How to Identify Vintage Ercol Furniture: Labels, Models & Dating Guide
Ercol is one of the best-known names in British furniture, and vintage pieces are still very popular with collectors and people furnishing their homes today.
The company was founded by Lucian Ercolani in 1920 in High Wycombe, and many of its most recognisable designs came from the mid-century period. Ercol became especially well known for its Windsor furniture, distinctive spindle-back chairs, sculpted handles and use of elm and beech.
Look for the Ercol Label, Badge or Stamp
One of the first things to check when identifying vintage Ercol furniture is the label.
Look underneath the furniture, behind drawers, underneath chair seats and on the rear framework.
Ercol used several different labels, badges and marks over the years, so there isn't one single label that appears on every genuine piece.
You may come across small Made in England labels, blue and gold Ercol badges, labels saying “This is an Ercol Production”, metal identification plates and later rectangular Ercol stickers.
Original labels can become damaged or disappear completely over the decades, so a missing label doesn't automatically mean a piece isn't Ercol.
Model Numbers Can Be Very Useful
Some Ercol labels also include a model number.
This can be one of the best clues when trying to identify exactly what you have.
For example, your photograph below shows an original Ercol badge marked No. 391.
Once you have a model number, you can compare the piece with old Ercol catalogues, auction records and other documented examples.
Elm and Beech Are Strong Clues
Many classic vintage Ercol designs used elm and beech.
Earlier Windsor chairs commonly had a solid elm seat with beech used for the legs, back and spindles. Ercol's current Windsor chair is now made from ash, which makes timber identification another useful clue when examining older examples.
Elm can have a particularly attractive grain, which is often very noticeable on dining tables, sideboards, coffee tables and chair seats.
The Famous Ercol Windsor Style
The Windsor range is probably the style most people associate with vintage Ercol.
Ercol introduced its Windsor range in 1950, and the design has remained in production ever since. Classic features include slim spindle backs, gently splayed legs, shaped wooden seats and elegant curved forms.
These design features are particularly easy to recognise on Ercol dining chairs.
Look at the Shape and Construction
Good-quality construction is another useful clue.
On genuine Ercol furniture you may see:
- turned or tapered legs
- slim wooden spindles
- sculpted wooden handles
- shaped solid-wood seats
- curved edges
- dovetail joints
- neatly finished timber underneath and behind the furniture
Ercol's Windsor furniture is particularly known for its sculpted handles and traditional joinery. The company still uses details such as dovetail joints and sculpted wooden handles on current Windsor pieces.
Ercol Tables Are Often Easy to Recognise
Vintage Ercol dining tables are another popular area with collectors.
Typical features can include tapered legs, rounded tabletop edges and beautifully figured timber.
Drop-leaf and extending dining tables are especially common, and complete dining sets with their original Ercol chairs can be particularly attractive.
Original Finish Can Affect Value
Condition matters when valuing vintage Ercol.
A piece retaining its original finish and label can be particularly appealing to collectors.
That doesn't mean restored furniture has no value. A sympathetically refinished Ercol table or sideboard can still be very desirable, especially if the work has been carried out well.
Heavy painting, major alterations or poor-quality refinishing can reduce collector appeal.
Is Vintage Ercol Furniture Valuable?
Some Ercol furniture is considerably more desirable than others.
The exact value depends on the model, age, condition, timber, finish and current demand.
Classic mid-century pieces, Windsor furniture, dining sets, sideboards and less common designs can all attract strong interest.
The 467 Windsor sideboard, for example, was originally launched in 1962 and became one of the best-known pieces from the Windsor range. Ercol even reissued it for the company's centenary.
The important thing is to identify the exact model before assuming a value.
How to Date Ercol Furniture
There usually isn't one single feature that gives you an exact manufacturing year.
Instead, look at several clues together:
- label or badge style
- model number
- wood used
- handles
- legs and spindles
- construction
- finish
- overall design
An old catalogue image or documented model number can often narrow the date down considerably.
Vintage Ercol at Rustic Warehouse Norfolk
We regularly come across vintage Ercol furniture including dining tables, chairs, sideboards, cabinets and occasional furniture.
Part of the appeal is that many of these pieces are still practical decades after they were made. The clean shapes, quality timber and distinctive designs mean Ercol furniture works just as well in modern interiors as it did when originally produced.
