Post-war design is the collective term for furniture, lighting, ceramics, glass, textiles and products created in the years after the Second World War, broadly from the late 1940s to the 1960s. It is closely associated with the style now often described as mid-century modern.
The period was shaped by reconstruction, new materials and a desire for optimistic, practical design suited to smaller homes. In Britain, the Utility scheme gave way to the Festival of Britain in 1951, which promoted contemporary design to a wide public, and firms such as Ercol, G-Plan and Hille produced modern furniture for the domestic market, while Robin and Lucienne Day were leading designers. Scandinavian designers, including Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen and Alvar Aalto, were enormously influential, as were American designers such as Charles and Ray Eames. Characteristic features include tapering legs, organic shapes, moulded plywood and plastic, teak and rosewood veneers, and bold abstract patterns. Collectors value original designs by named makers, correct labels and good condition, and should be aware of later licensed or unlicensed reproductions. Post-war pieces mix well with antiques and are widely used in contemporary interiors.
