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Pastoe is the Utrecht furniture maker behind many of the best Dutch modernist pieces, and its furniture turns up on Marktplaats both correctly labelled and listed as just an old cabinet. Learn the main design periods, look for the label and check the veneer, and you can buy well at fair prices.
Pastoe started in Utrecht in the early twentieth century, and early pieces carry the name UMS (Utrechtsche Meubelfabriek) or UMS Pastoe. After the Second World War, in-house designer Cees Braakman created the work most collectors look for: light birch furniture, the Japanese series in teak and birch, wire chairs and modular cabinets.
From the 1970s onward Pastoe moved toward clean, lacquered cabinets in bright colours and white, including tambour door cabinets such as the Amsterdammer. Later modular systems are still made today, which means a second-hand Pastoe cabinet can be a recent piece rather than vintage.
Most Pastoe furniture has a mark, but it is not always easy to find.
Braakman's birch series is pale, with rounded edges, slim tapered legs and simple recessed grips. The Japanese series combines teak or dark wood with lighter frames and sliding doors. 1950s Pastoe wire chairs have thin black steel frames with wooden or upholstered seats.
Look at the details. Pastoe used good joinery, solid edges on veneered panels and consistent hardware. Lots of Dutch furniture from the 1950s and 1960s copied the look, often in cheaper materials, so a birch sideboard alone does not make it Pastoe.
Veneer is the main thing. Look along the edges for lifting or chipped veneer, and at the top for water rings and sun bleaching. Birch yellows with age, which is normal. Light damage can be repaired by a furniture restorer, but large missing areas on a top reduce value a lot.
Open every door and drawer. Sliding doors should run smoothly in their tracks; missing sliders and keys are common. On later lacquered cabinets, chips in the paint and scratches show clearly and are harder to touch up than wood.
The most wanted pieces are Braakman's 1950s birch and teak cabinets and sideboards, the wire chairs, and complete modular wall units. Single small pieces like a nightstand or a side table are more affordable. Recent white or coloured Pastoe cabinets sell well too, but as quality used furniture rather than vintage collectibles.
Prices vary a lot with condition and completeness. If you are hunting for a specific piece, a search on vindje.com can look for Pastoe furniture described in words, including listings where the seller only wrote berken kast jaren 50 and mentioned the label in the description.
Several other Dutch makers worked in a similar spirit, and their furniture is regularly listed as Pastoe by hopeful sellers. 't Spectrum (with designs by Martin Visser), Fristho, Webe and Topform all made good modernist cabinets and chairs. These are worth buying in their own right, often for less than Pastoe, but pay for the maker that is on the label.
Danish teak sideboards are another frequent mix-up. If the piece has a Danish control label or a Danish maker's mark, it is not Pastoe, whatever the title says.
| Item | Typical asking price |
|---|---|
| Pastoe wire chair (Braakman), single | EUR 100-300 |
| Pastoe birch side table or nightstand | EUR 75-250 |
| Braakman birch or teak sideboard | EUR 400-1500 |
| Pastoe Japanese series cabinet | EUR 400-1200 |
| Later Pastoe lacquered cabinet | EUR 200-900 |
Rough Marktplaats asking prices in the Netherlands. Condition, age and season move them a lot.
Describe what you want in your own words and vindje.com searches Marktplaats in Dutch, then reads every listing and keeps only the real matches. For example:
Pastoe sideboard in birch or teak from the 1950s or 60s, Cees Braakman design, label visible, veneer in good shape, under 900 euro, anywhere in the NetherlandsSearch Marktplaats like this
Look for a Pastoe or UMS Pastoe label, plate or stamp inside drawers, on the back or underneath. Without a label, compare design details and construction with documented pieces.
Cees Braakman designed most of the well known 1950s and 1960s pieces. Later designers include Aldo van den Nieuwelaar and others for the lacquered cabinets.
Yes, Pastoe still makes furniture, mostly cabinet systems. That is why some second-hand pieces are recent rather than vintage.
Small chips and lifting veneer can be repaired well by a furniture restorer. Large missing areas on visible surfaces are expensive and lower the value.