Rare modernist furniture, art & design
Gerrit Rietveld
Pair of 1970s Crate chairs manufacture by Gerard A. van de Groenekan. Both with burnished marks below. The chairs were produced by commission from the original owner.
They are in superb condition; both having a thin milky white wax/varnish surface.
PoA.
Paul McCobb (USA 1917-69)
Circular low table. Teak wood and steel.
Dia.90cm; Height 38cm
This table was designed as part of a range of simple mahogany wood and steel tables. They were retailed by Metz & Co., in Amsterdam (image 3). The table has a light grey painted finish which we presume is original. The brochure in image 2 shows the tables with a natural wood finish – Although the Metz & Co., image (image 3) shows one of the tables with a painted finish.
In the book ‘Metz & Co.: The Creative Years’ by Petra Timmer, the author elaborates on the relationship between Metz & Co and the American artist Paul McCobb:
“Henk de Leeuw had met the interior designer Paul McCobb in America and had discovered the same refined lines and distinction in his furniture as Penaat’s work. De Leeuw agreed with him that Metz would take his designs into production exclusively for the Netherlands, an appointment that was also made with Ponti, Pagani, Albini, Robin Day and the Danish Peter Hvidt, among others. In 1958 a separate exhibition was dedicated to McCobb’s furniture…”
PoA.
Jan van Grunsven (Dutch c20th)
This Scissor sofa was designed by architect Jan van Grunsven in 1959 and was produced by UMS/Pastoe in Utrecht. It has laminated layers of plywood and the original grey-brown wool upholstery and Dunlop foam. Van Grunsven worked as an architect in Gerrit Rietveld’s studio during the 1950s -1960s.
POA.
