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THE RIETVELD INTERIOR OF GABRIEL SMIT (Lots 286-292) Poet, writer and reporter Gabriël Smit (1910-1981) worked as a journalist and art critic for Dutch newspapers such as Gooi- en Eemlander, Utrechts Dagblad, De Linie and De Volkskrant. He published several collections of poems, often inspired by his entry into the Roman Catholic church in 1951. Smit must have played a role of importance in the Utrecht artist's community as surrealist painter J.H. Moesman painted his portrait in 1931. Smit probably met Rietveld at De Gemeenschap, a Utrecht society of writers, architects and artists. Writers such as Anton van Duinkerken, Albert Helman (the writer Lou Lichtveld), Antoon Coolen, Gerard and Henri Bruning, Jan Slauerhoff, Hendrik Marsman, Herman de Man, Louis de Bourbon, Gerard Wijdeveld and Gabriël Smit met here with architects and other artists, including Gerrit Rietveld, Willem Maas, Erich Wichman, Pyke Koch, Otto van Rees, Sybold van Ravesteyn and Jan Hin. They met at the Oude Gracht 55 bis. The meeting room of De Gemeenschap was on the first floor, Charles Eyck had a studio on the second floor and Jan Hin established his film company on the third floor. It was no wonder that at the time of his marriage in 1930, Gabriël Smit furnished his interior with furniture designed by Gerrit Rietveld. After his death in 1981, most pieces remained in his family. Only two Beugel chairs from his property were sold in these rooms on 9 November 2005.

Gerrit Th. Rietveld, circa 1930

A DEAL COFFEE TABLE

Details

Gerrit Th. Rietveld, circa 1930
A DEAL COFFEE TABLE
The circular top supported by cylindrical legs
54.5 cm. high and 79 cm. diam.

Provenance

Gabriel Smit
Thence by descent

Special notice

Christie’s charges a premium to the buyer on the Hammer Price of each lot sold at the following rates: 29.75% of the Hammer Price of each lot up to and including €5,000, plus 23.8% of the Hammer Price between €5,001 and €400,000, plus 14.28% of any amount in excess of €400,001. Buyer’s premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.

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