Modern British Design is the broad term for the furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles and products created in Britain in the modernist and mid-century spirit, roughly from the 1930s to the 1970s. It is characterised by clean lines, honest materials, functional forms and an interest in combining craftsmanship with modern manufacturing.
The movement drew on the Arts and Crafts belief in good design for everyday life and on modernist ideas from continental Europe. Between the wars, firms and designers such as Isokon, Gordon Russell, Ambrose Heal and Wells Coates explored plywood, tubular steel and simplified forms. The Utility Furniture scheme of the Second World War promoted plain, well-made pieces, and the Festival of Britain in 1951 announced a confident new style, with designers such as Robin Day, Ernest Race and Lucienne Day making bright, optimistic work for a new generation. Manufacturers including Ercol, G-Plan, Hille and Gordon Russell brought modern furniture into ordinary homes. Collectors look for maker's labels, original upholstery and finishes, and designs by recognised names. Modern British pieces blend easily with antiques, adding a lighter, practical note to a traditional country house setting.
