193 - Rob Parry

Rob Parry Kamer 56 for Dico Set consisting of a chair, a stool, and two storage units Lacquered wood, lacquered metal, and glass DICO, Netherlands Date of creation: circa 1950 H74.5 W70 D29 cm Side table, nightstand: H57 W35 D30 cm Chair: H82 W45 D53 cm, Seat height 44 cm Stool: H45 W40 D20 cm Condition: One glass panel and the mirror from the dressing table are missing. A leading figure in postwar Dutch design, Rob Parry played an active role in the renewal of modern furniture in the Netherlands during the 1950s. Trained under Cor Alons, he developed a formal language characterized by the combination of lightweight metal structures, colored panels, and extremely understated lines, which have become emblematic of Dutch modernism. This set belongs to the famous “Kamer 56” series designed for DICO, a Dutch manufacturer known for its modern home furnishings. Conceived as a complete furniture set for the contemporary bedroom, this series stands out for its use of pastel colors combined with contrasting black details, giving the pieces a graphic identity that was particularly innovative for the time. The dressing table, whose compact proportions also allow it to be used as a side desk, perfectly illustrates the pursuit of functionality and modularity that characterized European design of the 1950s. The set is complemented by a chair, a stool, and a side table with matching lines, forming a rare example of the modern interior design envisioned by Rob Parry. Complete sets from the “Kamer 56” series rarely appear on the market. Their appeal lies as much in their formal quality as in their documentary value within the history of postwar Dutch design.