Artifort/ ‘t Spectrum SZ10 ’M-Chair’ by Ebbing, Haas & Schudel, 1980s
About the Item
- Creator:
- Dimensions:Height: 68 in (172.72 cm)Width: 64 in (162.56 cm)Depth: 95 in (241.3 cm)Seat Height: 36 in (91.44 cm)
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1980s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:CULEMBORG, NL
- Reference Number:
Artifort
The sterling reputation that Artifort enjoys isn’t limited to the innovative upholstery and fluid, organic shapes for which its products are widely known — the legendary Dutch brand’s vintage seating and other furniture is also celebrated for its embodiment of functionality, comfort and quality. These are among the principles that underpin the philosophy toward modern furniture design at Artifort, which has been at the crossroads of furniture and art for over 125 years.
Prior to 1928, the year Artifort officially became a brand, Jules Wagemans had a small upholstery business in Maastricht, the Netherlands. After setting up in 1890, his son, Henricus Wagemans, broadened the scope of the company to include furniture production. By the end of the 1920s, their showroom in Amsterdam had made them a recognizable brand across the Netherlands.
Then named H. Wagemans & Van Tuien, the company changed its name to Artifort after the economic recession. Artifort came from two Latin words meaning “art” and “strong” — a perfect description for the style of each design and the manufacturer’s intention to create sturdy furnishings. Artifort’s reputation for durable armchairs and sofas endures, and vintage editions of this seating are now family heirlooms in many homes.
Artifort became a magnet for high-profile and up-and-coming designers alike. Many furniture designers’ careers began thanks to collaborations with Artifort, such as Dutch industrial and jewelry designer Gijs Bakker and Indonesian-born designer Kho Liang Ie. Also known for designing the interiors at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, Kho Liang Ie was an aesthetic consultant at Artifort and used his expertise to turn the company into a world-class brand. Perhaps his largest contribution, however, was attracting the talents of French furniture and interior designer Pierre Paulin and English furniture designer Geoffrey D. Harcourt.
Paulin’s bright and colorful lounge chairs, such as his Orange Slice chair and Mushroom chair, are still central to the Artifort identity. The revered designer not only introduced new construction techniques to Artifort furniture, but contributed fresh materials, Pop art colors and dazzling shapes to the mid-century modern era as a whole, while Harcourt deserves credit for popularizing Artifort internationally and extending their reach into foreign markets.
Another talent boom in the 1990s at Artifort yielded collaborations with Jasper Morrison, Wolfgang Mezger and René Holten. Iranian designer Khodi Feiz was named art director in 2014 and has continued the tradition of recruiting top designers such as Claesson Koivisto Rune, Ilse Crawford and Luca Nichetto.
Find a collection of vintage Artifort lounge chairs, tables and more on 1stDibs.
't Spectrum
Dutch furniture company ‘t Spectrum — later Spectrum — was established in 1941 with a run of pieces that were spare and outwardly industrial in appearance. Its early armchairs and dining chairs were often framed in tubular metal, and boast clearly defined lines and minimal curves. The vintage ‘t Spectrum seating in the decades that followed, which was designed by the likes of Gerrit Rietveld and Wim van Gelderen, is characterized by the angular forms and Pop art-hued colors that we associate with the best of mid-century modernism.
‘t Spectrum emerged in 1941 as an offshoot of the Dutch fabric manufacturer De Ploeg. When a shortage of textiles and other materials took shape owing to the demands of the Second World War, De Ploeg director Piet Blijenburg changed gears, and sought to broaden the manufacturer’s offerings as well as prevent the company's employees from being forced into work for occupying military forces.
‘t Spectrum was a brand devoted to furniture and interiors — as well as goods and decor for the home such as coat racks, napkin rings and beds. Legendary modernist furniture designer Gerrit Rietveld — an integral part of the Dutch art and design movement of the early 20th century called De Stijl — was brought on in a supervisory role in its early days, and designer Martin Visser was installed to oversee the production of furniture.
The end of the war brought a greater availability of metals and other materials to ‘t Spectrum, which became more focused on creating affordable furniture for the era’s new homeowners. A new factory designed by Rietveld was built in Bergeijk in 1957. During the late 1960s, ‘t Spectrum offered a richer range of furnishings, incorporating alluring hardwoods and leathers as part of sophisticated lines of seating and other pieces designed in the mid-century modern style. Visser recruited the likes of Friso Kramer, Benno Premsela, Constant Nieuwenhuys and others to design for ‘t Spectrum over the years.
With competition for cheaper furniture on the rise in the 1970s, ‘t Spectrum liquidated in 1974. A group of employees acquired the designs and continued the company under the name of Arspect. The firm produced ‘t Spectrum designs and works from other designers.
Arspect closed its doors in 1986. A former employee bought the company and renewed it with the name Spectrum. Today, Spectrum operates in Eindhoven in the Netherlands, creating contemporary designs alongside pieces dating back to the look and feel of the products offered by the original manufacturer. The company is also reproducing original designs created by Visser and Rietveld.
On 1stDibs, browse a selection of vintage ‘t Spectrum seating, tables, storage pieces and more.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: CULEMBORG, Netherlands
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Artifort F598 Groovy Armchair by Pierre Paulin, M-ChairBy Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in CULEMBORG, GEBorn in Paris in 1927, Pierre Paulin a created his best known pieces in cooperation with the Dutch manufacturer Artifort. The Tongue chair, the Ribbon chair, the Tulip — to name but a few — all feature in museums such as the MOMA New York and Centre Pompidou Paris. Originally designed in the 1972, his famous F598 Groovy...Category
Vintage 1970s Dutch Space Age Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Artifort F545 Big Tulip Chair by Pierre Paulin in Original Kvadrat UpholsteryBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in CULEMBORG, GEBorn in Paris in 1927, Pierre Paulin a created his best known pieces in cooperation with the Dutch manufacturer Artifort. The Tongue Chair, the Ribbon Chair, the Groovy — to name but a few — all feature in museums such as the MOMA New York and Centre Pompidou Paris. Originally designed in the 1960s, his famous F545 Big Tulip Chair...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Space Age Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Martin Visser BR02 Sofa/ Sofa bed/ Daybed by ‘t Spectrum, Dutch Mid-CenturyBy 't Spectrum, Martin VisserLocated in CULEMBORG, GEListed is an iconic BR02 sofa / sofa bed / daybed by Martin Visser for 't Spectrum. Designed in 1960, this minimalist sofa can be converted in bed with one simple movement. Model no....Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Cappellini Felt Chair by Marc NewsonBy Marc Newson, CappelliniLocated in CULEMBORG, GEIn 1989, Marc Newson dived into the oeuvre of German artist Joseph Beuys — in particular his works in felt. This sturdy, utilitarian textile was simultaneously structured and pliable...Category
1990s Italian Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Set of two Vitra 671 Lounge Chairs by Charles and Ray EamesBy Vitra, Charles and Ray EamesLocated in CULEMBORG, GEFor sale is a lovely set of two iconic Vitra 671 Lounge Chairs, designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1956. The Eames’ wanted to create a spacious armchair that combines ergonomics — ...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Staff 'Zumtobel' ID-S Floor Lamp/ Uplighter by Ettore Sottsass, Memphis, 1980sBy Ettore Sottsass, Staff LeuchtenLocated in CULEMBORG, GEDesigned by Ettore Sottsass in the early 1980s, this rare ID-S Floor Lamp was firstly produced by Staff Leuchten until the company got taken over by the Austrian company Zumtobel. ...Category
Vintage 1980s Austrian Post-Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel
- Martin Visser for 't Spectrum SZ 67 Lounge ChairBy 't Spectrum, Martin VisserLocated in Norwalk, CTIndulge in the enigmatic allure of the Martin Visser SZ 67 Lounge Chair, a true design classic. This example - with its sleek black steel frame and bold red wool upholstery - is the ...Category
Late 20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Artifort "Winner" Lounge Chair by Floris van den Broecke, Netherlands 1980sBy ArtifortLocated in DE MEERN, NLBeautiful rare 760 Winner armchair by Floris van den Broecke. Looking for a standout piece of furniture to add to your home or office? Look no ...Category
Vintage 1980s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Orange Slice Chairs by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1980s, Set of 2By Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in ŁÓDŹ, PLThe famous Artifort orange slice chairs by Pierre Paulin. Designed in the 60s and produced in the 80s. Cute and very comfortable chairs. They have chrome metal legs. This gorgeous...Category
Late 20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- F784 “Concorde” Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1980sBy Pierre Paulin, ArtifortLocated in Hilversum, NLPierre Paulin and Artifort developed this ‘Concorde’ lounge chair back in 1960s. The chair has the beautiful original De Ploeg fabric and attract...Category
Vintage 1980s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsAluminum
- Pair of 'SZ08' Lounge Chairs by Martin Visser for 't Spectrum, 1960By 't Spectrum, Martin VisserLocated in Antwerpen, VANBeautiful pair of model ‘SZ08’ lounge chairs designed by Martin Visser in collaboration with Dick Van Der Net for ‘t Spectrum in 1960. This model is only produced for a couple of yea...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Nagoya SZ09 black lounge chair by Martin Visser for 't Spectrum NetherlandsBy 't Spectrum, Martin VisserLocated in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BENagoya SZ09 black lounge chair by Martin Visser for 't Spectrum Netherlands. It was designed for the Osaka series in 1969 for the Dutch pavilion at the World Expo in Tokyo. Manufactu...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome