Ercol was founded as Furniture Industries in 1920 by

Lucian R Ercolani, furniture designer and maker as well

as employee of Frederick Parker (now Parker Knoll) and

Gommes (which later became G-Plan) in the heartland of

English furniture making, High Wycombe. His goal was to

design and produce beautiful, high-quality and honest

furniture,made with pride by the finest trained craftsmen

using time-honoured cabinet and upholstery skills.

​

​

​

In 1920, Ercolani perfected the technique of steam-bending wood. In 1932 it took over well-known Chairmaker Skulls (for which the chair-making department is still named).  By 1944 it had been contracted by the Board of Trade for 100,000 low-cost Windsor chairs. In the 1940s Ercol perfected the steam bending of wood in large quantities, enabling them to mass produce chairs. With this method they were able to make a chair every twenty seconds. Their mass-produced furniture found a ready market in post-war Britain.

​

Ercol continues to value innovation, design and craftsmanship. Design for comfort, design for function, and design for beauty. Ercol has had a number of its products attain with the Design Guild Mark, awarded on behalf of the Furniture Makers' Company. 2020 sees the 100th anniversary of ercol furniture who now make an ‘Originals’ range which harks back to the height of Ercol popularity. The business remains family owned.

​