Dutch Nieuwe Kunst armchair with salamanders and cloves, Kobus de Graaff

Jacobus de Graaff (1876–1936)

Oak armchair with woodcarved salamanders on the armrests and organic motifs (cloves) in the backrest.

Step into the early 20th century and experience the quiet revolution of Dutch design through this extraordinary chair, crafted circa 1905 by Jacobus (Kobus) de Graaff — a visionary painter, sculptor, and furniture maker whose work bridged utility with poetic simplicity.

In an era fatigued by the excessive ornamentation of what was later deemed “the Ugly Time,” De Graaff emerged as a pioneer of elegant restraint. Influenced by the sweeping curves of Art Nouveau and the naturalistic essence of Jugendstil, he sought harmony between form, material, and daily life. The new style that emerged in the Dutch early 1900s was called ''Nieuwe Kunst'' (The New Art), which is often referred to as the Dutch version of the Arts & Crafts movement.

Restored to museum quality, this chair is as structurally sound as it is visually captivating. Not only a chair, but truly a piece of history and a work of art. The two hand carved salamanders that are curled at the ends of the armrests look serene, almost smiling in their sleep — not merely decorative elements, but symbolic guardians of transformation. Furthermore, the backrest shows an exquisite organic woodcarving of cloves, echoing De Graaff’s belief that everyday objects should be both beautiful and meaningful.

De Graaff also designed a similar chair with hares on the armrests instead of salamanders.

Sculptor and cabinet-maker Jacobus Willem ('Kobus') de Graaff (1876 - 1936) trained at the Quellinus school of Applied Arts in Amsterdam before starting his own workshop named Kunst-Ambacht in 1903 (Blaricum, later Hilversum) where he made furniture and furnishings with carved sculptural decorations.