News on Screen

Series

Series Name

New Pictorial

Issue

Issue No.

412

Date Released

4 Aug 1952

Length of issue (in feet)

759

Stories in this Issue:

• 1. Horses Rest Home
• 2. Contemporary Furniture
• 3. Linda Leigh Cruise
• 4. Echo Fishing
• 5. Fire Call

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 5

Researcher Comments

Commentary: There’s only one way to make up your mind about modern furniture - sit in it and see. This easy-chair is a long step from the heavy Victorian types we’ve all come up against, but designer Robin Day claims it’s far more comfortable. Comfort is what he and his colleagues aim at above all in their work. The windmill lamp which reflects light from its coloured sails to suit your mood was among their exhibits at the Institute of Contemporary Art. And talking of lamps, they too are designed to blend in with the surrounding furniture. Up, down, round and about, it’s as simple as this. Light metals, polished wood and plenty of gay paint go towards the production of these pieces, for modern furniture’s not only designed for simplicity and comfort. It’s easy to clean, light in weight and its bright colouring brings cheerfulness into even the darkest of homes. Godfrey Dunn’s responsible for these bookshelves and folding desk and he’s made sure that everything will be within easy reach when it’s installed in his own home. A lazy man? No, just a creature who likes his comforts in the modern manner. Looks like a cat’s cradle doesn’t it? Actually the frame’s made of steel tubes, the seat’s of foam rubber and the back’s made up out of a few yards of soft sisal rope. Put them all together and the answer’s comfort - with a spring! Now for the ideal "lounge" chair. Clive Lattimer thought it up and seems to have got the idea from his dentists - though to sit in it is a lot more comfortable and not half so terrifying. Whether you’re short or tall, broad or narrow, you can rest very assured in this new example of up-to-the-minute streamlined furniture.

Keywords

Exhibitions and shows

Footage sources

Ours

Credits:

Commentator

Eamonn Andrews

Length of story (in feet)

150

Story extras:

Film clip

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This series is held by:

Film Archive

Name

British Pathe Ltd

Email

info@britishpathe.com

Web

https://www.britishpathe.com/

Phone

0207 665 8340

Address

3.29 Canterbury Court
1-3 Brixton Road
London
SW9 6DE

Notes

Pathe now also handles the Reuters Historical Collection, which includes the British Paramount, Empire British, Gaumont Graphic and Gaumont British newsreels.

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