High Chair, Attributed to Gerrit Rietveld, Netherlands - design ca. 1920

Description

Attributed to Gerrit Rietveld, this high chair is based on a design developed circa 1920, belonging to the earliest phase of his exploration into slat-based furniture. This particular piece is most likely a pre-war production. During this period, Rietveld investigated modular systems through repeated linear elements and standardized joinery, anticipating the more codified works later associated with De Stijl. The structure is composed of uniformly dimensioned wooden slats, assembled with dowel connections to form an open yet rigid framework, where construction remains fully legible.

Material and formal characteristics suggest an early fabrication, reinforced by the presence of side panels (zijschotten), which correspond to known early variants of the model. The surface presents a darkened patina, likely achieved through traditional treatments such as lyeing or ammonia fuming. Evidence of later intervention is visible in the rear connections, consistent with adjustments attributed to Van de Groenekan and observed in comparable examples. A marking beneath the seat, reading “R 59 3” alongside a handwritten repair note, further documents its history. Comparable pieces appear in early interiors published in De Stijl (1920), and an external report by Atelier Jurjen Creman supports the correspondence of its construction and material qualities with known early examples, while acknowledging subsequent modifications.

GW4498