Buffet Mid-Century CU01 by Cees Braakman for Pastoe

Designer Cees Braakman. Year 1960 - 16 February. Publisher Pastoe. Colour Black, beige, teak. Materials Teak - black lacquered tubular legs - nylon handles. Dimensions H117 cm X W125 cm X D45 cm. Cees Braakman is the son of the director of the Pastoe factory based in the Netherlands. After World War II, he decided to go to the United States to observe the work of Charles & Ray Eames and George Nelson at Herman Miller. He then discovered moulded plywood and a level of industrial production never seen before. Upon returning to Europe, he decided to create functional design, characterised by a certain typically Dutch "austerity": he transformed Pastoe into a laboratory of modernity. The CU01 chest of drawers, particularly the "Japanese Series, " could be defined as minimalism ahead of its time in Europe. Why CU01 C for Cabinet, U for Utrecht, 01 for the first model in the series. At the end of the 1950s, Braakman launched the “Japanse Serie.” Contrary to what its name suggests, it is not a copy of Japanese style, but a philosophical current of thought. The concept of this chest of drawers: The search for the pure line. At that time, furniture was still massive; Braakman proposed lightweight, almost airy structures. He used warm teak, in contrast to the fine black metal legs, showcasing industrial finesse. The integrated handles are made of black nylon (not metal!) - specific to the limited Japanese series. The innovation is invisible: the "dust-proof" drawers made of curved wood inside are a technical feat of Pastoe that combines hygiene and aesthetics. The duality between the warmth of teak and the rigor of the lacquered metal legs makes it a timeless piece and a pivotal moment for European design in 1960. Its original marking 1960 - production on 16 February 1960, certifies an early edition. This release date from the Utrecht workshops is the precise moment when design...