On Hold: Rare Dutch 'Nieuwe Kunst' side table by Jac van den Bosch, 1920s

Rare and refined Nieuwe Kunst side table, firmly attributed to Jac. van den Bosch and dating from around 1920. This table is a characteristic and convincing example of van den Bosch’s furniture designs from the transitional period between early Nieuwe Kunst and the emerging Amsterdam School, combining organic form with rationalist clarity.

The table features an organically shaped, four-lobed circular top, constructed from four carefully matched mahogany segments. At the center, the top is subtly articulated by a cross-shaped construction detail with small contrasting inlays, emphasizing both structure and symmetry. This clear expression of construction is a recurring principle in van den Bosch’s work and aligns closely with the rationalist ideals championed by H.P. Berlage.

The slender legs are a defining feature. They terminate in distinctive, softly flared foot endings, one of the recognizable details seen in van den Bosch designs. These leg ends, together with the restrained curvature of the top and the elegant stretcher construction, firmly place the table within the Nieuwe Kunst vocabulary.

The understructure is restrained and functional, yet carefully proportioned, reflecting van den Bosch’s belief that furniture should be both useful and architecturally honest. The diagonal stretcher adds stability while introducing a subtle dynamic tension to the otherwise calm and rational composition.

Van den Bosch was one of the key figures in early 20th-century Dutch interior design. Deeply influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement and the rationalist architecture of Berlage, his furniture was conceived to educate and elevate domestic interiors through sober design, high craftsmanship, and functional clarity. While his earlier work is often strictly geometric, his later designs increasingly incorporate rounder, more organic forms, anticipating the expressive language of the Amsterdam School. This table sits precisely at that crossroads.

Executed in solid mahogany, the table has developed a warm and even patina over the past century. It remains in very good vintage condition, with only minor traces of age and use consistent with its history, underscoring both the quality of materials and craftsmanship.