GERRIT RIETVELD, 1963
OBJECT
The design of Rietveld’s Steltman chair by the Dutch master was commissioned in 1963 by a jeweller in The Hague, who hired the Dutch master to completely remodel his store.
When it came to furniture, Rietveld created two entirely geometric chairs, identical but mirrored, designed to allow a couple to sit facing the jeweller’s display window and choose a piece of jewellery together.
One chair has an armrest on the left, while the other has it on the right. Viewed individually, the chairs appear asymmetrical, but when placed side by side, they align and create a sense of unity.
Photos and stories from the 1960s in the Netherlands tell us that the chair was initially upholstered in white leather. Only later, after Rietveld’s death in 1964, did his assistant Gerard van de Groenekan produce a version without upholstery, which exposed the lines and curves of the solid oak structure.
From that moment on, the wooden version became the most famous, and is now available in various finishes – matte lacquer, or stained white or black. The chair is also still available with various leather or felt coverings in many colors.
IMAPACT OF THE STELTMAN CHAIR
Culturally, the impact of Rietveld’s work is hard to quantify. He was a pioneer of design, a giant of modernism part of Le Stijl group, and a proponent of design as art whose influence is still strong today.
Thanks to Cassina’s reissues for the “i Maestri” series (which includes the Zig Zag chair, the Utrecht armchair, and the Red and Blue chair), Rietveld’s work has recently been seeing a spark in popularity once again, and is to be found in the cover of magazines and in the homes of celebrities. Which is great for those interested in his work, as it is discussed and appreciated outside cultural circles and Rietveld’s objects find a new place in contemporary thinking.
The Steltman chair, in particular, is a cultural reference point when it comes to the genius, elegance, and beauty of an object. For its historical importance it is part of the collections of the world’s best design museums, including the MoMA in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and many others.
STELTMAN CHAIR: THE PROJECT
The Steltman Chair was designed by Rietveld at the age of 75, it is one of his final designs and undoubtedly one of the most appreciated by the public as well as from design historians.
The Steltman Chair features pure geometric shapes, created solely from wooden planks. Available in two mirror-image models with a strong sculptural presence, it is composed solely of lines and surfaces, offering a different geometry from any angle it is viewed.
As one of the final projects in Rietveld’s career as both craftsman and designer, the Steltman chair embodies the intelligence and romance that define his work. It is a great pleasure to see that its complex geometry remains relevant and inspiring more than sixty years after its conception.
GERRIT RIETVELD
Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964) was a designer and architect from Utrecht, a key figure in neoplasticism and the De Stijl movement. In addition to the UNESCO-listed Rietveld Schröder House and numerous architectural projects, Rietveld designed furniture throughout his career. His Red and Blue Chair is a symbol of 20th-century modernist design.
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DETAILS
Produced by Rietveld Originals
The original version of the Steltman Chair is available on Rietveld Originals >
Total width: 50 cm
Total depth: 45 cm
Total height: 70 cm
Seat width: 40 cm
Seat depth: 40 cm
Backrest height: 40 cm
The wooden version is crafted from solid oak, available in matte lacquer, or stained white or black.
The chair is also available with felt or leather upholstery in a variety of colors.
