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.
Rare Early All Original 1950s Gerrit Rietveld for Metz & Co 'Utrecht' Sofa
By Gerrit Rietveld, Metz & Co., Gerard van de Groenekan
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...
Fabric, Beech
Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht Blue Curved Sofa by Cassina, Mid-Century Modern
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 ...
Fabric
Italian modern Velvet sofa Utrecht by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Cassina , 1990s
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
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
Utrecht Curved Sofa by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Exceptional 'Utrecht' curved sofa, originally designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld and produced by Cassina in Italy. A striking example of Rietveld's architectural approach to furnitu...
Textile
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Red Wide Utrecht Sofa by Cassina
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Sofa designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1935. Relaunched in 2015. Wide Version. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Gerrit T. Rietveld came up with the design for the Utrecht arm...
Fabric, Wood
'Utrecht' Sofa by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina, 1988
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in New York, NY
Dutch architect and furniture designer Gerrit Thomas Rietveld designed this Utrecht sofa in 1935, featuring a wonderful curved Silhouette. Cassina in 1988, on the occasion of the 100...
Metal
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.
Fabric
$12,394 / set
H 28.35 in W 25.2 in D 33.86 in
Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina – Pair of Iconic ‘Utrecht’ Chairs in Leather
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
Located in Voorburg, NL
Offered is a striking pair of authentic ‘Utrecht’ lounge chairs, originally designed in 1935 by Dutch modernist master Gerrit Thomas Rietveld and produced by the esteemed Italian man...
Leather, Oak
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld "Utrecht" Armchair for Cassina, 1935
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld "Utrecht" armchairs for Cassina, wool and steel, Netherlands, 1935. The designer came up with the idea of the “Utrecht” armchair in 1935 while working for t...
Wool
$17,613 / set
H 27.6 in W 25 in D 33.4 in
Pair Of Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Utrecht Armchair in Linen by Cassina
By Cassina
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Dutch designer Gerrit Thomas Rietveld is one of modernism's most singular figures - a leading light of the De Stijl movement and designer of some of the modern age's most iconic piec...
Linen
Sold|$4,388
H 27.56 in W 25.6 in D 34.26 in
Utrecht “637” lounge chair in green/grey velvet by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
Located in amstelveen, NL
An authentic Utrecht lounge chair designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld and manufactured by Cassina, Italy, As part of the renowned I Maestri Collection. Originally designed in 1935 f...
Velvet
$1,926 / item
H 29.14 in W 14.57 in D 16.93 in
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Zig Zag Chair for Cassina, Italy, new
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
Located in Berlin, DE
Price is dependent on the chosen material/color. Chair designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1934. Relaunched in 1973/ 2011. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy.
Wood
Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht lounge chairs Metz & Co 1960
By Gerard van de Groenekan, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Utrecht Lounge Chairs designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld and manufactured by Metz & Co in The Netherlands 1960. These two exceptional and historically important lounge chairs mark a...
Upholstery
1990s Cassina “Utrecht” Chairs by Gerrit Rietveld, a Pair
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
Located in Roanoke, VA
Fantastic pair of modernist lounge chairs, model 637 Utrecht by the designer Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Cassina from the 1990s. Fabric is a cool silvery blue. Check out the incredibl...
Velvet
$2,715Sale Price|60% Off
H 34 in W 24 in D 33 in
Red Blue Chair by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina, Italy, De Stijl Modern, 1918
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gerrit rietveld Bauhaus red blue chair by Cassina. Early production. Authorized by Rietveld estate. Made in Italy. Labelled and numbered 556. In the red blue chair, Rietveld manipula...
Wood
$22,275 / set
H 27.56 in W 25.6 in D 33.47 in
Pair of Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Designed Utrecht Chairs, Made by Cassina
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
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 a...
Mohair
$10,852 / item
H 27.56 in W 25.2 in D 33.47 in
Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht Armchair by Cassina, Mid-Century Modern
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1935. Relaunched in 2015. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Gerrit T. Rietveld came up with the design...
Fabric
$8,624 / item
H 27.56 in W 25.2 in D 33.47 in
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Utrecht Armchair for Cassina in purple, red, green...
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Berlin, DE
Prices vary dependent on the chosen material/color. Armchair designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1935. Relaunched in 2015. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Available in many dif...
Fabric
$3,712 / item
H 34.65 in W 25.79 in D 32.68 in
Gerrit Rietveld Red and Blue Chair for Cassina, Italy, new
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Berlin, DE
Prices vary dependent on the chosen material/color. Chair designed by Gerrit Rietveld in 1918. Relaunched in 1973. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy.
Wood
$16,397 / set
H 27.56 in W 25.2 in D 33.47 in
Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht Chairs, Cassina, Original Leather
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A pair of Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht armchairs, produced by Cassina, upholstered in their original leather. Cassina labels to the underneath. Mino...
Leather
$4,900
H 34.4 in W 56 in D 24 in
1980s Italian Postmodern Sofa in Black Walnut – Gerrit Rietveld & Memphis Style
By Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Vigonza, Padua
A prestigious, high-end artisanal Italian conversation sofa from the early 1980s, serving as a magnificent testament to the theoretical and visual experimentation of Italian Postmode...
Walnut
$2,341
H 34.65 in W 32.68 in D 25.79 in
Red and Blue Chair by Gerrit Rietveld, for Cassina, De Stijl, Netherlands
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in LYON, FR
Red and blue chair Gerrit Rietveld Cassina edition Vintage Red and blue chair by Dutch designer Gerrit Rietveld. Produced since 1973 by Italian manufacturer Cassina. Stamped on the...
Beech, Birch
Sold
H 27.56 in W 79.93 in D 39.18 in
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Curved 'Utrecht' Sofa in Blue Fabric Upholstery
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
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...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Utrecht Sofa by Cassina
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Dronten, NL
Utrecht Sofa, designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1935. Relaunched in 1988. Manufactured circa 1998 by Cassina in Italy. Great all original vintage condition. Marked with signature...
Fabric, Wood
Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht sofa Metz and Co Netherlands 1960
By Metz & Co., Gerrit Rietveld
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 & ...
Fabric
Gerrit Rietveld 637 Curved Utrecht Sofa for Cassina, 1990s
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in amstelveen, NL
Original 637 curved ‘Utrecht’ sofa designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, the Netherlands, designed 1935. This sofa is from the Cassina collection 1990s Reupholstered in a Bergamo 2 creme boucle by Bisson Bruneel...
Bouclé
Utrecht Sofa by Gerrit Rietveld for Metz & Co, 1949
By Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Dronten, NL
Very rare all original Utrecht sofa by Metz & Co, Amsterdam. Designed by Gerrit Rietveld, circa 1932, this example made circa 1949. Wooden frame construction, traditional upholster...
Fabric, Beech
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Utrecht Sofa Metz & Co, 1960
By Metz & Co., Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
One of the few actual comfortable seats designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Metz en Co, 1935. This chair is special because it's the first upholstered ch...
Fabric, Wood
Gerrit Rietveld Curved Utrecht Sofa by Cassina
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Dronten, NL
Utrecht sofa, in fabric and wood by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld. Gerrit Rietveld designed this sofa in 1935 for the Dutch Company Metz & Co. In the second half...
Fabric, Wood
Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht Sofa by Cassina
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Miami, FL
Noted Dutch architect and furniture designer Gerrit Thomas Rietveld designed this Utrecht sofa in 1935, featuring a wonderful curved Silhouette. Cassina i...
Sold
H 27.56 in W 76.78 in D 28.75 in
"637 Utrecht" Curved Sofa by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina, Designed in 1935
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Model "637 Utrecht" ; curved sofa designed by Gerrit Rietveldt in 1935, manufactured by Cassina in 1988. Upholstery over steel frame, numbered 311 on the m...
Steel
Sold
H 27.56 in W 80.71 in D 40.16 in
Stunning De Stijl Gerrit Rietveld "Utrecht' Sofa Cassina, circa 1988
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Stunning sofa by Dutch De Stijl architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld. This Cassina edition is from 1988, to celebrate the centenary of Rietveld’s birth. It has been newly re-up...
Upholstery, Wood
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Zwaan Armchair Artifort 1958
By Gerrit Rietveld, Artifort
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare armchair designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Artifort, Holland 1958. This chair was known as the Swan chair by Rietveld, but the catalogue number is Model nr 142 by Artifort....
Fabric