Dutch furniture company ‘t Spectrum — later Spectrum — was established in 1941 with a run of pieces that were spare and outwardly industrial in appearance. Its early armchairs and dining chairs were often framed in tubular metal, and boast clearly defined lines and minimal curves. The vintage ‘t Spectrum seating in the decades that followed, which was designed by the likes of Gerrit Rietveld and Wim van Gelderen, is characterized by the angular forms and Pop art-hued colors that we associate with the best of mid-century modernism.
‘t Spectrum emerged in 1941 as an offshoot of the Dutch fabric manufacturer De Ploeg. When a shortage of textiles and other materials took shape owing to the demands of the Second World War, De Ploeg director Piet Blijenburg changed gears, and sought to broaden the manufacturer’s offerings as well as prevent the company's employees from being forced into work for occupying military forces.
‘t Spectrum was a brand devoted to furniture and interiors — as well as goods and decor for the home such as coat racks, napkin rings and beds. Legendary modernist furniture designer Gerrit Rietveld — an integral part of the Dutch art and design movement of the early 20th century called De Stijl — was brought on in a supervisory role in its early days, and designer Martin Visser was installed to oversee the production of furniture.
The end of the war brought a greater availability of metals and other materials to ‘t Spectrum, which became more focused on creating affordable furniture for the era’s new homeowners. A new factory designed by Rietveld was built in Bergeijk in 1957. During the late 1960s, ‘t Spectrum offered a richer range of furnishings, incorporating alluring hardwoods and leathers as part of sophisticated lines of seating and other pieces designed in the mid-century modern style. Visser recruited the likes of Friso Kramer, Benno Premsela, Constant Nieuwenhuys and others to design for ‘t Spectrum over the years.
With competition for cheaper furniture on the rise in the 1970s, ‘t Spectrum liquidated in 1974. A group of employees acquired the designs and continued the company under the name of Arspect. The firm produced ‘t Spectrum designs and works from other designers.
Arspect closed its doors in 1986. A former employee bought the company and renewed it with the name Spectrum. Today, Spectrum operates in Eindhoven in the Netherlands, creating contemporary designs alongside pieces dating back to the look and feel of the products offered by the original manufacturer. The company is also reproducing original designs created by Visser and Rietveld.
On 1stDibs, browse a selection of vintage ‘t Spectrum seating, tables, storage pieces and more.
2x Lounge Chairs by Walter Atonis for Spectrum. Sweden, 1970s
By 't Spectrum
Located in Nashville, TN
Item Details: Pair of black leather, chrome lounge chairs Creator: Walter Atonis for Spectrum Dimensions: -floor to seat: 14” -floor to top of arm: 18.5” -seat width: 21” -seat depth...
Chrome
Rascal Chair by Niall O’Flynn for Spectrum
By 't Spectrum, Niall O'Flynn
Located in Toronto, CA
In the creation of the Rascal chair for Dutch furniture brand Spectrum, designer Niall O’Flynn marries his architectural vision with the brand’s commitme...
Steel
$7,417 / set
H 31.89 in W 19.3 in D 20.87 in
Set of 5 Tulip chairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, 1970s
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Renens, CH
The Tulip chair, designed by Eero Saarinen in 1956 for Knoll International, is a key piece of mid-century modern design. Saarinen aimed to create a chair that removed the clutter of ...
Steel
Walter Lamb Square Lounge Chair
By Walter Lamb
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Walter Lamb Bronze and Rope Lounge Chair Manufactured by Brown Jordan Beautiful natural patina
Bronze
$1,543 / item
H 30.12 in W 18.71 in D 23.23 in
'Hippo' Chair by Norr11, Dark Smoked Oak, Spectrum Leather, Mineral
By Tommy Hyldahl, Norr11, Kristian Sofus Hansen
Located in Paris, IDF
Hippo chair Signed by Kristian Sofus Hansen and Tommy Hyldahl for Norr11. Model shown on the picture: Wood: dark smoked oak Fabric: Spectrum / Noir Leather Mineral 30160 Wood type...
Leather, Oak
"Gaja" chair by Kazuhide Takahama for Cassina, 1970s
By Kazuhide Takahama
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
"Gaja" chair by Kazuhide Takahama for Cassina, Made in Italy, 1970s. This Chair is made of an electro-welded, chrome-plated steel rod. This type is in the version with genuine leathe...
Steel
Gastone Rinaldi Chair for Rima 1970s
By Gastone Rinaldi
Located in Čelinac, BA
If you are thinking about purchasing this great piece, feel free to ask for an additional video to be absolutely sure of your choice.
Chrome
Martin Visser SZ01 Easy Chair for 't Spectrum, 1960
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful SZ01 easy chair designed by Martin Visser for Spectrum. This armchair was designed in 1960 and has been in production ever since. this easy chair is from the late 70s / ea...
Wicker
$2,250 / set
H 30.25 in W 21.625 in D 21.5 in
Set of Four 'SE 69' Dining Chairs by Martin Visser for 't Spectrum, 1959
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 4 'SE 69' dining chairs by Martin Visser for 't Spectrum 1959. The chairs have black enameled frames with Wenge armrests and black skai upholstery. Visser, a quintessential designer of the Dutch post-war design movement began working for 't Spectrum in 1954 and soon spearheaded the company's entire collection. He had an architectural and civil engineering...
Metal
$4,068
H 30.71 in W 26.38 in D 30.71 in
Gerrit Rietveld Unesco Press Room Chair for Spectrum, 'Colourful Vintage'
By 't Spectrum, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Tilburg, NL
Gerrit Rietveld designed in 1958 Unesco press room chair for Spectrum - 'Colourful Vintage' Edition 'Colourful Vintage', which means: fabric: Sprinkl...
Metal
$2,456 / item
H 30.32 in W 21.26 in D 21.26 in
Spectrum Green, Kolho Original Dining Chair, MDJ KUU by Made by Choice
Located in Geneve, CH
Spectrum Green, Kolho Original dining chair, MDJ KUU by Made By Choice with Matthew Day Jackson Kolho Collection Dimensions: 54 x 54 x 77 cm Materials: Oak ( MDJ KUU Formica lami...
Laminate, Birch, Plywood
1970s, Lounge Chair by Ake Fribytter for Nelo Sweden
By Ake Fribytter, Nelo
Located in Tarm, 82
1970s, Brown leather lounge chair by Ake Fribytter for Nelo Sweden. Original very good condition: no smells and no stains. Loose cushions in brown leather,...
Leather, Canvas
Original Pre-Production Prototype Wire Desk Chair by Niall O'Flynn
By Niall O'Flynn
Located in New York, NY
Original pre-production prototype of a wire mesh metal desk chair by Niall O'Flynn shown at the New York Furniture Fair in 1994 and later produced by t' Spectrum. Composed of an E...
$952Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 30.71 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Postmodern 1970s Pair of 2 Dining Chairs by Bruno Rey for Dietiker, 1970s
By Dietiker, Bruno Rey
Located in Basel, BS
Iconic and comfortable 1970s Swiss Designer chairs. Suitable for side chairs, accent chairs, dining chairs, etc. Original 1970s labels present. Solid wood-- Original! *Not remakes / ...
Upholstery, Beech
Sold
H 28.35 in W 18.51 in D 16.54 in
Martin Visser Set of 4 Dinning Room Chairs for T' Spectrum, 1960 Netherlands
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum
Located in The Hague, NL
Mid- Century modern period very famous Dutch furniture designer Martin Visser designed these chairs for t' Spectrum in 1960s period, Netherlands. The set of 4 chairs are in a great ...
Rattan, Wenge
Martin Visser Coral Leather Loveseat For t' Spectrum
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Coral leather loveseat chair was designed by Martin Visser for t' Spectrum. The sofa has a solid wenge frame, leather armrests, decorative leath...
Leather, Wenge
Martin Visser Wenge and Coral Leather Lounge Chair For 't Spectrum
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Coral leather lounge chair was designed by Martin Visser for t' Spectrum. The chair has a solid wenge frame, leather armrests, decorative leather tassels on the cushion backs and hea...
Leather, Wenge
Sold
H 28.35 in W 18.9 in D 18.9 in
Martin Visser Set of Six Se03 Chairs for T'spectrum, Netherlands 1960s
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum
Located in London, GB
Price for the set of six chairs. Martin Visser (1922-2009) was a celebrated Dutch furniture designer and art collector. He became Head Furniture Buyer for De Bijenkorf department ...
Chrome
Sold
H 28.35 in W 18.51 in D 18.51 in
Set of 4 Dining Chairs by Martin Visser for 'T Spectrum in Wengé Hardwood, 1967
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum
Located in Uithoorn, NL
Set of 4 dining chairs by Martin Visser for 'T Spectrum in Wengé hardwood. Rectangular and square shapes of mixed luxurious organic material, that's what comes to mind if you loo...
Wicker, Wenge
Pair of Model 30 Gijs Van Der Sluis Lounge Chairs
By Gijs Van Der Sluis, 't Spectrum
Located in BE
Pair of model 30 Gijs Van Der Sluis lounge chairs. Rare set of model 30 Gijs Van Der sluis chairs. These chairs were manufactured by ‘t Spectrum in the ...
Upholstery
Sold
H 28.35 in W 18.51 in D 18.51 in
Set of 4 Dutch Design Martin Visser Wengé Rush Dining Room Chairs '67
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Beautiful set of 4 modernist chairs by Martin Visser for t'Spectrum These chairs have beautiful Wenge wooden frames and the back and seat are made of rush and are recently renewed. ...
Cane, Rush, Wenge
Sold
H 29.93 in W 18.9 in D 18.51 in
Martin Visser Dining Chairs Wenge ‘t Spectrum the Netherlands, 1960
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Very nice set of six dining chairs designed by Martin Visser for ‘t Spectrum, the Netherlands 1960. These chairs are made of solid wenge wood and are upholstered with camel leather. ...
Leather, Wenge
Sold
H 30.71 in W 18.9 in D 18.9 in
4 Dutch Design Dining Chairs Martin Visser Mid-Century Modern, 1960's
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum Bergeijk, 't Spectrum
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Set of 4 Dutch design dining chairs, model SE79 designed by Martin Visser and Walter Antonis for ‘t Spectrum, 1960. Solid wengé frame and seating from papercord. Measures: H: 78 cm, W: 48 cm, D: 48 cm, Seat height: 45 cm Wikipedia Martin Visser (Papendrecht, January 26, 1922 - Bergeijk, October 23, 2009 [1]) was a Dutch furniture designer and art collector. Visser designed furniture from an early age, but followed an MTS training in hydraulic engineering and initially became an architectural draftsman. Furniture designed by him was bought by De Bijenkorf, who hired him in 1947 as a salesman and window dresser and appointed him as purchasing manager in 1954. [2] In 1954 he became a designer and head of the collection formation at the furniture factory 't Spectrum in Bergeijk. He became known in the 1960s for the design of his version of the simple adjustable sofa bed BR 02.7, a design from 1958/1960. The abbreviation 'BR' stands for Bank Rusten. In 1989 he received the Theo Limperg Prize for his designs. In 1991 the Centraal Museum in Utrecht showed a retrospective of his work. Visser collected early work by Cobra, as well as Anselm Kiefer and Keith Haring. He was considered one of the most influential collectors in the Netherlands. In Rotterdam he was appointed by Wim Beeren as head curator at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. [3] His complete collection of more than four hundred works of art is housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum. In 2012, the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht showed a selection from this collection together with examples of his own work as a furniture designer. He died at the age of 87 in his house, designed by Gerrit Rietveld in the 1950s and later converted to Aldo van Eyck...
Papercord, Wenge
Martin Visser Set of 4 Leather and Wenge Dining Chairs
By Martin Visser, 't Spectrum
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous set of 4 Martin Visser leather dining chairs. Heavy Wenge frame with sling leather seating. Striking mid-century design, in original condition with visible wear and patina. ...
Leather, Wenge
Pair of Martin Visser Chrome and Wicker Side Chairs for t'Spectrum
By 't Spectrum, Martin Visser
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Martin Visser chrome framed dining chairs with woven wicker seat and backrest. In good original condition with wear consistent with their age and use including some wicker br...
Chrome
Sold
H 29.53 in W 18.9 in L 29.53 in
Claire Bataille and Paul Ibens Tubular Dining Chairs Model SE18 for ’t Spectrum
By 't Spectrum, Claire Bataille and Paul Ibens
Located in Antwerp, BE
Spectrum, Netherlands, SE18 dining chairs, Claire Bataille and Paul Ibens Black saddle leather and chrome tubular frame dining chairs. A really rare set of six, designed by Claire...
Nickel