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.
Gerrit Rietveld and J. Tricht Long Sofa
By J. Tricht, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gerrit Rietveld and interior designer J. Tricht, bench, faux-leather, metal, The Netherlands, 1965. This bench was originally designed as a 'hall bench' for a local bank in Dedemsva...
Metal
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld “Utrecht” Sofa by Cassina
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Dronten, NL
A true icon of modernist design, the Utrecht Sofa by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld—faithfully produced by Cassina—embodies the radical spirit of early 20th-century Dutch design. Originally ...
Fabric, Wood
$2,680
H 26.75 in W 80 in D 27 in
Bruce Hannah and Andrew Morrison for Knoll Sling Settee Sofa Design, 1970s
By Knoll, Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison
Located in Buffalo, NY
Iconic Knoll sling bench designed by Hannah Morrison, black coated aluminum frame with grey wool upholstery. Some small marks on the frame but in otherwis...
Aluminum, Steel
$2,854Sale Price|55% Off
H 40.95 in W 90.56 in D 27.56 in
Decorative and Architectural Biedermeier Sofa in Birch
Located in Kastrup, DK
Decorative and architectural Biedermeier sofa in birch, Copenhagen Denmark , 1820-1830. Upholstered with black fabric.
Birch, Fabric
$6,484
H 28.35 in W 81.11 in D 41.34 in
Italian modern Velvet sofa Utrecht by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Cassina , 1990s
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Velvet sofa mod. Utrecht by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Cassina , 1990s fantastic three-seater sofa mod. Utrecht with curved seat and backrest, padded and upholstered ...
Velvet
Corner Sofa Blond Wood and Fabric, Italy, 1950's
By Ico Parisi
Located in Uithoorn, NL
Corner sofa in blond wood and fabric,, Italy, 1950's What stands out most in this low corner bench are the recesses in the framework and the 9 straight, tapered, squared stiletto legs that are so typical for that period in Italy. As you can see the backrest is optional and was probably designed later to give it some extra comfort. Back in the days these sofas were mostly used for very practical purposes like a quick coffee or pasta. This sofa would work very well in a corner of course but strangely enough this rectangular sofa also works very well in the middle of a room for example with a round table and two chairs...
Fabric, Wood
Leather and Teak Midcentury Danish Modern Floating Sofa
By Dux of Sweden, Arne Vodder
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Sharp Danish Mid-Century Modern teak and leather floating low profile sofa.
Leather, Teak
"Xilte" Sofa
By ADN Studio
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
The "Xitle" sofa is part of ADN Studio´s Volcan Collection. This collection seeks to go back to basics. It is a subtle and refined interpretation of the archytypical Modern furniture...
Hardwood
Red and Blue Chair by Gerrit Rietveld
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
Located in Toronto, CA
Designed in 1918 by Dutch designer Gerrit Rietveld, the "Red and Blue Chair" is part of the Dutch De Stijl movement, a rigorous abstraction of lines and colours. An outlook shared by...
Wood
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld - Utrecht Chairs
By Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Hasselt, VLI
Pair of early Cassina Utrecht chairs designed, by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, originally drawn in 1936 for the Metz & Co warehouse. In 1972, Cassina acqui...
Mohair
$2,055
H 16.54 in W 14.97 in D 18.9 in
Gerrit Rietveld Wood Child Armchair 'Crate' by Rietveld by Rietveld, circa 2005
By Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Low drawer chair in natural wood with lacquer for Children by Gerrit Rietveld. Produced by Rietveld family including individual number and chip. Beautiful and fun design. This chair ...
Wood
Period Rococo Sofa
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
A period 18th century Rococo sofa with carved decorative detailing to the top and along the front stretcher. Four cabriolet legs tapering to ball and claw...
Wood
$4,581Sale Price|25% Off
H 36.82 in W 65.75 in D 23.23 in
Louis XVI Sofa Bench Fruit Wood and Light Green Fabric
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Louis XVI bench made of fruit wood. Altona 1780-1790 (then part of Denmark, today Germany - a suburb of Hamburg). Reupholstered in 'Sahco Hesslein' fabric.
Fabric, Fruitwood
Sold
H 30.99 in W 85.99 in D 24.02 in
Gerrit Rietveld Church Pew for Hoeksteen Church, Uithoorn, Netherlands, 1963
By Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Berlin, DE
Gerrit Rietveld church pew for the Hoeksteen church, Uithoorn, Netherlands, 1963.
Metal