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, 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...
Fabric, Beech
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 ...
Fabric, Wood
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...
Canvas, Wood
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
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 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 ...
Fabric
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...
Spruce
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
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 & ...
Fabric
$2,864Sale 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
$12,789 / 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 Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
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
Leather and Teak Midcentury Danish Modern Floating Sofa
By Arne Vodder, Dux of Sweden
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Sharp Danish Mid-Century Modern teak and leather floating low profile sofa.
Leather, Teak
$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
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Zig Zag Chair by Cassina
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1934. Relaunched in 1973/ 2011. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Materials: Wood Dimensions: D 43 cm x W 37 cm x H 74 cm (SH ...
Wood
Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina Crate Chairs, Italy, 1970s
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Almelo, NL
Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina crate chairs, Italy 1970s. Pair of two Gerrit Rietveld' Crate' chairs. These chairs were designed in 1934 and produced by...
Ash
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
$16,816 / set
H 27.56 in W 25.2 in D 33.47 in
Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht Chairs, Cassina, Newly Upholstered in Pure Mohair
By Cassina, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A pair of Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht armchairs, produced by Cassina, and newly upholstered in a soft, luxurious, golden brown 100% mohair fabric. Cassina labels to the underneath. Price...
Alpaca
$3,620
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
$1,595Sale Price|36% Off
H 31 in W 15.75 in D 16.25 in
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Zig Zag Chair By Cassina c.1983
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Instantly iconic, the Zig-Zag chair (1934) by Dutch designer Gerrit Thomas Rietveld is one of the earliest examples of a cantilevered solid wood chair. Its four wood boards are...
Wood
"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
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Utrecht Sofa by Cassina
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
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 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 Gerrit Rietveld, Metz & Co.
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 Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
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
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 Rietveld Utrecht Sofa by Cassina
By Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
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 Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
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 Gerrit Rietveld, Cassina
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 Artifort, Gerrit Rietveld
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