Dutch furniture company UMS Pastoe was established in 1913 by German-Jewish entrepreneur Frits Loeb and became rapidly successful largely owing to its reputation for well-made tables and chairs. Today, however, the brand is best known by collectors for the modular sideboards, storage cabinets and other spare, streamlined case pieces that it produced during the postwar years.
Influential mid-century modernist designer Cees Braakman had been creating furniture since his teenage years when he was promoted to head of design at Pastoe in 1948. The Utrecht-born designer took over for his father, Dirk Braakman, who had by then been managing the company for more than 20 years and had designed a variety of furnishings for the manufacturer by himself. A year before he assumed his new role at Pastoe, Cees visited the United States where he became enamored with the designs of Charles and Ray Eames and the other creative minds associated with legendary American furniture manufacturer Herman Miller.
While many Dutch designers who are now celebrated by vintage furniture collectors — names like Gerrit Rietveld and Friso Kramer are in this list — found inspiration in Piet Mondrian and the country’s De Stijl art movement, they also looked to Scandinavian modernists such as Alvar Aalto and Americans such as the Eameses. Cees Braakman was no different.
Braakman’s 1940s-era tour to the States included a visit to the Herman Miller factory in Zeeland, Michigan. At the time, architect-designer-journalist George Nelson was director of design at the firm and had enlisted a range of designers to collaborate with Herman Miller and create what are now icons of mid-century modernism. Braakman took notice of industrial manufacturing techniques at HM and in particular, the company’s innovations in furniture design owing to experimentation with molded plywood and fiberglass-reinforced plastic.
The Dutch designer introduced the first line of modern furniture at UMS Pastoe thereafter — a table, a chair, a bed and more created in molded plywood and featuring oak veneers, specifically tailored for smaller living spaces. Braakman was convinced that Pastoe should move on from the restrictions that a collection or set of furniture presented to consumers. Furniture for a bedroom, for example, should be practical and built as individual pieces that could be adapted as more space became available. New production methods and creative marketing came into focus under Braakman’s leadership, and his own lines of oak and birch furniture — which were created around cupboards that could be reconfigured as needed, or armchairs that could be combined to form a sofa — earned acclaim and were commercially very successful.
UMS Pastoe was recognized for its innovative furniture at the Milan Triennial in 1957 and Le Signe d’Or in Belgium, and Cees Braakman’s work can today be found at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. Over the years, designers such as Jan van Grunsven, Radboud Van Beekum and Rob Eckhardt collaborated with UMS Pastoe.
Find vintage UMS Pastoe furniture on 1stDibs.
1958 Japanese Series KU10 Wardrobe by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Manufactured in 1958 by Pastoe (UMS) in the Netherlands, this KU10 wardrobe is part of Cees Braakman's celebrated Japanese Series. The two-compartment case is clad in teak veneer wit...
Metal
Iconic vintage dutch design CU07 Cabinet by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Meulebeke, BE
The Netherlands / CU07 cabinet / Pastoe / Cees Braakman / metal, teak / Vintage / Mid-century Highboard CU07 designed by the Dutch designer Cees Braakman in 1958 for Pastoe. This mo...
Metal
Set of Eight Aluminum Wall Cabinet Shelves by Shigeru Uchida for Pastoe, 1990s
By Pastoe
Located in Stockholm, SE
A very rare set of eight minimalistic decorative and contemporary designed floating light grey aluminum cabinets / shelves with smooth sliding doors by Shigeru Uchida for Pastoe in N...
Aluminum
Aldo Van Den Nieuwelaar for Pastoe "A'dammer" Standing Storage Cabinet, 1978
By Aldo van den Nieuwelaar, Pastoe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Aldo Van Den Nieuwelaar for Pastoe "A'dammer" standing cabinet with hidden desk and vertically rolling tambour door. Constructed with gray MDF & plastic tambour. Award winning an...
Plastic, Formica, Wood
Slide Series Sideboard by Shigeru Uchida for Pastoe
By Pastoe
Located in Izegem, VWV
The Slide series were created in the late 1990s by Shigeru Uchida for Pastoe. This black sideboard features a silver metallic lacquered aluminum sliding door. There are six storage ...
Aluminum, Steel
Two EU/NU-11 Japanese Series Wall Cabinets by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1958
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and rare pair of Mid-Century Modern EU/NU-11 Japanese Series wall cabinets. Design by Cees Braakman for Pastoe Utrecht. Striking Dutch design from the 1950s. The EU-11 wall ...
Milk Glass, Mirror, Teak
Japanese Serie DU03 Sideboard by Cees Braakman for Pastoe 1958, Dutch design
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Antwerp, BE
Minimalistisch Japanese series DU03 sideboard by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1958. Dutch design icon of high quality. The DU03 is one of the most famous but also most coveted sideboard...
Metal
Cees Braakman for Pastoe "P5" Jacaranda Wood Secretaire
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cees Braakman for Pastoe Jacaranda wood secretaire with drop down desk or dry bar and light with original wiring. Lightly refinished exterior ...
Metal
Cees Braakman for Pastoe CT69 Made-To-Measure Unit with Drop-Down Bar or Desk
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Mid-Century made to measure ‘CT69’ storage cabinet by Cees Braakman for Pastoe. Classically styled three section teak storage cabinet with drop-down bar or desk and thin ch...
Chrome
Slide Series Cabinet by Shigeru Uchida for Pastoe
By Pastoe
Located in Izegem, VWV
The Slide series were created in the late 1990s by Shigeru Uchida for Pastoe. This offwhite cupboard features a metallic lacquered steel sliding door. The left side has an open stor...
Sheet Metal
Floating Sideboard Designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Beerse, VAN
Floating sideboard designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe. What makes this sideboard unique is the rare oak, a material rarely used in Braakman’s designs. The warm oak tones give it ...
Oak
High Sideboard designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, Serie CU 04
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rare beautiful high sideboard designed by the Dutch designer Cees Braakman for Pastoe, a sideboard from the Japanese series CU 04 made in teak with a warm color. Features with harmon...
Metal
Pair of Q BUS cabinets by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1960s
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice and multi functional rolling Cabinets . Manufactured By Dutch Design firm Pastoe . from the Q Bus series . 1960s The system stands on 4 wheels each and is easily attach...
Formica
Japanese Serie Wall Cabinet with Desk by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1950s
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Delft, NL
Japanese serie wall cabinet by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1950s The Dutch Designer Cees Braakman made this Japanese serie for Pastoe, 1950's The wall cabinet has different compartme...
Wood
Pastoe sideboard, Japanese Series by Cees Braakman
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Brussels, BE
The minimalist sideboard DU03, designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe in 1958, is a Dutch design classic. Crafted from teak wood, it features a sleek black lacquered metal frame. The...
Metal
Teak Desk "Made to Measure" Serie, Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Delft, NL
Teak desk "Made to measure" serie, Cees Braakman for Pastoe Teak desk designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe 1960s Curved with birch interior drawers and chrome legs Original key...
Chrome
Aldo van den Nieuwelaar roller shutter sideboard 'Amsterdammer' Pastoe Dutch
By Aldo van den Nieuwelaar, Pastoe
Located in The Hague, NL
Step into a world of refined simplicity with the iconic Amsterdammer cabinet, designed by Aldo van den Nieuwelaar for Pastoe. This masterpiece of minimalist design combines functiona...
Plastic, Wood
$1,860Sale Price|20% Off
Mid-Century Modern Desk Designed by Cees Braakman for USM Pastoe
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Beautifully designed desk by Cees Braakman for Pastoe with high levels of practicality and comfort. It has six drawers, three of each side of the seating position. The exterior lo...
Oak
A'dammer Roller Shutter Cabinet Set, Aldo van den Nieuwelaar, Pastoe from 1978
By Aldo van den Nieuwelaar, Pastoe
Located in Neuss, NW
This three-part A'dammer roller shutter cabinet by Aldo van den Nieuwelaar for Pastoe was designed in 1978 and reflects the experimental spirit of that era. Behind the smooth-running...
Plastic, Wood
Pastoe A'Dammer Roller Shutter Secretary, Grey
By Pastoe, Aldo van den Nieuwelaar
Located in Toronto, CA
A masterclass in restraint and rhythm. Designed in the 1980s by Dutch designer Aldo van den Nieuwelaar for UMS Pastoe, the ‘Amsterdammer’ wall desk takes the utilitarian DNA of a sec...
Plastic, Wood
Pastoe A'Dammer' Roller Shutter Sideboard, Black
By Aldo van den Nieuwelaar, Pastoe
Located in Toronto, CA
The A’dammer stands out as a remarkable example of furniture conceived as an artistic design object. Its signature feature is the ribbed roll shutter, which can effortlessly slide aw...
Plastic, Wood
Pastoe A'Dammer Roller Shutter Storage Cabinet
By Aldo van den Nieuwelaar, Pastoe
Located in Toronto, CA
Designed in the 1980s by Aldo van den Nieuwelaar for UMS Pastoe, the Amsterdammer bookcase brings rhythm and refinement to everyday storage. Its signature slatted tambour doors, roun...
Plastic, Wood
Pastoe ‘Made to Measure’ Sideboard in Teak, 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Beerse, VAN
This Pastoe ‘Made to Measure’ sideboard is a beautiful example of Dutch mid-century modern furniture. With its clean lines, warm teak exterior, and contrasting satinwood interior, t...
Satinwood, Teak
Wall Cupboard with Fallen Front by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Beerse, VAN
Smaller cupboard in near mint quality designed by Cees Braakman for 1950/1960s Dutch Pastoe “Made to Measure” series. This cupboard is refined by either its composition with lower f...
Chrome
1960s Cees Braakman Made to Measure Teak Cabinet for Pastoe
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a modular cabinet / credenza from the Made to Measure series designed by Cees Braakman and produced by Pastoe in The Netherlands circa early 1960s. It consists of four parts;...
Steel
Original Midcentury Regal Pastoe Cees Braakman made to measure
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten ein wunderschönes Vintage Regal vom niederländischen Hersteller "Pastoe" aus den 1960er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Das Regalsystem wurde von Cees Braakman entworfen, ist unter...
Teak
Bar Cart " Mobilo PE03" by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1950s
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Brussels, BE
Bar Cart " Mobilo PE03" by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1950s An admirer of Charles & Ray Eames' work for Herman Miller, he drew inspiration from the techniques and materials used to d...
Wood
$925
H 39.8 in W 35.2 in D 11.1 in
Oak Storage Cabinet with Stained Glass Door Mid-Century Modern 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This vintage storage cabinet features leaded stained glass doors and tapered legs. Vintage Mid-Century Modern 1970s. Crafted from solid oak with warm wood tones and decorative metal ...
Oak
$796Sale Price|20% Off
H 72 in W 18.25 in D 12.5 in
Antique American Corner Cabinet with Shelving & Cabinet Storage
Located in Freehold, NJ
This antique corner cabinet features pine construction, vintage blue painted finish, newer chrome pull on cabinet door, and interior storage shelf Dimensions: 18.25w 12.5d 72h Cond...
Pine, Paint
Brass Shell Motif Hanging Wall Shelves, Set of 2 India
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A pair of solid brass sea shell motif hanging wall shelves. A gorgeous way to accent any room. Dimensions: 10.25" wide 3.75" deep 8.75" tall.
Brass
Orba Wall Shelves By Janet Schwietzer For Pace Collection
By Janet Schweitzer, Pace Collection
Located in Hanover, MA
Impressive wall system of extruded polished aluminum incorporating lighting and shelves. Schwietzer's patented design incorporates sophisticated engineering to achieve the appearance of invisible joinery at each cantilevered shelf.
Aluminum
CB06 Cabinet by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1952
By Cees Braakman
Located in Balen, BE
A Mid-Century linnen cabinet 'model CB06', designed by Cees Braakman in the 1950s and manufactured by Pastoe in the Netherlands. This is a rare example in the birchwood series with...
Birch, Teak
Cees Braakman for Pastoe "P5" Jacaranda Wood Secretaire
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cees Braakman for Pastoe Jacaranda wood secretaire with drop down desk or dry bar and light with original wiring. Lightly refinished exterior ...
Metal
$2,458Sale Price|57% Off
H 76.78 in W 96.66 in D 18.12 in
Mid-Century Modern Wall Unit "Made to Measure" by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Cees Braakman
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Wall-filling 'Made to Measure' storage unit designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe. The 'Made to Measure' series is called like that because it completely dismountable and could be mad...
Wood
$6,000 / set
H 7.75 in W 35.5 in D 7.5 in
Shigeru Uchida Horizontal A Line Wall Cabinets for UMS Pastoe Utrect Holland
Located in Chicago, IL
5 wall cabinets designed by Shigeru Uchida for Pastoe, Utrect Holland circa 2000. Chocolate brown lacquered steel and wood. The outer sliding part of the shelves is laquered steel an...
Sheet Metal
Cees Braakman sideboard, 1960s
By Cees Braakman
Located in Lisboa, PT
Sideboard in light wood, opening with 4 drawers and a door, stamp on the reverse, Pastoe Editor, Cees Braakman. Netherlands, 1960s.
Wood
$2,295
H 29.34 in W 49.61 in D 24.22 in
Mid-Century Modern Desk Designed by Cees Braakman for USM Pastoe
By Cees Braakman
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Very elegant desk made by USM Pastoe. This desk was designed in the early fifties by Cees Braakman and is part of the oak series.
Oak
Torbecchia sideboard by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Ravenna, IT
Furniture designed by Michelucci and manufactured by Poltronova. The cabinet consists of two lower hinged doors, which can be opened by a handle, and two upper hinged doors, which ca...
Walnut
Art Deco Secretaire Cabinet by Jules Deroubaix
By Jules Deroubaix
Located in North York, ON
This Jules Deroubaix display cabinet secretaire is timeless, functional, and effortlessly chic. Made of burl sandalwood, it showcases a drop door paneled wit...
Brass, Chrome
Cees Braakman for Pastoe Sideboard in Teak
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for Pastoe, sideboard model 'DU04', teak, metal, plastic, The Netherlands, design 1958, production 1960s Elegant and modest tea...
Metal
Cees Braakman Highboard for Pastoe
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, teak and metal, Netherlands, design 1958, production 1960s. This highboard is designed by Cees Braakman, and is from his Japanese Series for Pastoe.
Metal
Cees Braakman Credenza for Pastoe from the Japanese Series
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, sideboard model DU03, teak and metal, by The Netherlands, design 1958, production 1960s Elegant and modest teak sideboard by Cees Braakman for UMS Pa...
Metal
Cees Braakman Credenza for Pastoe from the Japanese Series
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, sideboard model DU03, teak and metal, by The Netherlands, design 1958, production 1960s. Elegant and modest teak sideboard by Cees Braakman for UMS P...
Metal
Cees Braakman for Pastoe Sideboard of Wengé Wood and Steel
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, sideboard, wengé, steel and lacquered wood, The Netherlands, circa 1960. This Dutch modernist sideboard designed by Cees Braakman has a white lacquer...
Steel
Cees Braakman for Pastoe Wengé Wooden Sideboard
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, wall-mounted sideboard, wengé, steel and lacquered wood, The Netherlands, circa 1960. This Dutch modernist sideboard designed by Cees Braakman has a ...
Steel
Cees Braakman Credenza for Pastoe from the Japanese Series
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, sideboard model DU03, teak and metal, by The Netherlands, design 1958, production 1960s Elegant and modest teak sideboard by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe. This sideboard consists of a small metal base, which creates some lightness to the quite solid cabinet. The credenza consists of three storage compartments of which one is equipped with drawers and the other two with shelves. The warm colored teak nicely combines with the black handles, which are beautifully designed in the wooden surface. The Japanese or U-series was one of the unconventional series of Pastoe. Yet the design is still in line with the characteristic sober and modest style of the company. All tough it looks quite simplistic the Japanese series are highly detailed furniture. As seen in this sideboard on the handles, wood-joints and interior. Please note that the legs appear to be extended. Cees Braakman (1917-1995) follows his father’s footsteps as the leading designer and manager of Pastoe from 1948. He was inspired by the bent plywood furniture...
Metal
Cees Braakman DU03 Teak Sideboard for UMS Pastoe
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sideboards model DU03, in teak and metal, by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, The Netherlands 1958. Elegant and modest teak sideboard by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe. This sideboard...
Steel
Cees Braakman EB04 Desk for UMS Pastoe
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Desk, in birch and maple by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, the Netherlands, 1950s. Mid-Century Modern desk by Dutch designer Cees Braakman. This blond desk in birch has a very open...
Birch, Maple
Cees Braakman DU04 Teak Sideboard for UMS Pastoe
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sideboard model DU04, in teak and metal by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, The Netherlands, 1958. Elegant and modest teak sideboard by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe. This sideboard ...
Metal
Sold
H 28.35 in W 88.98 in D 17.72 in
Cees Braakman Japanese Series "DU03" Teak Sideboard for Pastoe, 1960s
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in The Hague, NL
The Cees Braakman DU03 sideboard from the Japanese Series, produced by Pastoe in the Netherlands, is an iconic example of mid-century Dutch design from 1958. The piece reflects Braa...
Metal
Sold
H 66.93 in W 14.57 in D 15.75 in
A'dammer Cabinet by Aldo van de Nieuwelaar for Pastoe, 1970s - H:170cm
By Aldo van den Nieuwelaar, Pastoe
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Timeless and elegant design - The Netherlands Measures : 40x37cm H:170cm A’dammer is a prime example of a piece of furniture that also functions as an object. A’dammer is characteriz...
Plastic, Wood