltd, Harrow. Two sheets show the tubular steel chairs in either different finishes and colourways, a third shows the furniture used in a public setting, and a fourth in domestic surroundings. The 'Viking' range was made up of a number of basic tubular steel components, so that chairs, sofas and tables could be fitted together or left free-standing as desired. It was designed to a brief for furniture suitable for either contract or domestic use.
Production
Drawn by G.P. Wood for Conran Associates, designed for Dual Furniture.
Subject depicted
Summary
This rendering is a presentation drawing showing the 'Viking' range of furniture in a domestic setting. The range of hi-tech tubular metal furniture, painted in bright 1970s colours, represented a complete departure from the traditional cosiness of British furnishings. The industrial look of the seating and tables fitted into the new mid-1970s fashion for converting industrial premises and warehouses into living spaces, where the old boundaries between the domestic and work space were being blurred. Like much of Conran's furniture, this range was intended equally for domestic or business use.
Bibliographic reference
Charles Newton, 'British Design at Home', p.159
Collection
Accession number
E.1129-1979

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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