N/A Robin Day, Convertible Bed-Settee, 1957

Convertible Bed-Settee by Robin Day

The Convertible Bed-Settee won a Design Centre Award in 1957, the same year of its launch.

The modernist design embraced flexible functionality whilst being a sleek and contemporary design. Raised on stove-enamelled steel sledge-legs it portrayed a dynamic aesthetic that was contrary to the typical corner-placed dowel legs of other sofas of the period. The panel sides in mahogany echoed the compact and modern format. A Dunlopillo mattress provided a deep seat supported on elasticated webbing (rather than metal springs). The backrest was engineered to pivot around a subtly designed hidden arm to release the full depth of the mattress to sleep on. The backrest either sat behind or aligned with the mattress in the case of the double format.

The Convertible Bed Settee was a success and remained in production in for ten years.

“Acceptance of contemporary furniture is highest among younger people, with less spending power. These younger people live in small flats and are likely to move from time to time. Space-saving dual purpose pieces help meet these requirements” Robin Day.

The example offered has exemplary provenance having been owned until recently by the eminent designer Sir Kenneth Grange. Having purchased it from new, he has made adaptations through his time of usage. The height has been raised marginally with woodblocks applied to the sledge legs. The underframe to the mattress has been replaced with laminated beech slats and this is now fixed in a position. These changes provide a special history and can easily be reversed.

The panel sides, mattress and backrest have been restored by twentytwentyone.