Tag: dutch design

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Jan Slothouber & William Graatsma (NL. Mid-c20th)
Five original modular cubes from the 1970s. Laminated plywood.
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The Dutch duo Slothouber & Graatsma established themselves from the 1950s as artist/designers with the cube form as their key motif around which they developed various principles of cubic construction alongside multiples and variations thereof. Despite its restrictions they admired the cube for its clarity of form. They applied their thinking around it to a variety of objects, and artworks from small jewellery-scale 3d models and games to larger installation works.
Highly driven personalities, they considered themselves as discoverers of ‘the many applications of the democratic system of cubics’; a system that would ostensively act to counter the rise of the expressive individualism in post-WWII culture. (They later established the CCC_the Center for Cubic Constructions as a forum for promoting their ideas).
Due to their diverse and multidisciplinary output they were never to become global names – But they were a highly respected creative team (representing The Netherlands at the Venice Biennale in 1970) and in 1965 the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam honoured them with the exhibition ‘Vier kanten: maat, vorm, kleur, letter’ (Four sides: size, form, colour, letter). Donald Judd for one was a great admirer of their work.

Price: 3,900 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

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Bumper table

Martin Visser (Nl. 1922-2009)

The bumper table is undoubtedly Martin Visser’s most intriguing design, the baroque translation from 1965 of his table base tz06 from the early 1960s. The development of Martin Visser’s bumper table provides insight into and understanding of his design processes: The table’s main feature is its reversible tripod base, later called ‘Abusir’ – Seemingly simple with the three points on the floor and three points to carry the top (in the history of furniture the tripod table is known to be the most stable structure).

Only two series were produced in very limited numbers due to the technical difficulties of manufacturing the base. Spectrum Furniture (‘t Spectrum) manufactured the table as several versions that varied in height, width, materials and finishes – this version with the white carrara marble top.

Price: 15,000 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

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architectural throne chair

Brutalist / Structuralist chair. Netherlands. Circa 1960s/70s.

Steel & leather/hide.

An interesting architectural chair. Its construction and manufacture lead us to believe that it is possibly a prototype? – Its design reflects the style of post-war structuralist architecture/interiors typical of several Rotterdam architects from the period. (we are still researching the design).

Price: 4,400 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

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x2 Artifort Stick chairs

Bruno Ninaber van Eyben (NL. 1950-now)

Artifort. 1970s. Plywood.

The model 020 ‘Stick’ chair was designed by Dutch industrial designer Bruno Ninaber van Eyben in 1977.

The design is made up of three constituent parts that fit together: two pieces of angled plywood and a length of stick with a round profile. The stick in the middle connects the plywood pieces and functions as the backbone and strength of the chair.

These rare chairs were manufactured in very limited numbers due to the production costs and difficulties. Only 150 of these chairs were produced. Apart from its low production numbers the other reason that so few exist is because they can easily get damaged – Due to the stool’s fragility we recommend that it should be purchased by a design lover that appreciates its sculptural qualities rather than its functionality!

The plywood has been refinished.

Price: 3.950 euro (per piece)

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

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Traditionalist Dutch chair


Circa 1920s. A solid oak side chair in the Dutch traditionalist or Neo-Gothic manner. The chair has a very ordered and balanced appearance and combines the predominant styles of the period.

Price: 850 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

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plywood cube sculpture

Minimalist object/artwork composed of a series of six plywood cubes with diagonal divisions inside reminiscent of Donald Judd’s plywood art works. Circa 1980s.
Beautifully crafted, the six cubes are connected by one or two discrete rubber hinges (with a metal bar holding them in place) that enable the cubes to be unfolded vertically or horizontally in one direction along a single plain.

There are a few possible configurations as shown which enable it to be used as a shelving unit (with limited shelving space), a long bench, or simply as a decorative art object…

Each cube 40 x 40 x 40cm

Price: 2,100 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

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Martin Visser table

Martin Visser (Nl. 1922-2009)

Enamelled steel and aluminium. 244 x 85 x 75cm / Initial prototype TE20 table.

’t Spectrum Bergeyk 1988. Model TE20 (Carol). Aluminium and lacquered steel.

Rare modernist table designed by Martin Visser and Joke van der Heyden. This particular table appears to come from a small test series (or one of a series of prototypes whereby Visser was still experimenting with the design – there are some quite primitive connections and test holes where you can see Visser grappling with the design).

These first tables have a slightly different build than the later production tables; they do not have the rubber connections between the top and leg structures that the later tables had – Instead the illusion of the top floating above the base is created by incorporating a slight gap between the top and base sections. The same illusion is created at the base of the legs where a single rubber beyond view creates the illusion of the whole table floating slightly above the floor.

There were 3 different versions: TE20 (Carol), TE21 (Sofie) and TE22 (Eva). This TE20 table is the largest of the series. 

The booklet entitled ‘Martin Visser, collected work‘ contains a full description of the creation of the TE20.

Price: 7,500 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

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1930s side chairs

Bas van Pelt (Nl 1900-1945)

Pair of constructivist oak side chairs. Circa 1930s.

Manufactured by Bas van Pelt (labels and burnished markings to underside).

Price: 3,400 euro (pair)

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com