Gerrit Rietveld Zig Zag chair G.A.v.d. Groenekan 1961

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld
Utrecht 1888 – 1964
Architect, furniture designer

Important and iconic chair made (with full provenance) before Rietvelds death in 1964. One of the very few painted examples that still excist.

Design iconic chair of all design chairs, this ultra rare and worldwide known so called Zig Zag chair designed by one of the most important architects and furniture makers, designers Holland has ever known. This is probably one of the most known design chairs ever. It was originally designed in 1934 but was produced and made till now. There were several manufacturers, Rietveld, his cabinet maker Gerard van de Groenekan and now Cassina. Even after Gerrit Rietveld died, Gerard v.d. Groenekan made several chairs. V.d. Groenekan was Rietvelds carpenter and he made most his chairs after the very first few examples.

Provenance: This chair comes from as set of 4 purchased by visual artist Iris de Leeuw, member of the Luuks movement Maastricht and printmaker. Her work from the sixties and seventies is bought by the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. She remembered buying these chairs as if it was yesterday. She was inspired by the design of this chair and ordered them in 1960, in 1961 Gerard van de Groenekan called her if it was okay to make them in elm wood because the quality of the pine wasnt good enough anymore. The price of the chair in the day was about 25 Euro/ each. When she got the chairs home they were in unpainted wood, because of her dark floor she painted them white. Later when she moved to a home with light floor she painted them black. When the fashion in the 80s went cobalt blue she painted them blue but it didn't match with the chair so she painted them directly back to these Rietveld colors, Bordeaux red and grey. This paint is from ca 1982 and has fantastic patina from age and usage. Full provenance report is available with the sale.

Important Literature: Peter Vöge, the complete Rietveld Furniture, page 82/83, number 120.
Gerrit Th. Rietveld 1888-1964 Het volledige werk, Marijke Küper, Ida van Zijl (Utrecht, 1992)
page 146/147.