Bespoke Wall Cupboard by Wim Den Boon, 1960s

Created for a private residence in laren, the netherlands, and purchased from its initial owner who commissioned it. Wood construction with teak veneer and with a white melamine lining to the underside. It has screw holes to the back plate where large bolts can fix it to a wall. It has inset rails whereby the shelves can be adjusted. Shelves are formica/chipboard. (all original to the piece) Between the 1950s & 60s dutch designer and architect wim den boon was at the height of his powers – his success alongside other designers as ‘group &’ (hein stolle etc) and later with goed wonen lay in the fact that his purist design of the interiors and furniture fitted in seamlessly with the functionalist design of the late thirties. * (goed wonen was a foundation and leading magazine formed after the war with the aim of “raising the standard of living in the netherlands by improving home furnishings in the broadest sense of the word…”) Den boon wrote several articles for goed wonen. His articles are almost without exception educational, in which the readers are presented sometimes quite forcibly with the liberating nature of the new design. Den boon’s polemical character, stubbornness and especially the strongly didactic tone of his articles was too much for many employees and readers of goed wonen and in 1950 the editors forced him to resign. It was also around 1950 that he also broke his relationship with ‘groep &’ and established himself as an independent interior designer in the hague. From then on, his interior designs are increasingly characterized by a very careful treatment of the space that can be very strict, deliberate and sober but also highly refined. Throughout this golden period of the 50s-60s an extensive oeuvre was created, varying from small renovations and furniture designs to complete new construction projects for private individuals such as those who commissioned this piece. This is a unique piece of dutch mid-century modern design history.