One of my favourite pieces of mid-century modern furniture is the Stag ‘S’ Range sideboard. It is widely recognised as an iconic piece of post-war British design, with an uncompromising modern aesthetic that was unlike anything else that was being offered to the British mass market at the time.
Stag employed husband and wife team Sylvia and John Reid during the 1950s and 60s to design furniture ranges that catered for a British public newly liberated from post-war rationing who were eager for new and stylish furnishings, which were still affordable. Stag produced machine-made, mass-market ranges of bedroom and dining room furniture, but despite being produced in volume, Stag's veneered wood sideboards and sofas, tables and chests were of robust quality as well as being within the budget of younger buyers, who appreciated their innovative style.
In 1960, based on their success with the design for the ‘C’ range, Stag employed the Reids to create the ‘S’ range. It was Stag’s first attempt at dining room suites and it set them apart from their competitors. The most iconic piece from the suite, the sideboard, was low and long and sat on satin finished steel legs. The sideboard pieces were modular and could be assembled in units, giving the impression that it was a single sideboard 10 feet long. One of the adverts of the period shows three in a row to dramatic effect.
The oiled teak sideboard coupled with varying shaped dining tables and afromosia-backed chairs combined to create a suite whose appearance far exceeded its cost. The 4’6” sideboard cost £26 (£410 compared to current money), the dining chairs £8 15s (£138) and the table £17 (£268). This was still a big investment, but they were produced at a time when people would expect a dining room suite to last a lifetime.
The sideboards are, in my opinion, the most interesting pieces in the range, with their distinctive V-shaped legs and L-shaped handles. The sense of quality is enhanced by the attention to detail: all the doors and drawer fronts sit flush with the carcass; the handles were all custom-made and are recessed neatly on the top of the drawer and door fronts; all the internal surfaces were veneered with beech, creating a strong contrast with the darker teak exterior. The steel work was nickel-plated, giving a light and modern look. They were also sold with different cupboard and internal drawer options.
The Reid’s worked with Robin Day early in their careers and his influence can be seen in the ‘S’ Range, which can comfortably sit beside the best design of the period.
The 'S' Range pieces are currently highly sought-after. Stag produced the ‘S’ Range between 1960 and 1963, after which time it was discontinued due to its lack of commercial success, resulting in a limited production run.
