Live Auction 3019The Jan & Monique des Bouvrie Collection
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (1888-1964)
Lot 209

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (1888-1964)

(i) Berlin chair (ii) Steltman chair

Closed6 September 2011

Price Realised

EUR 3,000

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Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (1888-1964)
(i) Berlin chair
(ii) Steltman chair
(i and ii) recently executed by RIETVELD by Rietveld
(i and ii) painted oak
(i) Conceived in 1923, with label to the underside inscribed made by RIETVELD BY RIETVELD BCL 00004 Berlijnse stoel links Stichting auteursrechten Gerrit Th. Rietveld 2005 c/o Beeldrecht Nederland
(ii) Conceived in 1963, with label to the underside inscribed made by RIETVELD BY RIETVELD STR 00030 Steltman rechts Stichting auteursrechten Gerrit Th. Rietveld 2005 c/o Beeldrecht Nederland (2)

Specialist note

Around 1923, Rietveld added two new elements to his furniture designs: asymmetry and construction using surfaces. Both elements were the result of logically reflecting upon previously attempted assignments, namely to create an open spatial structure with elements of equal value. The Berlin chair derives its name from the fact that it was especially designed for the exhibition room of Rietveld and Huszar in Berlin in 1923. This chair, which is now frequently referred to as 'the plank chair', also has a mirror image design. Rietveld started and ended his architect career converting a jewellers shop. He designed the Steltman chair and its mirror image with white leather upholstery for the jeweller Steltman. The asymmetric form does not define the space, but has an open structure to which Rietveld aspired in the furniture he designed in 1918-1924.