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.
Zig-Zag Chair by Gerrit Rietveld, Cherry Wood, De Stijl, 1934
Located in Tinton Falls, NJ
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 connected end to end, g...
Cherry
Unique Large-Scale Model of Gerrit Rietveld's "Aluminium Stoel"
Located in Dronten, NL
An icon, scaled for the mantle. This is a rare, large-scale presentation or display model of Gerrit Rietveld's radical "Aluminium Stoel"—a chair that, in its full-sized form, was ne...
Aluminum
Gerrit Rietveld, Steltman Chair / Authentic
Located in Zürich, CH
The relationship between the different shapes ensures a balanced composition. The careful alignment and proportions create an equilibrium, giving a sense of coherent design. Both ten...
Oak
Architectural Accent Chair, The Netherlands, 1920s
Located in New York, NY
This architectural accent chair from the Netherlands, dating back to the 1920s. The design features a bold geometric structure, with solid wooden elements forming a sculptural base. ...
Upholstery, Oak
Red and Blue Chair by Gerrit Rietveld, for Cassina, De Stijl, Netherlands
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
Gerrit Rietveld, Berlin Chair / Authentic
Located in Zürich, CH
The relationship between the different shapes ensures a balanced composition. The careful alignment and proportions create an equilibrium, giving a sense of coherent design. Both ten...
Oak
Crate Chair by Gerrit Rietveld, Designed in 1930s, The Netherlands
Located in Hellouw, NL
A clear example of Gerrit Rietveld's functional approach to furniture design, the iconic Crate Chair was originally designed in 1934. This example is believed to be a Cassina product...
Ash
Gerrit Rietveld Berlin Chair – Exhibition-Provenance Example, Early 1990s
Located in Dronten, NL
For the true connoisseur of De Stijl and modernist canon: an exceptionally rare Gerrit Rietveld Berlin Chair, executed in the early 1990s ...
Plywood
Red and Blue Chair by Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Toronto, CA
Designed in 1918 by Dutch designer Gerrit Rietveld, the "Red and Blue Chair" is part of the Dutch De Stijl movement, a rigorous abstraction of lines and colours. An outlook shared by...
Wood
Red and White Painted "Fischel" Chair, France, circa 1920s-1930s
By Fischel
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Lovely design and colors for this chair by Fischel, a company launched in the late 19th century and following in the same vein as Thonet and Köhn. The style here is reminiscent of Du...
Oak
$4,038 / item
H 29.14 in W 14.57 in D 16.93 in
Gerrit Rietveld Zig Zag Chair by Cassina, Mid-Century Modern Design
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1934. Relaunched in 1973/ 2011. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Designed by Gerrit Rietveld, this chair provided an early example of a ...
Wood
$1,023Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 41.34 in W 20.08 in D 20.87 in
Vintage English Walnut Chairs in the Chippendale Style, 1920s, Set of 3
Located in Opole, PL
Vintage English Walnut Chairs in the Chippendale Style, 1920s, Set of 3 This elegant set of three English dining chairs, crafted in the early 20th century, beautifully reflects the ...
Walnut, Upholstery
1920s Hammered Iron Mirror and Chair, France
By Edgar Brandt
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Delightful, charming and unusual mirror and chair set. The mirror is of very heavy wrought iron. The frame is stamped with a floral frieze motif with gilded accents and wavy scal...
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Zig Zag Chair by 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
$1,150
H 29.14 in W 14.57 in D 17.33 in
Zig Zag Chairs in solid pine wood in the style of Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Amsterdam, NL
These Zig Zag chairs were made by a local craftsman based on the iconic design by Gerrit Rietveld. Both the dimensions and the details correspond to the original design. Solid pine f...
Pine
$4,038 / item
H 29.14 in W 14.57 in D 16.93 in
Gerrit Rietveld Zig Zag Chair by Cassina, Mid-Century Modern Design
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1934. Relaunched in 1973/ 2011. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Designed by Gerrit Rietveld, this chair provided an early example of...
Wood
$696
H 34.26 in W 20.08 in D 22.45 in
Postmodern Cardboard Sculptural Chair, Frank Gehry Wiggle Chair Style, 1980s
By Vitra, Frank Gehry
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Postmodern 1980s whimsical sculptural chair in brown cardboard and reminiscent of Frank Gehry's Wiggle Chair. The chair is surprisingly ergonomic and comfortable. It certainly adds playful flair and amusement to your space. Condition is good vintage condition with some minimal and acceptable signs of wear. Dimensions as follows: Depth: 22.5 in (57 cm), width: 20 in (51 cm), height: 34.25 in (87 cm), seat height: 17.3 in (44 cm). Having established his own firm in Los Angeles in 1961, Gehry saw a pile of corrugated cardboard outside his office and started to experiment. Inspired by a childhood spent exploring his grandfather’s hardware shop, Gehry set about creating the Easy Edges furniture series, highlighting the strength and versatility of cardboard. “I discovered that by alternating the direction of layers of corrugations, the finished board had enough strength to support a small car...
Paper
Pair of French 1920s Art Deco Club Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible pair of Art Deco club chairs from France, 1920s. Beautiful curved wood frame with scroll details on arms. Newly upholstered in a lovely pale yellow linen. Original wood fi...
Linen, Wood
Italian 1950s Sculptural Single Chair
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1950s beautifully sculpted single chair.
Upholstery, Wood
Red And Blue Chair By Gerrit Rietveld For Cassina
By Cassina
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
The Red and Blue Chair by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina is one of the most iconic expressions of early modern design. Originally conceived in 1918 and later refined with its now signat...
Beech
$4,038 / item
H 29.14 in W 14.57 in D 16.93 in
Gerrit Rietveld Zig Zag Chair by Cassina, Mid-Century Modern Design
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Chair designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld in 1934. Relaunched in 1973/ 2011. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Designed by Gerrit Rietveld, this chair provided an early example of...
Wood
‘Crate’ Chair in Wood, Attributed to Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Berlin, BE
‘Crate’ chair in wood, Attributed to Gerrit Rietveld Additional information: Material: Wood Designer: Gerrit Rietveld Size: 61 W x 54 D x 70 H cm.
Wood
Czech Cubist Side Chair, Open Back by Pavel Janák
By Pavel Janák
Located in Toronto, CA
Cubist side chair by Czech architect and designer Pavel Janák (1881 – 1956), a pioneer in stripping away ornament. Don’t let the expressive angles fool you - this piece is very comfortable to sit on. Among the most distinctive and most frequently published pieces of early Czech Cubist...
Wood
Pavel Janák Cubist Wood Chair, Flat Back
By Pavel Janák
Located in Toronto, CA
Cubist side chair by Czech architect and designer Pavel Janák (1881 – 1956), a pioneer in stripping away ornament. Don’t let the expressive angles fool you. This piece is very comfor...
Wood
Sold
H 29.53 in W 19.3 in D 17.33 in
Manner Of Gerrit Rietveld - Steltman Chair - 1970s Dutch interpretation
Located in Hasselt, VLI
This 1970s Dutch interpretation of the Steltman chair pays tribute to Rietveld's vision. Crafted from solid oak, it features a very nice natural wood grain, signifying both beauty an...
Wood, Oak
Josef Hoffmann's rare set of four chairs in curved wood
Located in Milano, IT
COD-2072 Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956) Rare set of four chairs in curved polished wood and upholstered seat. Manufactured by JJ.Kohn, Vienna, 1907. 42x42xh46/75
Wood
Sold
H 29.25 in W 14.75 in D 17 in
Gerrit Rietveld "Zig-Zag" Chairs by Cassina, Italy 1973 'Four Available'
Located in Sacile, PN
Four Gerrit Rietveld "ZIG-ZAG" chairs by Cassina, Italy 1970s. N°853 -854 -873-874 Provenance: Private collection Milan This set early year 'Zig Zag' chairs by Gerrit Rietveld for ...
Wood, Elm
Sold
H 29.25 in W 37.47 in D 43.18 in
Set of Two Gerrit Rietveld "ZIG-ZAG" chairs by Cassina, Italy 1970s
Located in Sacile, PN
Six Gerrit Rietveld "ZIG-ZAG" chairs by Cassina, Italy 1970s. N°2812 to 2813 In the early 1930s, department store Metz & Co. asked Gerrit R...
Wood
Sold
H 29.25 in W 37.47 in D 43.18 in
Gerrit Rietveld "ZIG-ZAG" chairs by Cassina, Italy 1970s (Six available)
Located in Sacile, PN
Six Gerrit Rietveld "ZIG-ZAG" chairs by Cassina, Italy 1970s. From N°2808 to 2813 In the early 1930s, department store Metz & Co. asked Gerrit Rietveld to design a chair for mass ...
Wood
Sold
H 31.11 in W 13.78 in D 16.15 in
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, Zigzag Chair, Black, From the Rietveld Academy
Located in Hasselt, VLI
Vintage pine ZigZag chairs designed by Gerrit Rietveld - Sourced from the Rietveld Academy in The Netherlands. This set of two pieces was probably made by...
Pine, Paint
Pair of Plywood Dutch Constructivist Style Chairs
Located in Surbiton, GB
A great pair of handmade plywood prototype chairs in the Dutch constructivist style. Dimensions (cm, approx): Height: 106 Width: 49 Depth: 59 Both chairs are in fair cond...
Plywood
Gerrit Rietveld Style Lounge Chairs, a Pair
Located in Raleigh, NC
A beautiful iteration of the red and blue chair originally designed by Gerrit Rietveld. This pair realized in natural maple is a wonderful monochromatic contrast to the primary color...
Maple
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
Pair of Chrome-Plated and Leather Wassily Chairs, circa 1980
By Marcel Breuer, Knoll
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A lovely pair of Wassily armchairs in leather and chrome-plated frames. These chairs produced by Knoll are replicas of the original of the iconic Wassily chair, also known as Model B...
Leather