Rare pair of Dormouse chairs, designed by Ernest Race for Race Furniture, 1950s

Ernest Race (British, 1913-1964)

Ernest Race was a key figure in 20th Century British furniture design, whose ingenuity led him to create resourceful manufacturing processes to make contemporary designs from improvised or recycled materials. His best-known designs are the BA3 aluminium chair of 1946 that was made for the V & A Museum from salvaged materials that included aluminium from redundant aircraft and RAF cotton fabric (our Dormouse chairs have frames made from recycled steel); and he also designed the Antelope chair for the Festival of Britain in 1951.

On leaving St Paul’s School in 1932 Race took a three-year course on interior design at the Bartlett School of Architecture. He set up his own company Race Fabrics to sell handwoven textiles and carpets. His abstract designs were particularly appropriate for modernist architecture.

Race spent the Second World War as a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service. Race and J.W. Noel Jordan, founded Ernest Race Ltd in 1945 with Race as Chief Designer and Jordan as Managing Director.

Race’s metal furniture was enthusiastically received by both the private and contract sectors of the market. One of their first orders was for 1500 chairs and tables for troop ships that were bringing home demobilized servicemen. London furniture retailers Heals and Dunn’s both placed substantial orders as well as standardized furniture for Lyons teashops. Race retired as director of Ernest Race Ltd in 1954 but continued to work as a freelance designer for the company (which changed its name to Race Furniture Ltd in 1961).

Race was appointed a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI) in 1953.

Ernest Race died at the relatively young age of 49 on 22nd January 1964.