Sideboard U-452 by Jiri Jiroutek 1960's

Design: jiri jiroutek. Produced: interior praha. Country:  czech republic. Period: 1960's. Dimensions: w110cm X d45 X h76. Material: walnut washed oak veneer. Condition: refurbished/original. Jiří jiroutek was born in 1928 in pardubice in former czechoslovakia. After his military deployment during woii he studied at the school of applied arts in žižkov in prague. After the study he started working for the newly established company interiér praha which became one of the largest czechoslovakian furniture producers. In 1958, at age 30, he designed the famous u-450 sideboard series that turned out to become one of the most sought after furniture pieces during two decades. When he met ingvar kamprad, who was producing some of his furniture in czechoslovakia, he was asked in 1967 to come to sweden to design for ikea. It took months before the communist regime allowed him to leave the country. He made the mistake to return after two years for a family visit. All his relatives and friends and other less well meaning persons could see how well he was doing, driving home in his own fancy car. Soon after he was permanently called back to czechoslovakia by the regime and was prohibited to design again for interier praha, his passion. It took years again before he was allowed to design again.