Dutch EXCLUSIVE of global proportions
Rietveld by Rietveld
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On the 2004 threshold, Rietveld by Rietveld comes with an exclusive which may well be the most important Dutch furniture news of 2005. Under the meaningful name Rietveld by Rietveld, two of Gerrit Thomas Rietveld's (1888 - 1964) descendents will bring reproductions from their (great) grandfather's comprehensive oeuvre on the market. The first range should be available in furniture shops early 2005.
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Ries Seijler (at age 1) on the lap of this great-grandfather, Gerrit Rietveld. Together with his second cousin Egbert Rietveld, he is the initiator of Rietveld by Rietveld. |
Rietveld by Rietveld is an initiative of Egbert Rietveld (1961) - one of Rietveld's grandsons - and great-grandson Ries Seijler (1962). The two second cousins want 'to show the world that Rietveld is much more than just the Red-Blue or the Zigzag chair'. They will start with a range of five models: the Military chair, the Military table, the Military stool, the Berlin chair and the Steltman chair. The furniture will be produced by a Dutch manufacturer. "We will reproduce the furniture in the spirit of my grandfather and will replicate everything as closely as possible. We will however make use of modern day technologies if that enhances the quality of the furniture. Because quality is the main thing for us, not so much the sheer following", says Egbert Rietveld.
"We are convinced that Rietveld too, had he been alive now, would have made different choices with regard to production, materials and such", continues Ries Seijler. Rietveld by Rietveld will for example improve the construction here and there, apply different glue joints and use spray where possible. "We make reproductions, but we will also make interpretations", says Seijler. "In order to stay as pure as possible, we will therefore first submit any changes to the board of the Stichting Gerrit Th. Rietveld (Foundation Gerrit Th. Rietveld) and a recommending committee, which includes Cees Dam and Richard Hutten among others".
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The asymmetrical Steltman chair (1963) features the open composition of rails and verticals so characteristic of Rietveld. Together with the Military set and the Berlin chair, the Steltman chair will form the first range of Rietveld by Rietveld.
(Picture: Sotheby's Amsterdam ©)
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There appears to be reasonable leeway measurement-wise. "The more we delved into things, the more models we measured and the more drafts we found - both from museums and Rietveld himself - the more it became clear that there were several versions of a certain piece of furniture", Egbert Rietveld continues. Looking back that's logical, bearing in mind that Rietveld often worked on commission and everything was made by hand. But there is a margin to safely interpret Rietveld and we take that liberty."
Rietveld by Rietveld wants to spread out its range worldwide. Egbert Rietveld: "We don't want expensive, limited editions in gold boxes with ribbons; on the contrary, we want to make Rietveld widely accessible instead of it just being a collector's item for the happy few. The fact that it does come with a price tag is obvious from the quality and status of brand furniture." The furniture will be numbered and comes with an introductory booklet about Rietveld and the relevant model.
Each year, Rietveld and Seijler want to add new designs to their range. "Famous ones, but it will certainly include models not yet known to the world. Things Rietveld has drawn, but never produced", says Ries Seijler. According to him, the suitable items run into many dozens of models: lounge chairs, dining chairs, armchairs, cabinets, tables and children's furniture.
The models which are produced by Cassina remain part of their 'I Maestri' range: the famous Red-Blue chair, the Zigzag chair, the Divan table, the upholstered Utrecht sofa and the Armchair.
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downloads
The pictures below can be downloaded immediately and are released for publication, provided they are shown with this press release or promotional articles about Rietveld by Rietveld. For any other use and/or other works by Rietveld, the approval of Stichting Beeldrecht (Dutch Visual Arts Rights Foundation) is required. On publication of the Steltman chair, credit mention is compulsory (Sotheby's Amsterdam).
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| logo (68 kB) |
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G. Rietveld (1.886 kB) |
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Steltman (1.020 kB) |
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Note to the editor (not for publication)
For further information or a supplementary interview, please contact Rietveld by Rietveld: info@rietveld-by-rietveld.com, + 31 24 6633228
Stichting Beeldrecht: info@beeldrecht.nl, + 31 20 5891840
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