Elling Buffet back in production

The “Elling Buffet” is a leading early work for Gerrit Rietveld. With a construction consisting of the characteristic slatted structures, Rietveld played with the concept of spatiality when designing it in 1919 (the same period in which he designed the famous red-and-blue slatted chair). He succeeded in placing the drawers of this sideboard as separate spatial elements while simultaneously they merge into a harmonious whole.

Originally the sideboard was used in the model home designed by J.P. Oud in Spangen, Rotterdam, and in several interior projects, including a project for architect Piet Elling. The original model, purchased by Elling, was destroyed in a fire. Eventually it was rebuilt by Gerard van de Groenekan in 1951 under the supervision of Gerrit Rietveld for an exhibition on De Stijl at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.

Today, furniture maker Cassina produces this sideboard in its historic carpentry workshop in Meda, Italy. In order to get the dimensions and shape of this cabinet as close as possible to Rietveld’s original design, collaboration was sought with the Rietveld Foundation and the example in the care of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam was closely examined.

Frame: solid wood.
Compartments and shelves: panels of veneered ash.
Drawers: side and back panels of veneered ash plywood.
Doors: solid wood frame and Ashwood veneered plywood panels.
Feet: black plastic glides.
Decorative solid wood slats.

The sideboard is assembled exclusively by a system of joints with wooden pins.