A long, low coffee table combining a finely proportioned black steel frame with brass details and a geometric surface of narrow terracotta briquettes.
The top is the thing. Hundreds of slender terracotta elements are laid in alternating directions, breaking the surface into a loose arrangement of squares and rectangles. What could have been a simple tiled grid becomes something altogether more architectural — repetition interrupted by small changes of direction, with the pale grout drawing out the geometry almost like lines on a plan.
There is something distinctly Italian in the thinking. The manipulation of a modest, repeated unit brings to mind Carlo Scarpa's fascination with pattern, rhythm and the articulation of surfaces, while the combination of terracotta and metal sits comfortably alongside the ceramic furniture being produced in France and Italy during the middle decades of the twentieth century. It has the vocabulary without feeling beholden to any one designer.
The terracotta itself is particularly good: soft pinks, salmon and dusty brick tones, with slight variations from piece to piece and the occasional imperfection that stops the geometry becoming too precise. Against it, the dark metal frame is almost diagrammatically simple — four slender legs, a floating lower shelf and very little else.
It's an interesting collision of opposites: earthy and industrial, decorative and severe. The top demands inspection; the frame more or less disappears.
A handsome, slightly peculiar table, and all the better for it.
Dimensions
Length 122 cm
Width 36.5 cm
Height 40.5 cm
Condition
Good overall condition, with wear commensurate with age and use. The steel frame and lower shelf show scattered marks, scratches and small areas of wear to the dark finish. The terracotta surface has natural variation in colour, texture and finish, together with occasional minor irregularities to the individual briquettes and grout. These are entirely in keeping with the character of the piece and its materials.
Please refer to the detailed photographs for a close indication of condition.
Delivery
This piece requires specialist courier delivery due to its size and weight. UK delivery is charged at cost, with a tailored quote provided after ordering. Please get in touch beforehand if you would like an estimate.
International delivery may also be possible — please contact us for a quote.
