Large Rio rosewood veneer box, Fristho, the Netherlands, 1950s

Founded in 1921 as Friesche Stoel- en Houtwarenfabriek, Fristho ranks alongside Pastoe, Artifort, and Gispen among the leading Dutch furniture makers of the postwar period. In the early 1950s, the firm partnered with designers such as William Watting and Inger Klingenberg to introduce a Scandinavian-inflected aesthetic, with Rio rosewood as a signature material. The lid's top panel reflects that vocabulary well: four veneer sections laid in a checkerboard pattern, playing with grain direction to create a subtle geometric effect. Solid wood body veneered in rosewood, original brass hinges and lock, interior divided into two compartments. Very good overall condition. The wood has been waxed, with no visible scratches; the proportions remain crisp despite the piece's age. From the private collection of an Amsterdam collector whose entire interior is furnished in period Fristho. Dimensions: 34 cm long, 22 cm wide, 12.5 cm high. Well suited as a storage box on a sideboard or chest of drawers, for documents, mail, or small valuables.