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W.H. Rietveld for Gispen armchair, vintage upholstered
€895
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About this seller
Oss, NetherlandsOn Whoppah since March 2022 • 554 sales
Product description
In 1954, model 1401 was introduced and first shown at the 10th Milan Triennale, where it was awarded a gold medal. It was a chair with an unprecedented, sleek design for its time, where function largely determined form.
Its beautiful iron frame and Bakelite armrests are immediately striking, and the foam-filled cushions were a novelty for the time.
For many years, the model remained in production and popular with the public. In 2026, the design still looks contemporary and modern, earning the chair the rightful title of Design Icon.
This example.
This example comes from its first owners, who acquired the chair as a cutting-edge piece of furniture in the 1950s. It was used for many years until it was due for a complete restoration in 2025.
At that time, we acquired this classic and fully restored it. The upholstery was completely replaced with Winner by Keymer in yellow, a beautiful fabric with a beautiful weave.
The frame was completely repainted and is now a beautiful black.
The foam rubber was also replaced with the very best material on the market, resulting in seating comfort equal to or even better than the original.
About the designer:
Wim Rietveld (1924-1985), son of the renowned architect and designer Gerrit Rietveld, completed a technical education. He then went on to work as a designer of large equipment. He worked for Servo Balans, a company that manufactured large, exclusive weighing equipment for industry.
From 1950 onwards, Wim Rietveld trained as a designer at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. The quality of his graduation work prompted manufacturer Willem Gispen to invite him to work for the Gispen company of the same name. The Netherlands was undergoing reconstruction at the time, and materials were in short supply.
Wim Rietveld worked at Gispen from 1953 to 1957. Rietveld excelled at balancing functionality and aesthetics and devising simple yet beautiful production techniques.
Country of origin: The Netherlands
Manufacturer: Gispen
Designer: W.H. Rietveld
Model: 1401
Height: 69 cm
Seat height: 36.5 cm
Width: 61.5 cm
Seat width: 45.5 cm
Depth: 57 cm
Seat depth: 41 cm
Specifications
ConditionExcellentColorsBlackMaterialMetalNumber of items1BrandGispenHeight69 cmWidth61 cmDepth57 cmSeat height37 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Oss, NetherlandsOn Whoppah since March 2022 • 554 sales