Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Utrecht sofa Metz & Co 1960

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld
Utrecht 1888 – 1964
Architect, furniture designer

One of the few actual comfortable seats designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Metz en Co, 1935. This chair is special because it’s the first upholstered chair designed by Rietveld. This was produced and purchased at Metz & Co, the wooden frame was built by Gerard van den Groenekan and the upholstery was done by Dhr. Staphorst, upholsterer for Metz & Co. The chairs production was postponed because of the war but in the early 1950’s Metz represented the chairs again and also came up with this sofa. Only a few are known to exist. The sofa reupholstered in new fabric by Kvadrat (Divina). The complete inside of the chairs was kept original, the old jute webbing which is characteristic for the chairs by Metz & Co was kept and also the spring seat bedding inside is used again cause this was still intact. So the sofa is restored with preservation of authenticity.

Provenance: This sofa was purchased at by Metz & Co in ca 1960.

Important literature:
Gerrit Th. Rietveld 1888-1964, Marijke Küper Ida van Zijl, Centraal Museum 1992. Page 175, number 258.
The complete Rietveld furniture, Peter Vöge, 010 publischers Rotterdam 1993. Page 96/97, number 157.