Sideboard by Jac Haan for Metz & Co., the Netherlands, 1963

Super rare sideboard designed by Jac Haan and manufactured by Metz & Co in the Netherlands, 1963. This sideboard was made in very small production. The cabinet consists of a dark brown wenge construction with warm light-grey finished doors and white laminated top. The cabinet sits on a chrome-plated steel base that covers the whole width of the cabinet. Behind the right door is a compartment with one shelf. On the left is a drawer on top and a door on the bottom with a compartment that is divided into two spaces with a vertical board. Inside the drawer there is place for small items that you store in separated small compartments. In good original condition. Metz&Co traces its roots back to 1740, when young merchant Mozes Samuels moved with his parents to Amsterdam and established a shop with textiles. He led the business until 1794 – the year his three sons took over the shop. In 1815 King William I gave Metz&Co the right of using the title ´The Purveyor to the Royal Household´ and the right to to display the royal coat of arms with the legend ´By Royal Warrant Purveyor to the Royal Household´. The succeeding Dutch monarchs have confirmed this right in 1840, 1849 and 1948. The company grew quickly in the 19th century, becoming an international trader in fabrics and consumer goods. In the 20th century, Metz became renowned for its designs by Gerrit Rietveld whose furniture collections can be seen today in museums all over the world, objects designed by Bart van der Leck, Sonia Delauny and Alvar Aalto. After the WWII, a British company Liberty of London took over the Metz&Co store. It became an influential design shop, until the 80-ties of the 20th century. Haan got in charge of Metz en Co’s furniture department in 1963. Jac Haan was interior architect and designed only a few pieces of furniture. Literature; Metz & Co Amsterdam Den Haag, page 161.