Model U-453 Chest of Drawers by Jiří Jiroutek

The famous U-450 series cabinet was designed in 1958 for Czechoslovak national company Interiér Praha by Czech designer Jiří Jiroutek. It was at Brussels Expo ‘58 where Czech pavilion became a great success and stood behind the upturn of modernist style that later became called Brussels style. The pastel-coloured cabinets and chests of drawers with slanted legs from U-450 series became one of the prominent representatives of Brussels style. These cabinets were manufactured with success for almost 20 years. One could see such cabinets in most of the modern households of 1960s – 1970s Czechoslovakia. The cabinets were unique not only with their design but also through their technological innovation that made their serial production possible and made them available during the times of high demand. These cabinets were among the first ones produced from pre-prepared parts and later compiled together. Such technological methods allowed the furniture prices to drop – and the rise of companies like IKEA.