Dutch architect and furniture designer Gerrit T. Rietveld (1888-1964) was born in Utrecht, Netherlands. He learnt the trade of furniture maker at an early age in his father's workshop. Later, he apprenticed as an architect and joined the Dutch avant garde art movement De Stijl. In 1917, Rietveld opened his first furniture workshop on the Adriaen van Ostadelaan in Utrecht.

Rietveld designed the first pieces of crate furniture in 1934 from inexpensive planks of pine, which were joined by brass screws. The range was inspired by the packing crates used to transport furniture and included an armchair, low table and bookcase were intended for ‘acquaintances […] who had no money, but still wanted to make a modern piece of furniture'. In an issue of Bouwkundig Weekblad en Architectura (October, 1935) architect and furniture maker, Jan de Meijer, criticised Rietveld's crate furniture in his article, 'Professional decay'. Rietveld defended his design and making process, commenting that it was 'a free carpentry method (...) which goes straight to the point, is strong and innocent of the knitted brows of our craftsmen'.

The furniture was sold by the Metz & Co department store in Amsterdam and although Rietveld preferred the furniture to remain unpainted, customers could purchase a painted version of the chair in any desired colour for an extra charge. It was delivered as a do-it-yourself kit and assembled by the customer. The range was later expanded to include a desk, another low table and an upright chair. The lounge chair is likely to have included cushions for added comfort. In the 1960s, Metz & Co. introduced a luxurious rosewood version of the lounge chair and side table.

The V&A holds several chairs in its collection designed by Rieveld, including his tubular steel chair (W.14-2005), Zig Zag chair (CIRC.368-1970) and the iconic Blue Red chair (CIRC.367-1970).