Sit Down

Spotty, child's chair designed by Peter Murdoch, English 1964-5 (click image for larger version)

Seating for Kids
6 February - 5 September 2010

Upper Galleries

Taking the classic children's tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears as its starting point, Sit Down invites the visitor to consider just what makes a successful seat. Is it comfort? Is it style? Or ease of use?

Spanning four centuries, the exhibition features over 70 examples of seating made for children, ranging from school chairs to armchairs, saddles to swings, highchairs to potties. Designs by Charles Eames, Vitra and El Ultimo Grito are on display, as well as the Modernist high chair by Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld and Spotty, a 1960s paper chair designed by Peter Murdoch.

Ideas around the growing popularity of designer seating specifically for children as well as how and why styles have changed over the centuries are also considered.

Supported by Ercol Furniture Ltd