Jan Kuypers and Imperial furniture
Dutch-trained designer Jan Kuypers led Imperial Furniture in Stratford, Ontario from 1951 to 1958 and won more Canadian design awards than almost anyone of his time.
Get an offer on yoursHow to tell if it's Jan Kuypers
- Check the wood. Kuypers designed in birch, and his work used modular construction and standard parts.
- Check the date. He left Imperial in 1958, so a walnut or teak piece from the 1960s sold as "Kuypers" deserves a second look.
- Do not confuse Imperial of Stratford with Imperial Furniture Co. of Grand Rapids, Michigan, an unrelated American company.
- Photograph any label or stamp inside drawers, on the back or underneath.
About Jan Kuypers
Imperial began as Imperial Rattan, moved to Stratford in 1910 and turned to modern design after 1949. In 1951 it hired Jan Kuypers (1925 to 1997), trained at the Academy of Arts and Architecture in The Hague, as chief designer.
Between 1953 and 1955 his designs won 25 National Industrial Design Council awards. His work was shown at Ottawa's first Design Centre in 1953 and at the 1954 Milan Triennale. He left in 1958 for MIT and later founded the design firm DKR in Toronto.
Pieces to know
- Nipigon armchair (1956 to 1957), in birch and plywood, shown at Brussels in 1958
- Birch sideboards, some with wave or linen-fold fronts (listings)
- Modular case pieces built from standard parts
What makes one worth more
- A confirmed Kuypers design from his Imperial years, 1951 to 1958
- Birch in good original condition
- Award-winning or exhibited models such as the Nipigon chair
- An Imperial of Stratford label
We price every piece from what comparable pieces have actually sold for, its condition and the work it needs. Damage is fine: we restore everything in our Edmonton shop.
Buying Jan Kuypers
Nothing by Jan Kuypers in the shop right now. New pieces go up every Thursday at 7 pm: see the shop or join the drop list there.
Questions
Is my piece Jan Kuypers?
Kuypers designed in birch for Imperial of Stratford between 1951 and 1958. Send us photos of the piece, the wood and any label, and we will tell you what we think.
What is a Jan Kuypers piece worth?
It depends on the piece, its condition and recent sales of the same model. Send photos with the form on this page, including any label, and we will give you a real offer, usually within one business day.
Do you buy Jan Kuypers furniture?
Yes. We buy Jan Kuypers pieces anywhere in Alberta, damaged or not, and pick them up. We pay by e-transfer or cash before it leaves your home.
Other makers
R. Huber · RS Associates · Deilcraft · Arne Vodder · Kai Kristiansen
Sources
Stratford-Perth: Imperial Furniture history · Review of Modern Furniture in Canada 1920–1970