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Gerrit Rietveld Side Chairs

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.

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Creator: Gerrit Rietveld
Gerrit Rietveld Zig Zag chair by Cassina, 1980s
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in EVERDINGEN, NL
A vintage 1980s Cassina ''Zig Zag'' Chair, marked underneath and numbered (4175). A design icon, very sought after by interior designers and ''De Stijl'' collectors. It's a very ele...
Category

1980s Dutch De Stijl Vintage Gerrit Rietveld Side Chairs

Materials

Cherry

Set of Ten Early 'Zig Zag' Chairs by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina, 1973, Signed
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This set of ten early year 'Zig Zag' chairs by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina are the holy grail of collectors pieces. Extremely rare and coveted, original 'Zig Zag' chairs are a part o...
Category

1970s Italian De Stijl Vintage Gerrit Rietveld Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

“Albatros” Chair by Gerrit Rietveld, the Netherlands, 1951
By Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A very rare “Albatros” chair designed by Gerrit Rietveld, manufactured in the Netherlands around 1951. This chair was designed for the holiday houses “Hessenheem” in Markelo, the ...
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1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerrit Rietveld Side Chairs

Materials

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Gerrit Rietveld Zig Zag chair by G.A. van de Groenekan, 1960s
By Gerrit Rietveld, Gerard van de Groenekan
Located in EVERDINGEN, NL
The iconic Zig Zag chair, design by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, manufactured by G.A. van de Groenekan, ca 1960, Netherlands. A piece very sought after by interior designers as well as ''...
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1960s Dutch De Stijl Vintage Gerrit Rietveld Side Chairs

Materials

Elm

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By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
Located in Sacile, PN
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Zig Zag Chair by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina, 1970s
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Located 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...
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Free Shipping
H 33.47 in W 16.15 in L 33.47 in
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Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Zig Zag chair Gerard van de Groenekan, 1960
By Gerrit Rietveld, Gerard van de Groenekan
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Design iconic chair of all design chairs, this rare and worldwide known Zig Zag chair designed by one of the most important architects and designers Holland has ever known. The zig z...
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Gerrit Rietveld Zig Zag Chair Pair G.A.v.d. Groenekan, 1965
By Gerrit Rietveld, Gerard van de Groenekan
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very important chair in modern design history, this ultra rare and worldwide known Zig Zag chair designed by one of the most important architects and furniture makers, designers Holl...
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Gerrit Rietveld Zig Zag Chair for Cassina
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Located in New York, NY
Possibly the most recognizable and certainly iconic chairs ever designed. This was from a later production by Cassina.
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This classic chair designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for the de Stijl movement consists of a colored seat and back which are supported by a ...
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Gerrit Rietveld side chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Gerrit Rietveld side chairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gerrit Rietveld side chairs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original side chairs by Gerrit Rietveld were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider side chairs by Gispen Culemborg, and Willem H. Gispen. Prices for Gerrit Rietveld side chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $11,500 and can go as high as $42,300, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $16,196.
Questions About Gerrit Rietveld Side Chairs
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Gerrit Rietveld's style reflects the characteristics of De Stijl, a Dutch art movement active in the early 20th century. Rietveld created simple, sleek furniture designs easily manufactured in mass by machines. Shop a variety of Gerrit Rietveld furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Gerrit Rietveld used a variety of materials. He was one of the first furniture makers to employ plywood and aluminum in furniture designs. Two of his most famous pieces are the Red Blue chair and the Zig Zag chair. Shop a selection of Gerrit Rietveld furniture on 1stDibs.

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