HF Mertens – HOPMI armchair for Pastoe, 1930s

This rare "tube chair", called HOPMI, was designed by Hermann Friedrich Mertens (1885-1960) for UMS Pastoe in collaboration with HOPMI in 1932. HOPMI stands for Hollandsche Patent Metaal Industrie. From 1932 to 1934, HOPMI worked with UMS Pastoe on a series of tube furniture, characterized by the special torpedo nuts that made the furniture easy to disassemble and ship. The combination was patented by HOPMI. In 1934, Gerrit Rietveld also designed a chair for HOPMI.

In addition to being a furniture designer, Mertens was also an architect and designed, among other things, Unilever's old headquarters in Rotterdam, which now houses the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences.

The chair is in very good condition (see pictures). It is still solid and the upholstery is without cracks or holes.

Details

• Designer: Hermann Friedrich Mertens

• Producer: UMS Pastoe in collaboration with HOPMI

• Material: Chrome-plated metal, wood and artificial leather (skai)

• Color: Chrome, wood and black

• Condition: Very good, with minimal signs of wear

Goals

• Height: 80,5 cm

• Width: 51 cm

• Depth: 62,5 cm

• Seat height: 45 cm

• Armrest height: 69,5 cm

This chair is also in the collection of the Centraal Museum in Utrecht. A true collector's item.