It has been more than 100 years since the founding of the Dutch art and design movement known as De Stijl.
It was in October of 1917 that artist, architect and critic Theo van Doesburg released the first issue of De Stijl magazine. A platform for artists, designers and architects to express their revolutionary new ideas, the journal was a launching point for what would become an international movement. Meaning “the Style,” De Stijl was an attempt at pure abstraction — one centered on the use of primary colors and perpendicular lines as a utopian expression of a harmonious world.
Along with van Doesburg, the group’s most integral members were Bart van der Leck, Gerrit Rietveld and Piet Mondrian, whose geometric red, yellow, blue and black “Composition” paintings remain the most recognizable work of the movement. Mondrian used the term “neoplasticism” to describe the abstract art that he and his friends produced.
Not just an art movement, however, De Stijl also had a profound impact on modern design and architecture. It would go on to influence Bauhaus and the International Style of architecture. Although it was disbanded in 1931, De Stijl continues to inspire the popular imagination today, and De Stijl creators and their ilk are responsible for timeless works (some of which can be found on 1stDibs).
Made from two plywood plates and 15 connecting bars, the Red and Blue chair is a calling card of the De Stijl movement. Designed by architect Gerrit Rietveld, the chair is most often referred to as the Rietveld chair, likely because it didn’t actually get its signature De Stijl colors until the early 1920s.
Also designed by Rietveld, this asymmetrical side table was constructed for his first residential commission, the Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht, which is now a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Mondrian is the De Stijl group’s most well-known member. His familiar black lines with red, yellow and blue blocks are still reproduced in artworks and products today.
Russian-American artist Ilya Bolotowsky was highly interested in the work of Piet Mondrian. A founding member of the New York–based American Abstract Artists — other founders included Ray Kaiser (later Eames) and Josef Albers — Bolotowsky was smitten with Mondrian’s pure geometric abstractions from the period when lived in New York. In this signed, untitled silkscreen print from around 1970, you can see Bolotowsky’s use of hard-edge vertical and horizontal lines, as well as primary colors, although he didn’t limit himself to this palette.
Mondrian is the De Stijl group’s most well-known member. His familiar black lines with red, yellow and blue blocks are still reproduced in artworks and products today. In the 1960s, Yves Saint Laurent designed the Mondrian Collection of cocktail dresses. This wall mirror by Italian manufacturer Rimadesio is among the many decor pieces created in the likeness of Mondrian.
On 1stDibs, find De Stijl lighting, De Stijl decorative objects and more.
$23,011 / set
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld - Utrecht Chairs
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 acqui...
Mohair
Dutch Pre-WWII High-Back Chair in the Design Language of 'De Stijl', 1920s
Located in EVERDINGEN, NL
A highly unusual pre-war high-back chair in black-painted wood and leather, with a radical presence. . The chair belongs visually to the world of Dutch interwar avant-garde and 'De ...
Leather, Pine
Gerrit Rietveld, Red and Blue Chair / Authentic Chair
Located in Zürich, CH
Here we see a playful kind of experimentation, different from the average modern design, which is more well-behaved and dogmatic. It’s radical, it’s curious, it pushes boundaries. That is a one-of-a-kind piece – unique and outstanding, it holds a museum exhibit quality. An artefact for collectors and connoisseurs. A piece without any compromises. Highly valuable, rarely even offered by auction houses. However, it comes with a price. Originally designed in 1917, this chair is a true representation and one of the first pieces of De Stijl movement. Founded in the Netherlands as a reaction against the horrors of WWI, its visual language consisted of pure, geometrical forms and primary colours. As forms and shapes tended to establish balance and harmony in a world of chaos, this piece is a manifestation of the idea. Some of the first chairs were made for the "Rietveld Schröder House...
Aluminum
High Chair, Attributed to Gerrit Rietveld, Netherlands, design ca. 1920
Located in Antwerp, BE
Attributed to Gerrit Rietveld, this high chair is based on a design developed circa 1920, belonging to the earliest phase of his exploration into slat-based furniture. This particula...
Wood, Oak
Pair of White Painted Austrian Cube Chairs in the Manner of Josef Hoffmann
Located in Buffalo, NY
Pair of white painted Austrian cube even armchairs in the manner of Josef Hoffmann, original white painted finish, Arts & Crafts style pierced open lattice work, stunning.
Wood
Pair of Gerrit Rietveld Utrecht Lounge Chairs by Cassina, Italy, 1980s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Designed in 1935 by Dutch architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld, the Utrecht chair remains one of the defining icons of twentieth-century modern design. Originally created for the M...
Wood
20th Century Thomas Rietveld Orange Wool Fabric Pair Of Utrecht Armchairs 1935
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of Utrecht armchairs designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1935, an iconic example of early modern Dutch design. Characterized by their striking geometric composition, the chair...
Fabric, Wool
Habitat Lounger - Collectible Post-Modern Industrial Mixed-Media Chair w/ Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Habitat Lounger is a place to be. The only place you need to be. Have a seat! A comfortable yet supportive place to sit with a smooth, sculpted poplar wood seat, and a wavy sculpted ...
Concrete, Steel
High Chair, Attributed to Gerrit Rietveld, Netherlands, 1951
Located in Antwerp, BE
Executed in 1951 by G.A. van de Groenekan after an early 1920s design by Gerrit Rietveld, this chair represents an important continuation of De Stijl principles into mid-century prod...
Wood
Dutch Modern Armchair by Jan den Drijver for De Stijl, The Hague 1950s
Located in Utrecht, NL
This armchair, like its high back kin, is an early and rare piece by Dutch furniture and interior designer, Jan den Drijver, representing Dutch Modernism. Slanting, oblique lines cha...
Fabric, Wood
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld “Utrecht” Sofa by 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
$16,835 / set
H 27.56 in W 17.72 in D 19.69 in
Pair of Gerrit Rietveld Steltman chairs - Netherlands, 1963
Located in London, GB
Gerrit Rietveld (1888–1964) was a key figure in the De Stijl movement, known for his radical use of geometry, line, and primary colour. A trained cabinetmaker, he brought a sculptura...
Pine
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld "Utrecht" Armchair for Cassina, 1935
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
$12,803 / set
H 28.35 in W 25.2 in D 33.86 in
Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina – Pair of Iconic ‘Utrecht’ Chairs in Leather
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
Rare Dutch Armchair by L.O.V Oosterbeek, Netherlands, 1920s
Located in ROUEN, FR
Rare Dutch armchair manufactured by LOV Oosterbeek in the 1920s. Incredible patina. Crafted from solid oak, it features a restrained architectural form characteristic of early 20th-...
Oak
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.5 in W 19.5 in D 20.75 in
1 Vintage Thonet Josef Hoffmann Style Bauhaus Chair
Located in Pasadena, TX
Josef Hoffmann (Austria, 1870–1956) The Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann was a central figure in the evolution of modern design, and a leader in an aesthetic movement born in Europe in the late 19th century that rejected florid, extravagant ornamentation in favour of a new emphasis on simplicity of line. As a founder of the turn-of-the-century Wiener Werkstätte (in English: the Viennese Workshops), a design cooperative that produced superbly crafted furniture and housewares, Hoffmann was a pioneering practitioner of what would become a fundamental principle of modernism: that good design is a way of life. One vintage Josef Hoffmann Bauhaus style chair Classic Hoffmann style...
Bentwood
$4,760Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 26 in W 27 in D 26 in
Pair of Milo Baughman Floating Cube Club Chairs, with Kravet Upholstery
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Milo Baughman Floating Cube Club Chairs USA, Circa 1980s A sleek and stunning pair of Milo Baughman Floating Cube Club Chairs, These chairs are a fine examples to Baughman'...
Chrome
$3,894 / set
H 29.14 in W 22.64 in D 18.12 in
Josef Hoffmann, Pair of Fledermaus Chairs, Austria, 1905 (First Edition)
Located in Argelato, BO
Pair of chair in bent beech designed by the illustrious Viennese architect Joseph Hoffmann for the Cabaret Fledermaus in Vienna in 1907. In their sober and unmistakable style, they ...
Bentwood
$4,400
H 39.77 in W 23.63 in D 28.55 in
Dutch Modern High Back Chair by Jan den Drijver for De Stijl, The Hague 1950s
Located in Utrecht, NL
This armchair is an early and rare piece representing Dutch Modernism. Slanting, oblique lines characterize the frame, which gives this chair a distinctive shape. Jan den Drijver des...
Fabric, Wood
Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina Crate Chairs, Italy, 1970s
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
$3,500
H 29 in W 22 in D 21 in
Rare & Early 1900's Pair of Josef Hoffmann Fledermaus Armchairs by J & J Kohn
By Josef Hoffmann, Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Oakland, CA
Pair of early 20th Century Josef Hoffman Fledermaus armchairs, constructed by Josef and Jacob Kohn of Austria. Newly upholstered in Josef Hoffmann designed linen fabric. The finish a...
Fabric, Beech, Lacquer
$5,900 / set
H 29.53 in W 21.66 in D 20.08 in
20th Century, Josef Hoffmann Pair of Chairs mod. No. 729/2F
By Josef Hoffmann, J & J Kohn & Mundus
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956) was an influential Austrian architect and designer, known for his leadership in the Viennese Art Nouveau movement and for being one of the founders of the ...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 29.53 in W 25.2 in D 34.26 in
Pair of Utrecht chairs, designed by Gerrit Rietveld, made by Cassina, 1990s
Located in EVERDINGEN, NL
Price is per chair - a set is available. Can be bought either as a set or individually Pair of ‘Utrecht’( model R31) Armchairs, designed by Gerrit Rietveld in the mid 1930s. In 1988...
Fabric, Wood
Gerrit Rietveld Red and Blue Chair by Cassina
Located in The Hague, NL
The Red and Blue chair was originally designed in 1918 by Dutch architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld, one of the leading figures of the De Stijl movement. This striking lounge cha...
Beech
Sold
H 34.65 in W 19.69 in D 21.66 in
Dutch De Stijl-Inspired Modernist Armchair in Original White Finish, 1960s
Located in EVERDINGEN, NL
A striking 1960s modernist armchair, with an elegant asymmetry and original finish, constructed in the spirit of De Stijl. With its radical asymmetry and balance, this piece demonstr...
Oak
Sold
H 34.65 in W 25.79 in D 32.68 in
Gerrit Rietveld - early Red and Blue Chair N° 231 by Cassina De Stijl Bauhaus
Located in Munster, NRW
RATIONAL SCULPTURE The red and blue chair by Gerrit Rietveld is one of the most iconic pieces of furniture in De Stijl design and a symbol of the modern design movement. It was de...
Wood
Dutch Modernist Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina Crate Chair, 1970s
Located in EVERDINGEN, NL
A beech wooden crate chair from the mid to late 70-ties, marked Cassina and numbered. This chair came from a private collection and first owner. It is in very good condition with onl...
Beech
Dutch Zig Zag side chair with holes and short armrests, 1970s
Located in EVERDINGEN, NL
A small and elegant vintage (1970s) Zig Zag side chair after Gerrit Rietvelds' 1938 rare design with holes and short armrests. This chair dates from between the 1970s and 1980s and w...
Elm
Early numbered Gerrit Rietveld Zig Zag chair by Cassina, 1970s
Located in EVERDINGEN, NL
An early Cassina ''Zig Zag'' Chair, one of the first numbers - no. 125, estimated 1973-1975. In 1973 Cassina obtained the rights to start relaunching Rietvelds' masterpiece. This cha...
Elm
Vintage Red and Blue Chair by Gerrit Rietveld
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
Iconic chair designed by Dutch artist Gerrit Rietveld between 1918 - 1923. This particular piece comes from early 1970's. Manufacturer is unknown however all the joints and overall c...
Wood
Gerrit Rietveld, Red Blue Chair, De Stijl Modern, 1918
Located in Gardena, CA
The Red and Blue Chair is a chair designed in 1917 by Gerrit Rietveld. It represents one of the first explorations by the De Stijl art movement in three dimensions. The original c...
Wood, Lacquer
Gerrit Rietveld Red and Blue Chair 'Rietveldchair' for Cassina
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Iconic and sculptural gerrit rietveld red and blue chair (Rietveldchair) manufactured by Cassina since 1973. The chair is in good co...
Wood
Mondrian Red and Blue Style Sling Chair, a Pair
Located in Plainview, NY
A stylish and comfortable pair of Mondrian red and blue sling chairs in the manner of Gerrit T Rietveld. The iconic design was created in 1918 in Net...
Textile, Wood
Rietveld's Utrecht Chair with a Wooden Frame, a Pair
Located in Antwerp, BE
Utrecht chair, Gerrit Rietveld, architect edition 1960s, wenge frame, upholstery Gerrit Rietveld came up with the design for the Utrecht armchair in ...
Fabric, Wood