Gerrit Thomas Rietveld - Design Day Sale London Wednesday, April 27, 2016 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    S.M. Holleman
    Thence by descent
    Christie's, Amsterdam, '20th Century Decorative Arts', 17 May, 2006, lot 735
    Galerie Dewindt, Brussels

  • Literature

    Carsten-Peter Warncke, De Stijl 1917-1931, Cologne, 1990, pp. 88, 121
    Peter Vöge, The Complete Rietveld Furniture, Rotterdam, 1993, p. 11, p. 35, fig. 44, p. 59, fig. 46

  • 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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132

'Red-blue' armchair

designed 1919, executed circa 1956
Painted beech, painted beech-veneered plywood.
58.3 x 66 x 84.2 cm (22 7/8 x 25 7/8 x 33 1/8 in.)
Produced by Gerard van de Groenekan, De Bilt, the Netherlands. Together with a certificate of authenticity signed by Gerard van de Groenekan.

Estimate
£6,000 - 8,000 

Sold for £12,500

Contact Specialist
Madalena Horta e Costa
Head of Sale
+44 20 7318 4019

Design Day Sale

London Auction 28 April 2016