In 1920 a young designer called Lucian Ercolani started his own business in High Wycombe, the chair making capital of England. Here he perfected the technique of steam-bending wood in large quantities to form the famous Windsor Bow, and discovered how to tame elm: a beautifully grained hardwood other furniture makers considered impossible to work with.

Ercol furniture is a high quality product, designed to provide years of service before needing replacing. Upholstery can be recovered, when the existing covers have worn out, minimising waste. The solid wood furniture maintains its looks, even after the knocks and bangs of daily life, and can often be repaired in the event of more significant damage.

Ercol source timber solely from the forests of North America and Europe - using only elm, beech, ash, oak and walnut. The vast majority of this furniture is manufactured in the UK, so the transport miles are minimised.

Ercol furniture comes in a variety of colour finishes. These are all created using water based stains, rather than the more common use of solvents which can contribute to greenhouse warming and act as pollutants.