Nice "Crate" desk by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina. Despite the fact that this desk's design dates back to 1934, we believe it to be a 1970s Cassina edition. Ash wood makes up this desk, which is finished in a clear lacquer.

"Gerrit Rietveld designed the 'crate' series of furniture built from standardized pine planks - cheap material for packaging crates - which were soon well-known as "crate furniture,"" according to the article.

The innovative designs started to be sold at Metz & Co. in 1935, where Rietveld furniture had already been available since 1930. The desk made out of crates dates back to this time before the war and was bought by the main shop on Amsterdam's Keizersgracht. The cost of this piece of furniture was not very high. A painted model was available for 16 guilders, but a finer desk created in 1931 by Rietveld and Schröder cost 10 times as much. The furniture was described in the store's advertising as "weekend furniture," suitable for "weekend houses, sunrooms, student and children's rooms." This intended use not only reveals the wealthy customer but also subtly reveals the store's somewhat dubious view of Rietveld's most recent creations. Source:kunstconsult.com.

This desk has age-related wear and tear, notably stains, but is otherwise in decent shape. This increases the genuineness in our opinion. We also have the matching crate chair available.

Rietveld, Gerrit Th., Central Museum Utrecht, Utrecht 1992, p. 156.