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.
Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Modernist Unique Bookcase, circa 1930, Netherlands
Located in Brussels, BE
Exceptional and unique piece by G.T. Rietveld. This wall bookcase was designed for the home of the Dutch poet and writer Gabriel Smit, c. 1930. Gabriel Smit was a regular at the arti...
Metal
French Walnut Bookcase, Circa 1920
Located in High Point, NC
Walnut bookcase from France, circa 1920. The entire case is of hand made construction and is pegged. The top has a beveled edge, and follows down to a raised paneled back and sides...
Walnut
$2,250
H 30 in W 36 in D 14 in
Donald Deskey Art Deco Bookcase circa 1930s Refinished In Your Choice of Color
Located in Atlanta, GA
Clean Lined Art Deco Bookcase, designed by Donald Deskey by The Company of Mastercraftsmen, American, circa 1930s. The price noted includes refinishing in your choice of color. This ...
Wood
Oak Art Deco Modernist Open Bookcase, 1920s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant Art Deco Modernist open bookcase. Striking Dutch design from the 1920s. Solid oak and original oak veneered base with original macassar ebony veneer. In very goo...
Macassar, Oak
Georges Frydman Modernist Bookcase for EFA, 1960’s
Located in LYON, FR
Georges Frydman bookcase for EFA Modular walnut bookcase from the 1960s by designer Georges Frydman, published by EFA. Georges Frydman won the René Gabriel prize in 1966. Set of 5 s...
Walnut
Unique Folding Bookcase in Rosewood
By J. Ingvard Jensen Odense, Odense Møbelfabrik
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Scandinavian Danish Modern at its finest. Likely unique piece as we have found no other example. Rosewood with brass hinges and circular inserts pulls on either side. Box shape 20'' cubed looks beautiful with striking rosewood grain. Each of there 4 shelves are just shy of 9'' tall. Brilliant design when folded upright reveals an angled bookcase...
Brass
1930s Art Deco Modernist Bookcase, Solid Oak with Glass Doors
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant Art Deco Modernist bookcase with glass sliding doors on top. Striking Dutch design from the 1930s. Solid oak and oak veneer base with doors with the original ebo...
Glass, Ebony, Oak
Oak Art Deco Modernist Bookcase, 1920s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and rare Art Deco Modernist bookcase. Striking Dutch design from the 1920s. Solid oak with original macassar ebony handles on bo...
Glass, Macassar, Oak
$5,400Sale Price|30% Off
H 57.09 in W 28.75 in D 23.23 in
Chest of Mid-Century Modern Wood Drawers After Gerrit Rietveld, circa 1970
Located in Barcelona, ES
Wooden chest with 10 drawers. Manufactured after a design of Gerrit Rietveld, circa 1970 In good original condition with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a be...
Wood
$1,305
H 50.4 in W 35.24 in D 15.75 in
CIRCA 1930s MINTY OF OXFORD THREE TIER GLASS FRONT BARRISTER BOOKCASE CABINET
Located in Pulborough, GB
Antiques of London A fine example of English library furniture by Minty of Oxford, renowned “Library Specialists” supplying colleges, institutions, and private libraries from the...
Hardwood
Gerrit Rietveld, Authentic Elling Sideboard
Located in Zürich, CH
Sculptural qualities define this object. Its form is a combination of solid shapes and negative spaces in an expressive dynamic. The relationship between them ensures a balanced comp...
Beech
Wim Rietveld Free-Standing Bookcase in Black and White Metal
By Wim Rietveld
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wim Rietveld, bookcase, black and white coated metal, The Netherlands, 1960. This free-standing bookcase was originally designed by Wim Rietveld for the famous Dutch high-end department store De Bijenkorf in 1960. The clear structure of the shelf creates a striking design. All horizontal shelves are colored black and in contrast with the white vertical elements. Due to the expressive unsymmetric arrangement of the two white sides and the white element functioning as a backwall, the black shelves...
Metal
$6,872
H 83.27 in W 37.41 in D 19.69 in
George III Thomas Chippendale Hardwood Bookcase on Serpentine Chest Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning George III Thomas Chippendale style mahogany bookcase on serpentine chest of drawers A glorious find, truly stunning, after original Thomas...
Hardwood
Shelving Wall Unit System by Pilastro, Holland, 1960s
By Tomado, Pilastro, Tjerk Reijenga
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Beautiful and large shelving wall system/ bookcase with multiple possibilities of display. Designed by Tjerk Reijenga for Pilastro in The Netherlands during the 1960s. The system fea...
Metal, Cut Steel
Tjerk Reijenga Shelving Wall Unit by Pilastro, Holland, 1960
By Tomado, Tjerk Reijenga, Pilastro
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Beautiful and large shelving wall system/ bookcase with multiple possibilities of display. Designed by Tjerk Reijenga for Pilastro in The Netherla...
Metal, Cut Steel
Gerrit Rietveld Modular Cabinets Holland, 1935
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Modernist pair of cabinets from a modular system designed by Gerrit Rietveld with help of Truus Schroder, Holland 1935. These two cabinets come from a set of nine purchased by the family in 1935. Originally the cabinets had a black outside and red inside but they have been repainted (a long time ago) in fully black. You can see where there are some marks where the red original paint...
Plywood
Sold
H 82.68 in W 51.19 in D 11.82 in
Rare Dutch 1930s De Stijl' Shelving Unit in the Style of Gerrit Rietveld
By Bas Van Pelt, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
A rare find this 1930s Rietveld style shelving. The 8 lacquered solid wooden shelves slide over 4 tubular metal uprights and are mounted by a simple (Rietveld like) construction. When assembling this beautiful 'De Stijl' like shelving I discovered a Dutch 1 cent coin...
Metal