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Ernest Race

British, 1913-1964

Ernest Race was a British textile artist and furniture designer, born in 1913, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. After graduating with a degree in interior design from London’s Bartlett School of Architecture, he joined the lighting firm, Troughton & Young, as a draughtsman. He was a key figure in the British furniture design industry in the 1900s, with his skill involving the use of ingenious manufacturing processes to create contemporary furniture from improvised or recycled materials.

After visiting a weaving village in India in 1937, Ernest returned to London and opened a shop in Knightsbridge, to sell textiles and carpets. He did not start designing furniture until just after World War II, when he answered an advertisement from engineer, J.W. Noel Jordan. His best-known designs are the BA3 aluminium chair of 1945 and the Antelope, designed for the “Festival of Britain” in 1951.

Styles
Mid-Century Modern
Materials
Metal
Steel
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Vintage Ernest Race Heron Armchair and Footstool in White Bouclé, Britain, 1950s
Vintage Ernest Race Heron Armchair and Footstool in White Bouclé, Britain, 1950s

Vintage Ernest Race Heron Armchair and Footstool in White Bouclé, Britain, 1950s

$4,998Sale Price|20% Off

H 37.01 in W 32.29 in D 32.68 in

Vintage Ernest Race Heron Armchair and Footstool in White Bouclé, Britain, 1950s

By Race Furniture, Ernest Race

Located in London, GB

A completely reupholstered Heron chair by Ernest Race from the 1950s, along with original footstool. An impressive and ergonomic design, the Heron armchair...

Category

1950s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ernest Race

Materials

Steel

EARLY ERNEST RACE DA Sofa, 1949, Classic British Design
EARLY ERNEST RACE DA Sofa, 1949, Classic British Design

EARLY ERNEST RACE DA Sofa, 1949, Classic British Design

$3,887Sale Price|20% Off

H 36.62 in W 64.57 in D 36.23 in

EARLY ERNEST RACE DA Sofa, 1949, Classic British Design

By Ernest Race

Located in Sherborne, GB

A Classic piece of British design, this early DA sofa designed by Ernest Race has a welded steel frame with coil sprung seats and beech legs. Recently r...

Category

1940s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ernest Race

Materials

Steel

Set Of Four Mid Century Ernest Race Antelope Chairs
Set Of Four Mid Century Ernest Race Antelope Chairs

Set Of Four Mid Century Ernest Race Antelope Chairs

$3,117 / set

H 31.5 in W 21.46 in D 22.45 in

Set Of Four Mid Century Ernest Race Antelope Chairs

By Ernest Race

Located in Norwich, GB

Set of four mid century Antelope chairs designed by Ernest Race. Each labelled: Race Made in England. Circa late 1950's. Originally designed for the Festival of Britain 1951 as an interior and al fresco chair...

Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Ernest Race

Materials

Steel

Ernest Race Rocking Chair, 1940s, England
Ernest Race Rocking Chair, 1940s, England

Ernest Race Rocking Chair, 1940s, England

$1,332Sale Price|20% Off

H 30.32 in W 23.63 in D 31.5 in

Ernest Race Rocking Chair, 1940s, England

By Ernest Race

Located in London, GB

Designed by Ernest Race in 1948. A very rare low volume original, it has become a highly recognised design classic. Constructed from bent steel rod, the chair is very comfortable. ...

Category

1940s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ernest Race

Materials

Steel

Cast Aluminum and Vinyl "BA3" Chairs by Ernest Race for Race Furniture
Cast Aluminum and Vinyl "BA3" Chairs by Ernest Race for Race Furniture

Cast Aluminum and Vinyl "BA3" Chairs by Ernest Race for Race Furniture

$1,800 / set

H 29.5 in W 17 in D 17 in

Cast Aluminum and Vinyl "BA3" Chairs by Ernest Race for Race Furniture

By Ernest Race

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Pair of English, Mid-Century Modern, cast aluminum "BA3" side chairs designed by Ernest Race for Race Furniture feature upholstered seats and backs in perforated putty gray vinyl.

Category

Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Ernest Race

Materials

Aluminum

Rare Ernest Race 'Neptune' lounge chair. c1953 England
Rare Ernest Race 'Neptune' lounge chair. c1953 England

Rare Ernest Race 'Neptune' lounge chair. c1953 England

$10,690

H 37.01 in W 22.45 in D 50.01 in

Rare Ernest Race 'Neptune' lounge chair. c1953 England

By Ernest Race

Located in London, GB

An early Ernest Race 'Neptune' chair. Beech plywood with the early brass fittings and webbing. Folds to an incredible 12cm Structurally sound with a lovely patina

Category

1950s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ernest Race

Materials

Beech, Plywood

Unique 1950s Springbok Garden Table and Chairs Set by Ernest Race
Unique 1950s Springbok Garden Table and Chairs Set by Ernest Race

Unique 1950s Springbok Garden Table and Chairs Set by Ernest Race

$9,718Sale Price / set|30% Off

H 25.6 in Dm 41.34 in

Unique 1950s Springbok Garden Table and Chairs Set by Ernest Race

By Race Furniture, Ernest Race

Located in Shepperton, Surrey

A unique 1950s table with four accompanying "Springbok" chairs by Ernest Race for Race Furniture. Made for the 1951 Festival of Britain, the chairs are of original vintage. The chairs bear remnants of the Race Furniture label. The bespoke Springbok table was made by Ernest Race in the 50s to accompany the chairs and is as rare as it gets. This set is documented in the Antique Trade Gazette: Ernest Race, who died at the early age of 51 in 1964, established his eponymous company in 1945 and is best known for his 'Antelope' and 'Springbok' chairs that were unveiled at the Festival of Britain and used steel rod frames with plywood and spring seats. Pictured here is a set of four 'Springbok' chairs as shown at the festival accompanied by a unique custom-made table. Both use Race’s characteristic steel rod frames and ball feet. The set has had some conservation work, including the addition of transparent tubing to protect areas where the plastic webbing has split. It remains in very useful condition and would make the ultimate MCM garden...

Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Ernest Race

Materials

Steel

Round Coffee Table, Rare Ernest Race Design, 1940s
Round Coffee Table, Rare Ernest Race Design, 1940s

Round Coffee Table, Rare Ernest Race Design, 1940s

$833Sale Price|20% Off

H 18.12 in Dm 24.02 in

Round Coffee Table, Rare Ernest Race Design, 1940s

By Ernest Race, Race Furniture

Located in London, GB

Ernest Race Coffee Table Designed by Ernest Race in the 1940s Cast aluminium legs Walnut veneer table top with aluminium banding.

Category

1940s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ernest Race

Materials

Aluminum

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Ernest Race furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Ernest Race furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Ernest Race furniture, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Ernest Race were created in the mid-century modern style in united kingdom during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Omersa, Hille, and Arkana Furniture. Prices for Ernest Race furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $956 and can go as high as $12,741, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,474.