This chair's prototype designed by Gerrit Rietveld is dated 1919, although this particular version in red, blue, silver-grey and black was probably made around 1925. The early examples are wood stained in brown or black. From the 1950s the most famous version of the Red and Blue Chair with yellow details, dating from 1923, took on an iconic status as the most important three-dimensional object representing De Stijl. The introduction of primary colours reinforces the chair's position within this movement. Notable in the design is the construction: each element remains independent and is left uninterrupted. Colour reinforces each component's individuality in this open structure. In addition, lines and planes move through space in three dimensions. Rietveld is well known for his innovative furniture designs as well as for his famous Rietveld Schröder House.
c/o Pictoright Amsterdam/Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Makers

Translated title

Red Blue Chair

Collection

Design

Production date

ontwerp 1919-1923, uitvoering dit exemplaar ca. 1925

Library

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Dimensions

86.5 x 65.8 x 83.5 x 33.5cm.

Material

lounge chair, stained solid beech frame with wood dowel joints, painted birch plywood (multiply) seat and backrest

Object number

KNA 1276