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Gerrit Rietveld Sofas

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
Rare Early All Original 1950s Gerrit Rietveld for Metz & Co 'Utrecht' Sofa
Rare Early All Original 1950s Gerrit Rietveld for Metz & Co 'Utrecht' Sofa

Rare Early All Original 1950s Gerrit Rietveld for Metz & Co 'Utrecht' Sofa

By Gerrit Rietveld, Gerard van de Groenekan, Metz & Co.

Located in Dronten, NL

An exceptional and highly authentic example of Gerrit Thomas Rietveld’s iconic Utrecht sofa, produced by Metz & Co. in the early 1950s. Designed in 1935, the Utrecht model is a semin...

Category

1930s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerrit Rietveld Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Beech

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld “Utrecht” Sofa by Cassina
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld “Utrecht” Sofa by Cassina

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld “Utrecht” Sofa by Cassina

By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina

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 ...

Category

1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerrit Rietveld Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Rare and Early 1950s Gerrit Rietveld for Metz & Co 'Utrecht' Sofa Brown Canvas
Rare and Early 1950s Gerrit Rietveld for Metz & Co 'Utrecht' Sofa Brown Canvas

Rare and Early 1950s Gerrit Rietveld for Metz & Co 'Utrecht' Sofa Brown Canvas

By Gerrit Rietveld, Metz & Co.

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, Original Metz & Co. edition, ‘Utrecht’ sofa, canvas fabric, wood, the Netherlands, design 1935, made early 1950s We present the iconic Utrecht sofa, desi...

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1930s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerrit Rietveld Sofas

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Italian modern Velvet sofa Utrecht by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Cassina , 1990s
Italian modern Velvet sofa Utrecht by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Cassina , 1990s

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 ...

Category

1990s Italian Modern Gerrit Rietveld Sofas

Materials

Velvet

Gerrit Rietveld and J. Tricht Long Sofa
Gerrit Rietveld and J. Tricht Long Sofa

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...

Category

1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerrit Rietveld Sofas

Materials

Metal

Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht Sofa by Cassina, Mid-Century Modern, Italy
Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht Sofa by Cassina, Mid-Century Modern, Italy

Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht Sofa by Cassina, Mid-Century Modern, Italy

By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Sofa designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1935. Relaunched in 1988. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Gerrit Rietveld came up with the design ...

Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Gerrit Rietveld Sofas

Materials

Fabric

Gerrit Rietveld “R25” Sleeping Sofa for Metz & Co, Netherlands, 1935 (Design)
Gerrit Rietveld “R25” Sleeping Sofa for Metz & Co, Netherlands, 1935 (Design)

Gerrit Rietveld “R25” Sleeping Sofa for Metz & Co, Netherlands, 1935 (Design)

By Metz & Co., Gerrit Rietveld

Located in Dronten, NL

A rare and iconic example of modernist furniture design, this R25 Sleeping Sofa by Gerrit Rietveld is a masterclass in architectural clarity and functional elegance. Originally desig...

Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Gerrit Rietveld Sofas

Materials

Spruce

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Utrecht Sofa for Cassina in red, green or blue
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Utrecht Sofa for Cassina in red, green or blue

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Utrecht Sofa for Cassina in red, green or blue

By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld

Located in Berlin, DE

Sofa designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1935. Relaunched in 1988. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Prices vary dependent on the chosen material/color.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Gerrit Rietveld Sofas

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Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht sofa Metz and Co Netherlands 1960
Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht sofa Metz and Co Netherlands 1960

Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht sofa Metz and Co Netherlands 1960

By Gerrit Rietveld, Metz & Co.

Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant

So called 'Utrecht' sofa designed by Gerrit Rietveld and manufactured by Metz and Co in The Netherlands in 1960. This sofa is a special creation by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Metz & ...

Category

1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gerrit Rietveld Sofas

Materials

Fabric

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Located in Dronten, NL

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Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Curved 'Utrecht' Sofa in Blue Fabric Upholstery

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Located in Waalwijk, NL

'Utrecht' sofa, in fabric and wood, by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, the Netherlands 1935. Gerrit Rietveld designed this sofa in 1935 for the Dutch Company Metz & Co. Later on in th...

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Gerrit Rietveld sofas for sale on 1stDibs.

Gerrit Rietveld sofas are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of fabric and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gerrit Rietveld sofas, although red editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 5 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 2 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original sofas 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 sofas by Bovenkamp, Aksel Bender Madsen, and Gelderland. Prices for Gerrit Rietveld sofas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $6,619 and can go as high as $18,349, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $9,332.
Questions About Gerrit Rietveld Sofas
  • 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.