Gerrit Thomas Rietveld - Design Day Sale London Monday, April 27, 2015 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Theo van Groll, acquired directly from Gerard A. van de Groenekan
    Tom Thomson, acquired from the above, 1969

  • Literature

    Peter Vöge, The Complete Rietveld Furniture, Rotterdam, 1993, p. 83 for the model

  • Artist Biography

    Gerrit Thomas Rietveld

    Dutch • 1888 - 1964

    Gerrit Thomas Rietveld began as an apprentice in his father's cabinetmaking workshop, going on to train and work as a draftsman. In 1917 he started his own furniture-making workshop in Utrecht. Positive critical review by Theo van Doesburg in his journal De Stijl resulted in near-instantaneous influence on broader developments in European modernism. This connection to the De Stijl movement also inspired him to introduce color to the posts, rails and terminals of his furniture. His resulting "Red-blue" armchair is among the most iconic chair designs of the twentieth century.

    From the beginning, Rietveld embraced modernist principles of functionalism, simplicity of form and mass-production, and eventually moved away from De Stijl to become a member of the Congrès Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne (CIAM). Rietveld worked through the post-war years, completing a number of private residences, housing developments and institutions. He continued to design furniture for these commissions as well as for retailers like Metz & Co.

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32

Pair of 'Zig Zag' chairs

1965-1969
Elm, brass.
Each: 74.6 x 36.8 x 44.5 cm (29 3/8 x 14 1/2 x 17 1/2 in.)
Manufactured by Gerard A. van de Groenekan, De Bilt, the Netherlands. Each underside branded with H.G.M./G.A.v.d.GROENEKAN/DE BILT NEDERLAND.

Estimate
£6,000 - 8,000 Ω

Sold for £12,500

Contact Specialist
Meaghan Roddy
Head of Sale
New York
+44 20 7318 4027

Design Day Sale

London Day Sale 28 April 2015 2pm