Industrial furniture is furniture originally designed for factories, workshops, offices, schools and laboratories, characterised by robust construction, functional design and materials such as steel, cast iron, oak and pine. It is now widely collected and adapted for domestic and commercial interiors.
Common examples include workbenches and work tables, adjustable machinists' stools and chairs, metal filing cabinets, engineers' drawer units, haberdashery and shop cabinets, school desks, lockers and steel shelving. Well-known makers include Tolix in France and Evertaut and Sankey Sheldon in Britain, and many pieces carry manufacturer's plates or stamped marks. Industrial furniture was made to be practical and long-lasting, so its appeal lies in honest construction, worn paintwork and evidence of years of use. Collectors and designers look for original surfaces, solid joints, working mechanisms on adjustable pieces and intact plates or labels. Some pieces are sympathetically adapted, for example by adding a timber top to a cast iron base, and it is worth asking what has been altered. Industrial furniture works well in kitchens, studios, offices and converted buildings, and it can provide a strong contrast with finer antiques.
