To celebrate the latest summer season of sailings, designer and upholsterer Sarah Jane Bustin has donated an iconic Ercol settee to raise funds for the PS Waverley in their annual raffle.
The relatively rare Ercol 312 sofa is seen by many as a classic of mid-Century modern design and is highly coveted by design aficionados and collectors. It has been lovingly reupholstered by Sarah Jane in her signature Waverley print fabric from The Bulloch Collection which features original illustrations by Bute artist Lyn Bulloch.
The settee will take centre stage in Waverley’s summer raffle which kicks off at the start of the sailing season and is drawn at the end of the season in October.
Tickets for the raffle will be available on board.
Made between 1951 – 56 the Ercol settee (part of the Windsor range of seating) has a fixed upholstered back with wing shaping and tension springs, rather than the more familiar rubber webbing, as the seat platform. The iconic Ercol frame made of elm and beech with rounded corners and open arms on diagonal spindle supports makes it unmistakable.
Sarah Jane was offered the settee by a customer who decided they didn’t want to have it reupholstered after all and it had sat in storage until she decided it could be put to good use to raise all-important funds for Waverley.
The Ercol’s full restoration has included a revived and oiled wood frame, all new tension springs and reupholstered back and new shaped deep foam seat cushions with a heavy linen platform cover over the springs to protect the fabric.
Sarah Jane chose Waverley in pale grey from the Bulloch Collection to cover the settee and complemented it with a mid-grey Bute Fabrics pure wool from the Clyde range on the piping and outside back – it’s safe to say the end result is truly unique!
Growing up on the Isle of Bute, the Waverley coming into Rothesay harbour and sailing past the Ardbeg shore where she lived was part of Sarah Jane’s childhood. The iconic red funnels, its relatively low lie in the water and the sound of the paddles were always exciting, especially on a sunny summer’s day with the backdrop of the hills surrounding Rothesay Bay.
Lyn Bulloch captured Waverley in full steam in his wonderful ink sketch with touches of red felt tip on the funnels and flag. Originally appearing as a Christmas card, the drawing lent itself beautifully to a pattern repeat on a never-ending sea and sky and so the Waverley design, the first in The Bulloch Collection, was born.
The creation of the Bulloch Collection coincided with Waverley requiring new boilers and the launch of the Boiler Re-fit appeal. Sarah Jane decided to donate 10% from sales of the Waverley home accessories range to the appeal to help ensure the legacy of this last ocean-going paddle steamer to ensure she’s on the Clyde (and the rest of the waters around the UK) for many a year to come.
Paul Semple, General Manager Waverley Excursions Ltd comments:
“I’m delighted that Sarah Jane Hemsley Upholstery has been so creative in continuing to support Waverley. The Ercol Settee has been beautifully restored in the Waverley fabric from the Bulloch Collection and looked fantastic when it was delivered to the ship.
Sarah Jane has been a fantastic supporter of Waverley as we have received regular donations thanks to sales of the Waverley fabric.
The settee is first prize in our 2021 Grand Draw. The draw forms part of our ongoing fundraising which is required to ensure we can meet the cost of maintaining and operating the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer.”
For more information on Sarah Jane Hemsley Upholstery
and The Bulloch Collection visit:
Website – www.sjhupholstery.com/the-bulloch-collection
Instagram – @sarahjanehemsleyupholstery
Facebook – @sarahjanehemsleyupholstery
For more information on PS Waverley and the summer timetable of sailings visit:
Website – www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk
Instagram – @waverleyexcursions
Facebook – @waverley.excursions
Photography: Gordon Russell at Angus & Amelia Photography