page_title: Utility furniture
section_title: Utility Furniture Catalogue
hierarchical_section_title: Utility furniture / Utility Furniture Catalogue
caption_attribution_description: English: Utility chair in laminated wood 1950-52. Designed by G.A. Jenkins. Made by Packet Furniture Ltd., Great Yarmouth. Victoria and Albert Museum item number W.2-1991.
context_page_description: Utility furniture was furniture produced in the United Kingdom during and directly after World War II. The furniture was produced under a Government scheme which was designed to cope with raw material shortages and rationing of their usage. Introduced in 1942, the Utility Furniture Scheme continued into post-war austerity and lasted until 1952.
context_section_description: The Committee produced approved designs which were published in the Utility Furniture Catalogue of 1943. The aim was to ensure the production of strong, well-designed furniture which made efficient use of timber. The Arts and Crafts movement influenced the designs, which were considered to be simplistic due to their lack of decoration (which was contrary to popular taste of the immediate pre-war period). Furniture based on these designs was constructed by about 700 firms around the country, with quality varying between manufacturers.
  The Committee was reformed as the Utility Design Panel in 1943 with Gordon Russell as Chairman.  In 1946 the Panel unveiled three new furniture ranges (Cotswold, Chiltern and Cockaigne), intending to display their post-war design ethos at the "Britain Can Make It" exhibition.
caption: Utility chair in laminated wood, produced after design rules were relaxed in 1948 and showing the growing influence of European styles. Designed by G.A. Jenkins. 1950-52.[citation needed]
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