For an institution associated with so many interesting and important figures in the UK furniture industry, there is a remarkable dearth of information on the London College of Furniture. Most of what there is relating to the, obviously fabled, music instrument making department.
And so it is perhaps more appropriate than fitting that to mark the 50th anniversary of the London College of Furniture an exhibition celebrating the institution is being staged by its successor Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design at London Metropolitan University.
Established in 1964 the London College of Furniture existed as an independent institution until becoming part of the newly established London Guildhall University in 1992, and then in 2002 the London Metropolitan University. In addition to producing designers as varied as Terence Woodgate, Michael Marriott or Rosario Hurtado and Roberto Feo a.k.a El Ultimo Grito the London College of Furniture is also, apparently, the alma mater of important industry figures including Frederick Parker, founder of the manufacturer that would later became Parker Knoll, and Ercol founder Lucian Ercolani. Although in the cases of both Parker & Ercolani we're not entirely sure what the connection is as both "pre-date" the college's founding.
But as we say the information available on the London College of Furniture is at best sketchy.
Then and Now will hopefully change that.
In addition to presenting works by students from over the past five decades the exhibition also promises photographs, documentation and machinery through which the history and contemporary relevance of the institution and its protagonists will be explained. Complimenting the main exhibition is a special presentation of chairs both historical and contemporary from the Frederick Parker Collection.
Then and Now - 50 Years of The London College of Furniture can be viewed at the Parker Gallery, 42 – 47 Commercial Road, London E1 1LA from Friday November 28th until Wednesday January 14th
