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Pastoe Low Chair 2003 – design Maarten Van Severen
€695Bid from €595
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Product description
This Low Chair from 2003, designed by Maarten Van Severen in collaboration with Fabian Schwarze for Pastoe, is one of the most characteristic minimalist chair designs of the early 21st century. The design emerged during a period when Van Severen had reduced his design language to the extreme: furniture constructed from as few elements as possible, where material, line, and construction coincide completely.
The chair consists of a curved shell resting on a minimalist tubular frame. Consequently, the design is almost graphic in character. A single continuous form constitutes the seat, back, and sculptural volume simultaneously. This radical simplicity is typical of Van Severen's oeuvre and makes his designs recognizable within international design history.
Moreover, the 2003 model holds a special position within Van Severen's work. It is among his final designs and is therefore often seen as a kind of summary of his design philosophy. The designer passed away shortly after this period, giving his late designs a special place within modernist design collector circles. This particular piece is an original Pastoe production, recognizable by the embossed label on the underside of the shell listing the designers and model name. Pastoe played a significant role in the dissemination of modernist design in the Netherlands and collaborated with various influential designers throughout the twentieth century. The Low Chair represents an interesting moment in that history, as the design was later included in the DePadova collection and remains in production today.
New versions of this model are currently being sold through DePadova and have a retail price of approximately €1,900, depending on the finish and upholstery. This underscores how timeless the design is and how relevant it is still considered within contemporary interior design.
The chair itself is constructed from white lacquered sheet material with a slender tubular frame. The shape of the shell features a slight S-curve, ensuring that the chair offers a surprisingly comfortable seating position despite its minimalist construction. The design thus strikes a balance between sculpture and functional object.
A separate Maharam cushion/cover is included with this piece. Maharam is a renowned textile manufacturer known worldwide for high-quality upholstery fabrics and historical collaborations with Herman Miller and various modernist designers, among others. The cushion not only adds comfort but also brings visual warmth to the minimalist design.
The chair shows signs of wear on the edges of the lacquered steel shell. In a few places, lacquer wear is visible where the steel is slightly oxidized. This wear occurs mainly along the edges of the shell and is largely out of sight during normal use. It is a common phenomenon and does not affect the chair's construction.
Moreover, for those who wish, these areas are relatively easy to restore through local touch-ups or re-lacquering. At the same time, many design enthusiasts actually appreciate the visible signs of wear as part of the object's history.
Due to its clean form and limited visual mass, the Low Chair fits into a wide variety of interiors. The chair comes into its own particularly well in minimalist living spaces, modern lofts, gallery-style interiors, or design collections where objects can be experienced as autonomous forms. The design combines several qualities that rarely come together: a strong sculptural presence, an extremely minimalist construction, and a clear place within the design history of European minimalism.
For lovers of modernist design, this chair therefore represents not only a functional piece of furniture but also a representative object from the late work of one of the most important Belgian designers of his generation.
In summary, this is an original Pastoe Low Chair from 2003, designed by Maarten Van Severen and Fabian Schwarze and fitted with a Maharam cushion. A minimalist design with clear historical design significance that is still in production and has thereby proven its timeless character.
Specifications
ConditionGoodColorsWhiteMaterialOtherNumber of items1BrandPastoeHeight70 cmWidth65 cmDepth75 cmSeat height37 cmSigns of usageChipped
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Utrecht, NetherlandsOn Whoppah since December 2025 • 2 sales