Utility High Back Armchair

Built to inspire comfort and connection, the UTILITY HIGHBACK ARMCHAIR is a time-honoured collector’s piece for all walks of life.

Designed by Lucian Ercolani, the philosophy behind the UTILITY COLLECTION is simple — enduring, timeless design, constructed using humble, straightforward materials and hand-built to last for generations. With these values in mind, Lucian Ercolani launched the iconic series in 1945, marking a new and defining chapter in British design history.

A celebrated classic, the UTILITY HIGHBACK ARMCHAIR encapsulates the pared-back simplicity of Lucian Ercolani’s formative work, inspired by the purity of Windsor-style furniture. The UTILITY HIGHBACK ARMCHAIR’s clean, structural integrity and tactile, softly rounded form allows comfort to take the forefront — resulting in an attractive, ergonomically designed seat that facilitates rest and wellbeing.

The UTILITY HIGHBACK CHAIR is an indulgent addition to the home, seamlessly enhancing and blending with modern and contemporary dining interiors. Equally well-received today as it was over seventy years prior, the welcoming form of the UTILITY HIGHBACK ARMCHAIR has the power to elevate the atmosphere and occasion of everyday dining rituals.

Meticulously crafted and honed to minimalistic perfection, the UTILITY HIGHBACK ARMCHAIR boasts a classic Windsor backrest with six, finely-carved spindles and supportive armrests. Carved into a tall arc, a steam-bent ash bow encases the spindle structure, uniting the chair’s elements in a grand, sweeping curve. Hammer-shaft joints and gently tapered, out-turned legs provide a supple yet dependable profile — allowing the UTILITY HIGHBACK ARMCHAIR’s lithe form to shine through its honest build. Lastly, traditional wedge and tenon joinery combined with a supportive H-frame inserted underneath the UTILITY HIGHBACK ARMCHAIR’s saddle seat enhance the overall strength and durability of the chair’s construction.

Forged in solid ash timber, the UTILITY HIGHBACK ARMCHAIR is available in nine protective finishes, including a warm natural finish and the new MODERN TONES series by Christian Møller Andersen.