Lucian Ercolani
Encyclopedia
Lucian Randolph Ercolani (8 May 1888 – 9 June 1976), furniture designer, was born in St Angelo, Tuscany
, Italy. His father, Abdon Ercolani, a pictureframe maker, migrated to London
, England, in search of work, and in 1898 was joined by his family. Lucian Ercolani attended a Salvation Army
school in London, which he left in 1902, aged 14, to take up a job as a Salvation Army
messenger boy. Encouraged by his parents to continue his education, Ercolani enrolled for night school at Shoreditch Technical Institute, where he studied drawing, design, and the theory and construction of furniture. In the early 1900s, Shoreditch
was a thriving centre of furniture-making.
By 1906, Ercolani was working in the Salvation Army
joinery department, producing staircases and handrails. In 1910, Frederick Parker (later of Parker-Knoll fame) invited him to join his firm, which made furniture at workshops in High Wycombe
, the 'furniture capital' of England. In 1912, Ercolani took up a part-time appointment at High Wycombe Technical School, teaching furniture design to evening classes which were attended by High Wycombe
’s furniture makers. It was here that he met Edward Gomme, son of a High Wycombe chair-maker. At the outbreak of World War I
, Ercolani joined E Gomme Ltd., chair-makers (whose G-Plan
range of furniture enjoyed considerable success in the 1950s and 1960s). As Ercolani recorded in his biography: “At Gomme’s … it seemed to me … that the simple chair was the outcome of very good and precise workmanship.”
Ercolani was married in 1915, to Eva Brett, and they had three children. He took British citizenship in 1923.
In 1920, Ercolani had joined a furniture-making consortium in High Wycombe
, trading as Furniture Industries. The business expanded through acquisition, and government orders during World War II
for wooden tent peg
s and bentwood
chairs ensured its success. In the late-1940s, Ercolani developed his range of mass-produced Ercol
furniture, which became a household name in post-war Britain, and which continues today. He played an active part in the Furniture Industry, being a founder member of the industry's guild, the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers
and its Master for 1957-58.
In 2010 the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers
awarded a Design Guild Mark for Lucian's Originals collection, as they are now know. The Originals collection reflected a break from the heavy, ornate pre-war styles towards a new clean lined, simple elegance. They were first launched in the late 1950s and were relaunched by Ercol in 2003.
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, Italy. His father, Abdon Ercolani, a pictureframe maker, migrated to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England, in search of work, and in 1898 was joined by his family. Lucian Ercolani attended a Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
school in London, which he left in 1902, aged 14, to take up a job as a Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
messenger boy. Encouraged by his parents to continue his education, Ercolani enrolled for night school at Shoreditch Technical Institute, where he studied drawing, design, and the theory and construction of furniture. In the early 1900s, Shoreditch
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is an area of London within the London Borough of Hackney in England. It is a built-up part of the inner city immediately to the north of the City of London, located east-northeast of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
was a thriving centre of furniture-making.
By 1906, Ercolani was working in the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
joinery department, producing staircases and handrails. In 1910, Frederick Parker (later of Parker-Knoll fame) invited him to join his firm, which made furniture at workshops in High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
, the 'furniture capital' of England. In 1912, Ercolani took up a part-time appointment at High Wycombe Technical School, teaching furniture design to evening classes which were attended by High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
’s furniture makers. It was here that he met Edward Gomme, son of a High Wycombe chair-maker. At the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Ercolani joined E Gomme Ltd., chair-makers (whose G-Plan
G-Plan
G-Plan was a pioneering range of furniture in the United Kingdom, produced by E Gomme Ltd of High Wycombe.In 1943, during World War II, furniture was part of rationing in the United Kingdom; the Board of Trade set up the Utility scheme which limited costs and the types of furniture on sale. A small...
range of furniture enjoyed considerable success in the 1950s and 1960s). As Ercolani recorded in his biography: “At Gomme’s … it seemed to me … that the simple chair was the outcome of very good and precise workmanship.”
Ercolani was married in 1915, to Eva Brett, and they had three children. He took British citizenship in 1923.
In 1920, Ercolani had joined a furniture-making consortium in High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
, trading as Furniture Industries. The business expanded through acquisition, and government orders during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
for wooden tent peg
Tent peg
A tent peg is a spike, usually with a hook or hole on the top end, typically made from wood, metal, plastic, or composite material, pushed or driven into the ground for holding a tent to the ground, either directly by attaching to the tent's material, or by connecting to ropes attached to the tent...
s and bentwood
Bentwood
Bentwood is a term used to describe furniture made by steaming wood, bending it, and letting it harden into curved shapes and patterns, and is most often used in the production of rocking chairs, cafe chairs, and other light furniture. The iconic No...
chairs ensured its success. In the late-1940s, Ercolani developed his range of mass-produced Ercol
Ercol
Ercol is the name of a British furniture manufacturer. The firm dates back to 1920, when it was established in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, as Furniture Industries by Lucian Ercolani ....
furniture, which became a household name in post-war Britain, and which continues today. He played an active part in the Furniture Industry, being a founder member of the industry's guild, the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers
Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers
The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The organisation was formed in 1951, and the City granted it Livery status in 1963. The Company generally promotes the trade by awarding scholarship to students of the craft.The Company ranks...
and its Master for 1957-58.
In 2010 the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers
Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers
The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The organisation was formed in 1951, and the City granted it Livery status in 1963. The Company generally promotes the trade by awarding scholarship to students of the craft.The Company ranks...
awarded a Design Guild Mark for Lucian's Originals collection, as they are now know. The Originals collection reflected a break from the heavy, ornate pre-war styles towards a new clean lined, simple elegance. They were first launched in the late 1950s and were relaunched by Ercol in 2003.