Revered Dutch mid-century modernist designer Cees Braakman had been creating furniture since his teenage years when he was promoted to head of design at UMS Pastoe in 1948. Today’s vintage furniture enthusiasts know that Braakman found inspiration in works by Scandinavian artisans such as Alvar Aalto and Herman Miller luminaries Charles and Ray Eames — Braakman’s clean-lined dining chairs, sleek sideboards and other case pieces are demonstrative of those influences.
UMS Pastoe was established in 1913 by German-Jewish entrepreneur Frits Loeb and became rapidly successful largely owing to its reputation for well-made tables and chairs. However, the Dutch brand is best known by collectors for the modular sideboards, storage cabinets and other spare, streamlined case pieces that it produced during the postwar years.
The Utrecht-born Braakman took over for his father, Dirk, who had by then been managing the company for more than 20 years and had designed a variety of furnishings for the manufacturer by himself. A year before he assumed his new role at Pastoe, Cees visited the United States where he became enamored with the designs of Charles and Ray Eames and the other creative minds associated with legendary American furniture manufacturer Herman Miller.
While many Dutch designers who are now celebrated by vintage furniture collectors — names like Gerrit Rietveld and Friso Kramer are in this list — found inspiration in Piet Mondrian and the country’s De Stijl art movement, they also looked to Scandinavian modernists such as Alvar Aalto and Americans such as the Eameses. Cees Braakman was no different.
Braakman’s 1940s-era tour to the States included a visit to the Herman Miller factory in Zeeland, Michigan. At the time, architect-designer-journalist George Nelson was director of design at the firm and had enlisted a range of designers to collaborate with Herman Miller and create what are now icons of mid-century modernism. Braakman took notice of industrial manufacturing techniques at HM and in particular, the company’s innovations in furniture design owing to experimentation with molded plywood and fiberglass-reinforced plastic.
The Dutch designer introduced the first line of modern furniture at UMS Pastoe thereafter — a table, a chair, a bed and more created in molded plywood and featuring oak veneers, specifically tailored for smaller living spaces. Braakman was convinced that Pastoe should move on from the restrictions that a collection or set of furniture presented to consumers.
Furniture for a bedroom, for example, should be practical and built as individual pieces that could be adapted as more space became available. New production methods and creative marketing came into focus under Braakman’s leadership, and his own lines of oak and birch furniture — which were created around cupboards that could be reconfigured as needed, or armchairs that could be combined to form a sofa — earned acclaim and were commercially very successful.
UMS Pastoe was recognized for its innovative furniture at the Milan Triennial in 1957 and Le Signe d’Or in Belgium, and Cees Braakman’s work can today be found at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
Find vintage Cees Braakman furniture on 1stDibs.
Small Cabinet by Cees Braakman & Adriaan Dekker for Pastoe, 1960s
By Cees Braakman
Located in Waasmunster, BE
Unique small sized cabinet from Cees Braak man for Pastoe 1960s.
Teak
High Sideboard designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, Serie CU 04
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rare beautiful high sideboard designed by the Dutch designer Cees Braakman for Pastoe, a sideboard from the Japanese series CU 04 made in teak with a warm color. Features with harmon...
Metal
Pastoe Cees Braakman Du03 Sideboard in Wenge 1958
By Cees Braakman
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This is for an iconic and nice minimalist sideboard model number DU03, designed by Cees Braakman and manufactured by Pastoe UMS, Holland 1958. This unique sideboard was made on reque...
Metal
1960s Cees Braakman Made to Measure Teak Cabinet for Pastoe
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a modular cabinet / credenza from the Made to Measure series designed by Cees Braakman and produced by Pastoe in The Netherlands circa early 1960s. It consists of four parts;...
Steel
$1,754
H 31.89 in W 38.98 in D 15.75 in
Cabinet Credenza Sideboard with Sliding Door by Ico Parisi for MiM, Italy 1960s
By MIM Roma
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning small sideboard with sliding doors in wood and aluminum designed by Ico Parisi and produced by MiM Roma in Italy during the 1960s. The sideboard is signed inside. In amazin...
Metal, Aluminum
Sideboard Designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1960s
By Pastoe
Located in Delft, NL
Sideboard Designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1960s Mid-Century sideboard designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe in the 1960s. The sideboard is the contrast between the with wengé v...
Chrome
$2,442Sale Price|57% Off
H 76.78 in W 96.66 in D 18.12 in
Mid-Century Modern Wall Unit "Made to Measure" by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Cees Braakman
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Wall-filling 'Made to Measure' storage unit designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe. The 'Made to Measure' series is called like that because it completely dismountable and could be mad...
Wood
$994Sale Price / set|43% Off
H 28.35 in W 74.81 in D 18.9 in
Model 4D Cabinets by Angelo Mangiarotti for Molteni, 1960s, Set of 2
By Angelo Mangiarotti, Molteni & C
Located in Montelabbate, PU
2 Modular containers equipped with bearing wheels, in smoked crystal wood and marble, Angelo Mangiarotti for Molteni, model 4d. Measures of the single element - 72x95x48.
Marble
CB06 Cabinet by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1952
By Cees Braakman
Located in Balen, BE
A Mid-Century linnen cabinet 'model CB06', designed by Cees Braakman in the 1950s and manufactured by Pastoe in the Netherlands. This is a rare example in the birchwood series with...
Birch, Teak
$3,208
H 46.46 in W 29.53 in D 17.72 in
Iconic vintage dutch design CU07 Cabinet by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Meulebeke, BE
The Netherlands / CU07 cabinet / Pastoe / Cees Braakman / metal, teak / Vintage / Mid-century Highboard CU07 designed by the Dutch designer Cees Braakman in 1958 for Pastoe. This mo...
Metal
Cees Braakman for Pastoe "P5" Jacaranda Wood Secretaire
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cees Braakman for Pastoe Jacaranda wood secretaire with drop down desk or dry bar and light with original wiring. Lightly refinished exterior ...
Metal
$2,280
H 29.34 in W 49.61 in D 24.22 in
Mid-Century Modern Desk Designed by Cees Braakman for USM Pastoe
By Cees Braakman
Located in Doornspijk, NL
Very elegant desk made by USM Pastoe. This desk was designed in the early fifties by Cees Braakman and is part of the oak series.
Oak
1958 Japanese Series KU10 Wardrobe by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Manufactured in 1958 by Pastoe (UMS) in the Netherlands, this KU10 wardrobe is part of Cees Braakman's celebrated Japanese Series. The two-compartment case is clad in teak veneer wit...
Metal
Cees Braakman sideboard, 1960s
By Cees Braakman
Located in Lisboa, PT
Sideboard in light wood, opening with 4 drawers and a door, stamp on the reverse, Pastoe Editor, Cees Braakman. Netherlands, 1960s.
Wood
$7,875
H 27.56 in W 97.64 in D 21.66 in
Mid-Century Modern Teak Sideboard B40 by Dieter Waeckerlin, Behr Möbel, 1958
By Behr, Dieter Waeckerlin
Located in Rosendahl, DE
This vintage B40 sideboard by Dieter Waeckerlin is a masterpiece of mid-century design and part of his renowned "Maasmöbel" collection. Crafted from fine teak veneer, it features cle...
Steel
Santee Sideboard Cabinet in Walnut
By Greg Mitchell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The namesake of this piece is an alley one block from our Los Angeles studio, known for its bazaar-like display of stalls hawking clothes and textiles at wholesale prices. The scene is reminiscent of markets in Central America and, walking through it during breaks from the shop, one feels instantly transported out of the US. It's a hectic environment, however, and the Santee Sideboard is a meditation on minimalism in answer to the raucous consumerism taking place below. We take great care in selecting the sustainably harvested lumber for every piece. Each panel of the cabinet, once milled and joined, is polished with well tuned hand planes...
Maple, Walnut
Cees Braakman for Pastoe Sideboard in Teak
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for Pastoe, sideboard model 'DU04', teak, metal, plastic, The Netherlands, design 1958, production 1960s Elegant and modest tea...
Metal
Cees Braakman Credenza for Pastoe from the Japanese Series
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, sideboard model DU03, teak and metal, by The Netherlands, design 1958, production 1960s Elegant and modest teak sideboard by Cees Braakman for UMS Pa...
Metal
Cees Braakman Credenza for Pastoe from the Japanese Series
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, sideboard model DU03, teak and metal, by The Netherlands, design 1958, production 1960s. Elegant and modest teak sideboard by Cees Braakman for UMS P...
Metal
Cees Braakman for Pastoe Sideboard of Wengé Wood and Steel
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, sideboard, wengé, steel and lacquered wood, The Netherlands, circa 1960. This Dutch modernist sideboard designed by Cees Braakman has a white lacquer...
Steel
Cees Braakman for Pastoe Wengé Wooden Sideboard
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, wall-mounted sideboard, wengé, steel and lacquered wood, The Netherlands, circa 1960. This Dutch modernist sideboard designed by Cees Braakman has a ...
Steel
Cees Braakman Credenza for Pastoe from the Japanese Series
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, sideboard model DU03, teak and metal, by The Netherlands, design 1958, production 1960s Elegant and modest teak sideboard by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe. This sideboard consists of a small metal base, which creates some lightness to the quite solid cabinet. The credenza consists of three storage compartments of which one is equipped with drawers and the other two with shelves. The warm colored teak nicely combines with the black handles, which are beautifully designed in the wooden surface. The Japanese or U-series was one of the unconventional series of Pastoe. Yet the design is still in line with the characteristic sober and modest style of the company. All tough it looks quite simplistic the Japanese series are highly detailed furniture. As seen in this sideboard on the handles, wood-joints and interior. Please note that the legs appear to be extended. Cees Braakman (1917-1995) follows his father’s footsteps as the leading designer and manager of Pastoe from 1948. He was inspired by the bent plywood furniture...
Metal
Cees Braakman DU03 Teak Sideboard for UMS Pastoe
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sideboards model DU03, in teak and metal, by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, The Netherlands 1958. Elegant and modest teak sideboard by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe. This sideboard...
Steel
Cees Braakman DU04 Teak Sideboard for UMS Pastoe
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sideboard model DU04, in teak and metal by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, The Netherlands, 1958. Elegant and modest teak sideboard by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe. This sideboard ...
Metal
Sold
H 28.35 in W 88.98 in D 18.12 in
Iconic DU03 credenza by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, Netherlands 1950s
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in ECHT, NL
Iconic DU03 credenza. Designed by Cees Braakman in 1958 and manufactured by Pastoe. Minimalist Dutch design that will look amazing in any interior. Executed in teak and teak veneer...
Metal
Sold
H 28.94 in W 108.86 in D 11.42 in
Mid-Century Modern Made to Measure XL Credenza by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and rare Mid-Century Modern Made to Measure extra large open bookcase.Design by Cees Braakman for Pastoe.Striking Dutch design from the 1960s.Original teak veneered base ...
Chrome, Metal
Sold
H 28.35 in W 88.98 in D 17.72 in
DU03 Sideboard by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, The Netherlands, 1958
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Antwerp, BE
A true masterpiece of mid-century Dutch design, this DU03 sideboard from the renowned Japanese series by Cees Braakman for Pastoe (1958) is both a collector’s item and a timeless sta...
Metal
Sold
H 46.07 in W 59.06 in D 17.72 in
CU04 highboard by Cees Braakman for UMS Pastoe, The Netherlands, 1958
By Cees Braakman, Pastoe
Located in Antwerp, BE
Designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe in 1958, this iconic CU04 sideboard—also referred to as a highboard—is a standout example of Dutch mid-century modernism. Highly sought after by ...
Metal