If you’re anything like me, when you see the word “Deadgood,” your mind immediately travels back in time to 19th. century South Dakota and the exceedingly brilliant—if tragically short-lived—HBO series about the Wild West. On second glance, however, you’ll realize that that there’s a certain “g” upsetting your predilections for authentic Americana, and that the place here is London, the time the dawning of the new millennium’s second decade.

Capsule Chair. Designed by Deadgood.

Deadgood‘s principals Dan Ziglam and Elliot Brook announce themselves in a genial, if confident, manner: “Hello,” says their website’s homepage, “We are deadgood and everything we do is deadgood.” That assertion may remain to be seen, but if their recent Capsule Collection is any indication, there’s a high probability of excellent product herein. Ziglam and Brook founded the company in 2004 after finishing studies at the UK’s Northumbria University. Their stated aim is to “offer an excellence in design and an uncompromising commitment to quality… exploring and experimenting with new materials and manufacturing processes whilst simultaneously expressing our distinct personalities.” The Capsule pieces give the truth to this objective. With enthusiastic approbation from none other than The Sunday Times (“as much fun as chewing a flying saucer while bouncing on a space hopper”), these furnishings announce themselves to the globosphere with a fortuitous synthesis of daring, whimsy, and retro panache.

The central metaphor of the collection is that of the capsule—that pervasive icon of 50s and 60s kitschy paranoia. But beyond providing a fun and engaging cultural point of reference, the capsule shape makes for an ergonomic and comfortable profile. All the better to decorate the landscape of this sofa, chair, and kick stool with an assortment of differently-sized, -shaped, and -colored buttons (an homage to capitonné, the upholstery technique recently revitalized in Patricia Urquiola’s Bohemian Collection). Set against the neutral fabric, which is itself assembled—hodgepodge—from textile off-cuts from the renowned Bute range, the buttons provide the perfect dash of literal and metaphoric color, with an evocative result. Yes, there’s the mise-en-scene of the 60’s conception of a space-age future, but there’s also a touch of The Jetsons, not to mention the capsule itself, which, for me, was immortalized as an icon of humor in this line spoken by Johnny, the flamboyant steward from 1979’s Airplane: “Oh, it’s a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big Tylenol.” Deadgood’s Capsule Collection won’t fail to bring a smile to your face.

Via Despoke.