Bas van Pelt’s designs were only produced when an order was placed, which is still a tradition at “My Home Foundation” and explains the limited numbers of surviving models. This lounge chair has a timeless style thanks to its classic elegance and high-quality materials.

The attention-grabbing visual element is the backrest with thirteen wooden spindles that creates an almost throne-like appearance. The natural beauty of oak and its versatile grain is beautifully displayed throughout the chair, especially in the backrest. The round, “floating” pillow cleverly breaks the mostly straight lines and further highlights the barred-back. Interesting details are to be found everywhere, including the joinery point of the armrests and front legs which is in a shape of a small tetrahedron. The legs and stretchers combine straight and bent lines, creating a sculptural look that is interesting from all angles. The structure displays a beautiful contrast between the light wooden oak frame and the elegant bouclé fabric of the cushions.

This lounge chair shows why Bas van Pelt is widely regarded as a Dutch design icon. From the handcrafted oak frame to the wooden spindles and tapered legs, the design talent is obvious. According to some historical records, this model was commissioned by prestigious institutions, such as the Dutch Town hall, museum or director’s office and was made in limited editions in the 1930s and 1940s.

SOLD

Condition:

In good vintage condition. Wear consistent with age and use. Some small scratches and marks. The pillow and seat cushion have been reupholstered recently in premium bouclé fabric.

Dimensions:

27.36 in W x 33.46 in D x 39.96 in H; Seat height 15.15 in

69.5 cm W x 85 cm D x 101.5 cm H; Seat height 38.5 cm

About the Designer:

Bas Van Pelt (1900 Dordrecht (NL) - 1945 Sandbostel (DE)) was a well-known Dutch interior and furniture designer, known for the clarity and quality of his designs. His works created in the 1930s and 1940s are regarded for their progressive design and quality.

While he is most well-known for his chair designs, van Pelt was also active as an interior designer. He also designed fabrics for window coverings, rugs and carpets, seating and tables, as well as lighting crafted by the best craftsmen in the Netherlands. He worked with multiple manufacturers, including his own firm, Bas van Pelt / My Home and Verto Verenigde Touwfabrikien, where his tubular metal designs were produced. He opened ‘My Home’ in 1931, just before the onset of the great crisis in the midst of major changes in the last century. In the façade of the shop, in the lively centre of The Hague, there was one large window placed so that everyone could look inside and see how things were made, and could be done differently; in his view, modern furniture at the time was light and airy, transparent, made of tubular steel frame, combined with wood. This view was very progressive for the 1930s, when the influence of The Hague School was still dominating most designers.

Unfortunately, in 1940 WWII changed the life of Bas van Pelt as well, who was on the board of the Haagse Kunstkring, where discussions about reconstruction after the war took place. Sadly, Bas van Pelt did not live to see it. He was deported because he gave people in hiding a safe place, saving many lives. While there is very limited information about his life and work, his furniture designs have become collectibles in the past decades that are also found in Dutch museums. Bas van Pelt is remembered as a progressive designer and as a man who saved lives. ~H.