1946 DA4 Race Sofa

DA4 sofa designed by Ernest Race.

The innovative use of a steel-rod structure provided for a sinuous and visually lightweight design. The design of the DA series was in stark contrast with the bulky and heavy forms available in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Race is best known for his iconic design for the Festival of Britain in 1951, the Antelope chair. The exposed frame is, in essence, a stripped-down version of his DA series of upholstered chairs and sofas from the late 1940s.

Ernest Race practiced both furniture and textile design. His understanding of materials and processes allowed for a diverse output of furniture in aluminium, steel, plywood and upholstery. Race was widely awarded for his designs during his short career and his historically important work appears in museum collections worldwide.