'Table-upon-table' barstool, two stacked tables, multiplex plywood panels with hardwood legs, black painted/stained, Richard Hutten, Rotterdam, 1991.

Two small tables of different sizes stacked upon each other

Given by Abel Hutten and Boris Hutten

In the early 1990s Richard Hutten developed the 'Table upon table' concept. He created a number of related designs for furniture that all used the form of an archetypal table - four legs, top rails and a top surface - as elements of their construction. Some of these pieces were very simple, as this example of a 'Table upon table bar stool' that simply stacked two tables of different sizes. Other pieces were more complex and highly symbolic but shared the same conceptional notion. Most famous were two benches called 'The Cross' (shaped like a crucifix) and 'S(h)it on It' (shaped like a swastika). This barstool is a very early example of the 'Table upon table bar stool', quite possibly even the first he made in 1991. It was damaged in a fire in his home, and he later painted it black to disguise the damage.

Historical significance: Richard Hutten (1967 Zwollerkerspel) graduated at the Academy Industrial Design Eindhoven in 1991. That same year he started his own designstudio, working on a variety of projects such as: furniture-, product-, interior- and exhibition design.
He developed his 'No sign of design' and 'Table upon table' concepts.
He is one of the most internationally successful Dutch designers; a key exponent of "Droog Design", in which he has been involved since it's inception in 1993.

Although coincidental, the fire damage links the object to the Smkoe furnitre made by fellow Dutch designer Maarten Baas from 2002 (W.40-2008).

until 2008 selfproduction, then licensed for production by manufacturer Gispen

Attribution note: self-initiated batch-production

Richard Hutten developed the 'Table upon table' concept in the early 1990s. He created a number of related designs for furniture that all used the form of an archetypal table - four legs, top rails and a top surface - as elements of their construction. Some of these pieces were very simple, like this example of a 'Table upon table' bar stool that simply stacks two tables of different sizes. Other pieces were more complex and highly symbolic but shared the same concept. Most famous were two benches called 'The Cross' (shaped like a crucifix) and 'S(h)it on It' (shaped like a swastika). This barstool is a very early example of the model, quite possibly even the first he made in 1991. It was damaged in a fire in Hutten's home; he later painted it black to disguise the damage.

W.21-2009