Best known for his Red and Blue chair, a modernist icon created using only two plywood plates and 15 connecting bars, Dutch designer Gerrit Thomas Rietveld trained as a cabinetmaker, and his bold vision for furniture was supported by his expertise in construction and craftsmanship.
Born in Utrecht, Rietveld learned goldsmithing in addition to the cabinetry apprenticeship he had in his carpenter father’s workshop. He studied draftsmanship with architect Piet Klaarhamer at the Utrecht Museum of Applied Arts and opened his own furniture workshop in 1917. In the 1930s, Rietveld began to experiment with then-unusual materials like plywood and aluminum, and he pursued intellectual concepts through his design, even considering a seat as a resting place for the body and the soul.
Designed in 1918, the minimalist Red and Blue chair is widely coveted by collectors and gained admirers in the likes of legendary American sculptor and designer Donald Judd over the years. (Examples of Rietveld’s designs can be found in Judd’s restored home-museum in New York City.) The Red and Blue chair is so stunning in its geometric simplicity that it is one of the most important symbols of the Dutch art and design movement of the early 20th century called De Stijl, of which Rietveld was an important part. De Stijl means “the Style” and was an effort to express utopian values through pure abstraction in design and the use of primary colors.
Another example of Rietveld’s celebrated seating furniture is the Zig-Zag chair, which was commissioned by the Dutch department store Metz & Co. and intended to be mass-produced. The resulting design — to which the rights to manufacture were bought by Cassina in 1971 — is the essence of the De Stijl movement and an example of Rietveld’s experiments with jointless chairs made from a single material, wood. The Zig-Zag chair’s armless, legless, elegant form is pure abstraction, yet it is also sturdy and comfortable.
Later in his career, Rietveld worked more often as an architect, designing buildings in prestigious settings like the Venice Biennale. He was a pioneer in more ways than one: The first building he designed, Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht in 1924, is a radically modern space and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
Find vintage Gerrit Rietveld furniture on 1stDibs.
$3,900 / set
H 24 in W 19.75 in D 19.75 in
Pair of Vintage Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Schroeder Tables by Cassina
Located in Highland, IN
A masterpiece of the De Stijl movement, Gerrit Thomas Rietveld's "Schroeder 1" table was designed in 1923 for the Schröder House in Utrecht. An asymmetrical composition of interlocki...
Wood
$7,000
H 18 in W 15.75 in D 15.5 in
Modernist Side Tables in the manner of Gerrit Rietveld, The Netherlands, 1970s
By Gerrit Rietveld
Located in New York, NY
A refined pair of modernist side tables, executed in the manner of Gerrit Rietveld, showcasing a clean architectural composition defined by strict geometric lines and balanced propor...
Wood, Lacquer, Oak
Side table ClassiCon De Stijl Table design Eileen Gray
By Eileen Gray
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: ClassiCon Model: De Stijl Table Design: Eileen Gray The De Stijl Table is one of Eileen Gray's most versatile and sculptural creations. It was a favorite in her own living ro...
Wood
$5,292
H 13.39 in W 44.1 in D 33.08 in
Rare Original Gerrit Rietveld “tz77” Coffee Table for ‘t Spectrum, 1968. Signed.
By 't Spectrum, Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Beerse, VAN
Rare and original Gerrit Rietveld "tz77" coffee table for 't Spectrum, 1968. This table is a beautiful example of a typical Rietveld design due to its "simplicity", use of straight ...
Wood
Crate Side Table by Gerrit Rietveld, Netherlands, 1930s
By Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Antwerp, BE
Brown crate side table by Gerrit Rietveld, crafted circa 1935 in the Netherlands, this table is a testament to Rietveld's avant-garde approach to furniture design. As a pioneering figure in the De Stijl movement, Rietveld revolutionized the concept of traditional craftsmanship with his radical creations. Constructed from standard lumber size planks, they showcase Rietveld's belief in the inherent strength and durability of packing materials. Despite facing criticism for their departure from conventional workmanship, Rietveld remained true to his dedication to functionality and simplicity. This side table offers a chance to own the enduring legacy of the De Stijl movement. Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (1888–1964) was more than a furniture designer: he was an architectural maverick and a leading figure in the Dutch artistic movement De Stijl. His contributions to modern design transcend boundaries, shaping the landscape of 20th-century aesthetics. Rietveld's philosophy emphasized the purity of form and the integration of art into everyday life. Through his innovative use of materials and geometric abstraction, he challenged conventional norms and redefined the essence of design. His legacy lives on through timeless creations like the Black Crate...
Wood
Gerrit Rietveld Low Crate Table for Metz & Co., Circa 1935
By Gerrit Rietveld
Located in Skokie, IL
Offered is an attractive Gerrit Rietveld Lage ‘Krattafel’, Low ‘Crate Table’ Metz&Co Amsterdam, The Hague from 1935. Provenance: Estate of Laura Ziskin. Materials: Unpainted ...
Brass
ClassiCon Stijl Side Table Designed by Eileen Gray
By Eileen Gray
Located in New York, NY
Multiplex and MDF. Matte lacquered in black and white.
Lacquer
Wim Rietveld small Pyramid table Ahrend Netherlands 1960
By Ahrend de Cirkel, Wim Rietveld
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This rare ‘Pyramid’ table, designed by Wim Rietveld and produced by Ahrend de Cirkel in the Netherlands in 1960, is a striking example of minimalist and industrial design. With its V-shaped black metal frame and an original textured white Formica top, the table exudes timeless appeal. The slightly textured surface of the Formica adds a refined detail to its functional design, making it both practical and visually appealing. Rietveld’s ‘Pyramid’ table draws inspiration from Jean Prouvé’s Compass table...
Metal
$776Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Rare Side Table Designed by Walter Antonis for I-Form, Holland, 1978
By 't Spectrum Bergeijk, Walter Antonis
Located in Oirlo, LI
Rare side table designed by Walter Antonis for I-Form, Holland, 1978. This table was one of Walter Antonis' last designs when he started his own company I-Form after leaving 't Spectrum. Only 40...
Metal
$1,995
H 17.5 in W 28.5 in D 17 in
After Marcel Breuer, a Bauhaus Style Side Table and Magazine Holder
By Marcel Breuer
Located in North Miami, FL
A design after Marcel Breuer with mesh hanging hammock for magazines and chrome trim.
Chrome
Mid Century Knoll Hannah Morrison Side Tables
By Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison, Memphis Group
Located in Pasadena, TX
Mid Century Knoll Hannah & Morrison Side Tables Andrew Morrison and Bruce Hannah defined their design philosophy as an attempt to "round all the corners...
Chrome
Rectangular Occasional Table by Richard Meier
Located in Pasadena, TX
Rectangular Occasional Table in solid walnut designed by a well know architect Richard Meier for his home in the Hamptons New York 1990s.
Walnut
Maple Rectangular Occasional Table by Richard Meier
Located in Pasadena, TX
Designed by a well known architect Richard Meier for his home in the Hampton New York in the late 1990s.
Maple
Vintage Danish Side Table
By Trioh
Located in Pasadena, TX
Vintage Danish side table by Trioh. 2-tier teak table featuring a cane shelf.
Teak
2 Tier Side Table by Barbara Barry for HBF Studio
By HBF, Barbara Barry
Located in Pasadena, TX
Trestle Round 2 Tier Side Table by Barbara Barry for HBF Studio Rich walnut 2 tier side table with composite top and tapered legs.
Ebony
Macassar Ebony Widdicomb Side Table
By John Widdicomb
Located in Pasadena, TX
Macassar Ebony Widdicomb Side Table. John Widdicomb side or coffee table. Patchwork design in bleached and ebony macassar with walnut legs. Manufacturer's mark.
Ebony
