Cor Alons (1892 – 1967) Dutch Interior and Industrial Designer

This article forms part of the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub providing a structured overview of design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.

Mid-century modern Cor Alons sofa with a plywood frame, upholstered seat, and backrest in warm brown fabric, exemplifying Dutch furniture design.
A Cor Alons sofa, crafted with a plywood frame and minimalist aesthetic, reflecting mid-century Dutch design principles. This piece highlights the seamless integration of functionality and organic form in furniture design.

Cor Alons (1892–1967) was a pioneering Dutch interior architect and industrial designer renowned for his contributions to the Art Deco movement and the functionalist design approach in the Netherlands. His work significantly influenced Dutch interior design, blending aesthetic appeal with practical functionality.

Education

Born on June 11, 1892, in Groningen, Netherlands, Cornelius Louis Alons, commonly known as Cor Alons, pursued his passion for art and design from a young age. He attended Academie Minerva in Groningen from 1911 to 1913 and continued his studies at the Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten in The Hague between 1913 and 1917.

Cor Alons Early Dutch Design Sofa in Camel Upholstery
A mid-century Cor Alons dining chair, designed in 1949 for Gouda Den Boer, featuring a curved plywood frame with light-colored upholstery, set against a dark background with a small dog curiously inspecting it.
Set of four Cor Alons plywood dining chairs designed for Gouda Den Boer in the 1950s, featuring bentwood legs and black upholstered seats and backrests.
A Cor Alons plywood chair from the 1950s, featuring a curved wooden backrest, rounded upholstered seat, and bentwood legs, exemplifying mid-century Dutch modern design.
A solid oak Art Deco table designed by Cor Alons in 1923, featuring a minimalist rectangular top with sturdy block legs, characteristic of the Haagse School movement.
A pair of mid-century modern stools designed by Cor Alons (circa 1950), featuring bent plywood legs and round upholstered seats, reflecting Dutch functionalist design principles.
A mid-century modern coffee table by Cor Alons for Gouda de Boer, designed in the 1950s, featuring a bentwood frame with circular cutouts, a glass shelf, and tapered wooden legs.
A 1920s oak Art Deco bookcase designed by Cor Alons for L.O.V. Oosterbeek, featuring clean geometric lines, open shelving, and a lower storage cabinet with sliding doors, characteristic of the Haagse School movement.
A mid-century modern dining table designed by Cor Alons for Gouda Den Boer, Holland, featuring a sleek wooden tabletop and tapered legs, reflecting Dutch modernist craftsmanship.
A mid-century modern room divider by Cor Alons, designed in the 1950s, featuring wooden poles, suspended shelves, and a blue storage unit, embodying Dutch modernist functionalism.
A solid oak Art Deco side table designed by Cor Alons in 1923, featuring clean geometric lines, a square tabletop, and sturdy cross-braced legs, exemplifying the Haagse School movement.
A mid-century modern plywood easy chair designed by Cor Alons for Den Boer Gouda in 1948, featuring a curved bentwood frame, black upholstered seat and backrest, and an innovative low-profile design.

Biography

Early Career

After completing his education, Alons began his career at H. Pander & Sons in The Hague, working under architect Hendrik Wouda in the Modern Interior Art department from 1917 to 1921. This experience allowed him to develop his furniture design and interior architecture skills. ​

Independent Practice

In 1923, Alons co-founded a design studio with Frits Spanjaard in Rijswijk, marking the beginning of his independent career. Their firm was among the first generation of specialized interior architects in the Netherlands, focusing on comprehensive interior solutions that integrated furniture design with spatial aesthetics.

Teaching and Influence

Alons significantly contributed to design education. In 1929, he was appointed as a lecturer in furniture design at the Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten in The Hague. He played a pivotal role in establishing the interior arts course in 1934, influencing a generation of designers with his functionalist approach and emphasis on simplicity and practicality.

Work

  • Work included in 1920 ‘Modern Interior Art’ (stained-glass windows and decorative panels) organized by LOV in Oosterbeek.
  • 1925 Paris ‘Exhibition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes’; 
  • 1927 one-person exhibition, The Hague; 
  • designed PTT pavilion, ‘Jaarbeurs,’ Utrecht; 
  • 1932 VANK exhibition (showing chrome-plated steel furniture by Ph. Dekker), Rotterdam; 
  • Designed exhibition for 250th anniversary of Academie van Beeldende Kunsten, Pulchri Studio, The Hague; 
  • Dutch pavilion, 1937 Paris’ Exhibition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne.’

Design Philosophy and Notable Works

Alons propounded functionalism, focusing on precise, simple forms and using quality materials. His designs often featured minimalist geometric structures, reflecting the principles of the Nieuwe Haagsche School (New Hague School). Notable works include his tubular-steel furniture for Oostwoud Fabrieken and various interior projects that showcased his ability to blend form and function seamlessly.

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing. https://amzn.to/3ElmSlL

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