Ernest Race Hunting Aviation Metal Desk

Ernest Race designed Metal Desk for P.W. Cow / Hunting Aviation, United Kingdom 1946. A wonderful piece of British Design History Desk by Ernest Race. The aluminum metal has a pattern to its surface as aircraft panels that is striking adding to look and feel. Composed of steel, aluminum, pine and chipboard, with the drawers lined with synthetic green velvet having Bakelite handles. All original in good condition, with some dings to the metal, as pictured.
A true English piece of history produced in the immediate post-war period. Designed by Ernest Race, making use of surplus materials used for the manufacture of military aircraft. This desk was designed and produced as companion and contrast to the BA3 chairs, noted design of Ernest Race. Designed originally as a dressing table, this desk is a British example of furniture produced using industrial methods developed during wartime, and as such is comparable to the work in plywood of Charles and Ray Eames in the USA. Also noted is the industrial style, Art Deco ques, and the modernity for mass production entering the mid century period.

PB Cow and Co Ltd, and manufacturer, Hunting Aviation Ltd, had both been involved in aircraft maintenance during the Second World War. Like many other firms, they sought opportunities to continue business after the cessation of hostilities, and to deal with the expected surplus of aluminum, which was in great abundance. The BA3 chairs designed by Ernest Race hold a place amongst a collection in the Victoria & Albert Museum, UK, noting this early mid century design period after the war.