The period from 1932-34 proved to be one of Gerrit Rietveld's most productive times. During these years he made the first prototypes for his Zig-Zag Chair. The first prototype is made out of a frame of iron strips covered in a single sheet of fibreboard. Structurally, there were problems. The fibreboard could not sustain stress at the sharp edges and at the corners of the frame. In Rietveld's second prototype, he uses a steel-strip frame which is screwed into pieces of plywood. Both the plywood and steel strips are vital elements for the structure and design. Later, Rietveld dispenses with the steel and screws together the sections of plywood to have a chair entirely composed of wood. The Zig-Zag Chair was Rietveld's best selling design.
c/o Pictoright Amsterdam/Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Makers

Translated title

Zig-Zag Chair (prototype, first version)

Collection

Design

Production date

ca. 1932-1933

Library

Click here to view 14 related documents

Dimensions

79 x 40.8 x 48.4 x 43cm.

Material

chair, welded section iron covered with moulded and stained fibre

Object number

KNA 2962

Credits

schenking Wim Rietveld, Badhoevedorp (NL) / Gift of Wim Rietveld, Badhoevedorp (NL)

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