Crate Chairs by Gerrit Rietveld, Netherlands, 1940s
About the Item
- Creator:Gerrit Rietveld (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 24.02 in (61 cm)Width: 22.05 in (56 cm)Depth: 27.56 in (70 cm)Seat Height: 9.85 in (25 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1940
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Antwerp, BE
- Reference Number:
Gerrit Rietveld
Best known for his Red and Blue chair, a modernist icon created using only two plywood plates and 15 connecting bars, Dutch designer Gerrit Thomas Rietveld trained as a cabinetmaker, and his bold vision for furniture was supported by his expertise in construction and craftsmanship.
Born in Utrecht, Rietveld learned goldsmithing in addition to the cabinetry apprenticeship he had in his carpenter father’s workshop. He studied draftsmanship with architect Piet Klaarhamer at the Utrecht Museum of Applied Arts and opened his own furniture workshop in 1917. In the 1930s, Rietveld began to experiment with then-unusual materials like plywood and aluminum, and he pursued intellectual concepts through his design, even considering a seat as a resting place for the body and the soul.
Designed in 1918, the minimalist Red and Blue chair is widely coveted by collectors and gained admirers in the likes of legendary American sculptor and designer Donald Judd over the years. (Examples of Rietveld’s designs can be found in Judd’s restored home-museum in New York City.) The Red and Blue chair is so stunning in its geometric simplicity that it is one of the most important symbols of the Dutch art and design movement of the early 20th century called De Stijl, of which Rietveld was an important part. De Stijl means “the Style” and was an effort to express utopian values through pure abstraction in design and the use of primary colors.
Another example of Rietveld’s celebrated seating furniture is the Zig-Zag chair, which was commissioned by the Dutch department store Metz & Co. and intended to be mass-produced. The resulting design — to which the rights to manufacture were bought by Cassina in 1971 — is the essence of the De Stijl movement and an example of Rietveld’s experiments with jointless chairs made from a single material, wood. The Zig-Zag chair’s armless, legless, elegant form is pure abstraction, yet it is also sturdy and comfortable.
Later in his career, Rietveld worked more often as an architect, designing buildings in prestigious settings like the Venice Biennale. He was a pioneer in more ways than one: The first building he designed, Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht in 1924, is a radically modern space and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
Find vintage Gerrit Rietveld furniture on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Antwerp, Belgium
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Crate Side Table by Gerrit Rietveld, Netherlands, 1930sBy Gerrit RietveldLocated in Antwerp, BEBrown crate side table by Gerrit Rietveld, crafted circa 1935 in the Netherlands, this table is a testament to Rietveld's avant-garde approach to furniture design. As a pioneering figure in the De Stijl movement, Rietveld revolutionized the concept of traditional craftsmanship with his radical creations. Constructed from standard lumber size planks, they showcase Rietveld's belief in the inherent strength and durability of packing materials. Despite facing criticism for their departure from conventional workmanship, Rietveld remained true to his dedication to functionality and simplicity. This side table offers a chance to own the enduring legacy of the De Stijl movement. Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (1888–1964) was more than a furniture designer: he was an architectural maverick and a leading figure in the Dutch artistic movement De Stijl. His contributions to modern design transcend boundaries, shaping the landscape of 20th-century aesthetics. Rietveld's philosophy emphasized the purity of form and the integration of art into everyday life. Through his innovative use of materials and geometric abstraction, he challenged conventional norms and redefined the essence of design. His legacy lives on through timeless creations like the Black Crate...Category
Vintage 1930s Dutch De Stijl Side Tables
MaterialsWood
- Zig Zag Chair by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina, 1970sBy Gerrit Rietveld, CassinaLocated in Antwerp, BE'Zig Zag Chair,' originally designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1934 and relaunched by Cassina in Italy in 1973 and 2011. This contemporary edition features striking red with white sides, emphasizing the interplay of vertical, oblique, and horizontal lines. With its innovative cantilevered design, the chair consists of four wood boards intricately joined to create a visually captivating yet unstable structure. Departing from traditional seating arrangements, Rietveld crafted a ribbon-like form resembling a 'Z'. Cassina's expert carpenters showcased their skill through precise dove-tail joints, enhancing the chair's aesthetic appeal. This colored wooden lacquer version is one of several variations by Rietveld. One available and in perfect condition. Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (24 June 1888 – 25 June 1964) was a Dutch furniture designer and architect. One of the principal members of the Dutch artistic movement called De Stijl, Rietveld is famous for his red and blue chair and for the Rietveld Schröder House...Category
2010s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Brutalist Naive Lounge Chairs, France, 1940sLocated in Antwerp, BEBrutalist naive lounge chairs, a fusion of rugged elegance and modern comfort. Made from the finest Alpine Oregon pine sourced from the majestic Pyrenees Mountains, these armchairs e...Category
Vintage 1940s French Brutalist Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Modernist Easy chairs by Elmar Berkovich, Netherlands, 1950sBy Elmar BerkovichLocated in Antwerp, BEMid-Century Modern, Elmar Berkovich, lounge chair, 1950, the Netherlands. This is a super rare pair of chairs, original upholstery, teak frame with stunning details Elmar Berkovi...Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Teak
- Blown-Up Chair by Schimmel & Schweikle, Netherlands, 2018By Janne SchimmelLocated in Antwerp, BEBlown-up chair by Schimmel & Schweikle, made of fiberglass and polyester. This chair is made to order, lead time is approximately two months. Priced per piece. Schimmel & Schweikle is an ongoing collaboration between Janne Schimmel and Moreno Schweikle. Their work revolves around the nexus of technology...Category
2010s Dutch Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFiberglass, Polyester
- Pair of Modernist Easy chairs by Elmar Berkovich, Netherlands, 1950sBy Elmar BerkovichLocated in Antwerp, BEElmar Berkovich, pair of lounge chairs, 1950, The Netherlands. This is a super rare pair of chairs, original upholstery, teak frame with stunning details Elmar Berkovich has quit...Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Teak
- De Stijl Movement Dutch Design Pine CRATE Chair by Gerrit RietveldBy Gerrit RietveldLocated in Oud-Turnhout, VANVintage De Stijl Movement Dutch Design Pine Crate chair by Gerrit Rietveld. Made in the Netherlands, circa 1960. Solid Pine constructed lounge /arm chair. This chair is a testament t...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch De Stijl Lounge Chairs
MaterialsPine
- Crate Chair by Gerrit Rietveld, Designed in 1930s The NetherlandsBy Gerrit Rietveld, CassinaLocated in Hellouw, NLNice Gerrit Rietveld 'Crate' chair. This chair is designed in 1934, however, we think this is a Cassina edition from the 1970s. This chair is made out of ash wood and has a colorless lacquer. 'Gerrit Rietveld designed the 'crate' series of furniture built from standardized pine boards – cheap material for packing crates – which were soon well-known as ‘crate furniture’. 'From 1935 on the progressive designs appeared at Metz & Co, where furniture by Rietveld had already been sold since 1930. The crate desk...Category
Vintage 1930s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsPine
- Crate Lounge Chair-BWB Lacquered Pinewood/ Q Cushion- by Gerrit Rietveld for HAYBy Gerrit RietveldLocated in Dubai, AEInitially designed to make use of surplus wooden shipping crates by Dutch architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld in 1934, the Crate Collection has been relaunched in a Rietveld Originals x HAY collaboration. Made with respect for the original design, the Crate Lounge Chair shares the same precisely balanced proportions and transparent construction to minimize production costs and optimize the assembly process. Featuring low proportions with a gently sloping back and seat with supportive armrests, the chair’s simplicity and spatial design mirrors the designer’s architectural style – providing functionality and comfort without absorbing space. Crafted in solid pine, with a water-based lacquered finish in different color options, the Crate Lounge Chair is suitable for a wealth of indoor and outdoor settings, and is supplemented with seat cushions in selected textiles for extra comfort. Adding extra comfort and functionality to the Crate collection, the Crate Cushion is specially formed to fit the chair seat perfectly. The quilted model features a Velcro® fastening underneath the cushion seat and two straps that fasten around the top of the chair frame, with the seat and folding cushions both featuring an anti-slip bottom to keep them securely in place. Crafted in Teflon®-coated fabric for a water-repellent finish, as well as having a high UV resistance, meaning it is fade-resistant with good color fastness properties. Materials : Black Water-Based Lacquered Pinewood Anthracite Quilted Cushion...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsPine, Lacquer
- Crate Lounge Chair-BWB Lacquered Pinewood/ F Cushion, by Gerrit Rietveld for HAYBy Gerrit RietveldLocated in Dubai, AEInitially designed to make use of surplus wooden shipping crates by Dutch architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld in 1934, the Crate Collection has been relaunched in a Rietveld Originals...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsPine, Lacquer
- Crate Lounge Chair, Wb Lacquered Pinewood/ Q Cushion, by Gerrit Rietveld for HayBy Gerrit RietveldLocated in Dubai, AEInitially designed to make use of surplus wooden shipping crates by Dutch architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld in 1934, the Crate Collection has been relaunched in a Rietveld Originals...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsPine, Lacquer
- Crate Lounge Chair, WB Lacquered Pinewood/ F Cushion by Gerrit Rietveld for HAYBy Gerrit RietveldLocated in Dubai, AEInitially designed to make use of surplus wooden shipping crates by Dutch architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld in 1934, the Crate Collection has been relaunched in a Rietveld Originals...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsPine, Lacquer