Heinz Witthoeft (Germany 1935-2021)

Pair of ‘Tail 4’ lounge chairs. 1959. Witthoeft Stuttgart 1960s.

Pine frames with slung leather/hide. 64.5 x 64.5 x 54cm high.

Radical modernist lounge chairs that are almost never to be found as a pair – the ‘Tail 4’ design has an architectural cube frame that each houses a low slung thick leather seat. The combination of a rigid external frame and flexible seat define and enhance the seating experience. (These chairs almost cross over into the realm of sculpture – and as sculptures they pre-date and anticipate some of the later minimalist art of Sol le Wit, Donald Judd or other minimalist artists of the 60s-70s).

Trained at the prestigious Ulm School of Design, Witthoeft embodies the functionalist and minimalist spirit characteristic of German modernism from that era. His varied output as a designer included furniture systems, drawings, photographs, and graphic designs all contributed to his utopian urban vision in Post-war Germany and are embodied in the design of these chairs.

Completely original condition with a distinctive warm patina commensurate with their age.

Price: 9.400 euro (pair)

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

Cornelius L. (Cor) Alons (Nl.1892 – 1967)

Oak side table. 75 x 49 x 65cm high. 1920s.

Cor Alons was a Dutch interior, industrial and book cover designer in the early c20th. Like several of the Dutch designers of the era he was inspired by the work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1923 he established a design agency with designer Frits Spanjaard (1889-1978). Dedicated to the construction and renovation of private houses, the pair belonged to the first generation of interior designers, designing not only furniture, but also the space in which the furniture inhabited. As an advocate for functionalism, Alons often sought out simple furniture with sober forms in his interior design.  He preferred clear, simple, and often enduring shapes from dark, mostly valuable, building materials and colours.

Over the course of his career, Alons focused on avant-garde developments in both the Netherlands and abroad, and was a proponent of the De Stijl movement, some elements from which can be seen in his coffee tables, dining chairs, and lounge chairs.

In 1929, Alons was appointed a lecturer at the Department of Furniture Design at the seminal Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague. Under the Bauhaus’ influence, new departments emerged at the Academy, including graphic design, advertising, photography, industrial design, and furniture design.

Although we do not know the maker of this table, it is typical of aesthetic he and Frits Spanjaard brought to Dutch design of the era. It has been fully restored and is in superb condition.

Price: 3.000 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com







			

Wim den Boon (Nl.1912-1968)

Bespoke lounge chair. 1960s.

Original lacquered steel frame (swivel back rest) with slung leather seat and back.

65 x 65 x 68cm high (seat height 32.5 cm)

An important lounge chair by Wim den Boon. This is an historical piece of furniture and an important part of the legacy of Wim den Boon as an important Dutch architect and interior designer.

Wim Den Boon was a Dutch designer, interior designer and architect. Den Boon was a strict thinking man who believed strongly in the transforming capacities of architecture and design who left behind a small body of work. Most of his furniture was made for specific projects. This particular chair is a fine example of Den Boon’s work and dates from the early 1960s . The second photo shows this chair in its original setting (photo: NAI Rotterdam).
It has new leather upholstery. The new leather is a copy after the original upholstery as can be seen in the last photo.

We have a collection of furniture in stock by Wim den Boon of which most pieces are bespoke pieces that were commissioned for private homes in the Netherlands (and come with provenance – see other listings)

Price: 3.400 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

Shigeru Uchida (Japan 1943-now)

Two A-Line storage cabinets/shelves, Pastoe/Netherlands 1990s. Aluminium.

90 x 18 x 17.5 cm high

Finely engineered A-Line ‘Horizontals’ that are made from anodised aluminium. They each have softly sliding doors that slide to both the left or to the right.
Each unit is fully marked with the Pastoe company name.

They hang easily to the wall by sitting onto a wall connection that fixes to the wall with just a few screws. Good condition – one cabinet has some slight small brown marks to the inside.

Price: 2.400 euro (set of 2, or 1.300 euro per piece)

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

Benches

Pair of Dutch circa 1940s cherry and oak wood benches with superb all original patina.

186.5cm wide x 33.5cm deep x 48cm high

A pair of simple and attractive benches. Oak boards on cherry wood X-frame legs. The thin oak and peg constructed base gives these benches an elegant modernist appeal. The best aspect of these benches is their warm period patina – It shows just the perfect degree of age and use. They are stable and ready for use. (We also have a matching table – available)

Price: 1.700 euro (pair)

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

midcentury kinetic sculpture

Circa 1960s standing sculpture in the manner of Harry and Val Bertoia. The sculpture weighs ±50kg. and is made from solid iron and steel. The two standing sections can be easily moved so that they swing slightly from side to side.

38 x 19 x 118cm high

Price: 2.200 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

x2 Bossche school benches

Jan de Jong / Dom Hans van der Laan (Nl 1904-1991)

Pair of original Bossche School church benches/pews from the Sint-Willibroduskerk in Almelo. 1960s.

Stained pine wood with hand forged large nails.

302 x 67 x 86.5 (seat height 48.5) Note: Measurements are according to van der Laan’s theories of the ‘plastic number’ system.

Two rare long benches designed by the Dutch Benedictine monk and architect Dom Hans van der Laan and executed by fellow architect Jan de Jong for the Sint-Willibroduskerk in Almelo.
The architect Jan de Jong who worked closely together with Dom Hans van der Laan was responsible for the design of the church and its interior. They created an outstanding body of work ,very much defining what is called now the Dutch Bossche School style.
The artist Wim van Hoof was responsible for the entire colour scheme of the church and its interior (including these benches). The colour of the benches is mostly green but has a touch of brown with a silvery blue tint.
The benches were purchased after the demolition of the church in 2005 and is in a very nice original condition.

Price: 11,000 euro (per piece)

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com

Kwok Hoi Chan (HK 1939-1990)

Rare sz15 lounge chair for ‘t Spectrum 1973.


This sculptural chair was manufactured for a short period during which time it is believed that around only 100 of the chairs were manufactured. This one was purchased from the first owner and is in superb original condition with only minimal signs of age and use.
.
Tubular steel and thick leather 72x90x68cm

Price: 3.600 euro

http://www.merzbaufurniture.com