7
This promise was born from a heartfelt calling to create. A
desire reflected today in the company’s values and craftsman-
ship. Established in 1920 by 32-year-old trained furniture mak-
er Lucian Ercolani, Ercol was influenced by local artistry and
classic British design traditions. Ercol was awarded a Board of
Trade Utility Furniture contract in 1944 for 100,000 Windsor
Chairs, giving Ercolani his first opportunity to mass-produce
his humble and timeless designs. During a past trip to New
York, the young Ercolani found himself drawn to the intrin-
sic simplicity of Shaker furniture. Years later, inspired by this
event, Ercolani stripped the chair’s design to its simplest form,
focussing on increasing durability and production efficiency.
This commission would define a new design direction for the
company, a shift that is still reflected in our ever-evolving port-
folio of furniture design. The nuances of this distinct yet clas-
sic presence continues to befit contemporary living, dining
and working settings, remaining just as relevant and treasured
as they were in the years prior.
Inspired by the pure elemental beauty of wood, our furni-
ture echoes a modest and unadorned aesthetic, quietly en-
couraging purposeful interaction, collaboration and intimacy.
Born out of a deep appreciation for rich materiality, we pride
ourselves on creating a thoughtful design that consistently im-
parts a rich, tactile language.
What defines real craftsmanship? In our case, a century of tradition and knowledge passed down from members of the Ercol family
into the present. An enduring imprint of genuine artistry, devotion to quality and an intrinsic understanding of wood acquired from dec-
ades of studying the material’s aesthetic and structural qualities.
PREFACE
