Gerrit Rietveld jr. Dutch, 1920-1961

Gerrit Rietveld Jr. (1920–1961) was the third son of architect and designer Gerrit Thomas Rietveld. Trained as a cabinetmaker in the workshop of Gerard van de Groenekan—the craftsman who produced many of his father’s iconic chairs—he mastered the precision and discipline of traditional woodworking at a young age. Beyond this solid foundation, however, he sought his own direction.

After leaving van de Groenekan’s studio, Rietveld Jr. worked in several furniture workshops and factories, including the Rippen piano factory after the Second World War, where he was involved in designing piano casings. Alongside this work, he pursued independent projects, attempting several times to establish his own practice. These ventures gave him the freedom to experiment with new forms, innovative constructions, and functional solutions. His designs were appreciated for their sobriety and craftsmanship, while also pointing toward new possibilities in post-war Dutch design.

In 1957, Rietveld Jr. contributed to the Utrecht exhibition space De Jacobitoren, further affirming his role in shaping interiors and public design. Though his oeuvre is relatively modest in scale—partly due to his early death at the age of 41—his works demonstrate both a continuation and a transformation of the Rietveld legacy. Several of his pieces are preserved in the collection of the Centraal Museum in Utrecht, ensuring his contribution remains part of Dutch design history.

Rietveld Jr.’s career illustrates how the ideals of simplicity, functionality, and experimentation could be inherited yet reimagined. His work stands as proof that innovation within the Rietveld family was not confined to his father alone.