New V & A Museum Furniture Gallery

For those who share our passion for furniture design throughout the centuries, the new Furniture Gallery at the V&A Museum is highly recommended.

Table from Warwick Castle, English, circa  1670-80 .
Image courtesy of Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

The Gallery displays British and international furniture from the C15th to the present day and explores design, construction and decorative techniques over 6 centuries.

There are over 200 pieces of outstanding furniture on display, with designers ranging from Thomas Chippendale to Tom Dixon. 25 or so of the pieces are arranged in chronological order, with other pieces being arranged by technique. There is a clear emphasis on how things are made and the skills of the designers and makers. It is amazing to see centuries-old techniques still in use today.

Chair for the Ward Willets House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, USA, 1902
Image courtesy of Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

Follow the link for more information: V & A Furniture Gallery

Irreverent architect Frank Gehry celebrates 84th birthday

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao: Image via anaru

This week, on 28th February, architect and designer Frank Gehry celebrated his 84th birthday. Whilst best known for his architectural designs- including the Dancing House in Prague and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao- Gehry, like many architects over the centuries, is also a respected designer of furnishings.

Easy Edges Wiggle Side Chair (1972):
Image via patrickd

Like his architectural designs, Gehry's furniture is visually striking, often using unconventional materials such as corrugated cardboard (Easy Edges, 1969-73).

The relationship between furniture and architecture has been a consideration throughout the centuries. In England during the C18th the importance of this relationship grew considerably and influential architect/designers such as Robert Adam emerged. Classical architectural design is evident in the work of furniture designers such as Thomas Sheraton (1751-1806), reflecting the emphasis which was placed on this topic during a designer's training and education.


Architects across the centuries who are also renowned for their furniture designs include Robert Adam (1728-1792), Augustus Pugin (1812-1852), Frank Lloyd-Wright (1867-1959) and Gio Ponti (1891-1979).

Many C20th furniture classics have been designed by architects, including the Barcelona Chair (Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, 1929).

Listen here to architects, along with designers and curators, discussing some of the most outstanding furniture designs over the centuries: www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/audioslideshow/2012/nov/27/v-and-a-furniture-gallery-slideshow