This 1920s side table by the firm of J.J. Zijfers (Amsterdam) is an unusual and wonderfully expressive little piece. Though modest in size, it has a presence that immediately draws the eye - partly due to its black stained round top, but even more so because of the distinctive way its four legs curve and taper toward the floor.
From certain angles, the legs create the outline of a folded skirt or pleated garment, giving the table a softer profile despite its solid oak construction. The interplay between the warm oak surfaces and the black-stained feet and top edge adds a graphic contrast.
A small circular wooden brace sits just above the floor, which accentuates the inward sweep of the legs and ties the structure together. The piece has a sense of motion, as if the forms are gently turning around the center.
It’s the kind of accent table that fits effortlessly beside a chair, between two seats, or as a stand for a special object. Zijfers' work is not commonly seen, and the design of this piece has only recently been discovered as being by J.J. Zijfers. The table comes from a set of 3, of which one bears the maker's mark of Zijfers.
Background information Amsterdam School
''The Amsterdam School'' stands for the Dutch architectural movement that flourished between 1910 and 1940. The movement influenced other art forms and furniture designs. Some characteristics of the Amsterdam School include:
Expressionist and organic shapes, decorative sculptural elements and a focus on craftsmanship.
The Amsterdam School movement is seen as a very important chapter in Dutch architectural history and to this day a very recognizable and beloved style worldwide.
''Amsterdam School'' is a collective name for the exuberant, imaginative and innovative design style by a diverse group of Dutch architects, interior designers and sculptors. Influential architects and designers include Michel De Klerk, Hildo Krop, Piet Kramer en J.M. van der Meij.
The Amsterdam School embodies several contradictions. It is an architecture that is instantly recognisable yet difficult to define. It celebrates the communal and the social yet gives almost infinite room for individual expression. It can look hyper-modern yet curiously medieval. And, at its most creative, it can be utterly, infectiously bizarre.
Amsterdam School architects designed a lot of exteriors and interiors in Amsterdam, but the style spreaded further all around the Netherlands. The Hague has its own variant, called The Hague School.
Creator
Fa J.J. Zijfers (Amsterdam)
Design Period
1920s
Production Period
1920s
Country of Manufacture
Netherlands
Identifying Marks
No
Style
Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Nieuwe Kunst, Applied Arts, Arts & Crafts
Product Code
0466
Restoration and Damage Details
Good original condition, small signs of age, well mantained
