Kho Liang Ie sofa model 416 Artifort Netherlands 1959

Rare first production of the 416 sofa designed by Kho Liang Ie and manufactured by Artifort, The Netherlands in 1959. With the sublime 416 series, which was brought onto the market by Artifort in 1960, Kho Liang Ie made a clear statement that was far ahead of its time. In his voyage of discovery undertaken within the strict social constraints of the late 1950s, he sought the contrast between soft materials and rigid structures. This resulted in a modular sofa that looks remarkable from any angle. The minimalist frame of the C416 sofa and armchair consists of a careful balance between brushed stainless steel and black coated metal elements, finished with slats made from red/brown rosewood veneer. The padded dark grey leatherette seat and back cushions of the sofa provided maximum comfort and are in great condition. The re-editions are not made in rosewood anymore since its a protected wood, the are made in similar walnut veneer which has a lesser appearance.

Born in 1927 in Magelang, Indonesia, of Chinese Parents, Kho Liang Ie came to the Netherlands in about 1949 where he started as a medicine student but shortly changed and trained as an interior designer and designer at the Rietveld Academy. After his study he became part of the Goed Wonen group in 1954 and from 1957 to 1963 he was editor of the same magazine. In 1958, he was appointed aesthetic consultant and designer at Artifort. His contribution shifted Artifort’s focus to the top of the international market. Kho Liang Ie attracted foreign designers such as Pierre Paulin and Geoffrey Harcourt, which has made his influence noticeable right up to the present day. As an interior designer, Kho Liang Ie made his name with his design for Schiphol Airport in the nineteen-sixties. His work reflects purity, warmth and freedom. Besides Artifort, Kho Liang Ie also worked for Bruynzeel and Mosa, and worked for example with Wim Crouwel from 1956 to 1960. Kho Liang Ie died in Amsterdam on 1st January 1975.

Important literature: Kho Liang Ie Interieurarchitect/industrieel ontwerper, Ineke van Ginneke, Uitgeverij 010 Rotterdan, 1986