Robin Day, Stickback sofa, 1950
‘Stickback’ sofa by Robin Day for Hille, 1950
The Stickback sofa is an extremely rare and early design by Robin Day. The design paid reference to a British vernacular of comb-back furniture originating in the vicinity of High Wycombe. Robin Day intended to utilise the skills of craftsman that worked at Hille making reproduction furniture. The exposed frame is constructed in beech with sycamore spindles. The structure embraces both carved and machined elements within a restrained, yet modernist outline.
The Stickback was exhibited at Furniture Trades Exhibition in Earls Court in 1951 and following this illustrated in the Architect’s Journal. It is shown alongside Day’s first design for Hille, a dining group from 1949, and marked the beginning of a long fruitful partnership with Hille and its transition into a producer of contemporary furniture design.
It is understood that the generous scale and dynamic frame of the Stickback did not suit a fledgeling market for contemporary design and very few pieces were made. The Stickback is a scarce and historically important design that provides high comfort levels, whilst offering a quite unique overall character.
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Description
‘Stickback’ sofa by Robin Day for Hille, 1950
The Stickback sofa is an extremely rare and early design by Robin Day. The design paid reference to a British vernacular of comb-back furniture originating in the vicinity of High Wycombe. Robin Day intended to utilise the skills of craftsman that worked at Hille making reproduction furniture. The exposed frame is constructed in beech with sycamore spindles. The structure embraces both carved and machined elements within a restrained, yet modernist outline.
The Stickback was exhibited at Furniture Trades Exhibition in Earls Court in 1951 and following this illustrated in the Architect’s Journal. It is shown alongside Day’s first design for Hille, a dining group from 1949, and marked the beginning of a long fruitful partnership with Hille and its transition into a producer of contemporary furniture design.
It is understood that the generous scale and dynamic frame of the Stickback did not suit a fledgeling market for contemporary design and very few pieces were made. The Stickback is a scarce and historically important design that provides high comfort levels, whilst offering a quite unique overall character.
Dimensions
175w x 84d x 42/69cmh
Materials
The exposed frame is constructed in beech with sycamore spindles.
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