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Jan den Drijver for De Stijl The Hague armchair, vintage, newly upholstered
€1,595
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About this seller
ProfessionalOss, NetherlandsOn Whoppah since March 2022 • 573 sales
Product description
Recently, in our workshop, we restored this very interesting Dutch design armchair from the early period of Dutch Modernism.
The model is a design by Jan den Drijver and was created for his own furniture store, De Stijl, in The Hague, around 1948.
Jan den Drijver (1903–1993) is a relatively unknown but very interesting name in Dutch furniture history. He was trained in the furniture trade and developed into a furniture maker, interior designer, and independent furniture designer. From the late 1920s, he worked under the name Woninginrichting De Stijl in The Hague. His business was not a gallery in the modern sense, but a progressive furniture and interior design store where complete interiors were designed and executed.
The name De Stijl naturally referred to the well-known Dutch art movement, but Den Drijver gave it his own interpretation. His designs were less strictly geometric than, for example, the abstract designs of Rietveld, but combined modern ideas with traditional craftsmanship. He designed furniture that was contemporary, yet at the same time comfortable and suitable for everyday living.
This armchair from circa 1948 is a beautiful, very early example of this. The high back, the curved wooden armrests, and the elegant lines clearly show the transition between pre-war Dutch modernism and the emerging Mid-Century Modern style, which would not break through to the general public until 10 years later. Characteristic features include the flowing forms of the wooden frame, the horizontal wooden slats in the backrest, and the emphasis on seating comfort. The design appears simple, yet is technically and aesthetically constructed with great care.
A special detail is the wooden buttons in the upholstery. In this particular example, these have been repositioned in the same way as in the original upholstery, preserving the character and original appearance of the design. The armchair has been completely reupholstered professionally, making an important piece of Dutch design suitable for daily use once again.
Den Drijver designed several pieces of furniture for De Stijl, including armchairs and sofas, all of which are now highly sought after by collectors of Dutch design. Although his name is less well-known than that of contemporaries such as Willem Hendrik Gispen or Bas van Pelt, his work is increasingly appreciated today by connoisseurs and enthusiasts worldwide as part of Dutch Mid-Century Modern history.
This armchair thus forms a beautiful combination of Dutch design heritage, artisanal quality, and timeless comfort. A special piece from the period in which Dutch designers began to shape their own modern living culture.
Country of origin: The Netherlands
Manufacturer: interior decorator De Stijl The Hague
Designer: Jan den Drijver
Period: 1940s
Height: 77 cm
Seat height: 42.5 cm
Width: 60 cm
Seat width: 52 cm
Depth: 76 cm
Seat depth: 50 cm
Specifications
ConditionExcellentColorsBeige, BrownMaterialWoodNumber of items1Height77 cmWidth60 cmDepth76 cmSeat height43 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
ProfessionalOss, NetherlandsOn Whoppah since March 2022 • 573 sales