Pastoe: the Dutch maker behind Cees Braakman and post-war Dutch modernism
Pastoe has been making furniture in the Netherlands since 1913. Under Cees Braakman's design direction from 1948 to 1978, they produced some of the most important Dutch mid-century pieces. Here's the short story.
Pastoe is one of the most-listed Dutch brands on Whoppah. Our curators see steady supply from Dutch and Belgian sellers, and the pieces tend to stay within the Benelux and German buyer markets.
Pastoe was founded in 1913 in Utrecht by Frits Loeb as a manufacturer of standardised modular furniture. The transformation came in 1948 when Cees Braakman took over as design director and stayed in that role for 30 years. Under Braakman, Pastoe became the leading Dutch furniture manufacturer of the mid-century period, with a catalogue that drew on Bauhaus discipline, American influence (Braakman spent time at the Knoll factory in 1947), and a distinctly Dutch material economy.
The Pastoe modular cabinet system, designed by Braakman in 1953 and updated through the 1960s, is the canonical piece. Wall-mounted or floor-standing storage units in teak, oak or birch, with sliding doors and modular configuration. The system has been in continuous production for over 70 years, and vintage examples are some of the most flexible storage pieces you can buy.
The SM05 chair (Cees Braakman, 1958), the bent-plywood and steel dining chair, is the Pastoe seating workhorse. Vintage examples on Whoppah at €120 to €280 each.
The Combex series (Braakman, 1954) of dining tables and chairs is the comprehensive set. €600 to €1,400 for a table; chairs €120 to €280 each.
In more recent years, Pastoe has continued the modular cabinet tradition under designers like Maarten van Severen (the U cabinet series, 1995) and Pierre Mazairac.
What to look for on the secondhand market: authentic Pastoe pieces carry a Pastoe label, usually inside a drawer or on the back panel of cabinets. Older Braakman-era pieces sometimes have the label faded or missing, in which case the construction (specific drawer slides, joinery details) is the verification.
Vintage 1960s Pastoe Braakman cabinets in original teak finish sell on Whoppah at €600 to €2,500 depending on size and condition. Refinished pieces are less valuable than original-finish pieces, so try to find original.
If you're in the Netherlands, Pastoe is one of the easiest mid-century brands to source locally, with good supply and active dealer network.
